The Purpose of the Denominational College Endangered

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 9, 1915

The Purpose of the Denominational College Endangered

THE field secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Colleges and Academies sounds a note of warning against the multiplying sports and “side shows” in denominational colleges. We give his words as quoted in the Lutheran of October 28:—

It would take a long time to enumerate the activities of the modern college. Probably the first is athletics; next come the fraternities, then the glee and dramatic clubs. It probably can be stated in no better way than Mr. Wilson put it: “Activities in colleges have grown to be such a great side show in the college career that what is in the main tent is likely to be neglected. These activities demand much of the time of the college student. It is the ‘muchness’ of college activities that is the drawback. They are responsible for many of our young men and women coming out at the point of personal dissipation. There have grown up certain traditions in colleges, and these must be respected, much to the detriment of Christian character. Class spirit, athletic loyalty, and all those distracting influences tend to draw the student away from his work and make him indifferent to the responsibility which rests upon him to make a well-rounded, fully consecrated Christian. If education fails to form a good Christian character, it fails signally. The colleges are feeling their impotence in the face of the evil results of these activities. The colleges have failed to do what the church organized them to do. College presidents are not chosen today because they have great Christian zeal or evangelistic fervor. They are chosen because they have executive ability, or because they can raise money.”