West Virginia Wesleyan College - Murmurmontis Yearbook (Buckhannon, WV)

Page 23 text:

The Origin of the West Virginia Conference Seminary, Rev. C. H. Graham. Prp?iiliii -Eliler nf Wheeliiio; District METHODISM was born in a College, and it has never departed from the funilamental |irinci]5les of its nativity. It was therefore natural that the members of what is now known as the West Virginia Conference planned early for the higher education of their con- stituency. That this was a difficult prol lem anyone familiar with the history of West irginiawill reailily a lmit. The social, political, and denominational conditions existing at the time of the organization and for about three decades following were unfavorable to the establishment of educational institutions; but the lack of intellectual culture and its neces- sity to the universal good and to the success of the church were so thoroiighly impressed upon the minds of a number of the leading members of the Conference that they were continually watching for tlevelopments. Methodist leaders have ever encouraged the various forms of general education, and they have not only endorsed the educational institvitions of this and other states, but they have stimulated the spirit of moral and intellectual culture wherever they have been located. The first efforts of the West ' irginia Methodists culminated in the founding of the North ' estern Academy at Clarksburg. This instituticm was, by the Schism of 1844. lost to the church, but his- tor ' will justify the assertion that the good results were more than commensurate with the investments. For a number of years the Conference sent her young men and young women chiefly to Allegheny, Mount Union, Ohio Wesleyan University, Beaver Female, and Pittsburg Female Colleges. We rejoice at the number of per- sons who have attended these and other institutions of learning and who have been graduated with honors and are blessing humanity today by their noble and u.seful lives. When the smoke of the battle of the Civil War of 1861 cleared avrav and Rev. C. B. Graham. D.D.

Page 22 text:

Board of Trustees. Term Expires October 1904 Hon. H. C. McWhorter, President, 1903 Rev. C. B. Gr. h. m, U.U., 190.3 Rev. S. P. Crummett, 1903 A. W. PdUNDsToxE, Esq.. 1903 J. C. Ii. RDELL, Esq 1904 Hon. T. P. J. coBs. A. M., 1904 Rev. AsnuRY Mick, 1904 Robert A. Reger, M.I)., Treasurer, 1903 C. W. Archbold, Esq., 1904 Ex-Gov. G. W. Atkixso.v, LL.D.. 1902 John A. B. rnes, Esq., Secretary, 1902 .J. S. Withers, Esq., 1902 Rev. L. W. Roberts, D.D., 1902 Rev. D. A. Denton, 1904 Bishop ]:. r!. Cr. nston, LL.D., 1904 Rkv. ARCHiiiALD Moore, D.D., 1904 Ri:v. D. L. Ash, D.D., President Wier, Charleston, W. Va. Wheeling;, W. ' a. Buckhannnn, W. ' a. BuckhaniKin. V. ' a. Mdundsville, W. ' a. New .Martinsville, West Mrginia. Huntinstnn, W. ' a. Buekhannon, W. ' a. Parkersburg, W. ' a. Charleston, W. A ' a. Weston. W. a. Glenville. W. ' a. Oakland, .Md. Weston. W. ' a. Portltmd. ( )regon. Wheeling, W. ' a. Clarksburg, W. ' a. Buekhannon, W. ' a.

Page 24 text:

West Virginia added a star to the natimial flag, the spirit of higlier education sprang into new life, althougli many discouragements re- mained. Tlie leaders in the church went forth with faitli in (iod and with hope inspired Ijy tlic natural resources of the state and its pos- sibilities to conquer in His name. It is well to recall the fact that a very large majority of the philanthropic institutions of this nation are the result of tlie convictions and sacrifices of the ministers of the gospel, and the origin of the West ' irginia Conference Seminary i.s not an exception. The Centennial of Method- ism seemed an opportune time to e .ect a monument commemorating the origin and the success of the church, and the Revs. J. W. Kcgcr. .1. (i. ] ' , ii v. and K. W. Ryan, were ap- pointed as a conuuittee by the Annual Con- ference of 1S76 to receive propositions for a Conference Seminary. The town of IJuck- hannon secure 1 .16, .570. 00 of a subscription the committee b ' a local committee composeil (i. A. Newlon. C. W. Heavener. and C. C. F. Mc- Whorter. This was reported to the ensuing Conference, but as there was onh- one ])ro])osition sul)mitted the suliject of location was deferred. Seven years later the subject of the Centennial of the Organization iif the M. K. Church aroused the Conference again to action, and a committee composed of H(.vs. A. .1. Lyda, .1. W. Webb. S. E. Jones, ]■;. H. Orwuen. Joseph Lee. W. G. Snodgrass. .1. X. Fullerton. Samuel Steele, and (i. H.Wil- liams was appointed to prepare a plan for a ]5roper observance of the occasion. This committee reported recommended a form of receiving the offerings of the jirople for tlie Conference Seminary and for the Ccjnference Claimants ' Fund. This report was adoi ti-d and arrangements made to carry out its ])ro- visions. The following year. 18S-t, the Con- ference being in session at Buckhannon, a b(]ard of trustees was appiiinted for tlie Sciii- iuary Fum ' i — A. J. Lyda. 1 . L. Stuart. 1). 11. K. Dix, T. 11 Hughes, and Samuel Steele. This board made the following report at the ensuing Conference at Charleston: The Rev. S. P. Crummett. Hon. H. C. McWhomer. and tendiM-i ' d the same to of Capt. A. .M. Poundstone.