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Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent §tre filmds d des taux de reduction diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est filmd d partir de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 9 \ 9 6 CORRESPONDENC ,/' ■ Anonymous and Otherwise, OONOKBNINO — •/, \\ ®|e Jeto ,tf |air at l^cabia C0I /.,' HOW IT WAS INAUGURATED ? DR. RAND, " DIDACTICS," i I I V <"1P"I __, WHAT THE GOVERNORS HAVE DONE, AND OTHER IMPORTANT MATTERS CONCERNING "THE NEW EDUCATIONAL DEPARTURE" IN ACADIA COLLEGE. Nov) is the time for friends of the College to express their opinion iii plain and unvmfakable terms. That such a Chair is not needed, the fol- lowing correspondence will clearly show. Whyi then, has it heen established 1 There are good reasons for believing that this thing was iirst sug- gested by Dr. Rand himself, and that for two or three months previous to the late Convention, he and one or two personal friends had their heads together working it up. It now comes to the light that this matter was discussed in secret meetings — be it said with shame — in secret meetings from which the oldest and ablest supporters of the Col- lege were excluded. If the thing had been mooted at the Convention, it would have created such a storm that the Governors would rot Lave dared to carry out the pet scheme, hence the secrecy. But now comes tho opportunity. The Con- vention dispersed not to meet ai;;ain for a year, the little trap perfected, the Govemo.-s are immediately called together at Wolfville to spring it upon the denomination. It is ten o'clock, p.m., when the vc te is taken at Wolfville, and lo ! nine hours frem that time a long editorial appeared in the Halifax Herald congratulating the Governors on their good success. When was this editorial written, and by whom ? Ten hours later, before a letter could possibly have reached Fredericton, Dr. Band's resignation was announced in the Halifax papers. Thus we see that the whole machinery had been perfected before the Governors me+ at Wolf- ville. Then appeared flaming editorials >-"6. anon- ymous letters in the denominational papers highly approving of the appointment, but when anony- mous letters were sent to the Christian Messenger, disapprouing of the new departure, they were care- fully shut out ; hence the necessity of this pamph- let to bring the matter before the Baptist people. It is very evident that these editorials and letters — all written by those connected with the move- ment— did not represent the views of the ablest supporters of the Institution, nor did they inform us where the money is to come from to pay the salary of $1600 a year. The object in compiling and circulating this correspondence is to bring this matter before the denomination, and call forth a general expression of opinion now, so that those connected with this movement may know what the feeling is, and govern themselves accordingly. Brethren, speak now, speak at once, before Dr. Band takes his place as a Professor in Acadia. ACADIA COLLEGE AND ITS NEW PEG FESSORSHIP. [To the Editor of the Herald.] Sir, — An important announcement concerning Acadia College appeared in a recent issue of your paper, an announcement which, I presume, many others besides myself received with a considerable amount of incredulity ; but as no official contnt- diction or correction has yet appeared, and as it is now followed by other news of a confirmatory character, I am forced to conclude that your infor- mation was. authentic, and that the governors of the College really have decided upon a new depar- ture, that of adding Dr. Band to the teaching staff of the College, as professor of didactics, at a salary of two thousand dollars a year. In arriving at so important a decision, it is to be supposed that the gentlemen composing the board of governors have not acted without giving the subject the fullest and most mature deliberation in all its various bearings and relations. They may, therefore, be prepared to give sound reasons for the faith that is within them, and unless such reasons are given, there will, I fear, be many who, like myself, have grave doubts as to the wisdom of making such a change. No one will for one moment question Dr. 'Band's fit- ness for the position. His great energy, untiring industry, practical experience and literary ability cannot be gainsayed. The objections to his ap- pointment are peculiar te the circumstances and may be stated under three heads. (1) Acadia can- not afford it, (2) There is no want of it, and (3) The discrimination in the matter of aalwry v unfair to the other professors. ' ^■^ In regard to the exp«n89> it will, I Uunk, vmA no \,'' JiU^ r argument to prove that we have no money with which to experiment. Read the following from the report of board of governors aa published in the last Baptist year book : "The treasurer's report will deal with the details of this matter. But here it may be stated in general that the income of the Board is not equal co the outlay. The result is debt, yearly accumulating. This should be clearly understood by the denomination, and grappl«d with before it becomes a monster too big to be handled. There are only two ways of overcoming this difficulty ; one is by reducing the expenditure; the other is by increasing the income." Do you not fear, gentlemen, that your recent action will add to this burden of debt, and eventually make it "a monster too big to be handled V At the late convention, when the question of affiliating with the Toronto institution was under consideration, no argument was more frequently advanced by the advocates of the measure than that by accepting it we would relieve ourselves of a burden. Why, then, has a greater " burden " been placed upon the shoulders of the denomination? And why, too, has it been done without the knowledge or consent of the denomination, without anyone out- side of the inner circle of the board of governors ^ having the least inkling that such a change was contemplated 1 There is, certainly, as much reason for submitting this matter to the Baptist body in convention assembled as there was that in reference to the theological department. If not, why noti It is true that a large part of the late indebtedness has been subscribed, and when paid, will reduce the expenditure by a very considerable amount. Dr. Welton's resignation will also make a further reduction, but with both these there will still be a balance on the wrong side of the account. How is this to be mefi Until the amounts already subscribed have been paid, it will be of little use to pass around the hat again. Under these circum- .^ stances it seems to me it would have, been much better to have given the friends of the institution a breathing spell of a few years before asking them to assume additional obligations. In the second place, there is no want of a teacher •f didactics at Acadia. No students have expressed any desire for instruction in that particular depart- ment, and no graduates have ever expressed regret that they hav* not been bo instructed. No other arts college in Canada, as far as I can ascertain, has such an instructor, and but few in the United States. None of our students while studying in Qermany, or in Great Britain, have thought the subject of sufficient importance as to make it one of their studies. It does, therefore, border a little on the absurd when a college that has to be con- tinuously appealing to its friends to come to its rescue with funds, boasts of a luxury of having what only two or three ef the wealthiest colleges on this continent have, a professor of didactics. Acadia does need a professor of modem languages. L These should be a part of the regular course. Boom should he made fox them. There is need too of ^ more work in science. Lectures on agriculture and practical instruction in assaying might be introduced with advantage. A college should supply a want. Just at present in this province, and indeed throughout the whole of our young and rapidly progressing Dominion, there is a need of young men educated in those particular subjects peculiar to our country, whose education could be turned to some practical account in the develop- ment of our mineral and agricultural resources. Men who can make two blades of grass grow where only one has grown before, who understand the capabilities of the country, and who can materially assist in developing them, are more needed just now than those who can spout Greek, or swear in Hebrew, or even those who have taken honors in didactics. Open new departments by all means when they can be afforded ; but let them be the most useful and the most necessary first. We can wait for the ornamental and the luxuries s little longer. In regard to my third point, little need be said. The policy of placing one professor's salary at two thousand dollars a year, or even at sixteen hundi'ed, as rumor gives it, while others equally efficient, doing a work of even greater importance, only receive one thousand, cannot be justified. Our prefessors have given the best years of their lives to Acadia College. They havo even donated a part of their small salaries to the institution in times of financial difficulties. If the governors can afford to be generous to any one, they certainly are the most deserving, and their faithful services of nearly a score of years should form a first claim on the generosity of the board. Believing that the governors will not object to any fair criticism of theii late action, and with a view of obtaining further information in reference to it, these remarks are respectfully submitted by A Gbadojitb.' /' n ACADIA COLLEGE MOVES. [To the Editor uf the Citizen and Evening Chronicle.] Sir, — We are often reminded of the fact that we live in an age whose motto is "onward." The man who moves slowly will likely be left behind in the race for fame, and the Governors of Acadia College are evidently of opinion that the same is true of institutions of learning. But it might be better, after all, for a man to stand still than to move in a wrong direction ; bet- ter even to go backward for a while than to move forward over a precipice. And so I am inclined to think that it would be better for the Governors of our College to pause long enough to cast an eye about them, than to move forward in a direction that may be hazardous to the best interests of our institutions of learning. The recent action of that bedy in establishing a new professorship in the college reminds one very much of the story of the man who went to the woods for a load of boughs, and having bound to- ^A^ .