Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-08-24
COMMENCEMENT AT OBERLIN.
Inauguration OfPresIdenf Fairchild--
The Inaugural Ceremonies - Other
Comm cement MiseeIIanies = The
Grand Concert.
Especial Correspondence Cleveland LEADER
OBERLIN, August 22nd.
-rur N rrnt1r, A TInN

OBERLIN, August zzhd.
THE INAUGURATION.
The Inauguration of President al
Oberlin has not been common ocJur-
renee. The first President, Rev. Asa
Mahan, held his post for sixteen or sew
enteen years, resigning in 1850, when his
successor, the venerable President Finney,
was selected to succeed him. During the
past year the advancing age and increas-
ing infrmities of Mr.. Finney compelled
his resignation, sndat a recent meeting of
the Board of Trustees Professor James Il.
Fairchild was unanimously elected to fill
the vacancy.
THE NEW PRESIDENT.
A more fitting choice could hardly have
been made. Professor, now President
Fairchild, has been identified with the
college, as student and teacher, frem bis
and its earliest youth, and for the last few
years has borne upon his shoulders much
of the internal labor and responsibility of
the college. No man is better fitted for
the post by endowments, By requirements,
by reputation or by respect, than he, and
the hearts of all who love Oberlin
were made glad when his name was an
nounced as the choice of the Board. Prof.
Fairchild comes of good New England
and Puritan stock. He was born in Stock
bridge, Massachusetts, in 1917, and is one
of family of eight, four brothers and
four sisters, all of whom but one together
with their father and mother, are still
living. Five of these children, by the
BY, three brothers and one sister, en-
joyed the benefit of the college course at
Oberlin, and one, the Rev. E. d. Fair
child, has long been connected with the
college as Principal of the Preparatory
Department. The family moved to Brown
helm, Ohio, while the future President
was but a year old, and found home in
the primitive forest. Under the teaching
of most excellent parents of the old Mas
sachusetts school, he became a Christian
when thirteen years old. Always of deli
cate health, and always remarkably stu
dious, the boy was first in all his classes
at the district school, and subsequently in
college. Preparing for college in Brown
helm and Elyria, he came to Oberlin at
its very inception, joined the first fresh
man class ever organized, took the COM
plete course here, and graduated in 1888,
at the age of twenty. While in college
he was obliged to depend mainly on
himself for support, and generally
finding plenty of employment with plane
and chisei aided to construct most Of the
college buildings erected at that time.
Immediately on completing his theologi-
cal course he was appointed tutor, and
has been connected with the college, with
out interruption, during the twenty-five
years which have passed since then. He
was soon promoted to the chair of Ian
guages, and has since filed in succession
that of Mathematics and that of Moral
Philosophy and Theology. The latter was
his position at the time Of his election to
the Presidency. A scholar BY nature and
napfs, a-.d 200 modest to thrust hinself
into public notice, he has never besa
prominent in political or reformatory
except in his legitimate
spHeIe as lSdCueI anu CiIlHeils bub LIS son-
timents on these subjects were clear, de-
cided and openly expressed. He has al
ways been a reformer and radical one,
and has done more for reform in mould
ing and directing the minds of students
for the right than many man who stands
high on the rolls of fame. As q teacher,
as thinker, as a manager Of young
minds, he is almost beyond criticism. I'm
der his management we look for better
things from Oberlin than even in the past.
THE EXERCISES.