Lincoln University - Lion Yearbook (Lincoln University, PA)

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lias grown from a building, a professor and a student to fourteen buildings, eleven professors and two hundred students. The University is far removed from the great political, religious and social centres, it has a beautiful location, one-half mile from the Lincoln University Station, on the Philadelphia and Baltimore Central Railroad. There is little attraction here save what nature has so artistically wrought. One who has become acquainted with the subtle workings of unseen forces fails not in seeing the hand of the great Architect guiding and marshaling every force of nature to the completion of every hill and dale, with graceful curves and harmonious blendings of vine and blossom. Separated as we are from the great fashionable centres, we are only ex- cluded from that which tends to allure and entice us away from the lasting associations with the great minds of the past and the sources of great power of the present. With the valuable instructions and other refining acces- sions that are here attainable, which have made, are making, and shall ever make the industrious, studious and diligent student a positive exponent of the great intellectual dynamo, the vibrations of whose currents have not only set up similar pulsations throughout America, but the islands of the seas, and the countries beyond the vast expanse of ocean have come into a full appreciation of the worth and discipline of this University, as may be seen from the life’s work of its alumni upon the broad fields of life. It is now nearing a half a century since this work has been in progress, twenty-five professors have labored in this 41 School of the Prophets ” (as it is rightly termed by those who know of its devious track through the long night of peril and difficulty), eleven of whom are zealously instructing daily in their several branches of study. Knowing their position and realizing the gravity of their situation, they apply themselves to their tasks and give of their earthly goods, as well as of their intellectual acquirements, to bring this University up to a commensurable ratio with the great purpose of the founder. Thrice happy are we to note that the purpose of the noble fathers has 11

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Lincoln University. lifHILE the founding and establishing of Lincoln University was in the providence of God, it was also a fitting manifestation of the magnani- mous heart of the Rev. John Miller Dickey, D. D., of Oxford, Pa. I11 1853, when the most alert minds of the inhabitants of the United States were watching intently the development of the national resources, both financial and political as traced upon the bright side, he looked upon the dark side; and while many were theorizing concerning the future ol the na- tion, he used direct means for removing the hindrances which confronted the young republic, and especially those which affected the negro race. This may be seen more clearly in the purpose of the establishing of this institu- tion. As stated in the charter which was first received April 29th, 1854, the institution was then known as Ashmun Institute. This charter was supple- mented in 1866, at which time the Ashmun Institute was dissolved into what has been known, styled and titled Lincoln University. The appearance of this star in the educational system of this country, yea even of the world, caused undue comment and consternation from those who were astounded at the audacity and questioned the propriety of such an establishment, for truly, its mission is not inferior to that of its contempora- ries. It is not hedged about by any one creed or doctrine, but it takes its origin in the very characters of Him who placed the idea in the heart of the founder ; and the ever increasing interest and material expansion are but the unfolding and developing of the vast underlying principles of that system of finite existence, and the manifestation of God’s essence, intelligible to men, and their enjoyment of God’s own felicity. Still its appearance was not greeted with a cordial welcome into the fields of labor, then overgrown with vice, superstition and ignorance, nor did the great philanthropic hearts turn from public opinion to bestow upon it their millions; but by the earnest en- deavors of the founder and friends through great adversities the University

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been in a measure carried out. For in all the world’s broad fields of battles, “in the bivouac of life,” Lincoln’s sons are not sitting idle, but “are heroes in the strife.” Thus the new century finds 11s greatly encouraged, the heavy mist hover- ing about our horizon is being rolled away, and the sun in our sky is nearing its zenith. For all the blessings that are here afforded us we are not ungrateful to God who gave them, nor unthankful to our benefactors and friends who have been, and are now, kindly disposed to bring them. X. L