^ .Jl. T r .n 4 gether what he considttred a fair load, attempted to I shoulder it, but finding it too much for hia| atrength he added more to it and then made a second attempt, but of course with loss chance of success thkn bnfore. Thus the Governors of Acadia College have in the past bound up a load for themselves which, according to their own showing for the last few years, they have not besn able to shoulder, and now they have added considerable to that burden, and are about to make another attempt to carry it. I do not know how it may seem to those wha are within the circle, but those outside cannot under- stand how this addition is to maksthe burden any easier to handle. Now, Mr. Editor, the writer has no doubt that the body of men whose action he presumes to criticize represents as much wisdom and intelligence as could be found in any body of the same number, nor does he doubt that these men have the beat interests of the college at heart; but all this only makes it the more difficult to un- derstand why, under the circumstances, they should have moved in the direction they have. The Governors are aware, of course, that many others besides themselves are deeply interested in all that concerns Acadia College, and also that those outside the Board of Governors cannot help having an opinion in reference to this new depar- ture. They will not, therefore, be surprised to find us inclined to give public expression to our opinion. It does seem to us that the governors will find it difficult to show that there is really any pressing need for the chair which they have now established, nor can they fail to see the necessity of making that point very clear, if they hope to make the new departure a success. For it must be evident to all, that to establish a chair for which there is no pressing demand, at a cost of $1,600 or $2,000 a year, in an institution that is largely depending for its support on the benevolence of th^churclies, will not meet with very general indorsement, and in the absence of such general approval we cannot see how the new departure can be a success. Wo do not say that the governors are not prepared to show that the appointment does meet a real and pressing need, but we do say that they have not done so as yet, and say further that unless they are prepared to show that such a chair is the most pressing need of Acadia College at the present time, their recent action cannot fail to be in a greater or less degree disastrous to the best inter- ests of the institution. Quite a number of newspaper articles have ap- peared since the appointment was announced con- gratulating the Governor on their good fortune in scouring the services of Dr. Kand. Now if Dr. K.'8 serricrs were really needed at Acadia, we might compel our pen to join in these congratula- tions, but when one remembers the two or three departments of learning in which the college is really deficient, and in which suitable men are really needed, one is puzzled to understand wkether the wisdom of the Governors was taxed in finding a man to fill the chair or in creating a chair to suit the man. It is not speaking in the least disparag- ingly of Dr. Rand's ability and worth — for we freely admit both — when wo say it could not be expected that he would be in a position to accept an appointment to either of the chairs which Aca- dia now needs, viz., modern languages an 1 natural science. If the Governors see their way clear to add am- otlier to the teaching force of the college, and de- sire to retain the sympathy and support of the churches in their worlr it seems mysterious and inexplicable to us, that they had not secured a man to fill one of the above chairs. They may answer that they are not accountable to anyone for their management of college matters. But still we think they would do well to remember that tne college is embraced in the benevolent schemj of the cnurches, and that the future of the college depends largely on the success of that scheme. We fool sure that this new departure — as it is called — will be a matter of deep regret to many friends of Acadia. We are a little anxious to know how the present faculty of the college feel in reference to that which seems to us an unrighteous discrimination in the matter of salary. Some of us who enjoyed the privilege of sitting at the feet of Dr. Sawyer came away from Wolfville with the conviction that he is a great man, a man possessing talents and teaching ability se ond to none in tne Provinces, to say the least. Were we mistaken in our conviction 1 We believe not. At any rate, we are of the same opinion still, and it seems a little mysterious to us how it is that our competent and worthy President can be retained in the Provinces at a smaller salary than one who is to be under him. This, however, is a side issue. The fact is that the Governors of the college have assumed an additional responsibil- ity which we believe was not wise. But we will now wait for their explanation. A Pastor. « ^ ^ » THE NEW PROFESSORSHIP IN ACADIA COLLEGE. (To the Editoi of the Herald.) Sib, — I would not trespass on your columns but our denominational paper being closed to any crit- icism of the recent educational departure in con- nection with Acadia college, there is no way of calling attention to the imperilled position of this useful institution, except through the indulgence of the daily press. In common with many friends of the inititution at Wolfville, I hare looked anxi- ously for some reply to the letter of "Graduate," but have thus far looked in vain. The opinion seems to be gaining ground that the action cannot be defended, — that there is no possible ground for excusing, much less defending the establishment of a chair in Didactics in Acadia college without providing any funds for its sup- port. It is well known that the present income is ^Mi^ttariiiHii^ ^rfHMtia no more than is sitfYicient to pay the salaries of the present staff, and it is certainly an act of gross injustice to these professors to make an appoint ment chargeable upon the resources that are barely enough to meet tht present wants. There is now no prospect of making up 'this difference. The agent reports that his work is brought to a staud- still. The late appointment is so unpopular that nothing more can be collected for paying off the debt or for enlarging the endowment. How then can the governors justify their action ? The people want to know. Oct. 3, 1883. Alumnus. (To the Editor of the Herald.) Sib, — I was much surprised to read im the com- munication of "Alumnus" in the Herald of to-day, concerning the recent appointment to the faculty of Acadia College, the statement "our denomina- tional paper being closed to any criticism of the recent educational dedarture in connection with Acadia College." T have taken pains to enquire if it were so, and find that the statement is not true Another statement, I find, is not sustained by facts. He says : "The agent reports that his work is brought to a stand-still" (in consequence of the recent appointment). Now I am informed that the agent gave to the Governors of the College as the reason of his being unable te continue his agency the illness of his wife. Would it not be better for "Alumnus," and others writing on this subject, to be sure of their facts before putting them before the public to the injury of their Alma Mater. A SonoLARSHiP Holder. Halifax, Oct. 4. THE NEW CHAIR IN ACADIA COLLEGE. (To the Editor of the Herald.) Sir, — In reply to the letter of "Scholarship Holder" in this morning's Herald, I can suy that I had the statement directly from the agent— Mr. Denton — himself, and indirectly from many others, that he could get no more pledges after \his appointment to the new chair had been announced. His chief argument had been that the institution was in debt and that the denomination was morally bound to discharge this debt. The contributions had been made with this object in view, but when the Governors again involved themselves to the extent of $27,000, or $1600 a year, this argument could be no longer used With regard to "our denominational paper," I have testimony to the effect that three articles were refused publication in that organ. One of these was sent before the appointment and the others afterwards. The two latter have since appeared in the daily papers. I can name them if required, though I had nothing to do with their preparation. On both these counts, therefore, "Scholarship Holder" is convicted by direct testimony. As this gentleman is possessed with a yearning desire for getting at "facts" he will, no doubt, accept thank- fully the information I have just given Vim. Mr. Eaton informs us that he is "jno of them" and is willing to give information to those "entitled" to rocoive it. If an "Alumnus" of the College is not "entitled to be informed" there are many others who have contributed largely to the support of the institution, and who haA^e its wel- fare closely at heart, who would be thankful to know how the imposition of this new burden is to involve anything hort of a serious financial dis- aster. I have a high regard for the gentleman »:,t;iected to fill the chair, but I must think that the Governors have shown groat unwisdom in making the appointment at this time. Alumnus. Oct. 5th, 1883. "SCHOLARSHIP HOLDER" MISINFORMED. (To the Editor of the Freraltl.) Sir, — I do not know who " Alumnus" is or what hit! experience with our vlenominational organ has been, but mine teaches me that what he says is about correct, and that said organ is closed to any criticism of the recent educational departure in connection with Acadia College. The editor was asked to publish my article which recently appeared in the Herald, but he refused, at first on the ground that my name was not attached, and when I consented to have my name appear he refused even then to insert it on some trivial pre- text or other. I have jjonitive jn'oof of this. Oct. 5, 1883. Graduate. " GRADUATE' EXPOSED. (To the Kditor of the Herald.) Sir, — In this morning's Herald "Graduate" tries to show that my statements were inaccurate, and speaks of^tho editor of "our denominational organ" as having refused to publish his article, w/iic/i had alreadjj appexircd in ijuur cuhiinns (/) over the signature "Graduate," and says : "When I consented to have my name appear he refused even then to insert it on some trivia/ pretext or other." The "pretext" was that the communica- tion had already appeared in the Herald. The idea of a communication which had appeared in the Herald over one signature afterwards appearing in another journal over another name may appear to "Graduate" all right and dignified, but to sensible men would be the veriest trifling and childishness. The young man seems to have fallen into the trap he had set for another. A Scholarship Holdiir. October 6, 1883. " SCHOLARSHIP HOLDER'S" " TRAPS." CLAP- (To the Editor of the Herald.) Sib,— "Scholarship Holder" is of the opinion that to publish an artiole concerning Acadia Col- J .'■ M. ■" ^\- lego in the Ghrlatian Me8>ienf/er after it had appeared in a secular paper would be the "veriest trifling and childishness." Be it so. Not very long ago the editor in (question did that very same thing in the case of something I wrote —that is, he copied from a daily paper nearly a column and made favorable editorial comments upon it. "8cholar8hip Holder," therefore, must acknowledge that what he now states is miserable rubbish ot that in the past the management of this denomina- tional organ in question has been characterized by the "veriest tiifling and childishness-" Which horn does lie prefer 1 More than that, mine was not the only article refused, and this is not the only occasion in which the organ has been closed to criticism. If any one wishes particulars can be given. I have never had the least difficulty in getting thj editor to insert anything I chose to write in favor of the institution or the manage- ment, and if my article had been of such a kind I have no doubt it would have been published even without my name, inasmuch as he has copied nearly everything that has yet appeared favoring the movement — most of which, by the way, has been wricten by some of the Governors themselves, "The (old) man seems to have fallen into the trap," etc. Graduate. Oct. 8, '83. THE CHAIR OF EDUCATION COLLEGE. IN ACADIA THE NEW PliOFESSORSHIP COLLEGE. IN ACADIA (To the Editor of the Herald.) Sir, — Your correspondent "Alumnus" asks how the Governors of Acadia College can justify their recent establishment of a chair of education and their appointment of Mr. Rand to fill it. I have no authority to speak for the Governors, but as one of them I am ready, if your correspondent desires it, and if on learning his name I consider him entitled to be informed on the subject, cheerfully to give him my justification for joining in and supporting the action in question. This is all I can do in the matter. B. H. Eaton. 