The Portland daily press., 1870-08-03
Comm encermcst nt svnterv,lsc.

To the Editor Of the Press:
The alumni and friends of Colby University
are gathering in goodly number. Many of the
earlier graduates are here, whose countenances
have rarely ieen seen at recent anniversaries.
s. The Prize Defamation Of the Junior Glass
occurred last evening, with the following pro-
gramme of original articles:
Caste, Ere! Irving Campbell Cherryfeld
The Kealizationsat Ideals,
William Libbey. Liyermore.
Difficulties ssbarles Wibert Foster, Portland.
The Developementot Thought.
Seoto Hedge Blewett, Augusta, Ky.
Popular Fa'laoies,
David Wass Campbell, Cherryfeld.
The Mlltonic Satan,
+Albanus Ktnbal Gurney, Cape Elizabeth
Fred Wilson. watervile.
Military QualiGcationsDistinc from civil.
Artlnr Nash Wiley, Cherryfeld,
Wtltsr Forest Mars.on, BATH
The Balance OF Power il Europe,
*Charles Howard Sturss, Cherfyfell.
The Genius Of Energy,
George stration Paine, winslow.
American Literature,
William Bronson Mathews, Auburn
Rationalism, Deiwin Augustus Hanlin, Sidney
sEXcused.
The efforts Of the young men wee received
with frequent applause A large and discrim-
mating audience was in attendance. The an
nonncement of the award of the pfzes will
be made tomorrow
To-day is the Alumni celebration. The AS
ISOLATION OF the Alumni held their anntal
meeting at their hall this forenoon, and afte,
attending to the usual business of the meeting,
repaired to the Baptist church where DIR.
Champ!in delivered a iH istorica Address, fol-
lowed by an Alumni Dinner.
The following is a brief abstract Of President
ChamplinIs discourse:
Colby University is the successor of the
"AIaine Literary and Theological Institu-
ton" which the Legislature of Massachusetts
chartered in 1918 and endowed with a single
township of wild land. The original charter
required the institution to be located upon
the township thus given, either for the pur-
pose of defeating the end proposed, or as
perpetual reminder of 'the voice of John the
Baptist crying in the wilderness" In 1916
permission was obtained to locate in Somer-
set or Kennebec counties. Pennington.
Bloomfield and Waterville We're visited by
the committee of location. The citizens of
Wateryille raised $1,000 for the enterprise
and the town voted $4,000, which, however, it
failed to pay
With tile proceeds of its township and ben
efactions parcel of land was bought on
which the buildings of the University now
stand. Sc rods in width, extending from the
Kennebec river to the Emerson stresm, and
containing 179 acres.
The first instructor appointed was Rev.
Jeremiah Chaplin of DanversI Mass, VINO
was styled Professor of Thedogy. he mad
charge of the theological strueI I.s supporter
by the Massachusetts, Bastist Educatlon So
elety, and brought sever OF tiiese WIN MN III
May, 1918, in a schooper to Augusta, whence
the came in a long-boat to Watervile. A
party of citizens net them, and Hon. limo
thy Boutelle m'de an address of welcome.
The instructed commenced soon after, in the
Woods Hose, afterwards the ElmWood HO-
tel and j. October following. a literary de-
partmert was added with Rev. Avery Brigos
as Professor of Languages $50
td1S20, at the first session of the Maine
legislature collegiate charter was granted
aDd the institution permitted to take tha
nlme of Waterville College. In the same
year the forest was cleared and a house
erected for the President The large brick
dormitory known as South College was also
begun. In May, 1922, Professor Chaplin was
elected President with salary of $500, and
house. Rev. Stephen Chaplin was elected
Professor of Theology in August, with sal
aryof $500. The first commencement occur
ed August IA, 1922, when George Dana
Boardman and Ephraim Trip We're gradu-
ated Each of these served as tutor soon af-
ter The North College was built about this
time. In 1880 some workshops were erected,
and an opportunity given for MANUAL labor
in connection with study. Under the direc-
ton of a superintendent the students made
doors. tables, chairs, boxes and even did
little printing The enduring monument of
their labor is the old Commons House, erect
ed by the students in 1882, and for many
years used as stewards house. The scheme
appears to have steadily drawn upon the col
Iege funds, and was abandoned in 1912. The
brick building used for chapel and library
uhui recently, was erected in 1886, during
Dr. Babcocks presidency
Inc oid Bowdoinham Association is I'M
do9btediy entitled to the credit of originating
ana sustaining the new enterprise As early
as 1910, the subject of establishing theologi-
cal school Is mentioned in their minutes.
The original corporation was comnosed
wholly of Maine Baptists. Rev DIR. BALDWIN
of Boston was added to the trustees in
1885, and continued a firm supporter of the
college till his DEATH which occurred while
attending Commencement in 1926 His por-
trait, presented by his widow, hangs in the
college library.