Barboursville

In a survey of the history of such an institution as this, the following 

question is often asked: Why the church college in the program of 

education? In the concern to be rid of the dictatorial system of education 

at the hands of the medieval, and sometimes, the later church; the 

pendulum has swung to the other extreme, and an almost equally dictatorial 

and intolerant scientific system has taken its place. 

The modern church college stands for investigation and advancement. It 

also stands for the development of the soul along all lines. The aim is 

broad. While one student is being prepared to enter advanced technical 

courses, another is being equipped to pursue liberal arts. Both students 

acquire a broader outlook by association; besides the influence of 

religion is brought to bear on each. The church college, while recognizing 

the demands of the state boards of education, preserves the equilibrium of 

society in a scientific and mechanical age by keeping a one-sided view of 

education from becoming predominant. In all fairness, in this connection, 

the church must recognize the state schools, university and colleges, in 

the maintenance of educational equipoise by preventing the return of any 

sort of scholasticism. 

Development in education has run a cycle. At first colleges, secular or 

religious, were small but in the course of time the growth resulted in the 

great university. Now, the tendency is, in some universities to emphasize 

the college unit once more. In some universities the college is used as 

the basis of government because large student bodies are unwieldy and 

impersonal, or as in some instances, unmanageable and inefficient. The 

small college cultivates the more intimate fellowship of student with 

student, and of professor and student. 

The alumni of Morris Harvey College have been going into big higher 

institutions of learning, especially is this true of more recent years. 

These graduates have made good and are now serving state and church 

acceptably. 

Thus Morris Harvey College is justified in her existence by the aims and 

ideals of her curriculum, by the tendency of modern education, and by the 

records of her alumni. 

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