Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-07-11
HIGHER EDUCATION.
The southwestern Baptist University
and Its Atms-OFigln and Organize
ton Of the Institution.

The Southwestern Baptist University
and Its Aims-OFigIn and Organize
ton Of the Institution.
The establishment of this institution Of
learning is the result Of efforts put forth
during the past two years BY the Baptists
of the Southwestern States, TO meet their
educational wants in the higher depart
meuts of learning. At a meeting OF the
Baptist General Association Of Middle
Tennessee and North Alabama, held IN
Columbia, Tenn, in Oct, 1873, resoiu-
tions were unanimously adopted in favor
of establishing such an institution, and
convention was called TO consider the
means of accomplishing the work. This
convention met in MuTfreesbOrO in April,
1874, and, after mature consideration, re-
solved to take the initial steps
towards the establishment Of such
an institution Of learning as the acknOwl-
edged wants Of the Baptists Of the South
west required. In carrying out this pur-
pose, the convention appointed a commit
tee Of nine. and assigned to that committee
the task of locating the institution and de-
terminiDg the best means Of its establish
ment. This Committee met in Nashville
in July following; and, after receiving
propositions from various places, fixed the
location at Jackson, Tenn. AT call
ed meeting Of the Tennessee Baptist Con-
vention, held at TTezevant in August, 1874,
the action Of the Committee Of location
was approved, a Board Of Trustees was ap-
pointed, and preliminary steps were taken
towards obtaining a charter for The iustitu-
tion under the name Of
THE SOUTHWESTERN BAPTIST UNI
VERSITY.
On the I4tb of September, 1874, the aca-
Gemic department was opened at Jackson,
in the buildings of West Tennessee Col
Iege, Ii was successfully conducted during
the scholastic year which closed on the
3Oth of June, with about one hundred stu
dents.
On the Isl Of July the University was
organized by establishing two depart
ments:
l. The Department Of Literature and
Science.
2. The Department Of Law.
In the Department Of Literature and
Science, Rev. William Shelton, d. D., Of
Nashville, was elected President of the
Univel sity; George ". JaTman, A. NJ, Of
MWfreesbOr0, was elected Professor Of An
cient Languages; Henry G. Irby, A. NJ, OF
Mckenzie, Professor Of Mathematics; Rich
ard ". Jones, a. NJ, Of Nashville, Pro-
fessor Of English, and William j. Dupree,
A. NJ, Of Mississippi, Principal OF the
Academic Department.
In the Department Of Law, the Faculty
elected consists Of Hon. t. j. Freeman,
Hon. howell E. jackson, and Gen. Alex.
W. Campbell.
It is the purpose of the Beard of Trustees
that other professional departments be es-
tablished as they have tie means OF doing
il.
The Academic Department will consist
Of a primary school and grammar school,
I in which tie course Of study will be pur-
I sued on the same general principles that
are adopted in the public schools Of our
cities, that Is, they will be graded schools,
/ In which pupils are classified according to
| their advancement, and pursue their studies
/ in the order Of the grddeS in which they
are placed.
! Tie DEPARTMENT Of Literature and Sci
| erce will comprehend the seven University
| schools. which viii be denOminated IS fol
! lows: ]. Latin. 2. Greek. 3. Mathe-
MATES. 1. Natural Science. .. Moral
/ Science. 6. English. Z. German and
/ French. In these schools the course Of
study will be pursued on the principles
/ that are adopted in The University Of Viz
( eiuia aud in the EGrcpean uniyersities-
] that Is each will be independent Of The
Others, and students viii have the privi-
/ Iage # selecting the schools which they
desire 10 attend, and Of graduating il
them wien found qualified by eXamina
4 ton.
Two Auxiliary schools will also be es
! tablished: one for East Tennessee, at MossI
Creek. and one for Middle Tennessee, il
! NurfrgesbOro, which will be component
parts # the University, viii have theI
| course Of study homogeneous with that o
the Academic Department Ofthe University
and viii thus give to their students specia
preparation for admission into such OF tn
University schools in the Department o
Literature aud Science, as they may desIr
to attend.
| Other Auxiliary schools in other State
Of the Southwest mag afterwards be estab
Itsbed, as the wants Of the University ma
| demand, and the means Of esta blishln
them be provided.