24 
Proceedings of the Inauguration 
methods of government are no good excuse for change of funda- 
mental laws. Education is a thing of permanent character. It is 
much like the eternal word and has to do with eternal verities in 
their application to the mind and heart of man which are essen- 
tially the same in every age. And the more we think of educa- 
tion as immutable in its bearing and demands the more shall 
we prize its value, and be benefitted by the operation of its prin- 
ciples. 
Some of these objectors think our charter should be changed 
in order that it may free itself from all charges of sectarianism, 
because it insists that this shall be a Baptist college and be true 
to its Baptist affiliations. But it insists upon this, that the insti- 
tution may be bound to a denomination, which shall furnish for 
it a standard, which shall be under obligation to care for it and 
give to its support and definite control. Denominationalism is 
not necessarily sectarianism. Harvard, Yale, Princeton are so 
strongly denominational as to have theological departments, 
where are taught doctrines in harmony with their fundamental 
laws. But who ever thought of these schools as sectarian, or 
bigoted in their spirit and attitude? I have been intimately ac- 
quainted with Denison University for more than fifty years, and 
I have yet to see the slightest indication of sectarian narrowness, 
or bigotry in any of its spirit, teaching or forms of government. 