35 Bedford Row, Halifax, Oct. i, 1883. THE NEW PROFESSORSHIP IN ACADIA COLLEGE. (To the Editor of the Herald.) Sir, — I did not write the article signed " Alum- nus," and do not know who did, but feeling a deep interest in the welfare of Acadia College, I should be glad to hear, through the press, Mr. Eaton's reasons for joining in and supporting the appointment of Dr. Rand to the professorship of "Didactics" — provided, of course, Mr. Eaton "con- siders me entitled to be informed on the subject." William L. Barbs, 52 Bedford Row. Halifax, Oct. 5th, 1883r (To the Editor of the Mail.) Sir, — Certain action recently v .ken by the Governors of Acadia College — namely, the estab- lishment of a chair of education and the appoint- ment of T. H. Rand, D.C.L., to fill it — appears to have cautied dissatisfaction among some friends of the institution, and in you r columns and thoae of other journals these Governors have been called upon to justify, if they can, the steps taken by them. Now, the Governors are responsible to the Baptist convention of the Maritime Provinces, by whom they are appointed, and in due and proper time their action will bo reported to that body, who may approve or disapprove, as may seem good to them. Upon the propriety of their own action the Governors will stand or fall. While responsible to the convention, however, and bound to report to that body, they are not responsible to anonymous newspaper correspondents, nor required to justify their proceedings through the public press. Hence they will not probably be hoard from on this sub- ject till the next meeting of convention. While this is so, however, I felt, as one of their number, 1 1 was at liberty to furnish to any one the reasons which prompted me to support the action in ques- tion, and accordingly offered on easy terms to give them to your anonymous correspondent "Alum- nus" on being furnished with his name, but the offer was declined, and he that was anonymous is anonymous still and likely to remain so, probably for good reasons. Later, my friend W. L. Barss, Esq., the worthy son of one of Acadia's best friends, has asked me to justify through the press the proceedings above referred to I accede, because he is worthy who asks, and because silence might be misinterpreted. Besides, many people are inclined to believe there is a good deal of ftame where there is a little smoke. It is wonderful how the dust raised by a few anonymous writers is sometimes taken as an indication of a tempest, and the talk of a small village is sometimes mis- taken for the "murmur of the world," particularly by the folks of the village. It is no new thing that the action of the Gover- nors of Acadia has caused dissatisfaction. I do not reccollect a time when it was not so. There will always be those who will criticise unfavorably every new movement, and it may not be altogether unfortunate that it is thus. It is frequently by adverse criticism that the real merits of any line of action are made indisputable. Acadia has survived all such manifestations, however, and has steadily and surely grown in favor, I believe, both with God and man. After the college governors had had their day in the convention recently held in this city, and the subject of foreign missions came before that body, the governors met to consider the situation. They found that by the action of the convention they were no longor charged with the duty of \ 8 providing for theological instruction at Wolfville , that Dr. Walton had beon appointed a professor in McMastor Hall, and that iiho convention had, in fact, transferred matters theological to Toronto. This placed Dr. Welton's salary ($1,000) at the disposal of the governors. They found further that the most gratifying announcement had been made to the convention that our mortgage debts and our debt for current expenses, amounting in the whole to about 933,000, had all been, except but a trifling sum, subscribed for during the past ye&r, and that now we could count on the saving to the college of the interest heretofore paid on that large sum. In other words, they found that in one year the endowment had been increased by nearly $33,000. At this moment I think it must be apparent that, from a financial point of view, the way was open for some new appointment, unless, indeed, it be the desire of the denomination that the governors save and curtail till they bring back the former days when they conducted Acadia with two pro- fessors and called it a college. Their motto, how- ever, is forward. Acadia's shadow never shall become less if the governors can he?p it. They have grave responsibilities thrust upon them. They must plan for the future as woU as for the present. Often must they take steps in advance, trusting first in God, and then in the denomination, always keeping in view the great object of advancing the moral and spiritual, as well as the educational in- terests of the youth entrusted to their care. From the earliest days of Acadia such steps in advance have been taken in trust and hope, and neither God nor the denomination has deserted the succes- sive governing bodies, and I believe it will always be so while their motives in managing the institu- tion are pure, unselfish, and prompted only by an earnest desire to perform their high duties. Well, the question now arose, theology being transferred to Toronto, and the financial outlook being so encouraging, what branch of instruction should we now undertake in place of the one thus transferred. And it was suggested, if I recollect correctly by President Sawyer, that instruction in the theory and practice of teaching would, in his opinion, be most desirable as a part of the pre- scribed course in Acadia College. The suggestion was long and carefully discussed, and the more it was discussed the more convinced the governors became that nothing was now so much needed in the college as the branch of learning suggested. This point being settled, where could be found the man who could and would rise to the great occa- sion 1 Enquiry elicited the fact that among our own number then sitting with us could be obtained to take charge of this branch of knowledge the man of all men in these maritime provinces by universal acknowledgment the best qualified for the position ^Dr. Band, then chief superintendent of educa- tion for New Brunswick. Well, here then was the subject now recognized by the governors as one of the utmost importance, and here was the man. What did the governors do 1 Many no doubt even in sued a juncture world have counselled delay, further consideration, and so on, but I see no reason why, when a good thing presents itself which you can now obtain, you should delay a moment. I must quote the words of Bret Harte, they are so appropriate : "They saw their duty— a dead sure thing, and went for it there and then." Now I must trace this matter on to its consumma- tion, though the details may seem tedious, for gen- erally speaking 1 believe a grumbler is more severe on details and modes than on the thing itself. I must explain here that the establishment of any branch of instruction in the college and the selection of the man to take charge of it does not come within the jurisdiction of the govern* s of the college. That duty devolves on the senate of the university. Of whom is the senate composed 1 The faculty of the college and six fellows and twelve scholars. They are the literary body ; they regulate the course ef study, recommend the names of new professors, and so forth. It became neces- sary, therefore, that this body should be called together to initiate, if they should pleaie, this business. This, of course, required time, as the members of the senate reside in various places in the Provinces. I mention this because I observe that some anonymous writer complains that this business was not placed before the convention. It was quite impossible to bring it before that body. It required ten days or so ta summon together the body on whom alone the establishment of the pro- posed chair devolved- This is enough to say to those who are willing to be reasonable. The senate met at Wolfville about a fortnight after the convention. I was present, as I had a right to be, though not a member of that body. Ik was moved by Hon. Judge Johnston and seconded by another member, that a chair be established in Acadia College to be known as the chair of "the principles and practice of education," and that Dr. T. H. Band be recommended to the governors as a man pre-eminently qualified to fill it. The motion was fully and generally discussed and unanimously and, I thought, enthusiastically adopted. After- wards the senate duly reported their action and recommendation to the governors, who had arranged for a meeting on the same day. Now, will those who have expressed diseatisfaction with the action of the governors in adopting the recom- mendations of the senate please explain how it is they find no fault ^nth the senate for making those same recommendations 1 Looking to the fact that the senate is composed first of the president and professors of the college, and secondly of felluws and scholars selected by virtue of their eminent literary abilities, I think it is sufficient justification of my supporting the action now in question to show, as I have done, that I was onl]^ voting to adopt the recommendations of a very learned body to whom peculiarly and legally belonged the maturing of such recommendations. But I know tho gOTemors were not bound to aceopt the leoom- t'-^; r ubt even d delay, see no its itself delay a t Harte, duty— a i then." nsumma- for gen- re severe self, iment of and the does not ernt s of senate of imposed 1 lows and ,dy ; they ;he names me neces- be called jaie, this le, as the places in I observe that this ntion. It hat body, gether the )f the pro- to say to fortnight i I had a body. It seconded Wished in r of "the d that Dr. ' jrnors as a !he motion lanimously i. After- action and who had ay. Now, ction with the recom- how it is aking those le fact that isident and of fellows lir eminent justification (question to voting to lamed body longed the But I know the re«om- 1 I mendations of the senate. Wo could have over- ruled thoin, and therefore, perhaps, I am driven in absolute justification' to show that such recommen- dations were not bhd, but wore good. They came from a high source. Yes, but they may have been unsound. Yes, of course. But I am willing to stand upon the soundness of the action of the governors, irrespective altogetner of the high authoritY of the senate. The chair was needed — needed more than any other you can name. The new professor is to teach, I