Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1850-09-11
Report of the Curators of the UniveI
sity at Lewisburg.
TReauirei to be Published by the Chartcr.l


Required to be Published by the Charter
To the Board of Curators of the University
at Lewisburg, the Committee on Publ
ton beg leave to submit the following
Report.
In the summer of 1915, number OF the
friends Of Education in Pennsylvania be-
gan to press the inquiry, Where is good
school for our sons and daughters! After
mature deliberation, it was conceded on all
hands that Literary Institution ought to
be established in the Centre of the State !;
but then the question to solve was, What
course shall be pursued to lay the proper
foundation of such an Institution as may
be permanent, and reflect credit on the
keystone State? 1t was evident, that in
order to insure success, some religious de-
nomination must take the lead, and, if
unsuccessful, share the disgrace that would
necessarily follow. A number of the Bap-
tist Churches, being impressed with the
Importance of such an Institution, and with
the fact that there was none in the Com
monwealth enjoying their patronage, came
forward, and, trusting in Divine Providence
for success, put their shoulder to the wheel.
About this time it was understood that
Stephen W. Taylor, one of the Professors
in the Hamilton Literary & Theological
Institution, had resigned his place in that
Seminary, and it being known that he had
acquired from more than thirty years ex-
perience as an educator, much knowledge
and practical wisdom relative to founding
and managing literary institutions, it was
thought all-important to interest him in
the enterprise; accordingly, committee
was appointed for that purpose, and the
services of Prof Taylor were fortunately
procured, and on the 9th of Deer, 1915,
he arrived at Lewisburg. After free, full
and repeated discussions in sundry public
and private meetings, it was finally agreed
to make the attempt to establish Univer-
sity at Lewisburg. Prof. Taylor was re-
quired to draw up the form Of Charter,
and present it at public meeting held in
Lewisburg, where it was unanimously ap-
proved. 1t was then agreed, that Prof.
Taylor should go to Harrisburg, and nrge
its passage through the legislature ac-
cordingly, in January, 1916, he repaired
to Harrisburg, and after II days indefat-
igable exertions succeeded in getting it
through both Houses, and on the 9th Of
Feb. 1s46,it was approved by the Governor.
In order to put the University in funds,
and to lay permanent foundation, it had
been proposed to raise One Hundred
Thousand Dollars, by voluntary subscrip-
tions, payable, after completing the sub
scription, in four equal annual instalments
Subscription papers, therefore, were put in
circulation, and public meetings called
citizens, other than Baptists, imbibed like
wise the spirit of the enterprise, and cheer
fully added their names to the subscription
list. Prof. Taylor was then despatched tc
Philadelphia, with the subscription lists
and copy of the Charter, and spent con
siderable time there in presenting the
claims Of the new enterprise to a numbel
of brethren of that city, who notwithstan
ding the frequent demands on them fol
various benevolent objects, proved them
selves wiling to aiG the great enterprise
with liberal hand.
Rev. E. Kincaid was early employed a
an Agent to solicit subscriptions-still
however, another Agent was deemed indis
pensable, as the field to canvass was very
large. Every eye was turned toward Rev
WIN. Shadrach, then residing in Philad
as the most suitable co-adjutor of Mr.. Kin
caid and after many urgent solicitations
lhe was induced to leave the charge Of an
interesting church to endure the hardship'
lof t1arcrsiDg the State in order to procure