The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-09-10
MORE IDEALISM
NEED OF TIME.
COOLIDGE SAYS
President Stresses Spiritual
Value Of Education in Talk
at RrO0kings, s. d.
EULOGIZES LINCOLN
Pays Tribute to People of
South Dakota in Dedicat-
ing Building
EULOGlZES LIN COLIN

Brookings, s. D., Sept. 1O.-P-
Journeying toward Washington from
the Agricultural Northwest, President
Coolidge stopped off in this city to-
day to dedicate the Lincoln Mem
orial Library at the South Dakota
state college with an address devoted
almost wholly to education and
marked by the absence Of any refer
ence to the farm relief fight or any
other controversial problem.
Politicians who had confidently
predicted that MIR. Coolidge in speak
Ing ut an agricultural college cere-
mony would take the opportunity to
outline the farm relief plans Of the
administration were disappointed, for
the president swung the trend Of his
speech around toward the spiritual
value Of education and a euiogy Of
the part played by Abraham Lincoln
in this direction.
Should Seek Wisdom
"We have been excessively busy
seeking for information that could
be turned to practical advantage in
the matter Of dollars and cents,
rather than for that wisdom which
would guide US through eternity"
Mr.: Coolidge said. Our higher edu-
cational institutions have turned
their thoughts especially to the
sciences. and our secondary schools
to vocational training. How poor
and weak and generally ineffective
we should be without these advant-
ages can be at once seen by. the most
casual observation Of those nations
among which they have been neg
lected.
! This is by no means all that is
to be expected from American edu-
cation and American institutions.
eau not conceive that the object Of
Abraham Lincoln was merely to in
struct men how to raise more corn,
to feed more hogs, to get more money.
to buy more land, and so on in the
expanding circle, rs the story goes.
Of course he wanted to teach men
to raise more corn, but his main OBJ
ject must have been to raise better
men. We come back to the query that
is contained in the concentrated wis
dom OF the ages. What shall it prof
it man il he gain the whole world
and lose his own soul?
"All of our science and all of our
arts will never be the means for the
true advancement Of our Nation,
will never remove us from the sphere
Of the superficial and the cynical.
will never give US u civilization and
culture of any worthy and lasting
Importance unless we are able to
see in them the outward manifesto
tion of a spiritual reality. Unless
our halls Of learning are real tenn
ples which are to be approached by
n.sM V,ne~kh to .At In nc
ence, consecEpted by worship of the
truth, they Will all end in u dclusion.
The information that is acquired in
them will simply provide Il greater
for evil. Our institutions
Of learning must be dedicated to Il
higher nurrose. The life Of our ma
ton must rise to a hirher realm.
Spiritual Outlook Necessary
"There is something more in learn
ing and something more in life than
a mere knowledge of science, a mere
acquisition Of wealth. mere striving
for place and power. Our colleges
will fail in their duty to their stu
dents unless they are able to inspire
them with a broader understanding
Of the spiritual meaning Of science,
Of literature, and Of the arts. Their
graduates will 20 out into life poorly
equipped to meet the problem of cx-
istence, to fall an easy prey to dis
and despair. Many Of
our older universities wer~ founded
by pious hands at great sacrifice for
the express purpose Of training men
for the ministry to carry light to
the people on the problems Of life.
Unless our college graduates are in
spired with these ideals, our colleges
have failed in their most important
function and our people will be lack
inR in true culture. Abraham Lin
coin, who was the most spiritual Of
tl:nntinued on page thIeo)