take it, "the principles and the practice of education," the history of edu- cation, the methods of instruction, the nature of knowledge and the methods of acquiring and imparting it, the nature of man and the methods of educing from it all possible perfection, and the preparation for the organization and the manage- ment of the school, and the conditions of its efficient operation, and so on. To acquire know- lodge is one thing, to impart it is another. I can point you to graduates of Acadia who stand very high as scholars who have been utter failures as teachers. They were taught many things, but no one ever taught them how to teach. This branch of knowledge they were loft to pick up for them- selves and failed in the attempt. By-and-byo we shall need new professors. Where shall we get thom 1 Why, we are making them now. In the classes of to-day at Acadia are the professors of a few years hence. Shall they be taught how to teach, how to successfully impart the instruction they are now receiving, or she.U they bo left to pick that knowledge up for themselves as they try their unskilled hands on our sons and daughters 1 If a college graduate is to stretch ahead of his less educated fellows in any lino of the world's work, as he llege shall always )w appointment, ir oircumstances. Dr. Rand have insult upon the giving Theodore than even the present professors ily believe remain hey have for Aca- of so much more , whom everyone ior man in his de- has been called cians of Canada ; onsidered by all olar? ater in Dr. Rand lat "the laborer is college matters, r giving Dr. Rand i« College was ne- . am sorry to say ongly recommend- to fill the position gain so great an f Acadia College 1 place him so high er heard and never nything more than well qualified for of education, and well when in that office, yet that is no guarantee tb at be possesses extraordinary ability. On another point I would gladly be enlightened. Why was this matter not brought forward at the convention t Why was it done with closed doorsi and in the dark hours of the night 1 And the very men who pay largely to the support of Acadia, and are deeply interested in the college, knew nothing of this transaction until it had been settled, far- ther, was not the man who had in Acadia's most dire necessity come liberally to her assistance, asked to retire from the meeting that this thing might be carried through'? It has been strongly hinted in some circles that Dr. Rand has a partner in this transaction who eventually expects reward for his labors. I am anxious that some one of the governors should answer some of these questions, for I feel that this is the worst blow Acadia has had since the great loss she met with through the salt mine. Querist. « ^ ^ < DIDACTICS! DIDACTICS! (To the Editor of the Mail ) Sib, — Mr. Eaton has very kindly and very cour- teously afforded us— or tried to afford us — the in- formation sought, viz., his reasons for supporting the recent new departure at Acadia. He is to be complimented on the literary character of his arti- cle, if not on the soundness of his arguments ; on his fearlessness in boldly asserting as fact what has yet to be proved ; and on the ability he displays in concealing beneath a superabundance of words a very great scarcity of anything like solid reasoning. He tells us at the outset that it is nothing new for the governors of Acadia College to be criticised. I take issue with him on that point It is a new thing for the governors of Acadia to be criticised,seriously and in the public press, for men who have given thousands of dollars to the institution — Acadia's best friends — to boldly denounce the action of the board of governors, and even threaten, as some of them now do, to put an injunction upon them, to prevent any of the present income being appropri- ated to pay th« new professor. Acadia has in the past grown in favour both with God and man, we are told. And why has it ! Simply because it has been conducted in accordance with Baptist principles, and in such a way as to secure the hearty support and co-operation of the denomina- tion. Never before has there been any such meet- fhgs, any concealment, any whispering together among the governors ; never before has there been any of that which, in political circles, would be called wire-pulling and jobbery. And so the matter was considered at meetings of the board held during convention ! Why then was the whole thing kept such a profound secret ! The reason Mr. Eaton givA is childish — because, for- sooth, the senate had not approved of it I Before the senate had approved of it, before it was fully decided upon, before Dr. Rand had resigned his position in New Brunswick — then was the tints to take the sense of the denomination, and Vl»% after- wards. What would have been more natural, what more becoming, what more honest than for the members of the Board to have come forward and said to the convention ; "brethren, we are thinking of making a change if the senate approve* of it. We want your advice in the matter." Bat no, the decisive step is taken, the mischief is done, and at the next convention wo will be told, as we are now privately told by one of the governors, "O, the thing must stand ; we oan't do without it nowl we have not money enough to pay the damages." But there is another point which Mr. Eaton ne- glected to refer to. How did Dr. Aylward, of St. John and Hon. Mr. FitzRandolph, of Frederioton, know about the proposed innovation ? They were not at the convention, and they did not attend the meeting of the board in Wolfville ; and yet at that meeting in Wolfville letters were read from them expressing their approval of it. Who canvaaaeJ them i There is a good-sized African in the fence somewhere. Mr. Eaton's treatment of the financial question is most ingenious. Dr. Welton's resignation did relieve the governors of paying $1000 a yevttohim, and the debt of $33,000 has been subscribed. Yes, but the $1000 only balances an annual deficit of about that, and the 833,000 is rot to be paid till three years. Time enough to appropriate that when we get it. I have heard Mr. Denton distinctly state that part of that $33,000 was promised on the understanding that we kept out of debt. Mr. Eaton would have us believe that the governors concluded to establish a chair of education, as he calls it, he/ore the question as to who should fill it was thought of. It is too late to tell such a story as that. Everybody knows, for several governors have frequently stated it in private conversation, that Dr. Rand himself advocated the establishment of sui-h a chair and his own appointment, desiring, as he expressed it,"to get out of the turmoil of politics and quietly settle down in some such position in connection with his life-work. There are good reasons for believing that the idea originated with him^ that he secured the approval of a few of the governors, taking them "one by one," and that these afterwards influenced the others. Some have oan- didly teld us that they approved of it because cer- tain other persons did. One of the principal argu- ments in favor of it that has been, privately advanced is that another institution had made overtures to Dr. Rand with a view of establishing the same chair there, — an institution that has a bequest of nearly, if not quite, one hundred thou- sand dollars as yet unappropriated, and which, having^already a professor of modern languages and three professors im science, can well afford to try the experiment of a professor of school-teaching. Birt it is questionable if any such overtures ever were made, although the rumor of them had some- thing to do with the recent decision. But Dr. Rand "loveth our people." I would be sorry to question that ; but when Mr. Eaton tells us in the / * b^ II very next pftragraph that "it transpired before we appointed Dr. Hand that he would not take the chair for a salary less than $1600," he affords us a pretty accurate means of judging the heights and the depths of the Dr's love for our institution. That ft not the kind of love that our professors have had for it in the past, which has led them to devote their lives to it, and contribute of their small salaries towards its support. The only justification that Mr. Eaton offers for the lai-ge salary is that the professors did not object when called in and told what was proposed. Fancy a professor placed in such a position saying "yes, I object, I'll 'strike* if you do." They ought not to have been placed in so delicate a position. The only possible answer that they as gentlemen cou'd give was the one they did. Moreover, I have rea- non for suspecting that such representation • was m^de to them as led them to believe that the new salary was not to be a tax on the present income. But is the chair needed f This is the important question, compared with which all others are but secondary. I will not follow Mr. Eaton through the labyrinth in which he has travelled in dealing with this point, nor, indeed,' is it easy to discover amid his rhetorical logomachy, just what he is driving at. He speaks of a "square peg in a round hole," "an incubus" of "squaring young men for the work they are bound to do," and such like "rot," — ^for it is nothing else, meaning, I suppose, that Acadia's graduates have not been successful in the past for the want of proper instruction in "Didactics." How happens it that a man who has never been taught this wonderful subject is so eminently qualified to fill this important position? Acadia's graduates to-day are filling, and filling suc- cessfully.the most prominent positions in this domi- nion and the neighboring republic. They stand in the very front rank among the judges,the barristers, preachers and teachers of this province, and when Mr. i iton insinuates to the contrary, he pays a doubtful compliment to his brother alumni. Mr. Eaton's defiHition of the new professor's duties would seem to include instruction in anatomy and moral and mental philosophy. The first is. not needed, the others are now thoroughly and effici- ently taught. Didactics, as taught in other institu- tions, is the the science of school-teaching. Only this aid nothing more. Do we want such a pro- fessor at Wolfville 1 I say distinctly and emphat- ically, nc ! Only a small portion of Acadia's graduates be- come teachers, and moat of these have had all the experience needed before they go to Wolfville at all, and besides, we hare a thoroughly efficient Normal School, that we are now assisting to sup- port, where teachers can get better pro^ssional training, inasmuch as they have greater facilities. Let the square pegs in round holes go there for three or six monthd. Taking it all in all, Mr. Eaton's letter, while it will make no converts to his cause, will confirm the conviction' of those already opposed, and go far to convince the rest . ^■.. .