Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-07-28
HIGHER EDUCATION.
Ihe southwestern Baptist University
ana Its Aims-Origin ana Orgnniza-
ton Of the Institution.

and Its Atms-Origin ana Organiza.
ton Of the Insiitution.
The establishment ofthis institution
OF learning is the resul. Of efforts put
forth during the past two years by the
Baptists Of the Southwestern States, to
meet their educational wants in the
higher departments of learning. At a
meeting OF the Baptist General Associ-
alton of Middle Tennessee and North
Alabama, held in Columbia, Tenn, i'm
Oct, 1873, resolutions were unanimous
ly adopted i'm favor of establishing such
an institution. and convention was
called to consider the means of accom-
plishing the work. This convention
met in Murfreesboro' 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 ac-
knowledged wants of the Baptists OF
the southwest required. In carrying
out this purpose, the convention APP
pointed committee of nine, and
assigned to that committee the task of
locating the institution and determin-
ing the best means of its establish
ment. This committee met in Nash
vile in July following; and, after
receiving propositions from various
places, fixed the location at Jackson,
tennessee. At a called meeting of the
tennessee Baptist Convention, held
at Trezevant in August, 1874, the ac.
tlon OF the committee of location was
approved, Board of Trustees was
applnted, and preliminary steps were
taken towards obtaining a charter for
the institution under the name of
THE SOUTHWESTERN BAPTIST UNIvER-
sITY.
On the l4th of September, 1874. the
academic department was opened at
jackson, in the building of West Ten
nessee College. 1t was successfully
conducted during the scholastic year,
which closed on the 30th of June, with
about one hundred students.
On the lst of July the University
was organized by establishing two de-
partments:
|. The Department. of Literature aud
Science.
=. The Department of Law.
In the Department of Literature and
Science, Rev. William Shelton, ID. D..
of Nashville, was elected President of
the University; George w. Jarman.
A: NJ, of Murfreesboro' was elected
Professor of Ancient Languages; Hen
ry G. lrby, a. NJ, of Mckenzie, Pro-
fessor of Mathematics Richard w.
Jones, A. NJ, of Nashville, Professor of
English, and William j. Dupree, A.
NJ, of Mississippi, Principal of the
Academic Department.
In the Department of Law. the Pac-
ulty elected consists of Hon. II. j. Free
man, Hon. Howell f.. JACKSON, and
Gen. Alex. w. Campbell.
1t is the purpose of the Board of
Trustees that other professional de-
partments be established, as they have
the means of doing it.
The Academic Department will con-
slst of primary school and a grammar
school, in which the course of study
will be pursued 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 grades in which
they are placed.
The Department of Literature and
Science will comprehend the seven
University Schools, which will lee de.
nominated as follows: |. Latin. ..
Greek. 3. Mathematics. 4. Natural
Science. 5. Moral Science. 6. Eng
lish. Z. German and French. In
these schools the course of study will
be pursued on the principles that are
adopted in the University of Virginia,
and in the European universities-tbat
is, each will be independent of the
other, and students will have the priv
ilege Of selecting the schools which
they desire to attend, and of gradual
ing in them when found qualified by
examination.
The Auxiliary schools will also be
established one for East Tennessee.
at Messy Creek, and one for Middle
Tennessee, in Murfreesboro, which
will be component parts of the Univer-
sity, will have their course of study
homogeneous with that of the Acade-
mic Department of the University,
and Will thus give to their students
special preparation for admission into
such of the University schools in the
Department of Literature and Science,
as they may desire to attend.
Other Auxiliary schools in other
States ofthe Southwest may afterwards
be established, as the wants of the
University may demand, and the
means of establishing them be provi-
ded.- Union and american.