Denison University - Adytum Yearbook (Granville, OH)

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Page Seven Denison Universil]}, Cranville, Ohio At first the curriculum of our college embodied the studies of Greek, Latin, and Mathematics, with a smattermg of English, a little Philosophy, mental and natural. Such studies as these were the walls, pillars, and the roof of every higher educational mstitution m that day. In 1 866 the study of modern languages was introduced, closely followed by the introduction of Zoology and Geology. The rapid expansion of scientific lines of activity and research and the increased endowment, led to a division of the chair of Natural Sciences, with that of Geology and Natural History occupied by Professor Hicks, and Chemistry and Physics. We find also in the curriculum, a professorship of History and Political Science, one for Botany, and another for Civil Engineering. Taking a retrospect of the last seventy-five years, we find a revolution wrought in almost every activity of life. But when we turn to the educational world, to the college world, we observe our almost incredible advance. And to make the observation, we need go no farther than the limits of our own institution.

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IN the year 1830 at a convention held in Lebanon, Ohio, it was deemed expedient that a Literary and Theological Seminary under the patronage of the regular Baptist denomination of Christians be established in the State of Ohio. In consequence of this, a society was formed for the carrying out of the plan. In October of the same year, a consti- tution was adopted, providing for the organization of an institution for literary and theological instruction which should be located as centrally as possible in Ohio, and inviting propositions and subscriptions for the purpose. When it came to the selection of a site for the institution, some difficulty arose, but Granville was finally selected. Elder Allen Darrow and Charles Sawyer of Granville took upon themselves the responsibility of offering a farm site near this village for the institution, although the funds for the purpose had not nearly all been subscribed. This eligible offer, the central location and the New England characteristics of Granville turned the scale decidedly in favor of that location. The farm site selected for the Granville Literary and Theological Institution, as it was first named, is situated about one mile southwest of Granville on the Columbus road. A large brick dwelling house on the premises was subjected to repairs and some additions put to it and this was to serve as the first college building. Such was the beginning of our college. With its slender resources and primitive equipment, it had a wealth of potential manhood and a fine spirit of achievement. A great crisis came in the college affairs with the burning of the college building in the Spring of 1832. When the fire swept away the nearly completed building they were not merely without a college building and without insurance, but had even a deficit of twenty-three hundred dollars in payment for the farm which had been thought wholly provided for But what made the affair particularly heart-breaking was the conviction which was generally held by the trustees that the origin was incendiary. Fortunately, however, the college was again put on its feet by subscriptions which helped it to start anew. In 1854 the name of the college was changed to that of Denison University, in honor of William S. Denison, donor of ten thousand dollars. Two years later this institution was removed from the farm to the present site on College Hil . That same year saw the building of the west dormitory known as Marsh H all, at a cost of twenty-five thousand dol- lars The year 1864 was an eventful one in the history of the college also. At this time, the university was re-incor- porated, thirty-six trustees to be members of good standing in Ohio Baptist churches. Between 1864 and 186 . the first permanent endowment, one hundred thousand dollars, was raised through the leadership of Ebenezer 1 hresher of Dayton.

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HISTORY OF THE ADYTUM IN I 882 the Beta Theta Pi and Sigma Chi fraternities, the only ones then existing in Denison, realizing the need of an annual for our University, published the Adytum, containing a history of that year. The editorial gives the follow- ing cause for the publication: Many of our students possess qualities of mind or peculiarities of disposition that are eminently worthy of some sort of mention. Another cause leading to the enterprise was the need of representing some- where those organizations and all the different phases of college life which were not touched upon in any other college publication. Before the second number was issued Phi Gamma Delta organized a chapter here and the Adytum of 1884 was published by the three fraternities with J. E. Andrews as editor in chief. Three numbers were published by the fraternities, then in 1893, The Adytum was taken over by the Senior class of Granville College. In 1900, Shepardson College was represented on the board of editors. In 1902, the task of getting out the annual was given to the Junior class and from this time it has been handled by them. Until I 899, the book appeared irregularly, but since has been published annually. The Adytum has grown from a small, unpretentious, paper-bound book, containing only characterizations and etchings, to a book of which any Den- isonian may well be proud. Besides representing the many phases of college life, the Adytum contains numerous specimens of art and literature contributed by class-mates. The annuals of our four years at Denison remind us that — Our days with thee were days of pleasure And days we ever shall revere ; Those days and joys we ' ll ever treasure And give to thee our hearty cheer. I iiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Ill iiiiiiiiii Ill iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiii iiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiii I I iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiii Ill iiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiii I in iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii in iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiii i i imni « iiiiiiu i m