Wabash College - Wabash Yearbook (Crawfordsville, IN)

Page 18 text:

NX.. Hgfie Urzegaqaecfeci, Because of God. EX-PRICSIDENT TUTTLE. 1111: ROMAN HISTORIAN asserts the pleasure of tracing a river to its source. I desire to trace Wabash College to the fountain from which it flows. When,Sir Walter Mildmay said, referring to the origin of Emanuel College, Cambridge, Eng.: I have set an acorn, which, when it becomes an oak, God alone knows what will be the fruit thereof, he expressed the Roman's thought by another figure of speech. In one it was a river, in the other an oak, but in each case the result came from a cause. In November, 1832, the Rev. James Thomson, and sev- eral men of like mind, set an acorn in the wilderness at Crawfordsville. a young town of a few hundred people. The Indians had re- cently sold the land, over which wild beasts still roamed. In 1821 its first white family came. In 1822, Rev. Charles C. Beattie preached the first Presbyterian sermon and solemnized the first marriage. In 1824, the first Presbyterian Church was organized, and, in 1827, the Rev. James Thomson became its pastor. He was a graduate of Miami University, in its first class, in 1826. While in the University, he formed the purpose of setting an acorn, of Sir Walter Mildmay's kind, somewhere in Wabash valley. This he did November 21, 1832. He and his fellow enthusiasts in the sublime undertaking, were home missionaries who had little money but a large wealth of faith. In one year from the starting of the work the first college edifice was sufficiently advanced to allow the first school to commence. 'Prof. Caleb Mills, December 3, 1833, began it with twelve students. In another twelve months the institution had shown enough vitality to get itself deep-hopelessly some thought-in debt. '

Page 17 text:

J, been but a few weeks in office, with plans and methods and resources in hand, discovered to them a new wisdom in their choice and the rare good fortune of the college in securing the leadership of so able a man. He was evidently thoroughly familiar with educational needs and methods, broadly informed as to tl1e local situation, judicious, earnest, energetic, resourceful. His determination at the outset to move forward, marked him as a man of progress and modern method. Immediately his influence began to be felt in the life and conduct of the college. His hand was upon everything. No detail of administration escapes him. Already new courses of instruction have been added. Old ones have been strengthened and developed. The departments are stronger and combined into a more complete unity. The whole organization is more complex and perfect. ' Nor is this all. The new President's influence has been extended al- ready far beyond the college organization. He has visited all of the larger cities of the State, and not a few of the smaller ones, and been heard in their pulpits and in their conventions. These sermons and addresses have brought him in demand to an extent that is beyond his limits of time and strength. The successful college President of to-day must be largely a man of alfairs. It is no longer sufficient that he be dignified and scholarlyg he must know men and methods. He must have business ability and adminis- trative power. He must know tl1e value of details, and have patience and tact a11d energy in mastering them. All these qualities belong to President Burroughs in a marked degree. He is not only educated in all scholarly attainments, but of man, the heart of man and human life, is he a trained and accurate student. One of his splendid qualities is his ability to enlist the interest and sympathy of men and women who are able to supply tl1e financial needs of the college. Already he has gained new friends and supporters who are of great value. He is always approachable and companionable. In his govern- ment l1e appeals to the manhood and self!respect of the student rather than to his own authority. His own energy, and industry, and unselfish devotion to his work are a constant inspiration to all about him. Wabash gives to her new President an open heart, a fraternal 11and, and a loyal support.

Page 19 text:

f Y , x j. 1 1 ' 1 WI Q . 3 a I ' 1 ' 1 . I 1 E 1 f 2 , . V + , -4 V. . g 1, J- M , ,,- , . F