Evening star., 1924-05-18
BAPTIST S2,OOO,OOO
G. w. U. BID REJECTED
Local Institutions Action Will Not
Halt Church Effort to
Regain Control.
CONVENTION o. ks OFFER
Refuses to Discuss Probability Of
Legal Action.
BY the Associated Press.


ATLANTA, May 17.-An offer of
s2,000,000 by the Southern Baptist
convention for the return of George
Washington University, Washington,
d. c.. to Baptist ownership and con-
troll, and its subsequent rejection by
the trustees of the university, was
revealed today when a committee ap-
pointed last year to conduct the
negotiations made its report to the
annual meeting of the convention
here.
Notwithstanding the summary rejec-
tion of the proposal by the trustees,
the committee recommended that
efforts to regain control of the uni
verSity. which was lost in 1904. be
continued. The convention unani-
mously adopted the committee report
and approved its recommendations.
The terms under which the $4,000
coo would be paid included payments
at the rate of 100000 per annum
into trust fund, the income of
which would become available i'm
mediately for the needs of the tnsti-
tuition. The convention would par
university upon payment of the first
100000. When the 100000 was
paid IN full the university would pass
totally under Southern Baptist con-
troll
Outline Reasons for Bid.
The committee outlined these rea-
sons why the convention seeks such
relation with the university:
The desire to round out an educa-
tIQnal program OF standard colleges
and secondary schools in the south
ern states with an institution of uni
vcrsity grade.
Inc fact that George Washington
University is vitality related by virtue
OF Its foundation, history and princi-
pies to the origin, growth and ideals
OF the organized activities of Bap-
lists.
The purpose of the convention in
the ownership and control of the
university upon avowed eyangelical
christian and true American princi-
PIES Is in harmony with the ideals
and spirit of Luther Rice, its founder
and of the present board of trustees
IN a resume of the situation which
prompted the move on the part of the
convention to reclaim the control of
the university the committee said
'hat survey in 1919 of the educa-
ton field in the Capital City of the
nation revealed, among other
things, that the cause of higher edu-
cation had been practically surren-
oered to Catholicism; that no univer-
sity was functioning under Protestant
auspices, and that George Washing
ton University, founded by the Bap-
usts in 1921 and fostered by them
from its organization to 1904, had
'been let out of the denomination un-
der the leadership of Baptist presi-
dent and a board of trustees, two
thirds of which were Baptists, fol-
lowing the persistent failure Of the
Baptists. north and south, to provide
the funds necessary for the institu-
ton to continue to function"
Fund Causes Rejection.
One reason given by the trustees
of the university for it's rejection of
the conventions proposal, according
d ~
fund now is being raised on the
ground that the university is un-
denominational, and that to turn the
university over to the convention un-
der these circumstances would be to
break faith with the people of Wash
ington who had subscribed to the
million dollar fund. 1t is said a sug-
gestion that these donations be re-
funded was not deemed solution TO
the problem by the trustees
The committee tonight would not
discuss the probability of bringing
legal action should financial and dip
iomatlc overtures fail. 1t was
stressed, however. that the 50 600, 900
offered is in no sense to be regarded
as a purchase price, but simply a
fund to be added to the assets of the
university.
Modernism Stand Asked.
c. r. Stealey of Oklahoma City in
troduced another resolution today
which was designed to put the con-
.vention on record as defining it's
stand on the modernist- fundamental
1st question. Mr.. Stealey moved a
suspension of the rules for immedi-
ate consideration by the floor, which
was refused. The resolutions com
m1ttee again adversed the resolution
and its judgment was upheld by the
convention. This is the third time
the convention has refused to make
any doctrinal statement, a privilege
which. it is said, rests solely with the
individual churches.
Fred e. Britten of Lake Worth,
Fla, presented a resolution this aft
ernoon which would have the con-
Nention approve the world court. He
also sought the short route by a sus-
pension of the rules, but failed and
the proposal went to the resolutions