Religious Education In Texas

Religious Education In Texas Religious Education In Texas
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN TEXAS
By W. F. Ledlow,
Teachers College, Denton, Texas. As soon as Texas gained her independence from Mexican domination, her citizens began to establish schools. The state took no special interest in education for a long time and this gave private enterprise the start. There were several hundred schools established in Texas before the Civil War but only four of these live today. These are Baylor University, Austin College, Ursuline Academy at Galveston, and Ursuline Academy at San Antonio. Before the war the Bible was not taught in our Texas colleges; for they hoped to secure state funds for their support, and felt that the schools should remain community institutions. This same attitude held until 1883 when the University of Texas opened. After this date Bible courses began to enter and today all church schools in Texas require Bible work for graduation. The Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Christian churches took the lead in educational work. At first the Christian people were united, but later separated and formed two groups. The Presbyterians were divided when they entered Texas. For some reason the Methodists and Baptists have taken greater interest in schools than any other Protestant group in Texas, and have made much greater gains. My study of this problem led me to believe that Christian education is a prominent factor in church growth and progress. Soon after the Republic of Texas was established the Missionary Baptists outlined a plan of procedure, and to this the church has strictly adhered to the present day. The plan included a preacher for each church, a Sunday School for each community, a missionary for each county, and colleges for the entire state. In these colleges they hoped to train their boys and girls for religious work. The Primitive Baptists rejected all these items and proceeded independently. Let us look at the results. The Missionary Baptists have nearly 425,000 members in Texas, nearly 3,000 preachers—almost half are college men, $12,000,000 in church property, $11,000,000 in college property, and about 8000 young people in their own schools. The Primitive Baptists have about 2,000 members in Texas, probably 30 preachers—likely not one a college man, $18,000 in church property and not a college, Sunday School, nor college student in preparation for a life or religious work. Do you think schools count? If the Baptists and Methodists had not built colleges, their numbers would not be nearly so great as they are. The sacrifices have been heavy but the reward has compensated. At least a thousand dead colleges in Texas, but a million Protestants inhabit the land! The future demands that we build more wisely, and carefully. We must center our forces and build one real college, and make its life secure. As I see it, the Abilene Christian College is the logical place to put our efforts, and is the one institution in Texas that demands our immediate attention. Several visits to the College have impressed me with the great work it does, and the promise the future holds for it. Within the next few years I should like to see Abilene Christian College receive several million dollars and take its place among the truly great schools of the South.