Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1946-08-01

this quality has been emphasized by
those who wanted Wake Forest 10
remain where il now is and has been
since its establishment more than Il
century ago. But there is also
strength i'll bigneSS. II will be the
responsibility of the great denomi-
nation which owns the college to
see that the evils which could &c
company size are avoided and kept
out, and that can be done.
AS We understand il, the Reynolds
gift III no sense dcprivcS the Baptist
church i'll North Carolina of any
part or fragment OF It's control of
the college. presumably now To be-
come Il university. The church will
continue TO shape policy and 10
name trustees.
Admittedly, there is merit i'll the
contention that II were better for
gifts OF the denomination to provide
for growth and expansion. il such
gifts were sufficient. But after Il
hundred years. and despite the fact
that the BaptiStS are the greatest
religious group i'll North Carulinr.
numbering more than Il half Il mil
lion persons. Wake Forest is still Il
relatively small institution. Left TO
that type OF support alone. it prop
ably would always continue i'll that
status. Many. indeed. would prefer
II that way and their preference is
respected.
So great Il body, however. would
seem 70 be entitled IL Il religious
educational center commensurate
with the number OF lis commum-
!CautS. In all the nation there arc
icw-aCtually none that we can at
the moment think of-Grcat univcr-
stiles that are not either heavily cn-
dowcd or provided for and owned
by the states III which they are
located. Even hundreds of thousands
of individuals who consist III the
main q: middle class or lower Stratd
citizens. SO tar as wealth is con-
ccrncd. simply do not provide the
substance for large cndowmcntS.
Such provision comes only from
generous hearted individuals or fam
lies. Only this type of college or
university becomes great III in
tlucnce. III prestige and i'll service.
unless literally supported by taxa
ton.
In the case OF Wake Forest. there
fore. II has seemed to US that the
choice WAS between continuing as a
small CullCCc-CXccpt as To quality.
which need not be sacrificed now
ON the one hand. and accepting vas;
wealth and moving to another loca-
ton. on the other. While convic-
lions -: the minority arc worthy of
Inc utmost respect. prCpUndcranCc of
opinion Is on the other side and thar
viewpoint has decided the issue. !;
Is now for the great Baptist host Ia
close ranks and work for a grca,
Wake Forest University. an inStitu-
ton which IN time Will root itself as
deeply III the affections and Loyal
ties Of the Baptist people and of all
the people Uf the State as the college
IN Wake county has done through
the long decades. The sylvan atmoS-
phCrc IN tradition VIII not. indeed
cannot. ever lee forgotten. and should
not Dc. II was there that the foln-
kiatlpm was land for what lies ahead
IN the future.
Unless all signs fail. and unless.
as stated III the outset. unforeseen
obstacles arc encountered. Wax"
Forest College is ON the way Ia a
ncw and greater day of uscfuln,ss
and influence. No one knows bet
ter than the BaptistS how 10 unite
behind their own institutions. and
they shall find in this new develop
mcnt Il source of pride and strength.
ror we have very definite feeling
that the ten million dollars when
inspired the decision taken Tuesday
arc but the beginning in the way
OF financial support by the Rey-
noldS family and others in the CITY
which few years hence is to be-
como tho bpp,, 90 \-,,,t, T-,..i:.-.,