Westminster College - Blue Jay Yearbook (Fulton, MO)

Page 20 text:

-'W .- 1 ' P 4 Elia Y A Shari lqiatnrg nf lllratminatvr Olulhegv fThe writer has used Dr. Fisher's History of Westminster College as his source of material, much is copied almost word for wordj Y ESTMINSTERS historian ought indeed to be inspir- ed when he looks back over the half-century and more of his Alma Mater's existence. As he thinks of the men she has trained and equipped for service in various life-works, and of all associated with her columns, he begins to feel what a grand old college she really is! So the writer, though poetically in- clined, will not call upon Clio, the muse of history, to aid him in, his chronicle, but will leave her un- molested. His college's history in itself should be sufficient inspiration. - 'Westminster was founded by the Presbyterians. A The first Presbyterian church i11 Missouri was organized just ninety years ago. As the denomination grew stronger its attention was drawn to the work of higher education. A college was founded soon after Missouri was admitted to the Union. It was named Marion Col- legef' . This little institution, we are told, did much good during the few years of its existence. We mention it to show that the importance and need of higher institutions of learning were felt from the first. In 1851, almost thirty years later, the Presbyterian church in Fulton took steps to found an institution to be known as Fulton College. The college was organized, and opened the following October. About fifty students attended the first session. From this time to the chartering of Westminster in 1853 the number of students increased every session. Such was the germ of o11r present institution. Westniinster was the outgrowth of this college. In 1852 the synod of the Presbyterian Church determined to found a col- lege and chose Fulton for its location. The name Westminster was given it-a name hallowed in the history of Presbyterianismf' The Missouri legislature granted it a charter in 1853, and William Van Doren was chosen to serve as professor for the first session. He thus became Westminster's first professor. N. C. Kouns, Esq.. was appointedas his assistant. The cornerstone of the building now known as Westminster Hall was laid, on july 4, 1853. Rev. N. L. Rice, D.D., delivered an address on The 12

Page 19 text:

G G cntnrrannu 79 as 'Z'l-TQNV' Cllharlra Gllghr ltniglii, ES. . Prof. Knight is one oftheinstructors in our academy. He came to us from Coe College, Iowa, where he was graduated in 1906. But he is known not alone as a good teacher. He is the athletic director and coach in foot ball, base ball, and other athletics. Westminster does not forget that boys must have play. The student must take systematic exercise. He should train the body as well as the mind. Athletics are encouraged at Westminster, but not to such a degree that it takes the mind of the student from his studies. A passing grade in the classroom is first requisite. Our coach has rare ability to make our athletics successful. Though stern in the enforcement of athletic rules, he still is one of the boys,,and never fails to create enthusiasm and interest. His desire is to cultivate clea11 athletics-true college spirit. This he has very largely accomplished, -and has won for himself the love and respect of Westminster students. Battling ltvnnrih Grrgrr Fascinating and instructive studies are zoology and botany. To go out into the fields and woods to study nature and 'thold communion with her visible forms has always appealed to the human mind. Nature will al- ways teach us a lesson if we but ob- serve her ways. But the eye must be taught to observe in order to learn these lessons. Westminster boys have the privilege of studying biology with Prof. Greger, an expert geologist and botanist. Mr. Greger knows the whole Held, He enjoys nothing so much as to take his pupils out into the woods and talk to them of the animal and plant life and of fossils. He is an expert in entomol- ogy and is tireless in his enthusiasm. Mr. Greger has been a member of the New York and Missouri State Geological surveys. This has given him a wide experience and made him very capable as a teacher of geology. He also is a member of the American Microscopical Society. 5 ll STZR ,fo 5- Xdil 15523, A :- in I . O--

Page 21 text:

yearn I-roxlli' I co G- ,fZ fI,2'i :'f,.P i f Three Great Interests of Man: Christianity, Education, and Liberty. The building thus begun was finished in 1854 at a cost of over 315,000 Ou this same fourth of july the cornerstone of the state School, for the Deaf and Dumb was laid in Fulton. Every Westiiiiiister man will be particularly interested in the First An- nual Cataloguef' that of 1853-4, as reprinted in Dr. Fisher's history of VVest- minster. One can readily see that though the college' had been opened but a short time, the character of its curriculum was already of the highest, comparing favor- ably with the best institutions in the state. During the year 114 students were enrolled. We find also in this catalogue that the Philologic Literary Society had been or- ganized. The Philologic Hall, which for over fifty years has been the home of this society, was dedicated two years later, in 1855. ' Some parts of this first catalogue sound f strange-times are so different now. For instance, Fulton is described as a healthy and pleasant village of about twelve hundred inhabitants, one hundred and twenty miles from St. Louis, by the stage, which runs daily and is about twenty-four hours on the way, and it is only fourteen miles from St. Aubert's Landing on the Missouri river, from which point a hack runs for public ac- cominodationf' Our branch line of the Chicago and Alton is quite anim- provement after all! We ind further, Boardingg including washing, fires, and lights, in Fulton or within a reasonable distance, is 5151.50 to i3.00aWeek. The whole expenses will average somewhere between one hundred and one hun- dred and fifty dollars a year. ' The Hrst annual commencement was in June, 1855. Mr. james G. Smith received the first diploma given by Vvestminster College. Mr. Smith, who was a minister, died in 1863. His body rests near the old homestead and near the college of which he was the first graduated son. This year the attendance had increased greatly. It was during this session that the Philalethian Literary Society was' organized. The Philalethian Hall, 110W occupied by this society, was dedicated in 1855. At this first commence- ment Rev. S. S. Laws was elected by the board to the presidency of the college. He accepted and thus became XUCSt1lll11Sl6I'yS first president. The faculty was 13 1