Earlham College - Sargasso Yearbook (Richmond, IN)

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Earlhdm College Semicentennial Conspectus TdiNT (II- ii;w l l)i, can a just estimate lie made t the wuith, vitality and tendencies of an insti- tution, as complex and as important in its functions, as a colleg-e, until a point in its life has heen reached, at which a retrospect of con- siderable breadth is attainable. Fifty years of a college-public will show three human generations, in such relation to one another and in such manifestation of qualities and tendencies, as to afford a fairly satisfactory basis, upon which to reckon worth and vitality. The first generation will still be objectively present, at its work, except the forward fringe of it, which has been melting away long enough to show something of the finish, it is making ; the second will be in the first lustrum of its chosen and established work ; while the third will be swarming over the walls of child- hood, showing its life and qualities to everv one. THE UKHv FORWARDS Earlham College is one, probably the most distinguished one, of the spiritual children of Indiana Yearly Meeting of Friends. Early in the decade of 1830, this great body of religious people foimd by its annual reports that there were in its families between 6,000 and 7,000 children, of whom two-thirds were more or less deprived of the guarded religious education that has been the ideal of this church, ever since the days of its founder. It is true they had at the time the best private schools of the country, for they always planted those twin civilizers, the school house and the meeting house, among the first things they did, in every settlement they made. But the immigration from Caro- lina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, and Xew England had poured their families into the new country so rapidly that their Monthly Meeting Schools were incompetent to educate the children. There were not enough schools: there were not enough ((ualificd teachers for the schools that were. It was at this time.

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Calendar 190S Scplcmhcr 28-Moiiil;i . I ' all term begins. Seplember 28 and 29— iMatriculalion and registration i.f students. September 30 — Wednesday. Instrnction begins in all departments. October 7— Wednesday. Meeting of the Board of Trustees (9 a. m.) Novenil)er 26— Tbnrsday. Thanksgiving recess of three days begins. Ucceml er 19— Saturilay, 8 p. m. Music Recital. Decemlier 24— Thursday. Fall Term ends. 1909 WINTEK V. C. TloN January 4— Monday. Winter Terin begins. Matrictdation and registration of students. January 5 — Tuesday. Instrnction begins in all departments. January U— Wednesday. Last day for handing in subjects of Theses for Degrees. March 20— Saturday. Music Recital. March 25— Thursday. Winter Term ends. SPRING V. C. T10N March 30 — Tuesday. Spring Term begins. Matriculation and registration of students. March 31— Wednesday. Instrncli..n begins in all departments. Mav 3-M..ndnv, Professional work f.ir teachers begins. May 12— Wednesday. Last day for handing in theses for degrees. June 11 — Friday, 8 p. m. Music Recital. June 12— Saturday, 8 p. ni. . nnnal IClocutionary Entertainment. June 13— Sabbath. 10 :30 a. m. Baccalaureate Service. 8:CW p.m. ; ddress before the Christian Associations. June 14— Monday, 8 p. m. Public exercises of Ionian and Fhieni.s Societies. June 15 — Tuesday. 9:00 a. m. Meeting of the Board of Trustees. 2 :00 p. nt. Class Day Exercises. 5 :00 p. m. Business meeting of the . luniiii .Association. 7 :(» p. nl. . nnual Tea of tlie .Munmi .Association. June 16 — Wednesday. 10 :00 a. m. Commencement. 4:00 p.m. Meeting of the F.xecutive Board of the . humi .Association. Spring Term emls, SUMMER V. C. TtON June 21— Monday. Summer Term begins. July 30— Friday. First half of Summer Term ends. .August 2— Monday. Second h.alf of Siunmer Term begins. September 10— Friday, Second half of Sununer Term ends.

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also, that a new voice was heard crying in that wilck-rncss: Give us a more advanced education, give us the means of culture, a chance at the refinements I ' f lite. When this voice of Jnhn the llaptist is heard crying in any wilderness, it is time for the governors to listen ; a new light has appeared, a new thirst has come, a new civilization is dawning, and the old regime and the old means will not suffice for it. Thus the idea for a higher, central institution of learning was born with the necessity for it, — the idea of a set of dormitories, class- rooms, study-rooms, laboratories, libraries ; the idea of a set of instructors of thorough education, wide knowledge, technical skill, inspiring. Christian character; the idea of an institution Tut (JLI) l ' ,n. l;l)l.M. Si IH that should be a home, where the youth nf the church might go. wear off their rusticity, lose their bail habits, develop their facul- ties, and return to be promoters of true work and true life in their respective localities. This idea of Indiana Yearly [Meeting to establish a central institution of learning at Richmond was nearly thirty years in developing and materializing in a college equipment. It assumed, very naturally, as a first fnrm, the idea of a hoarding school, after the manner of Ilavcrford, Westtown, and Providence, through which l- ' ricnds, east of die Alleghenies, had been succeeding so well in educating their children. The land for the site of the contemplated boarding school was a generous purchase. Want of money for the buildings was the delaying circumstance. All through the decade of ' 30 and the early years of ' 40. contribu- tions were coming in from friends of the [Meeting, from friends of the enter])rise in the eastern States, and from En- gland. Ireland and France, but universally in small amounts, so that the accoimts of the managing board always read — Hills payable. One wonders what kept that board in heart. They were staunch men. they belieyed in their cause, they l)elie e I in the meeting that stood back of them, they believed in the good Providence that over-shadowed the meeting. Perhajis, some of them knew the story of the founding of Tlarvard College