- Jl'.Wij,|j(Lj 14 that a seriovB, an unpardonable, an expensive blunder has h^aen committed ; a blunder which, if persisted in, will do more to bring about university consolidation, by alienating from Acadia the affec- tions of many of her best friends and supporters, than anything that the most zealous consolidationist could possibly do. I have no axe to grind ; no private interests to sub.serve. The interest I feel in my Alma Mater alone prompts me to wrire this letter. F. Andrews. *Halifax,Oct. 10, 1883. ACADIA'S " DIDACTICS." (To the Eilitor of the iVTorning Chronicle.) Sir, — The lecent appointment of Dr. Rand to a chair at Acadia on the art of teaching, with a sal- ary of sixteen hundred dollars per year, seems to have given almost general dissatisfaction among the friends of that college. Several well written letters on the subject have appeared in the columns of the different newspapers criticizing severely the appointment in every particular, and calling upon the Governors of tht college to show good and sufficient cause as to n.iy such a chair was created and why Dr. Rand is the appointee, and why the salary is sixteen hundred dollars. Only one letter has been written attempting to justify the above, and that by an old friend and college chum of the Dr.'s. Mr. Eaton, one of the Governors of the college and a party, to the trans- action, is the author of the letter I refer to, and he has attempted, in a well-written letter, to prove that the chair was needed at Acadia, and that Dr. Rand was built to fit that chair completely. Mr. Eaton's letter shows him ( Mr. E.) to be a clever lawyer and quite able sometimes, with a bad cause, to submit to a jury with great force his side of the case, and, providing that the jury do not know as much about the case as he, without doubt he would be successful. Here, however, Mr. Eaton has gone to a jury as fully conversant as he with the position and needs of Acadia College ; as fully conversant as he as to the desirability of a chair on the art of teaching in any art college, and as fully acquainted as he with the capability of Dr. Rand to fill such a chair, and, consequently, he has lost his cause. His arguments, otherwise and on their face strong, have therefore no weight whatever. I venture to say that no sane and unbiassed man will say for one moment that, even supposing Dr. Rand is the best man in the whole world to fill such a position, and even supposing a plethora of funds at Acadia, that a chair on the art of teaching was needed or at all desirable. The wants of a college or denomination, like the wants of a community, are always apparent, and are sought for by repeated demands until the sup- ply is furnished, and the supply is only obtained when the demands shows it to be needed. Now, when and where has the Baptist body shown that such a chair as didactics has been needed by them 10 , an expensive lunder \rhich, if about university \cadia the atfec- and supporters, consolidationist :e to grind ; no 1 interest I feel me to wrire this F. Andrews. ncs." Chronicle.) )f Dr. Rand to a hing, with a sal- ■ year, seems to action among the ell wrilten letters tie columns of the r severely the md calling upon show good and :hair was created ee, and why the en attempting to old friend and Saton, one of the arty, to the trans- [ refer to, and he iter, to prove that id that Dr. Rand y. Mr. Eaton's ilever lawyer and cause, to submit of the case, and, know as much ibt he would be Eaton has gone with the position fully conversant Lair on the art of fully acquainted ind to fill such a lost his cause. ;heir face strong, J. ; and unbiassed even supposing whole world to osiug a plethora on the art of able. lination, like the rs apparent, and is until the sup- s only obtained needed. Now, }ody shown that needed by them in their college ? When and from whom did such a cry go forth? Where has been the demand 1 If none, then why obtain the supply ? Years ago, in happy moments of thought, it became apparent to a few venerable leaders in the Baptist body that the denomination must have a college— and why ? because there was a general demand for education, particularly denominational , schools. What did these good, old and true friends of the Baptists do ? Did they meet with closed do'jrs and secretly agree to build and equip i a college? No, they first debated the subject I before the whole body in full and solemn conclave, I and out of the same. They foand a growing and I universal demand for an institution of learning, and if they then took steps to provide for its supply. ' They know then that they had the full sympathy and support of a large and influential body at their back, and their work was consequently crowned with success. When a president was to be elected for the col- ' lege, or a new chair to be created, something of the same course was pursued. O shades of venerable and departed fathers I is there none left upon whom you have thrown your mantle ? Has the time gone by in the history of that college you loved so well and nurtured with your prayers and your tears when "none was for ■ a party and all was for the state" '.' There are still ' left, I believe, good men and true amon/^ the friends of Acadia not willing, if they can help it, s that she be ma- ' last resting place of the dis- " appointed hopes and unemployed talents of any of her old sons. Hence these tears. There are art colleges on the continent of America, I believe, • older, richer and better equipped than Acadia, yet • I should like to know of one embracing a chair on ,: the art of teaching. Harvard College is old and rich, and, though ' situated in the very Athens of America, and amidst the moat developed and cultured thought of the ] age, yet has she such a chair ? She educates thirty hundred students to Acadia's one hundred, yet no didactics there. How about Yale ? How i about Brown] Both plenty of money and students * m THE ACADIA COLLEGE TROUBLES. (To the Editor of the Herald.) Sir,— I regret exceedingly that my name has been dragged into the controversy on the new pro- fessorship in Acadia College. I am compelled, in justice to myself and in the interests of the work in which I am engaged, to say that the statement of "Alumnus," that the agent reports his work brought to a stand still by virtue of the recent appointment, is not correct. Even if I had said to "Alumnus" what he reports I have said it would have been a private communication, and he should not have put it in the public press. I have made no official report of such a nature as the above, nor have I announced it in the public press. Certainly "Alumnus" will communicate with the agent, if he desires the best interests of Acadia, when he again wishes t3 make public private communications. Will "Alumnus" please communicate with the agent. Yours very truly, A. J. Denton. Parrsboro*, Oct. 8, '83. MORE APPERTAINING TO THAT CHAIR OF DIDACTICS AND MR. EATON'S LETTER. (To the Editor of the Herald.) Sir,— My friend, Mr. B. H. Eaton, certainly has my best thanks for the evident mental strain he has been placed under, at my request, in evolving for the press what he styles his "reasons" for support- ing the movement so evidently distasteful to the generally expressed opinions of the warmest friends and supporters of Acadia College. As his two columns of asHcrtmis seem to be receiving all necessary attention, I shall defer making any formal reply to the subject of his letter for the present. It seems fortunate, indeed, for the other members of the board of governors that Mr. E in stating his reasons "speaks only for him- self." Assuming, however, that Mr E.'s reasons formed the basis oi ortion of the whole board, one can— without taking a course in didactics — quite easily understand the assunied modesty of that board, and why they have thus far, individually and collectively, remained silent while under the fire of the enemy of their pet scheme. Notwithstanding that the most general marmars of dissatisfaction have been heard in almost ev -ry town and village of our Province, not one sentence — save and excepting Mr. E.'s "reasons" — has been heard from the governors in their own defence ; nor has one friend of this movement — not even from that "locality where Dr. Rand is particularly well known" — yet taken pen in hand and, either "anonymously'' or otherwise, attempted to say aught in favor of their action. Until substantial reasons are brought forward by the governors in support of their recent proceeding in providing a chair of education for Dr. Rand, I shall, with many others, still believe them to have "fallen into a trap," and their action to have been premature— unwarranted by the present state of the college curriculum and inexpedient under the existing con- dition of our college finances. Without occupying further of your valuable space, I should like to be informed by those who have undertaken to provide for the new chair whether a professor of didactics iias been ever regularly nominated for appointment at a regularly called meeting of the senate of the university? They (the senate) "recommend the names of the new professors." Hence the import- ance that the different members of that body should one and all be properly notified of any meeting requiring their presence. I am credibly informed by one member of the senate that he never received any notice of meeting either verbal or otherwise. Until corrected I shall be of opinion that not only were informal and unheard of meet- ings held in Halifax during convention, but that the meeting of senate convened at Wolfville to make this appointment was iriegular and not according to its constitution and bye-laws. William L. Barss. October 12, i?83 THE DEFENCE OF THE GOVERNORS OF ACADIA COLLEGE. (To the Editor of the Herald.) Sir, — It is very much to be regretted that Gov- ernor E^iton "could not find time to make his 'exculpating' article shorter." - So lengthy — 'triM^iillBlri 17 ns" for suppert- ifitasteful to the ; warmest friends 'ioiu seem to be I, I shall defer bject of his letter nate, indeed, for )f governors that aka only for him- Mr E.'s reasons /hole board, one didactics— quite modesty of that r, individually and : under the fire of Notwithstanding of dissatisfaction town and village tence — save and s been heard from ice ; nor has one even from that particularly well and and, either ittempted to say Until substantial the governors in ng in providing a I shall, with many ive "fallen into a been premature— ate of the college ;r the existing con- Vithout occupying should like to be j ertaken to provide essor of didactics :d for appointment the senate of the "recommend the ence the iraport- [f that body should |d of any meeting credibly informed that he never either verbal or jail be of opinion unheard of meet- ntion, but that the blfville to make id not according LiAM L. Barss. )VERNOKS IGE. OF lerald.) laretted that Gov- time to make ." • So lengthy was it, that although two or three have essayed a rejoinder, a number of heads or points still remain unnoticed. Lest any one should say that these were shirked, please allow me briefly to touch upon a few of them. Mr. E. says that " the mat- ter of the salary was frankly put before the presi- dent and professors, and they, with a magnanimity and generosity worthy of all piaise, concurred." Now I am prepared, on the authority of different members of the faculty, to say emphatically, that they know nothing about such concurrence, and that they know nothing of it still. If the presi- dent did give in his adhesion^ a reason can be as- signed, w hich does not obtain in the case of his colleagues. His salary, as stated by Mr. E. is $1200. I am informed that he has in addition the house and premises he occupies free of rent or its equivalent, which would be $150 more. His son receives a salary of $900, which is much the same thing as that much added to his own ; making up $2,250 in all. So that there was no particular reason why the