Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - History of the University (Powell) [PAGE 68]

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With- regard to the plan submitted by Professor Turner to the Granville Convention, it is but fair and just to say —that that convention called upon him for a perfect plan of an Industrial University, Professor Turner, no more than any other man, claims to be perfect in his views. But he gave them his plan, which had been matured in his own mind— possibly and probably imperfect. I t would not be strange if it were so. We see colleges everywhere occasionally changing their mode of instruction. What was once deemed entirely orthodox in the manner of education is not orthodox now. And we see no reason why even Professor Turner's plan cannot be improved upon. The Mount Morris Professors would represent that the plan as presented by Professor Turner in all its details, is to be at once carried into operation. No such thing was contemplated. The idea of Professor Turner, as we understand it, was to present a plan which would ultimately be carried out when means could be provided and time employed for the purpose—perhaps not fully in ten years and maybe not in twenty years. He supposed, like other institutions, the full designs of the founders were not to be realized for years " The Mount Morris Professors have no facts to warrant them in the statement that there is a design to locate the proposed University in any particular place. Surely they have seen nothing in the plan of Professor Turner, or in the progress of the discussion, which would show evidence that the friends design its location at Jacksonville I 'Industrial University' | is a taking name, we admit. It takes with the masses. They see in it something intended for their especial benefit. They are willing that religious sects shall establish colleges to suit themselves. They make no opposition to them. They choose not to misrepresent them. They believe they will do great good; but they want to enjoy the same privilege that they award to others. They want a State Institution that shall receive the endowment which belongs to it—and which shall be, not a local, not a sectarian Institution, but one which shall be general, and where the means belonging to it shall be used for the diffusion of education among the masses—-education that shall fit them for their peculiar callings. We, therefore can