While this purpose is quite in line with that of the leading
universities, it goes too far beyond them to admit of its complete
attainment through their instrumentality. The first object of a
university is the training of the growing individual for the
highest duties of life. Additions to the mass of knowledge have
not been its principal function, nor even an important function in
our own country, until a recent time. The primary object of the
proposed institution is the advance of knowledge and the opening
up of new lines of thought, which, it may be hoped, are to prove
of great import to humanity. It does not follow that the function
of teaching shall be wholly foreign to its activities. It must
take up the best young men at the point where universities leave
them, and train them in the arts of thinking and investigating.
But this training will be beyond that which any regular university
is carrying out.
In pursuing our theme the question next arises as to the special
features of the proposed association. The leading requirement is
one that cannot be too highly emphasized. How clearly soever the
organizers may have in their minds' eye the end in view, they must
recognize the fact that it cannot be attained in a day.
Pages:
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247