UA-R-GC-1914-01-01-1933-12-15_Page-005

Abstract

r OF ~ t ~~.JC ~~9~ U~~~ I TY C.,AM kilte,P DownTo 0 ~ieâ~3 YC}i"ÌC ~e~ 12 â.9 The meeting was called to order at 10:30 A. M. by Chairman, William aan.croft11, with the following presents Messrs. Addison, Chamberlain, Deemarest, .Hill, Killough, MacCracken, Stele, Thorne, and in addition, President Watson and Secretary ium. President Watson gave a':a very clear piate of the pressent situation in the z~ oh.asanmedan world. In order to show the present-day working of the Mohammeddaann mind, he traced the rise and spread of Mohammedanism, the effect of the Crusades, the type of Christianity that IS in Sxistenc0 i 'Zgypt today, and the lack of progress which has been made by Christian missions in Moslem lands. During the past summer, the constant opposition of the Moslem to ehriatianity has broken out in I rpt in open hostility towards all Christians, Protestants, Roman Catholics and Copts. D;., at,. son also utlined the religious policy pursued by the University up to the present time. This was preliminary to u full discussion of required and voluntary attendance upon chapel services and classes in religion. The opinions expressed by each Trustee in turn placed emphasla on a variety of points such as the following: The necessity of selecting men for the staff who are eager to emphasize the distinctly Christian objective of the University and then of trusting them as to bow this should be dons. The importance of not yielding to a mere passing wave of hostility to the Christian program. Dr. Chamberlain related this out of his own experience in India. Christian worship should be maintained always whether attendance be required or not. This view was unanimouely expressed. Hostility to chapel can often be overcome by a more attractive ohato 1 service. Chapel exercises constitute essentially an act of worship, not a mere college rally or even an instruction period. Dr. Addison em-phasized this point, as did others. In China, 90% of the colleges have made religious exercices elective instead of required and have reported very little falling off In attendance. Finally, Dr. $ill summarzied the discussion by stating that it selOmed to be the consensus of opinion that a chapel service of distinctly Christian worship should be maintained, though some features in it pecul-iarly irritating to Moslems might be omitted. Whether attendance should be required or voluntary must depend largely upon the attitude of the students and their parents.