Priest and mason

Title

Priest and mason

Creator

Councell, William C.

Language

English

Source

The Cabletow XLIV (10) October 1968

Year

1968

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

First U.P. President . • Priest and Mason VW William C. Councell, Grand Orator * We believe that it should interest all Masons in the Philippines to know that the first President of The University of the Philippines, the Reverend Dr. Murray. Bartlett, was an active 33° Scottish Rite Mason. It has often been said that great men leave their marks on their epoch; and their ideas continue to live long after their death. Of such men was the Rev. Dr. Murray Bartlett, organ izer and first President of the Uni versity of the Philippines, who left a legacy to the Philippines—an idea which is as tiinelv now as it was when he first propounded it—a non-sectarian University of the Philippines. Dr. Bartlett was born in Pough keepsie, New York, on March 29, 1871. the son of Stanley and Lida Caroline (Simpson) Bartlett. He was educated at Harvard and General 'I'heological Seminary, receiving his Bachelor of Arts from Harvard in 1892 and his Master of Arts from Harvard in 1893. He was ordained to the Priesthood in 1896 after grad uating from General Theological Sem inary in 1896. Dr. Bartlett was mar ried to Blanchard Howard on April 15, 1903, and one daughter (Blan chard) was born in 1905. After serv ing as curate at Grace Church, New York, 1896-97, and as Rector of St. Paul’s Church, Rochester, New York, 1897-1908, Dr. Bartlett came to the Philippines as Dean of the Cathedral of St. Marv and St. John in 1908. While Dean of the Cathedral, Dr. Bartlett made evident his great gift as an administrator, as a Parish Priest, and later as an educator. Regarding the wider mission of the Cathedral as a general institution, he look the legal steps necessary to in corporate the Cathedral Chapter (since lapsed) with the comprehensive ideal of maintaining the Cathedral Church for “fostering Missionary enterprise, promoting education, and maintaining works of Christian charity and bene ficence ; as an instrument for advance ment, as far as in us lies, of unity and concord among all Christian people: and, lastly, as a home for the expres sion of that higher patriotism in which applies the Golden Ride to interna tional relationships while promoting our own national interests.” In addition to his duties as Dean of the Cathedral, he took forthnightlv Sunday evening services at Cavite Naval Station, was a member and President of the Council of Advice. Kxamining Chaplain, member of the Voard of Governors of St. Luke’s Hospital and Baguio School (Brent), incorporator of "The Cathedral Church of St. Mary and St. John” and con ducted a weekly lecture at the Train ing School for Nurses on “Psycho logy.” On Christian unity, Dean Bartlett had this to say: “Here in Manila wc have this beautiful and spacious Ca thedral. Why should it not be made possible to give shelter under its roof Turn Io neat page OCTOBER, 1968 to those who, though not seeing eye to eye with ourselves, are pledged to the constructive presentment of the Truth, and, like us, are struggling up ward a Divine and not a man-made unity?” In his Convocation Address on August 2, 1911, Bishop Brent had this to say: “In establishing public schools and providing for higher education, the Philippine Commission is bestow ing upon the Filipinos one of the greatest privileges of life. Education of the soul must run parallel with education of the mind. In spite of the great loss to ourselves, we rejoice to contribute to this task Dr. Bartlett who took up his duties as President of the University of the Philippines on June 11, 1911.” Dr. Bartlett was eminently qualified ior the difficult task of laying the foundations of the new institution and of delineating its directions. “Truth,” he said in his inaugural address, em phasizing one of the directions he had in mind, "unfettered by racial, politi cal, or sectarian limitations, is to be the guiding spirit of those who study and those who teach.” Although he was a Priest of the Episcopal Church, Dr. Bartlett did not in any way ad minister the University with partial ity toward his Church. Neither did he allow it to be swayed in the direc tion of any other sectarian or Church group. As a matter of fact, in the first official meeting of the Executive Com mittee under his administration, he had the policy approved that appoint ments to the faculty, as in the case of admission of students, should not require the passing of a religious test. This policy has remained in the books of the University up to now. During the half century of existence of the University, there have been sporadic attempts to obscure the sec ular or non-sectarian character of the institution. These attempts, referred to in the Paras Committee report as “Overly enthusiastic sectarianism” have led to conflicts and confusion on the campus, hampering the Univer sity’s work to a certain degree. But the University has withstood these incursions because the foundation which Dr. Bartlett built during his administration are strong and steady. However, he hastened to clarify one point in this respect: that the Uni versity is to have “no official theology and no ecclesiastical affiliation; “it should not lose sight of reverence for the mysteries of life; it may cultivate that essential religion which exalts the things of the human mind and spirit over things physical and which reads back of the material world a purpose and a destiny.” “A University for the Filipinos.” Further in his inaugural address which shows the wisdom of the man. which has been followed, almost to the letter, down to and including the present administration of Dr. Ronntlo, one reads: “There can be no doubt, that the character under which we work de mands that we should build here in these beautiful islands a real univer sity, a university that must ever be true to the most universal tests of real culture and real usefulness. We are building not for today or for to morrow, but for the life of a people living in relation with our people through the long pages of future his tory.” “A University for the Filipinos — Where Efficiency is the Ideal Training” “In the true university there is an element of eternity. Students Turn to page 33 The Cabletow PRIEST AND MASON From pogo 6 come and go and after a brief so journ, professors bring their tasks (o a close, but the University goes on -the same quest, the same