McKendree University - McKendrean Yearbook (Lebanon, IL)

Page 12 text:

' become our President, was born on Xoveniber 17. 15538. So great was tbe father ' s pride in the he iiaiiie l this son McKendree Hypes Chamberlain, H pes being for an old and honored family of th who were all greatly interested in the welfare of this institution. During the six years the son attended McKendree College the same indomitable courage which later in life proved so valuable, aroused his ever apt mind to the fact that the debt of McKenilree College should be raised by the student and alumni of the institution, . - o it was with this end in view he went to work, and on the occasion of the 40tb anniversary of die institntior, on I ' eljruary 20-21. in the year 1868, was held the educational convention at Lebanon, 111., which was attended by many |)rominent men. for dis- cussing this important question. McKendree Hyjies Chamberlain graduated at McKendree College in the year 1831). receiving die de- gree of R. A. During hi;, senior year at McKendree he studied law under e, -( iov. h ' rench, afterward taking a law course at Harvard University Law School, from which institution he graduated in 18(11, receiving the de- gree of liachelor of Laws. From Harvard he went to Kansas City, .Mo., and took u ) the practice of law, Init soon after nio ed to IJcardstown. III., to pursue his practice. While here he became interested in newspaper work, and durins; Lincoln ' s second campaign for the Presidency he took up editorial work on the Bcardsto-L ' ii Illiiioisiiiii. In 1862 he received the degree of Master of - rts from McKendree College. )n Junu Cith, 18(19. he was married to .Miss Helen L. Dana, of Kansas City. .Mo., who has ever been a devoted wife ready to cheer him in time of distress, or rejoice with him in time of joy. Soon after his marriage he became interesied in railway construction, and projected two roads, one from Chicago, 111, to Keokuk. Iowa, and the other from the ( )h ' ut river in Kentucky to Cumberland Cjap, Tenn. lioth roads were backed by men of wealth and ability, and bid fair to be an assured success but for unexpected panics which prostrated every in(lu l in the country, and was especially hard on railway construction. I!ut this did not end his railway career, for a few years later he .ser -cd five years as secretary of the Illinois Railway Commission. When in 1872 the l e|)ublican State ( ' onveiition of Illinois met to select an elector on the I ' resi-

Page 11 text:

OUR PRESIDENT. BY A MCKtNDRtAN Many are the educational institutions Imtli orcat and small scattered throufjliout the L ' nited States, some splendidly equipped in every respect, and others less pretentious, but nevertheless just as well pre- pared to instruct the willing student in all the branches of k-arnint;-. In the center of these inightv foun- tains of knowledge stands the peer of all otlu rs. This is none ntber than McKendree College, the oldest institution west nf the Alleghany .Mountains, b ' roni out the halls of this historic college countless young men and women of sterling cpialities have gone forth into the battle of life, achieving success in whatever line cif work they have undertaken, and bringing honor to themselves, and glory to that grand old institu- tion of which they were worthy graduates. McKendreans look with a mingled feeling of joy and love as they observe the names of companions written upon the historic records of their alma mater, joy because it is always pleasant to know and be known liy those of their comi)anions who, after years of struggle, have at- tained success in life ' s battles, and love because of the many strong friendshi])s which formed in college days. remain inseparable throughout life. r.ut. in the midst of this nndtituile wlm have borne the banner nf tiieir alma mater to the front step by step, there is one whose name stands forth as a guiding light to all .McKendreans. It is in his personal- ity that the emblem of those three words, faith, hope and charity arc brought forth in their practical sense; thus the life of our honored and beloved I ' resident, Dr. M. 11. Chamberlain is truly represented, for it may be truly sai l that no man engaged in any of life ' s undertakings has pursued his work with more uudaunte l courage and faith in its final outcome, than has oui ' iel,)ve(l I ' resident in his untiring efforts to reach that goal which, when gained, would place this institution upon a sound financial basis. With this end in view he has striven unceasingly from boyhood days, regardless of his own ])ersonal gain an. I ambitions, hut ever thoughtful of this institution which it was his purpose to endow. The father of our I ' resident was one of the pioneers of Lebanon, and during the early days of .McKen- dree t ' ollege he served as its steward. While engaged in tliis capacitx a son. who was later destiucd to

Page 13 text:

(k-iitial ticket for tin.- Siiriiiiificld Cnnsrcssioiial District, tlicy rfCORiiizcil at unco the ability of this ymmi; man. ami without his knowledge or consent he was elected their repre.sentative by a unanimous vote; Inii later on in the campaign he was taken from the electorial ticket, and in spite of liis earnest protest, was made the Congres.sional candidate from this district, the district at that time being but a few votes short of five thou.sand Democratic majority. lUit regardless of this fact he carried Morgan county for the Republican |)arty for the first time in its history by a vote of one hundred and five majority, and at the end of two months ' (lifticnh campaigning, was only detVated b S i votes and at a cost of Sio.ooo to Deiuocracy. Ill 1881 he went West where he spent six years engaged in mining: but during this time thoughts of the welfare of old McKendree were ever upiiermost in his mind as he struggled onward, hoping to secure suflicient money to endow it. Returning from the West he took up railroading at St. f.ouis. . lo.. and while stationed there in 1894 he was notified of his election as President of McKendree College. This was a great surprise to him. for although he had always assisted this institution when able, he never had the least thouglit of becoming its President. It may well be saiil that dame fortune smiled on McKendree College since he became its head, for the debt has been raised, buildings repaired and steam heat installed, and the curriculum has been changed, until to-day it is second to rone. Thus this institution stands as a nionu- ment to his life work, and ere many days have passed the endowment of Sioo.cxx). for wdiich he has worked imceasingly. will be raised ; and thus the crowning point of his life will he reached, and a brilliant future of this grand old institution forever will be assured. When the Southern Illinois Conference of the M. E. Church met in i8 Xi at Cleveland. Ohio, and again in Chicago. III., in 1900, they elected as their lay delegate our honored President. He was later appointed by the General Conference in 1900 as one of the lay delegates to the Ecumenical t mference o f World-wide Methodism held in London. England, in i()Oi. but did not attend. In 1896 President Chamberlain received the degree of Doctor of Laws, which was conferred upon him bv the Grant L ' niversity of Chattanooga. Tennessee, and soon afterwards he was elected as a member of the Rhodes Scholarship Commission, also elected a member of the Executive Committee of the Illinois State Historical Society, which position he holds at the present time. NOTE— Since writing the above article the $100.000 endowment, of which prevlou the untiring efforts of our beloved President. I r. M. H. Chambt rlln ' ' — ' -•■•- tlons of unselfish men has been realized, the dreams of twyhood days shall stand forever as a monument to McKendree College. tlon was made, lias been ralse l, ihrouch n the raising of the endowment, the hopes, alms, and now a reality, so great, that the r ' ?of Dr. M.ll. ChamUerlln