484                 A. M. E. REVIEW.

the work of the college and in the nature of the work of the
labor union.
   Dr. Pritchett advances a third reason why the Church
should abandon her educational work. He declares as his
chief objection that "it is not wise for an organization" like
a college be controlled by another  organization" like
the Church. Let us consider what he says. First of all,
he admits that no student of history can withhold from the
Christian denominations a large measure of praise for their
work in the higher education. He says that in the pioneer
days Christian ministers were in the main those who raised
up such institutions. They were the men who instructed
the public in the cause of education, and, as one traces this
movement through the decades of our natural history, he
will give due credit to this spirit. It has served not only
to build many institutions which otherwise would never
have been begun, but also through it there have been inter-
ested in education a great number of men and women who
otherwise never would have felt the educational stir. All
these things he concedes gladly. Dr. Pritchett furthermore
declares that "the strongest motive which has operated in
inducing denominations to undertake the support and con-
trol of colleges is unquestionably the desire to propagate the
faith for which the denomination stands." And "another
motive is the need which has been felt for trained denomina-
tional leaders."
  Suppose it should be granted for the moment that these
motives did have great weight with the Church in the pio-
neer days of American life, and that these motives still ac-
tuate her.  What evil results have followed which now de-
mand the retirement of the Church from the educational
field?  Why is it not "wise administration for an organiza-
tion like a college to be controlled by another organization
like a church? Dr. Pritchett is hardly fair in his answer to
this latter question. He says: "The world cannot soon for-
get one long and costly experiment, that of turning over to




			

OHS/National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center Serial Collection

African Methodist Episcopal Church Review, Vol. 28, Num. 1

Volume:  28
Issue Number:  01
Date:  07/1911