Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-12-02
TO the lrienas of Washington Gcllese,
.nd 4ha Public Generally.

ington College, TO announce an Important move
ment which has Just been made, for the benefit Of
theshonored institution under their charge. Bythi
concurrent action of the Synod of Wheeling and
the Board, the College is now under the fostering
care of the Synod by the operation of PLAN which
nroyides that the members of the Faculty ard Of
the Board, shall be persons designated for this pur
pose by that body, the power ofelection of COURSE
to remain in the Board ITSELF
- Under this new organization the Board proceeded
to elect unanimously, the Rev John w. Scott,
D. D., ofWheeling, Va, Preside Mt ofthe Institu-
ton, his name having been proposed for this office,
with like unanimity by the Synod; and the Presi-
dent pro teIR, was requested to continue his dis
charge of the duties 1.-THE Office, until Dr. Scott
may be ready to assume them. The Rev. MesSerS
W. r. Alrich, ID. D., N. Murphy and ]. w. Nc
KEENAN,, having voluntarily resigned their several
places in the Faculty, were also unanimously re-
elected 10 the same. Their designations and cleo
tons are to lake effect simultaneously on the first
day of next April. .---..
On the other hand ii is proper also 10 state that
the Synod have adopted very complete measures
for the endowment and vigorous management OF
the College, and has invited the cooperation oil
other eceS astieal bodies, as well as individuals
friendly 10 the enterprise. The plan Of rndo'g.
T1ent will be given 10 the public, after it shall
have been revised and improved, under the i'll
structionS of the Synod, by the Committee dd IN
term, in connection with the President elect and,
it is Believed that il will be eminently satistacto-
~ to persons who may desire 10 secure scholarships
upon safe and equitable terms The President of
the College is to be the primary agent IN carrying
out the plan, with the assistance OF the Rev. DR..
Chester, who was requested to labor with him IN
this work. The Synod resolved not tOinvolve the
College property in debt by the current expenses;
and, also resolved 10 place all the endowment
funds in the hands of Board of Trustee, chosen Tor
this purpose by the Committee adj interim, and IN
corporated who shall be under Immediate reSpon-
SiLlity to the Synod ana whose duty it shall be to
invest the funds safely, and pay the annual pro-
ceeds thereof to the Trustees of the College, for
the use of The Institution. Committee OF the
Synod is TO be appointed annually to attend the eX-
animation Ofthe College, and make full report
of its condition. And that the Institution may be
carried on with energy, until the process iendow
ment shall have been completed, the Presbyterian
Board of education was requested to appropriate
one thousand dollars out of funds contributed Tor
this purpose, for the expenses OF the ensuing year
From the foregoing statemets 1t Will he percelV-
ed by all candid persons that this whole tranSac-
ton partakeS of mutual eOntraet, IN which both Tie
parties concerned are TO give and receive specific
advantages. Whilst, however the undersigned are
of tn opinion that the state of the case, as thus
given will commend itselfto the approval OF the
community generally, they are notunwlllng 10 Of
fer, more fully some of the reasons, which induced
the Board consent to this union with the Synod,
for the satisfaction OF those who may deem Such an
explanation DIES Table.
Isl. We refer TO the present aspect of the whole
subject of collegiate education in our county,
That serious changes have of late occurred III tile
circumstances surrounding Colleges gen rally, can
not be disputed by any persons, who are familiar
with their history Such Institutions have been
greatly multiplied, and consequently rninons
competition prevails amongst them. Religious de-
nominations have, for the most part, reared or a
dopted Colleges oftheir own, upon which their pa
trOnage Is now chiefly bestowed. And because Of
these, and kindred influences, it is practically found
impossible to sustain and advance such lnstiu-
tons upon the old plan, in manner worthy of the
progress of thepreSent age. In this respect all are
N,1I, :
indeed any, have escaped the pressure of these Cir
cumStances, and generally, they have beee conf
PEELED to seek formal connection with some rellg-
iouS body, or to aim at endowment, Ill some other
way. And this very fact is sufficient, at gtance,
to show that the equilibrium OF irail competition.
in the case Of :Ore Institutions, is destroyed,
and that they therefore left TO maintain the coll
test on vastly unequal IermS. Dickinson Ale
ghany and La Fayette, of our own State, to say
nothing of manyi otherStateS. have adopted, with
success, the same course viii, We have now CLIO
sen. In view therefore, of this state of things, we
may safely ask whether the rights and advantageSo
the tohole community have not been consulted, IN
placing Washington College underline care OF a de-
nomination of christians, which will sustain 1.-THE
denomination, too, by whose efforts mainly 1t
has beenestablished and conducted until the pres
ent timeI
I'd. The plan adopted contemplates the cree
ton of still higher standard OF education lntel-
ligent men have generally felt and deplored the
want of advancement, in this respect, which has
resulted from the crippled pecuninry condition OF
most of our literary establishments, west OF the
mountains. The salaries of Professors have been
too low 10 command the services OF the best quail.
fed men. The libraries, philosophical apparatus
&C., have generally been too limited and imperfect
And prevailing disposition, in the community,
for cheap rather than adequate education, has seT-
ouSly retarded the spirit OF progress ITSELF In en-
listing more effectualy the patronage OF church,
which has awaSS been distinguished by an en-
lightened, liberal policy in this respect, we offer
the best possible pledge that the instructions OF
our College will be both comprehensive aud thor
ouRh.
Sd. The religious Influence, which will be
thrown into the Institution, under the arrangement
now adopted. is deserving of a prominent place IN
these considerations. That influence will not be
narrow and sectarian, but broad, evangelical and
liberal; yet it will be decided. The Presbyterian
Chmch has history, in connection with the man
agement of education, to which, with no shame,
we may appeal, az the index of her spirit and &C
lion. In mixed Colleges, UNCONVENTIONAL TlyalntS
must hinder, to great extent, efforts TO exercise
sufficient religious restraint, and to impart suth-
GENTLY distinct religious instruction. Even III
points of common and practical agreement, and OF
confessed importance, there are tendencies, not
apt to be altogether imperative to restraint and
fear when vigilance and fidelity are loudly de-
manded. And it is even agreater hlndraHce sui,
that young so commonly come TO college
constructed upon mere general and secular basis
with the impression deeply fixed in their minds,
that science is the only legitimate subject CT col
Iegiae attention, aud thatireligion has no proper
place. Under these and kindred influences, n
course of study in College, is acknowledged on all
hands 10 be perilous experiment to the moral
views and habits of young men. Certainly no
lust efforts should be spared in counteracting as
far us possible by all proper means, the power Of
temptation so strong and so multiplied as those
which surround the ingenious youth, who is sepa-
rated from the guardianship of pious home, at
the most critical period of his whole life. What
christian parent would refuse TO send the OF his
love and prayers 10 College, because especial at
tention to be given there to the kind and faithful
incubation of religious truth, sedulous care IS to
made an nYowed aim, to win their hearts TO Christ;
whilst at the same time, the conscience of each is
left without tramme, in adheriug to the church of
his fathers.
4th We are now naturally brought to the last