UA-R-GC-1914-01-01-1932-10-06_Page-037

~ MEETING OF THE PITTSBURGH TRUSTEES OF THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY laT CAIRO Pittsburgh)Pa . December 5th, 1933 7;.30 to 11:00 P.M. On Tuesday, December 5th, Mr. Robert T. Dodds entertained at a c1i.nner at his home, 1452 North Hi land Avenue, the Pittsburgh Trustees of the American University at Cairo, President Charles R. Watson, and Secretary Hermann A.. Lun. In the group gathered in the drawing room for a discussion of the affairs of the University, the following were present: Messrs. Craig, Dodds, Gillespie, Harbison, Lockhart, Watson and Lum. Dr. Watson gave a very complete and interesting statement of the back-ground of the Mohammedan civilization and the factors which enter into their feel-ing of antipathy towards Christians. This was followed by a brief discussion of the recent outbreaks in ypt against Christian missions and the American University at Cairo. The Department of Public Safety of the Egyptian Government is insisting that the missions in Egypt, through the Inter-Mission Council, present a statement of policy, including their stand on compulsory chapel and required courses in re-ligion. Dr. Watson explained that the University's present attitude is that we are a private institution and therefore entitled to have required attendance at chapel and religious courses, if we feel it is the thing to do. However, the Egyptian Gov-ernment may insist on the abolishing of these requirements or the students may be showing some resentment. A frank discussion of the matter of compulsory and voluntary chapel attendance followed: 1. Why not follow the plan in vogue at Princeton University with regard to Sunday chapel where the students are given the choice of go-ing to Sunday morning chapel or Sunday evening forum. It is necessary to attend during the year one-half of the meetings of the one elected. 2. Why not make chapel entirely voluntary. Any measure of suc-cess which has been met with to date is because the students feel that they are being left free to make their own choice in matters of relig-ion. It is the absence of this feeling of compulsion that seems import-ant . 3. There is also the argument that if you don't have compulsory chapel, you don't believe in your religion with sufficient conviction to insist on students attending such a service. 4. It is the personality of the Dean at Princeton which makes the plan a success. Upon the personality of o►ur own faculty man in ethics and religion rests the success of any plan we might suggest. 5. At the University of Pennsylvania, occasional voluntary con-vocations are being held with considerable success. Twelve are being planned for this year. 6. Chapel should be compulsory because it is one of the conditions on which students enroll in the University. But if the Egyptian Govern-ment insists on the voluntary feature, then we bow in submission to the law