president should urge an objection M) the salary of the new professor, lus throwimj him into the shade ; which so many writers in this con- troversy have deprecated so feelingly and tearfully. Mr. E. tells us that in consideration of the com- paratively large salary attached to the chair of di- dactics, the professor is expected to give lessons in the academy and seminary. One is compelled to say in reply that neither the academy nor the seminary is in need of such services. Both are amply provided with teachers, who, Mr. E. will not probably deny, are quite competent to the work assigned them ; and none in either school is overworked. Consequently in the low condition of the funds of the institution there are no hun- dreds of dollars to spare for unnecessary or useless services. The teachers have possibly quite enough to do, but I think one would be safe in saying that they would rather assume new burdens than sanction an addition to the staff of instructors by so questionable and sinister a course of procedure. As the new chair has been both playfully and gravely said " to have been made for the man " who is to occupy it, so here a nice but not very sa- tisfactory a reason is assigned for raising the salary attached hundreds of do'lars above those of his col- leagues. Another of Mr. E's. statements should not be unnoticed. He tells us of the "self- sacrifice" of Ihe other professors in serving the college for so small a remuneration, and mentions it in terms of gratulation and praise. But it is not expected of the new professor, it seems, that ha should come under a " self-denying ordinance," and follow the meritorious example. The only expla- nation of which is so strangely exceptional, that occurs to the mind, is that the professor of didatics occupies so lofty a place, and is plaeed on so high a pedestal, that such sublunary matters as " ae^- sacrifice" are beneath his notice, and that he is content to leave ail the credit and merit of them to ordinary professors and common mortals in gen- erals Mr E. gives us the secret history of the es- tablishment of the chair of didactics and of the appointment of Mr. Rand to the professorship. Briefly stated it was this : The governors at a meeting held in Halifax during the convention de- cided that there ought to be such a department, and that Mr. K. was the man for the situation, and they recommended accordingly to the senate. Next the senate, at a meeting held shortly after in Wolfville adopted the recommendation of (-lie gov- ernors, and in their turn recomrnynded the gover- nors to establish the chair and appoint Mr. Rand as prof'tssor. And lastly the governors at a meet- ing held the same day in Wolfville, adopted the recommendations of the senate and consummated the mjaeure. Or more briefly still, the governors recommended the senate to make a recommendi tion to them ; the senate made the recommendation as recommended ; and the governors adopted the recommendation which they had recommended the senate to make. We have heard of " reasoning in a circle." Here is the same mathematical figures df'^'^-^ service in another line quite as useful and no less amusing. And what makes the process the more funny is that the same individuals largely compose both senate and governors. How amused one of these gentlemen must be when he is gravely considering the propriety of acting according to his own recommendation, doing as a member of the I the governor board of what governors he as a senate what he as one of recommended, and as a member of the senate advised. But I must pass over. much that is tempting in Mr. E's. letter and haste to a close. Mr. E. asks : " Who is this Dr. Rand V and kindly relieves us of the trouble of answering the question. " He is," says the interrogator " a Baptist, all over and through and through.'' The language is very for- cible, more so possibly than elegant and classical, but we will let that pass. It is perchance very well to be a Baptist, but to be one " through and through" would seem to have little place for other qualities, most desirable in an ofiicer, whose busi- ness it is, par excellence, to mould and form the plastic minds of the young. Rigid denomina- tionalism is thought to cramp the intellectual powers and to narrow very unfavorably the horizon of our views. A broader and more comprehensive vision is desirable in this age of free thought and enlightenment — one that can see sincerity and goodness and worih outside the pale of the denomi- nation to which we may chance to belong. But we aie informed further by Mr. E. that the new professor "loveth our people, even if he hath not built us a synagogue." I once saw an old-fashion- ed book, whose principles are uow-a-days pretty much discarded, in which there was some such sentiment as this : " Show me thy love without thy works, and I will show thee my leve by my works.'*' Why have We not had the synagogue t It costs no more to build a college hall on the land than a floating palace on the sea. Hare we theti in the above quotation Mr. E's. ideal of aprofessor of the science and art of teaching 1 Wjiether it \^ 18 would Bwell the atlendance of Baptists at Acadia College or not, I am not prepared to say i it cer- taiply would do much to repel and exclude other denotainations from the rare benefits which, wo are taught would inevitably accrue. But that is not precisely what the friends and governors of Acadia College, as I take it, desire. Xor is that what is contemplated in the charter of the institution. A Baptist. Oct. 12, 1883 ACADIA COLLEGE FACULTY PRESS. CHEESE The present position of affairs at Acadia College has been strikingly and ingeniously cartooned by a young lady at Wolf ville in the following manner, namely: The scene is laid in front of the college building at Wolfville. The president and profes- sors representing the late faculty of the college are sketched standing crowded together within a large cheese press, the president occupying a central position amid the group. Above them hangs the cover ready to be pressed down by a large lever resting in a wooden frame. A tall figure wearing a beaver hat, representing a former member of the faculty, is seen rapidly taking his departure, carpet bag in hand, marked "Toronto." With his hand upon the press, and in the very act of stepping into j it, is a lively representation of the new professor of \ "Didactics," bearing upon his coat tails the word i "Pedagogics." Last, and completing as it were the scene, is a tall, grave figuie of another D.D., who stands by the lever ready to set in motion the faculty press by aid of a i,6oo pound weight which he has near at hand, at the same time pointing excitedly to a college building in the dis- tance, upon which are marked the letters "Dal- housie," and exclaiming, "If ycu don't let him in I'll put him in there within a week." Original copyright reserved. — Com. » ^ ^ « [For the Christian Messenger.] ACADIA COLLEGE. Sir, — It is not my purpose to "indicate" the action of the Board of Governors of Acadia Col- lege in establishing the new Chair of Education. That action will no doubt be reported up to the Convention at the proper time and place, and be adopted or rejected by that body as the wisdom of Convention shall dictate. As one of the Gove)r- nors, however, I cannot allow certain statements made by Dr. H. H. Read in your last issue to pass unchallenged. I. As to the manner, it is more than insinuated that the new movement was inaugurated in secret conclave, in a dishonorable and underhanded manner. Dr. Bead tells us that ''il is felt that in accomplishing the new movement a method was used which savors of the caucus" — that "the hand of the 'Boss' is to be felt in the new departure." This, I confess, is 'to me altogether new and some- whnt startling. Perhaps the learned Dr. will be good enough to inform your readers who the per- sons are that cherish such kind and Christian "feelings"towards their brethren, and which of the Governors is understood to be the ''Boss." At the same time he might explain why he has felt at liberty to make such slanderous and "despicable" insinuatic'"- on a mere "suspicion," which, as he himself."- nits, "may have no foundation" in fact, and whicn, as I shall show present/y, has no foundation whatever. There is certainly no mystery about the matter. On the last day of the convention recently held at Halifax it appears there was a mooting of the Board of Governors to readjust College work in view of the action of convention of the previous evening in respect to Theology. At that meeting the President of the College, Dr. Sawyer, I am told, suggested several changes which he deemed desirable, and among the rest he mentioned the establishment of a Chair of Education. A com- mittee was then appointed to consider the whole question of readjustment, including the fe.sibility of establishing the new chair. That same evening, just prior to final adjournment of convention, it was announced in open convention that there would be a. prit^ate meeting of the Board at the Granville Street Church Vestry on the following morning. I attended this meeting and there received from the Hps of the President of the Presi- dent in connexion with the report from that com- mittee ray first hint of the "new departure." I soon learned too why a [ir irate meeting had been called. Dr. Rand had been approached in con- nexion with the matter, and he had requested that until it was known what recommendation the senate, in whom is vested the right to initiate such matters, would make, the fact that he had been approached by the Governors should be held in strict confidence Surely there, was nothing so very heinous in all this. Dr. Rand was then Chief Superintendent of Education in New Brunswick, and we all felt that his request was most reason- able. This is the only "caucus" of which I have any knowledge, and if Dr. Read is better informed he should be more particular in his statement, and given us the facts. 2. Dr. Read's criticism in respect to the chair itself arises clearly from misapprehension. No special effort will be made to do Normal School work or to "make good any deficiency in that training." The new chair has been founded for the benefit of all under- graduates, and is intended to supply a want which has been long felt by college men. Many graduates of our colleges utterly fail in their life work, not for want of knowledge, both in extent and accuracy, but from lack of ability to apply that knowledge to the practical duties of life. Those even who have been fairly successful would no doubt have been much more successful had they been well grounded in "the principles and practice of education." This subject has of late ' been receiving unwonted attention from leading if iSm iiiili T '& f 19 1 educationists in the United States. In a recent address delivered before the Corporation of Brown University, President Robinson said : "The num- ber of men annually graduating from our college** with very creditabii attainmencs as to bjth >^xfent and accuracy of knowledge, but showing a lament- able incay^acity for systematic thinking and for clear, forcible and correc , not to say elegant, ex- l)ression of their thoughts, is one of the standing reproaches to our American education." If T know anything of what is really meant by the good old phrase "A liberal education,'' the new chair "of the principles and practice of education" is not the one to be regarded as of least importance to he students of Acadia. 