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6 THE PRESBYTERI
THE SYONDS AND THE STATE INSTITUTIONS
OF HIGHER LEARNING.
Rev. Henry H. Sweets, Secretary.
The marvelous growth and development of the State
institutions of higher learning presents to the Church
one of the most perplexing and difficult problems in
the home field.
The early history of education in our country gives
no light for the solution of this problem, for the Church
. was then supreme in the educational sphere. We
would this were true today! But behold what time
and money and well-directed energy have wrought.
Today almost all the denominations have more young
men in State institutions than in their own colleges.
Whatever may be our theories about education or
our desires about our own denominational colleges, the
great fact looms up before us that the State, with her
unlimited resources and her snlendidlv artirulnt^rl n?h.
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lie schools, high schools, colleges and universities, is
destined jto become even a greater factor in educational
matters than at present.
A Neglected Field.
The phenomenal growth of the State educational institutions
found the churches wholly unprepared.
Legislatures appropriated fabulous sums of money.
The students came by hundreds and by thousands.
The State was unable to provide sufficient moral safeguards
and positive Christian influence, and the Church
at last awoke to the seriousness of the situation.
A loud call comes to the churches of the South today.
Conditions are not so serious as those of the
North, but they may rapidly become so. In some of
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w... uioiiiuiiuiis me liniucnces are aeciaeaiy
Christian. The presidents of some and the professors
in many others are active officers in our own and
other churches. They need, and in many instances
they earnestly seek, the aid of the Church in their
difficult task of developing the moral and religious
life of the students.
Last year at twenty-six State institutions of the
South there were 13,400 students, of whom almost onesixth
(2,179) were members or adherents of our own
branch of the Presbyterian Church. The numbers are
rapidly increasing each year.
In past years many of our consecrated Christian
men have been trained in these institutions, and are
now occupying places of great usefulness in our Church
and the land. The Centennial Catalogue of one of ou"
Theological Seminaries (Union Seminary, in Virginia)
reveals the fact that out of 1,205 men enrolled, whost
college could be easily determined, 131 came from
cwenty-four State- institutions. Unless more intelligent
effort is put forth in this direction these institu
tions will fall far short of this helpfulness in the future.
Dr. Buchanan well says: "For the great Presbyterian
Church to leave to the accident of the size and
wealth of the local congregation the question oi
whether its host of State university students will worship
on the Lord's day in a church of their own de.nomination,.
or not, is monumental unwisdom and
short-sightedness."
AN OF THE SOUTH. October 20, 1909.
Obligation Recognized.
It is a just cause for gratitude that our Church early
began to realize the importance of looking after the
religious interests of her sons at State institutions.
The Synods of Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina
and Virginia have contributed through their Home
Mission committees to the support of churches and
capable pastors at Auburn, Chapel Hill, Clemson and
Blacksburg. The Synod of Missouri is considering
the placing of a student pastor at Columbia. The
Presbyterian Ministers' Association of Austin is contemplating
the placing of the Seminary professors in
charge of a Presbyterian home for the students of the
University of Texas. Other Synods are deeply interested
in this problem and are earnestly seeking light
for its solution.
It is clearly a problem to be faced by the Synods.
The students are gathered, not from one Presbytery,
but from over the whole State. As a rule, the churches
at the seat of these institutions are weak and not
able to secure a capable and efficient man, and if the
church is strong, the additional work of ministering
to a large crowd of college men, demands the services
of a college pastor.
The General Assembly at Savannah unanimously
adopted this resolution : "We urge our Synods to make
the fullest possible provision for the spiritual interests
of and pastoral oversight of the 2,179 men from
Presbyterian homes who are students in their State
universities."
Great wisdom is needed in dealing with this serious
problem. There are many experiments being
made, and we should profit by the experience of others.
The Faculty.
The faculty, to a large extent, determine the character
of the institution. By their lives and teaching
is created an atmosphere in which the religious nature
thrives or withers and dies. Great care should be
taken hy those in authority in order that only men of
high character are selected for positions with responsibilities
so great and influences so far-reaching. The
fathers and mothers of the State have a right to demand
that those who instruct their children choll Ko.
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men of approved piety and shall have proper respect
for the religious instruction that has been given in
the home.
Student Christian Associations.
The Christian organizations of the student body
of any institution can accomplish much in developing
the moral and religious life of the institutions. The
work of the College Department of the Young Men's
Christian Association and the Student Volunteer
Movement have been a great blessing to the student
life of the world. Some of its best organizations, with
most effective work, are in State institutions. In a
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ov.ui. uui uy iiic secretary ior tlie
South, Dr. Wtatherford, the facts arc^given: Twentyfour
college secretaries are giving their entire time
to the religious development of students in the South.
Ten thousand men are in the voluntary Bible classes of
the associations. The association needs the co-operation
of the pastors and Church, and is prepared to
render them the fullest return of efficient service.