Case Western Reserve University - Lux / Differential Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

Page 14 text:

■Faith of Our Fathers No great institution or community can long endure without the broad foundation of spiritual strength and power. The Reserve was exceedingly fortunate in having for founders men and women who had their own convictions upon matters of religion, ii ' io put their ideals into practice, and allowed others to do the same. Such a spirit of reverence, intermingled with its concomitant virtue, toleration, has builded the com- monwealth. Such a spirit caused the colonists of Connecticut to essay the protection of their chartered rights when a Royalist governor attempted to compel their relinquishment. Connecticut began life by helping herself, and endeavoring to help others. As an evidence of her beneficence, she gave at an early day, to such of her citizens as had lost their property by fire and sword in the Revolution, five hundred thousand acres of her Western Reserve lands. This was a generous act, and a practical recognition of the golden rule. In such an atmosphere of equal justice, right, and law the Reserve had its beginnings.

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WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY VV HEN Connecticut cedwl her western lands to the Federal government she ' » reserved for herself that part of her territory which extended one hundred and twenty miles west of the western houndary of Pennsylvania. This terrri- tory was known hy any of the following names: The Comiecticut Western Reserve; the Western Reserve of Connecticut; or as New Connecticut. In 1817 the Presbytery of Grand River, which embraced nearly all the Presbyterian and Congregational ministers and churches of the Western Reserve of Connecticut, formed a society for the education of young men for the ministry within the limits of the Presbytery. When the new Presbyteries of Portage and Huron were created by a subdivision of Grand River Presbytery, similar educational societies were formed. At first they confined their efiforts to assist- ing worthy students studying privately with ministers or attending the Erie Literary Society ' s School, which had been opened at Burton in 1820, but in 1824, becoming dissatisfied with the conditions at Burton, they appointed com- missioners to establish a literary and theological institution which could better carry out their purposes. In choosing a location the commissioners were instruc- ted to take into view all circumstances of situation, and health . Cleveland was at that time an insignificant and imhealthy river town, and Hudson seemed to be the best location for a country college. It was a day nearer Pittsburgh and the East by the main thoroughfare of the period and presented stronger claims for a college than the other town considered. A board of trustees, composed of seven clergymen and seven laymen, was organized in 1825, and a charter secured from the State of Ohio. February 1. 1826. This was the fifth college chartered in the state. At the same time a preparatory school was also established in connection with the college. The first principal was Mr. David L. Coe. .Ml the western colleges found it necessary to maintain such a school on account of the lack of endowed academies and classical schools in this part of the country. The prepa- ratory school was always under the supervision of the College Faculty and was for the most part taught by the younger graduates of the college. The Theological Department began operations when Mr. Green came as Professor of Biblical Literature in 18,30, and continued until 1852. It was aban- doned because there were not funds enough to support the professors. The necessity for a Seminary had also ceased, when two others were founded in the field which this was intended to occupy. During the Hudson period, the endowment, student bodv and faculty grew very slowly. The absence of regular, stable, and adequate channels of support and the proximity of numerous other colleges stood in the way of rapid develop- ment. Cleveland had developed into a thriving city and some of its citizens were also hoping to make it an educational center. In view of this situation, in March 1880. Amasa Stone of Cleveland offered the College five hundred thousand dollars upon the following conditions; that it be removed to Cleveland, that it occupy a suitable site to be given by citizens, and that its name be changed to Adelbert College of W ' estern Reserve University . The offer was accepted, and in Sep- tember, 1882, Adelbert College opened its doors on a new campus of twenty-two acres. The co-educational plan of education was abandoned and a separate Col- lege for Women was founded in 1888. The professional schools of Law, 1892; Dentistry, 1892; Library School, 1904; Pharmacy. 1882; Applied and Social Sciences, 1915; and Nursing, 1923; have since been organized and a University chair of Religious Education established. 12