3. Of the question of salaries little need be .laid ; Dr. Read admits what all must feel that the salary of the new professor "is not too large." The trouble ia that the other s;ilaries are too small. I was not present when this part of the business was discussed and decided, and accordingly do not feel called upon to justify what was done, but it seems to me that the explanation of the matter given by Mr. B. H. Eatou in his letter published in the Movnbxj Hi-ntld of the 9th instant should satisfy any reasonable person. He says : "The governors felt that it might be looked upon by our own people as an unjust discrimination against the other professors to give Dr. Rand |i6oo. Accordingly this matter was frankly and in a Christian way put before the President and professors, and they were required to state if this would be regarded as objec- tional by them, it being stated on behalf of Dr. Rand at the same time that he would not accept { the chair unless it was entirely agreeable to all the members of the faculty. With a magnaminiiy and generosity worthy of all praise and of perpetual remembrance the President and professors concur- red in the appointment bc'ing made, though at a salary higher than their own. So I voted for that feature of the business, which I certainly would not have done but for the noble stand taken by the faculty." With these facts before them, your readers, I think, will be slow to conclude that the governors acted hastily, or vvithout fairly and justly consider- ing all the important interests involved. Yours, &c., Edwin D. King. Halifax, Oct. 15, 1883. [See Christian Messenger October 24th for Dr. Read's reply.] THE NEW PROFESSORSHIP. , (To the Editor of the Herald.) Sib, — Hitherto T have not written a line on this subject, nor did I intend to ou so, for deeply as I feel the outrage sought to be inflicted on Acadia College by the hole and corner shuffle the other day at Wolfville, I did not believe when the whole thing came to be exposed that any one would be I found to come out squarely in its defease. When Mr. Eaton's extraordinory letter appeared, I waited to hear from Mr. Barss, who had the right of reply ; i but as that gentleman has reserved his answer till I a later period, and the discussion seems to have I become go'.ioral, I feel at liberty in the meantime to ftdd;e.^!j you a few words on this governor's j "justification" if tho official act complained of. I In the first plr>c«' I hope Mr. Eaton will forgive j me for saying thai he is the author of a distressing j amount of what I Consider rubbish, — joody goody gonoralitios, moral aphorisms and startling interrog- atories — but rubbish nevc-rthelees, because not pertinent in the faintest degioe to the grave issue now suddenly forced upon the supporters of the college. "Who Dr. Rand is and what he has been doing," is no doubt an enquiry of interest in some quarters. The assurance that "Acudia's shadow never shall be less if the governors can help it" is a platitude harmless, if not quite consistent with their acts. .\nd the further announcement that neither "God nor the denomination has ever deserted them" would be the reverse of objection- able if their recent action did not create the sad suspicion that such "desertion" was imminent at least. One half of his letter, I say, is not to the point. And the other half, as I shall show you, falls far short of the justification he sets himself up to propound. Divested of all irrelevance and nonsense, what are the bald facts of the case ? What is the grava- men which Mr. Eaton or any other apologist of the governors was bound to meet and handle ? It is of a three fold character. First and foremost there stands the question of finance. We have an institution in debt, and still going in debt — expenditure and running income- - a diminishing capital and a steadily augmenting drain upon it. A condition cf things in which embarrassed traders find themselves when they must either wind up their business or call a meeting of their creditors. This seems to be a very light matter to Mr. Eaton — a trifle to be disposed of with a dash of the pen. How does he meet it 1 By a homily on the necessity of going "forward." Pru- dent business men will ask, is this just the time to increase our burdens. Mr. Eaton replies, "go forward." Now, I do not believe myself in going back. No one wants to return to the former days when they conducted Acadia with two professors, and called it a college. No greater slander upon Acadia's friends could be uttered than the insinua- tion that they are capable of allowing her — gover- nors or no governors — to retrograde one step. She has steadily advanced from the day of small things, thro' misfortune, and fire, and tempest, and some- times bad management, up to her present proud position. Why ! Because her governors have in- variably taken the friends of the college into their confidence. In the hour of need, in the moment when new schemes had to be launched, or new lines of action taken, they threw themselves upon the hands of their constituents, and sought by a iMiii mmm 90 J, fmnk avowal of their policy the oounsol and sup- port the exigeooios of the hour deinnnded. And nobly did the otferingB of those friends justify the confidence reposed in them. But the governors of to-day seem to have discovered a way of going for- ward without that assistance from outsiders which their predecessors, in their simplicity, considered so essential. Mr Eaton has not disclosed it. True, he affirms that "some new appointment" was finanoially practicable, but does he remember the condition of things when Dr. Welton's resignation swung the gpverning body clear of their embarrass- ments 1 Was not the theological transfer discussed and accepted among other reasons, as deliverance from those financial troubles t If so, was that the favorable moment, I ask, for an already staggering institution, to shoulder a heavier load, without at any rate an appeal to those — the bread-winners of the college — who at the very time were engaged in relieving their overburdened finances 1 Mr. Eaton's reference to the $33,000 said to have been subscribed, adds nothing to the strength of his apology. The money has not yet been paid — wont be paid for years. As a present sourca of revenue it is nif. No banket or merchant would ever dream in his pstimates for a present emer- gency to count on an assert so uncertai i. Is it not therefore conclusive that the governors from a financial point of view were so justified in this extraordinary and hitherto undiscussed move- ment, without some reference of the matter to the friends of the institution. Mr. Eaton's letter at any rate, discloses no such justification. The second count which Mr. Eaton was called upon 10 defend is the establishment of a chair in a branch of study foreign to the design of our aca- demic course. In his reply he has not recognised apparently the simply duty of showing the necessity of such a chair- The necessity of furnishing other chairs has long been apparent — referred to in col- lege reports — urged upon us by faculty from time to time — enforced by many an agent in his appeal for funds, and accepted by the denomination as a first charge upon its funds. Never till the other day, in sacred conclave it seems, was the discovery made by the governors that "nothing was so much needed" as a chair of didactics. Mr. Eaton gives no reason for this sudden change of policy. He expatiates freely on the value of the teaching art. I admit adl. He writes well, with a facile pen, but unfortunately not to the point. No one can reason- ably object to a chair of didactics, nor for that matter to one "On the whole duty of man." But many things maj be good — "dead sure things" — that are not expedient at the moment. Why, what is the fact? In this very year of grace you are hopelessly losing numbers of the flower of your youith because you have no chair of modern lan- guages. In this practical age, with colleges all around you, well equipped, well professored, with a curriculum designed to embrace the living wants of the day, aad bidding as they successfully Anust do fc?*tbe training of the rising generation. What vanity, what blindness and puerility, to set up a modest institution like ours as an example to the continent, and that too while scholars and profes- sors are passing our doors for the portals of other institutions. It's too serious a matter to be trifled with — and this latest move is the veriest trifling — playing at educational work, when real live ques- tions confront you. Mr. Eaton will have to manu- facture a good many more fine span theories on "the principles and praotice of education" before he can justify the sacrifice of these other mor<» important chairs for that of didactics. The third charge, namely the mode in which this strange work "got itself done'' — Mr. Eaton dismisses with equal freedom. I am sorry to see him skulking around legal corners and olten dodg- ing when an awkward question is hurled at him, especially when a simple matter like this has to be discussed. Of eourse the senate has the lat/al right ; " imitate*' without asking anybody's advice. Of course the governors have the l<'(/a! right to do all sorts of things at their own sweet will. But this is not the way Baptists have been wont to address themselves to denominational matters. They glory and rightly so, in doiiig their work in open h«nded fashion in broad daylight — under fiie of the most searching criticism — in the full' st confidence that if the measure be worthy it will meet with gener- ous support, if bad it will receive a just condemna- tion. For the first time in my memory this goodly usage has now been violated. Hud a scheme secretly canvassed and worked up for diverting the hard earned contributions of the people from their ordi- nary channels sprung upon us without notice or enquiry. Mr. Eaten endeavors to escape the odium by sheltering himself behind the senate. But he himself tells us in the same line that the senate did not initiate this. It originated at a meeting of the governors, was fully discussed there, settled there ; " they saw their duty — a dead sure thing, and went for it there and then." It is remarkable how with Mr. Eaton the most unlikely events so happily coincide. Dr. Welton's resignation synchronized most beautifully with the unexpected willingness of Dr. Rand to relinquish his pet work in N. B. Then the meeting of the senate and that of the governors happened on the same day, in the same building and, perhaps in the same room. Then when the governors were at their wits' end to find a man to fill the new chair, " enquiry elicited the fact," that right among them, sitting with them, was the one man in these maritime provinces fit for the plate. And at the same opportune moment " it transpired " that this man would not take the chair for less than 81600. Then surely it must have been that the compact between the contracting parties was struck, viz., he to "broaden down"' knowledge to the comprehen- sion of the Baptists — they to " level up " his salary. As to salary 1 have only space for a word. The sum is not excessive except by way of compa- rison, but just in this respect our governors have introduced a dangerous element into the affairs of 'i' L ^vr'^- t i Ix JK' ■^P' 91 the inntitution. I <^OD't c»'"^ whether the other piofcMors Accepted the situation oi Qot. If the proposition we/e really aiibniitted to ihoru, thoy niU8t have found themnolvos in an uncuiimionly hamiliiitiug pouitiou. Hut what I du care for i^ the Inunction given to u vicious and unnound prin- ■ ciple. It is contrary to all usnge, political, ecclfsias- tical or educutionni, tor the chief uf a uUiX tu re- ceive a less salary than his puisne assihtant No more deniuializing oloniont, affecting both disci- pline within and support from without, could be introduced .into any institution of learning than this virtual iiiijii-n'mn in Ini/ti'rio. An innovation so unconstitutional wou\d not bo to|i rated a mo- ment in any l)ody imbued with the spirit of British iustitutions. You may point to ca^es where larger salaries have from other sources been attached to particular chairs or otficee, but to our board of governors has been reserved the btilliant conception of graduating the scale of salaries in- versely to the order and rank of the ofHce. Dr. Rand, we all know, is a good man, and I have been sorry in some ef the correspondence to see reflections cast upon his abilities. All must admit his mastery in this chosen fi.