College of Wooster - Index Yearbook (Wooster, OH)

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PRESIDENT LOUIS EDWARD HOLDEN, D. D

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Robinson and others, Dr. Hoge having in the nieanwhile passed away. The other two Synods were summoned to re- enlist in the good warfare. Sandusky immediately responded. But the time of funds was not yet, In 1865 the town of London offered a subscription of 550,000 for the location, which offer was after considerable discussion declined. An intimation was also received at the same time from Wooster looking toward a proposition. A Committee was appointed by the Synod of Ohio, response not having been received from the other Synods, with power to settle the question of locality should the sum of fIO0,000 be oifered at any point. In the autumn of 1865, the civil war being ended, the sum required was proitered by citizens of Wooster and' Wayne county on conditions of location at Wooster, concurrence of the three Synods and a pledged endowment by the Synods of f300,000. This olfer was accepted by the Synod of Ohio in 1866, trustees were elected and the other Synods were invited 'Co cooperate. Sandusky responded at once and elected its trustees, These trustees of the two Synods met in November 1866 and organized the Board, making arrangements for articles of incorporation and the formal founding of the Institution. The next year Cincinnati heartily joined in and chose its portion of trustees. The institution was thus at last fairly launched. What effort its existence had cost may be realized from the fact that for more than twenty-three years preceeding, action had been taken every year by one or more of the Synods involved. Well may we record the words of Dr. Robinson at the culmination of his labors speaking as the first President of the Board of Trustees: Long and earnestly had prayer been made all over the State on behalf of this project, and now the answer is just at hand. Many hearts are full of gratitude at this. 4 At the inauguration of Dr. Lord, the first President of the University, Dr. Robinson madea historic statement in the form of an address covering the ground herein gone over with many additional details. This was published at the time with other proceedings of the inauguration. But nearly thirty years having elapsed, and the pamphlet having become quite rare, it has been deemed best to revive these 'historical data, with minor corrections from original sources, full credit being given to the detailed statements of Dr. Robinson.

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President Louis Edfward Holden, D. D. T was no easy-quest, that for the right man to follow Woosterls first three able and eminently successful leaders, Presidents Lord, Taylor and Scovel. After searching for more than a year, the Board of Trustees found in Rev. Louis Holden, Professor of Oratory in Beloit College, that rare combination of qualifications which they sought for the high oliice, and called him to be president of the University. President Holden was born at Rome, N. Y. 5 in 1863. He received his early education in the schools of Utica. At fourteen years of age he accepted a position with a business hrrn, in whose employment he remained for three years. Converted at seventeen, he united with the Presbyterian church at Utica and with his new ideals of life his thoughts turned toward college and the ministry. The next two years were spent in an artists' supply house in Chicago. By the kindly interest of his employer, his pastor, Dr. Kittridge, and other friends, he was led to choose Beloit as his college and to enter Beloit Academy in 1882, and the Freshman class in 1884. He graduated from the classical course in 1888. The remarkable business energy and capacity of Mr. Holden were made manifest by his supporting himself during his college course and at its close having nearly a thousand dollars in hand after all his obligations were met. - During the three years next after his graduation, Mr. Holden completed the theological course in Princeton Seminary. In the spring after both his first and his second years at Princeton he was called back to Beloit to assist President Eaton in raising funds for the college. As he returned for his senior year in the seminary, he took with him as his bride Miss Hattie E. Simmons, of Utica. At the close of his theological course in 1891, Mr. Holden was called to the chair of oratory at Beloit, the very chair -it is interesting to note - which was formerly occupied by the eminent educator, President Fiske, of the Chicago Theological Seminary, who nine years before had directed Hr. Holden to Beloit. During his eight years' service in this chair, Prof. Holden was largely instrumental in bringing the endowment of his college from a quarter of a million up to a million dollars. He was, moreover, popular as a preacher, influential in presbytery and synod, and so successful as a teacher of the Greek Testament in additim to the work proper to his chair that in 1899, shortly before his call to Woos- ter, he was offered a new chair of Biblical instruction at Beloit.