McKendree University - McKendrean Yearbook (Lebanon, IL)

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ccclnl l ' r.si,lent Akcrs ami in i8,V.. Kcv. J,,l„-, W . M.-rrill l,i-canK. I rcsi.lcnt. with his hrotlu-r. Annis Merrill, W. SuM.KTland and lli.n. Wilhani lln.un as asscciatv nicnihers ..t tlic tacuhv. Tln- faculty turnmlatol tlu- onns.-s uf stu.lv mto c:.lk-iatc ' ..hUt. sradiiatinj; a class of seven nu-nibiTs with the ,le-rec of I ' .achel.ir of Arts, in 1S41. In the nuantinie. in iS.v,, with the active Cooperation ..f Mr. I. inc., In. then a member of the (k-neral Assembly, a new charter, with the most generous franchises, and fullest I ' niversity privilegres, was secure.l.— the .me nmler which the lnstituti..n is now acting. -McKcn.lree Collese. like all the earlv institutions of learnm-. has felt the -rin.l .,f p.,verty. In the c.nstructi.m ..l its original Imil.lin.o— Hk- first college buil.lin- erecte. I in the .State ..f lllin.iis— a debt was create.l which, .lurin- all the succee.lin.t; years, was increa. ed an.l diminishe.I in turn, its liquidation not beinfr wholly etiVcteil until 18.15. The financial straits t.. which it was re.lnced ..ccasione.l fre,|ucnt chai-. ' es in the faculty, .since the revenues .,f the institution woul.l n.,ta.hnu ,,f the , avment of a.le,|nate salaries t., the ahnost unif,,rmly ca])able members comij.isiny the Imar.l .if mstniclion. Thn.u-h it all. b.,wever. hi.yh -ra.lc w..rk was mainlaine.l. an.l. in harm.my with the spirit ..f it.s f. ' un.lers. wh., .leclared with such emphasis in behalf ,,f the classics. .McKen.lrce has kept the faith an.l now has ni.,re than .seventy-si.x per cent ,,f its stu.lents in the c.,lle-e w..rk pursuin- the clas.sieal course, the Cireek furnishincf the distinsruishin.L;- characteristic. . .. c..lle.i;e in the West can make a better exhibit f..r its lab.,rs. In every .lepartment of the wirld ' s enileav..r her s.ins have rendered, ami c.mtinue to reniler. ilistinsuishe.l service. In public life t..-,lay. in the .State .,f lllin.,is. no eolleoe within its l,.,nlers .an make an e(,ual sh..wir,fi with -McKcn.lree. r...th the ( •„wern,,r an.l l.icutenant-( i. wern.,r are McKen.lree -ra.luates: likewise two of its Cnsressmen. three of its olle-e prc ' sicU-nts. while Iw., of the ju,lj;es .,n tie Supreme Kench. an.l the liresi.leia of the State llist..rical .S,,ciety arc .McKendrean.s. The instituti.in. now free ..f .lebl. its ].r..i)erty rehabilitated an.l m...lernize l. its cour.ses of study on a hi.crh | lane, and an effort about t., culminate which will a.l.l $100,000 t.. its end.iwnicnt. to k- followed with still greater additions, already |)ledoe l, furnish an array of facts which are the certain pronii.se of the rapid develo])nier.t of Mck ' en ilree int. rniversit pro])onions.

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HISTORY OF McKENDREE COLLEGE. BY M. H. CHAA BERLAIN, L. L. D., PRESIDENT. McKendree College is the oldest institution, for hisjher education, in the State of Illinois. The original articles of organization, fonnulated in 1828. were signed hv 104 persons, — three of the number being women. — who contributed $1,385 for the erection of a building for college purposes. Among the articles was one specially providing that Greek and Latin as well as the Higher Mathematics and the Philosophies should be taught. in addition to the preparatorv branches. The first building was com- menced in the fall of 1828. and completed the succeeding year. In the meantime the two houses of the vil- lage were rented and. on Xoveinber 24. 1828. the institution, — then known as Lebanon Seminary — was opened for students, with .Mr. E. R. Ames as Frincipal, and Miss McMnrphy as his assistant. The academic year was divided into two sessions of five months each, the Principal being paid $25 and the assist- ant 33 P r month. The tuition charged for the common branches was $5.00 per session. The enroll- ment for the first year numbered 72 students, five of whom were women. The revenues for the first session amounted to S460. of which amount the Principal received $115, and the assistant $83.33. As a nouble fact it may be named that the records of the Board of Trustees show that the excellence of Miss McMurphy as a teacher is twice named in resolutions passed by that body. Mr. Ames, who was licensed to preach while teaching at Lebanon, antl who subsequently became Bishop of the M. E. Church, and Miss McMurphy were re-employed for a second term, on equal salaries, $25 per month. In 1830 the name of the institution was changed to McKendree College, in pursuance of a generous fkmatifrti of 480 acres of land made by Bishop McKendree in its support and with his expressed wish that it might cf. mmand the support of the Illinois and Missouri Conferences- a territory, at that lime, pnLCticalK embracing the entire western country. In Januar -. 1835. it was incorporated under the title of the .McKendrean College, ,n,d t v. Peter Alcers. on recommendation of Bishop McKendree, was chosen the first President. Rev. Jolni Dew sue-

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McKENDREE HYPES CHAMBERLAIN, L. L. D. President of McKendree College. . r