-ld of learning, j pledges made by friends ^of the College, no other ttud personally, I should bo glad to see my old friend, " the Mabtapha," back to a spot redolent with the fragrance of old friendships and the Governors stated the r.ooossity ©f the caae and asked assistance, the C'lifuh'tuu' reposed in this body met usiially a willing resjionse, and the money required was cheerfully provided. In the case of a tutor with a salary of $(500 being required, the selection of Kev. Alfred Chipman was named to the Convention, wliich was told that if he were employed it must bo done by individual subscription ; as might be supposed firmfi/ persons stepped forward and j)ledged S each, and })y this method his salary was paid. Again when a tutor was required to be advanceil to a Professor- ship and his salary raised, tho late Dr, Cramp pledged |40() annually so as not to entrench on the funds otherwise needed, this he paid out of his limited income for several years. The ''Alinmil" subsequently wanted to bring Dr. Pryor from Boston to fdl a chair in the College, but the Governors only consented to do so on the pledge of that Society being given to pay his salary or the main portion of it ; which they did, whilst ho remained there. When Professor Elder was elected to a chair of Natural Science his salary was paid I'ldlrelij by memory of many a lusty tussle, bui 1 shall be sorry te see him filling there the chair of didactics. Anothkii Alumnus. ACADIA COLLEGE. [For the Christian MesHenger] Mk. Editor, — In your editorial of last week you say that the reason of Dr. Welton leaving Acadia College for Toronto was not because his salary could not be paid, "As the funds (of the College) were never in a better position." I think this association cannot be sustained by facts. The debts when paid off, would not leave income sufficient to meet the requii'ements of annual expenses by at least $1,000 and for several years past the annual ac- counts could only be met by borrowing from the bank or from the Endowment Fund. If any one will take the pains to look back a few years previous to tho published accounts in the Year Book, they will find that the Trea.surer was enabled to meet the funds were required ; when these subscriptions were withdrawn the chair was vacated. I refer to these matters to shew that in former years when a Professor was wanted, the first con- sideration with the Governors was the state of the treasury. Were tho same course pursued now, there would be less complaint than is caused by appointing a Professor, ai-d then having to meet his salary by borrowing from a bank or using trust funds, which ought to be considered too sacred a deposit to bo diverted from the object intended by the donors. When the Governors act with duo prudence and imitate the action of past years by not going into debt, then may it be said " the funds of the Col- lege were wrer in a better position " — but not till then. J. W. Barbs. October, 15, 1883. ACADIA VEESUS DALHOUSIE. sheet, owing no man anything. It occurs to me that this was a more favorable state of finance than can he exhibited at present. At the time referred to it was a principle with the Governors not to go into debt. The receipts were much smaller than at present, but matters were so ar- ranged as to keep the expenditure within the income. When the teaching staff needed to be increased, , the matter was brought before the Convention, the (To the Editor of the Citizen and Evening Clironicle.) SiK, — (p two letters, which appeared recently in your morning contemporary and in your notice of a (]!onvention with a clean ; cartoon published in Wolfville, it is intimated that • Dr. liand was approached by tho Governors of Dal- housie College to become a professor in it, and in consequence the Governors of Acadia College pro* vided for him a chair at Wolfville, in order to prevent his going to Dalhousie. I have very good reason for saying that the Governors of Dalhousie never approached Dr. Rand for such a purpose, so that, if the Governors of Acadia have appointed Dr. Rand for any such reasons, they have been badly sold. ^ A.B. // 99 •YE DiDArTina and yr professor of DIDACTICS. [To tlie Kilitor cif the Mm-ninK C'lironiclt).] Sm, — I hnvo rond with osp»!ciftl intovcst ov«ry- thing timt iiiM yot rtpptsiirnd in your culiiiiina in roferenco to tlm Into action of tlie govornors of our college, and uh tlune firu Hovoml iiuportniit points yet to be expluin'cd, "it st'omotli good unto imiuiIho, having Imd jwirfcot knowiedgo of all thingn from the vory first to write unto thee in order," i\nd ox- plain some of them. So-iio one may be curious to learn why Dr. Rand, having already the position of superintendent of education in N. ]]., .should ho hunger to become a teacher of didactics ; why he should interview Dr. Saunders, Dr. Sawyer, .lohn W. Rarss, Esii., Dr. Aylward, the professors, and many other leading friends of t' •• institution, and rejjresent to them the advantages of having such a chair in the college ; and why he, an influential member of the board of governors, should advocate before his brother members a measure which so greatly concerns himself. The answer to all these things is easy to give, and the whole transaction becomes as clear as mud, when it is given. There was every probability of his dismissal over there. He had become extremely unpopular Teachers' institutes were speaking out in unmistakable terms, the party in power was oppo.sed to him in politics, and the death of Dr. Eider deprived him of his chief friend and supporter in the Government. "The prudent man foreseeth the evil and hideth himself." Dr. R. is a prudent man ; he foresaw the evil, he made for the hiding-place, but whether or not ho has yet found it is a question "quod est demonstrandum." Just there the story was 3t irted that Dalhousie wanted him. This story is now known to be without a shadow of foundation, but it served as a perfect bugaboo to those persons who are now trying to wabble around in the shoes of the Baptist fathers of former years. They coul i afford to lose Dr. Schurman for the want of a little money, but Dr. Rand — never ! It only required a little interviewing, a little whispering, a little skulking, a few secret meetings, a little manipulation of the senate, and hurrah ! hurrah ! I Acadia College has got what no other college in Canada has — a Pro- fessor of Didactics ! Talk not to us of the im- portance of modern languages and science, or of the benefits to be derived from a course of lectures on agriculture ! Haven't we got a professor o| didac- tics ! It is true we haven't any money to pay his salary-— it is true we excluded sc' ilarship holders from our secret meetings — it is true we passed the vote in the dead hour of the night — but these are only mere matters of "detail" for "grumblers" to think about I The Bf^ptist denomination of this province pays its aged and infirm ministers, on an average, the munificent sum of fifty dollars a year. The board of Governors of Acadia college can afford to pay one of their own number the sum of sixteen hun- dred dollars a year for doing a work which no one . has asked for and no one wants done. Verily, I "Many traces of Kden we still maintain, but the I trail of the serpent is over it all." AmIIS AliUMNUH. TlIK DIDACTIC CHAIR AT ACADIA. (T(i the Kditor of tlie Morning Chronicle.) I SiK, -I wish to add my testimony to the wide- spread indignation felt at tlio recent act of soiiio of j the Governors of Acedia ■ 'ollego in creating a chair j of didactics for Dr. Rand. I do 'ot intend writing a loni,' arliclo to show what an outrage this creation is upon tite generosity of the friends of the college. I will leave thar, for those better (jualified, some of whom havB already done good and timely justice to the task. I wish to say. however, that if the gov- ernors persist in cairying out this untimely ap- pointuient they can look for my present subscrip- tion, as whII as for any future ones, in some other quarter. I do not say this for myself alone, for I know it to be the fooling of many other* in all parts of the Province, and it is not without cause. I love the college, and have always felt pleasure 'n her prosperity, as well as sympathy for her in her trials. Long have I desired to see a more efficient staff of professors, and had the governors filled any of the many wants so long aud so much felt by all students and graduates of Acadia, their act would have been hailed with delight and approved by all. But to think of a college to-day without a chair of modern languages, without a thoroughly equipped science department, wanting a second man in the English department, and with one man doing all the work in Greek and Latin, yet having the gor- geous, fancy and useless appendage of a chair in didactics is too much for an ordinary martal to grasp. Ho, Acadia ! What a page in your history is now to be written, when you can afford to do without the needful and embrace the useless ! "What a luxury will be this didactic chair, a some- thing of which no other college cares to boast. Co:rie, all ye .shades of departed students, repair again to your alma mater and learn that without which you cannot be happy, and for which you now pant as the hart after the water brooks, didac- tics, didactics. That for which the college was founded and for which our fathers and mothers la- bored and prayed, viz., theology, is squeezed out by the pressure of $1,600, and in jumps didactics, which, with its pav^jor, is to bring back the good old days of college revivals and restore all things. Surely the millennium is now about to dawn and the darkness in which we have been so long grov- elling IS to fly before its rays. But, Mr. Editor, we would ask oven if it would be shown that this chair was needed in Acadia or any other college, where is the proof that Mr. Rand is the man to fill If? Where did he receive hh didactical training ? or in what respect has he shown any fitness for sach a position 1 No one but the governors who concocted this scheme has L \ 23 a ".'°. vS ...0,0 tl.- .. ;..«"»' -;rOr' I5I io .' AcSt .ill llnd the .itu-tion n..d. )l"S^Iu^lh,,tl,o»oulah«votalco„.ta.a| i,lary of ¥1,000. II* ScHOLAKHHir-HOLDBK.