The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-09-21
A New Literary Institution.

The clergyrnen Of the sect known as
Christians, - though they have ranked
higher as humble and faithful laborers in
the fields of truth and religion than as
scholars,-have, at the West, been ardent
and efficient advocates Of the cause of edu-
cation. They were the founders Of Antioch
College in Ohio, that, under the administra-
ton of Horace Mann, acquired SO high a
reputation, and promises in future to exer;
so wide an influence upon the interests of
education throughout the Northwest. IN
der the auspices of the same sect, an insti-
tuition has been founded at the delightful
town of Meroni, on the elevated bluffs of
the Wabash, in Sullivan county.
The location was selected for its beauty
and salubrity, and the need there appeared
to be for a literary institution in the Lower
Wabash Valley to supply the increasing
wants of Southern Indiana and Illinois for
school and college of the highest grade.
Besides the local advantages and attractions,
the Trustees were influenced in their selec-
ton by the liberal donations of the citizens
of the neighborhood, who subscribed $685.
900 for the erection of the college buildings.
The Christian sect have had, we believe,
school in operation under its auspices at that
place, for several years. This is now made
the preparatory department of tie college, and
is kept in the former Court House, which
is a part of the property donated to the Col
lege. A College building is now in the
course of construction in the southeast part
of the town, upon an elevation which COM
mands view of the enchanting landscape
of the Wabash valley for seven or eight
miles around it. go
The building win cost some $4,000 or
$4,000, and its plan and style of architec-
ture will render it one of the most magni6.
cent structures in the State. 1t will be COM
pleted in about one year, and when finished,
it will present a striking and beautiful OBJ
ject to the traveller upon the Wabash river.
The Institution will be conducted much
after the plan of Antioch college at Yellow
Springs, for the development of the mental
powers of both sexes, and under the auspi-
ces of the same free and liberal religious
faith and teachings. ..r..r.s..t
Its success is guaranteed by its present
liberal foundations, and by the zeal, public
spirit and efficiency of those who have it in
charge. Its benefits to these regions of
southern Illinois and Indiana can be estima-
ted by considering the influences which
Antioch college has had upon the interests
of education and the dissemination of
knowledge and the elevation ofpublic intel
ligence in Ohio.
We learn that the establishment Of the
College at Merom has given powerful i'm
petus to the growth Of the place. VI is at
| tracing to the town crowds of new citizens
of intelligence and wealth; most of whom
come to secure the benefits of education
for their children, and to enjoy the pleas
ures of the educated and refined society
which is gathering there. Property in the
town and vicinity has advanced rapidly
within year, and though large number
of buildings are being erected, there is a
demand for hundred dwellings more than
can be completed the present season.