Monmouth College - Ravelings Yearbook (Monmouth, IL)

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1915 RAVELINGS Monmouth College. n ?( ' VERY human institution h as a beginning. Monmouth College is no exception. T It was sometime in the early part of the year 1852 that Rev. Robert Ross of South Henderson and Rev. J. C. Porter of Cedar Creek had a vision. To which of them it appeared first is not known but the vision was one and the same; an institution of higher grade than the public schools of the state, situated in the midst of the rich prairies of western Illi- nois. It did not take the form of a university nor at first even that of a college but the modest title of High School, grammar school or academy. The vision took tangible form October eleventh of the same year when the matter was laid before the Presby- tery of the Associate Reformed, now the United Presbyterian Church. In November, 1853, the new institution was opened as an academy. This was Monmouth College in embryo. The evolution was rapid. After two years steps were taken to raise the acad- emy to the rank of college. In January, 1856, the Board of Trustees elected a faculty consisting of Rev. David A. Wallace, Pres., Rev. J. R. Brown, Professor of Languages, and Rev. Marion Morrison, Professor of Mathematics. On the first Monday of Septem- ber, 1856, Monmouth College was opened for the reception of students and in February of the following year was granted its charter. The real history of a college is bound up with the lives of the men who have guided its course and administered its affairs. For twenty-two years Dr. David A. Wallace continued president of the young and struggling institution. Largely through his influence the foundations were laid and the ideals fixed. It was well for Monmouth College that in these early plastic years, the critical period, that the master mind and rugged personality of Wallace was at the head to shape her future. Dr. Wallace was not only a man of affairs but an educator ranking second to none in the great and growing Middle West. It was a noble band of leaders at that time: Edwards, Blan- chard, Bateman, Wallace. Following Dr. Wallace, Dr. J. B. McMichael filled the posi- tion of President for nineteen years. If Wallace was the Founder, Dr. McMichael was the first of the Builders. Debts were paid, new buildings added, a fuller equipment pro- vided and an endowment fund was built up. Under Dr. S. R. Lyons ' administration, a large increase of endowment was secured and the course of instruction was enlarged. The fourth and present President, Dr. T. H. McMichael, son of the former executive, has been the efficient head of the college for th past eleven years. If you, reader, want visible proof of this, go out on the campus and look about you, examine the accounts H m

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1915 RAVELI NGST

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1915 RAVELI NGST of the treasurer ' s office, open the catalogue and study the courses of instruction; note the advance along all these lines and the bright promise for the future. Monmouth ' s ideal is the high grade small college. To the question, What is education?, Monmouth ' s answer from the first has been, a three-fold development of body, mind and spirit. Physical and mental culture equal to any, with distinct em- phasis on the development of the moral sense and conscience. The doctrine of first things first is accepted as holding true in education as in other things. In Monmouth ' s creed it is boldly written Character first, The highest culture for man ' s hightest na- ture. Not ashamed of the title, Christian College Monmouth will not change, blot out or in any way conceal that title. It is literally true that the sun never sets on the graduates of Monmouth College. In the states, from New York to California, in Japan, China, India, Egypt and the Sudan, there, as elsewhere, you find them. They are found in most of the pro- fessions and businesses of life. Many are leaders in high poistions. But whether in exalted or humble stations in life the children of Monmouth College reflect honor on their Alma Mater. Fifteen hundred and thirty-one have graduated and fifteen thous- and in all have been students for a longer or shorter period. The recent reorganiza- tion of the Alumni and ex-students promises more efficient support than heretofore. Behold the college of the future, strong mother of a mighty race, rejoicing in the power of maturity and in the blessing of a mighty offspring. A m