The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-04-15
The agricultural College.

We publish this morning the official
report OF the organization Of the West
Virginia Agricultural College, at Nor
gantown. a full statement Of the plan
upon which the Institution is to be con-
Quoted, is given in the proceedings, to
which We invite attention.
1t Is well known that the character
and success Of an educational institu-
ton depends very largely on the choice
ofits President. For this position. the
Board of Visitors of the College have
made selection as likely to give gene
raj satisfaction as any that could have
been made. We know Of no one, our
selves, within the State, who could bet
ter fill the position than DR.. Martin.
As the head Of an Institution
endowed by Congress and placed I'M
der the management Of the State, it is
proper that we should introduce to oar
readers the following brief sketch OF
him, for the substance of which we are
indebted to friend who has known
the Doctor long and intimately, and
who rs well qualified to judge of his fit
ness for the responsible place he is to
occupy:
DIR. Martins debrt as teacher was
in Preston county, in this State. Short
" after, he was admitted to the Pitts
burgh Conference, which then included
most OF the present West Virginia Con-
ference, and was given "a pr OfessorshiP
in the West Virginia Academy at
Principal OF this Academy, which,
under his management, attained
high degree OF prosperity, both
in q literary aud financial point
OF view. In 1852, he was elected
to Protessorship in Allegheny
College, Meadville, Pa, where he at
tached himself strongly to both students
and officers. In 1858, the Fourth Street
NJ. E. Church in this city. urgently re-
quested his appointment to its pastorate.
The appointment was strongly advoca-
ted by DR.. DrummOnd, then Presiding
Elder of the District, and was finally
made. On his retirement from Allie
Eheuy College he received a very COM
pIimentAry testimonial from the stu
dents uud faculty, and Board OF Trus-
tees, who parted from him with sincere
regret.
The subject ofeducation has been with
DIR. Martin an engrOssiug one. He has
studied carefully and profoundly the
theory and art Of teaching. He has
taken great interest In the cause OF
education in West Virginia. Several
able articles on the subject, from his
pen, were written and published during
the existence of the restored Govern
ment, and during the sittings of the
Constitutional Convention.
His hope and faith have been fixed
for years upon the idea of establishing
in West Virginia practical and COM
prehensive system of general educa-
lion, crowned with first-class College
or University.
To these objects he brings now the
labor Of his life. No man in the State
is better prepared tor the task. No
one will give It more earnest and con-
Scientious attention.
The public should not suppose that
because this Institution is called an
agricultural" College, 1t is to be sim
ply that and nothing more. There Is to
be an agricultural proFessOrshlp, but
the College will embrace in Its course
everything taught In the best Institu-
tions of learning in the country.
Whatever other States might do, our
own certainly has no community in its
boundaries more worthy to surround a
seat of learning than Morgantown. The
people are refined, Intelligent and
moral. The College building is de-
lightfully situated, and with its sur
TOundings will afford students every
convenience and comfort. We do not
see but 1t should become in shorl
time the foremost institution Of thC
kind in the State.