Monday, Jul. 28, 1924

Students Aplenty

"Ignorance!" summarizes in one word the findings of a commission which investigated theological seminaries (Protestant) in the U. S. and Canada. The findings were recorded by Robert L. Kelly, ex-President of Earlham College, and were published by the Institute of Social and Religious Research under the auspices of such men as John R. Mott, Chairman, Raymond B. Fosdick, President Faunce of Brown

Many a seminary, says the report, is untouched by the progress of science. Libraries were found locked and barred. Lectures were often nothing more than "rhetorical, rambling, hortatory sermons."

Less than half the 7,500 students whose records were investigated had college degrees. Some seminaries did not require even high school education.

As to numbers -the commission found students aplenty. There are 9,000 prospective ministers -one for every 2,600 church members. But knowledge was scarce.