purpose, the same work. How shall we char acterize this essential spirit that is the secret of the life of the true 1 iniversity? "In a book just issued, entitled Universities of the World,” Dr. •Charles F. Tliwing divided universi ties into four groups. First, there is the German type, where research and laboratory work are supreme; second, those which seek to cultivate “intellectual strength and power of character” as exemplified by the Scotch and American Universities; third, a group of “great institutions,” of which Oxford is a type, where the real purpose is the making of a Gentleman”; fourth, “the Universi ties of the New East—India, Japan. China—where efficiency is the ideal training.” “Whatever may be said of the ac< uracy of this classification, there is something very striking in this des cription of the University of the "New East”. The Philippines are distinctly of the New East, in that, to the rich and varied heritage of an older civilization, new ideals and modern methods are being applied. On all sides, in every branch of hu man activity: in politics, business, social conditions, as well as in edu cation, a readjustment is being ef fected. It is the evident desire of the Filipino people that this read justment should be carried out as rapidly as possible. The University of the Philippines has an important part to play in this great movement of readjustment. It is to furnish capable leaders for the development of the resources of these islands upon modern lines. To put the case con cretely, the Philippines need skilled agriculturists to accomplish the tre mendous possibilities for wealth and prosperity wrapt up in their fertile soil. These Islands need expert Ve terinarians who can make the agri culturists’ triumph possible by the successful conquest of animal di seases; they need foresters who may husband and harvest an inexhausti ble timber supply; they need engi neers who shall open up the coun try by transportation facilities, irri gation projects, harbor works, as well as develop the mineral resources. More than these, there are needed here men skilled in medical science to make sale the public health, ex perienced educators to fit the youth of the Islands for the battle of life, specialists, indeed, in every branch of human activity to build up a prosperous, homogenous community under social conditions that are founded upon justice and righteous ness.” “Efficiency”, then, may well be our watchword in building up this new University of the East.” And build up the University he did. lie was the founder of the Graduate School of Tropical Mcdi cine and Public Health and the fol lowing colleges were organized undei his presidency: College of Medicine College of Fine z\rts College of Agriculture (Los Banos) College of Veterinary Science College of Engineering College of Liberal Arts College of Law Also, in his inaugural address he used these significant words, and re member. lie was a Priest of the Espiscopal Church: "True, the State University can have no official theology and no ec clesiastical afilliation. But it may Turn to next page OCTOBER, 1968 23 have a spirit of reverence for the mysteries of life; it may cultivate that essential religion that exalts the things of the human mind and spirit over things physical and which reads back of the material world a pur pose and a destiny.” “This then should be our watch word in developing the University of the Filipino — efficiency founded upon scholarship and inspired by character.” “It is my conviction that if we have before us ibis ideal, our uni versity will measure up to world standards, thereby carrying out the manifest provision of our Charter, but it must never be forgotten that this is and shall always be a Uni versity of the Philippines. It has been truly said that there can be no greatness without nationality. The world centers of knowledge are es sentially national. With students from all parts of the world, Berlin is essentially German and Oxford* es sentially English. This University should not be a reproduction of the American university. If it is to blos som into real fruit, it must grow in Philippine soil, it must not be trans planted from foreign shores. It can serve the world best by serving the Filipino. This was the vision of Murray Bartlett — and through the years and for over half a century, the University of the Philippines has re mained the bulwark of higher edu cation in the Philippines. This could not have been possible were it not for the wisdom, foresight and vision of men like Dr. Bartlett down to the present President, Dr. Romulo, who have guided its destiny. Dr. Bartlett’s dream has come true. Today, the University of the Philip pines has become one of the great universities of the world. He closed his inaugural address with these words: "It may be that I have been called here simply to drcam a dream; that it may be left for others to make the dream a reality. Should that be my lot, I shall be content, so long as my vision is clear and just, my purpose brave and true.” Dr. Bartlett resigned from the presidency of U.P. in 1915, turning it over to a Filipino, Dr. Ignacio Villamor, which was part of Dr. Bart lett’s plan for the university — “A University by and for the Filipino." After he left the University, he worked with the overseas YMCA in Europe with Bishop Brent and when World War I broke out he served in the Army Chaplaincy Corps, 19171919. He was wounded in the Marne Ainsc offensive and was awarded the D.S.C. (U.S.), Croix de Guerre, ami Chevalier Legion of Honor (France); he obtained the rank of Lt. Colonel. In 1919 he was elected President of Hoban and William Smith Col lege, an Episcopal College in Gene va, New York. He was President of this fine institution of learning until his retirement in 1936. & Who is the “Forgotten Man”? He is the honest citizen, ready to earn his living by productive work. But we pass him by because he is independent, selfsupporting and asks no favors. If it is desired to bring about social improve ment let us relieve the “Forgotten Man” of some of his burdens. He is weighed down with the cost of schemes for making everybody happy; with the cost of all public beneficence; with the support of all the loafers; with the losses of all economic quackery; with the cost of all the jobs. Let us turn our attention to him, and society will greatly gain by it. —Kleinknecht Encyclopedia. 24 The Cabletow

pages

5-6,22-23

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