Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 11.djvu/854

 838 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

counteract an "idea that this [the University of Virginia] is an institution, not only of no religion, but against all religions," and in order to overcome what people pointed out as a "defect in an institution professing to give instruction in all useful sciences."

But not till our own day has this idea of the far-seeing Jef- ferson been carried out. . Now co-operation in some form is in successful operation at the universities of seven states namely, California, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

The Disciples' denomination was the first in the United States to demonstrate the success of co-operation. This church has maintained the Ann Arbor Bible chairs at Michigan Univer- sity since 1893, the purpose being to provide instruction of a university grade in the Bible. The equipment consists of one building and a small but thoroughly trained faculty. More than seventeen hundred students have already taken work in one or more of the Bible chair courses. The church considers the work a gratifying success, and will soon enlarge the faculty. Presi- dent Angell, of the university, says : "We feel under obligations to the Bible chairs for the help they have rendered in religious work among the students." This church has a similar Bible chair at the University of Kansas (established in 1901), and theological seminaries at the University of California, Oregon, and Missouri. Students and professors familiar with the work pronounce it a surprising success.

The Episcopal church has guild halls species of student club houses in Michigan, West Virginia, and Wyoming. The Bap- tist church also has guild halls in Michigan and West Virginia. Courses of lectures are provided here during the year.

About the University of California at Berkeley the Congrega- tionalists, Christians, Baptists, Methodists, and Unitarians have all either erected buildings and begun work, or have partially completed their preparations for co-operation in some form.

What has been done in the United States is clearly only a beginning. In the cases cited above work done in the university counts toward a degree in the church school, but, on the other