The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-09-30
For the Democratic AdpOcate.
A BIT OF HISTORY.
The Webster Literary Society Of
Western Maryland College.


A weIl-organized literary society is a
blessing to any community, and IN cOnnec-
ton with collegiate course of mind d-train-
ing it is invaluable and indispensable. The
origin of literary societies is doubtless lost
in the mists of the past, but it is now gen.
orally conceded that they are inseperable
from institutions of learning, from the uni
versity and the college to the village acad-
emy and the country schoolhouse, although
it is probably only in the former that their
highest standard is reached There are
some literary societies whose histories can
be traced with tolerable accuracy, and which
present to the world records of usefulness
as the results of energy and perseverance
One such organization is the Webster
Literary Society of Western Maryland Col
lege. At the establishment of the college,
in 1867, it contained but one literary so
ciety-the Irving-which thep embraced
both ladies and gentlemen In Its member
ship, and it so continued until 1869, when,
by order of the Faculty, the two sexes ceased
to meet in and as the same literary sOcie-
ty, and the ladies ORGANIZED the Browning
Literary Society. Two years later, in 1871,
the Webster Literary Society came into
existence under the following circumstances:
The Irving Society, which had at one
time exhibited quite spirit of enterprise,
was at the time of which we write, In
state of inactivity, and by many it was
thought that it was failing to accomplish
the object of its organization, and that its
speedy dissolution was imminent. 1t rare
" ever convened, and when it did but little
was done, and the policy and conduct of
the leading members were such as to repel
the new students instead of inviting them
to unite with the society. There was, in
deed, SO little effort made to secure new
members that one of the originators of the
Webster society was in the college six
months before he knew that it contained
literary society, and as a natural cOnse-
quenee there were number of outsiders,
who would not unite with a society that
afforded them no opportunities for literary
culture, and the leading members of which
would not associate with them. During
this condition of affairs very slight incl
dent led to the organization of the Web
ster society.
During the winter of 1901, several
of the students were accustomed to meet
after study hours In a room known as the
Theological dormitory," on the fourth floor,
and there spend their time in such amuse-
ments as were naturally suggested by the
occasion Among other things impromptu
debates upon some simple questions were
successfully employed both as means of
! kbo 4,,,oa on1 of rnanfal I-ocroaflon
and before the company dispersed for the
night they would generally ballot for one
of their number to make an expedition to
the college pump for a pitcher of fresh
water. Upon one of these occasions, as
they were about to send for the much
needed water, it was proposed by one of the
young gentlemen present that these nightly
gatherings be utilized by the formation of
a regular debating club. The proposition
was favorably received, as the Irving sOcie-
ty was then in state of decline, and as the
most of the students present were outsid-
ers, they Immediately took steps to
carry the proposition into effect. "A 4 COM
mittee was appointed to draft rules for the
government Of the club, which reported at
subsequent meeting, and the club met
E thereafter on Friday evenings, in a vacant
, room opposite the theological dormitOry,
under the name of the Washington Deba-
ting Society. As the name indicates the
exercises of the society were limited entile-
" to debates After awhile as the affairs
Of the debating society progressed favor
ably, the idea of forming bona tide liter
airy society, In every respect the equal of
the Irving, was broached and resoyled upon.
During the latter part of April and the
first of May, 1871, the necessary changes
were made In the constitution, and new
order of things was inaugurated- The
name of Webster was chosen as the title of
, the new organization, as In Daniel Web
F ster was found model of oratory and elO-
quence, which the members sought to eul-
tivate, and his dying words, ~ still live" !"
Latinized as "Adhuc vivo," we're afterwards
selected as an appropriate motto.
Nine young gentlemen participated in
the organization, as follows &C. s. Arnett,
J. Fl. Difenbaugh, p T. Hall, G. B. Har-
ris, S. r. Harris, P B. Hopper, C. E. Nor
MS, ]. A. Weigand, and j. NJ. Yingling.
The first officers elected were, president, P.
T. Hall; vice-president, P. B. Hopper; sec
retary, G. B. Harris; treasurer, j. NJ. Ying-
, ling; chaplain, J. A. Weigand-
A committee was appointed to inform
the Faculty of the action of the society, and
to ask their approval. But the latter was
not Immediately granted. The Faculty
? claimed that the gentlemen had no right to
organize new society without permission,
and refused to give them any rights. But
after some correspondence the necessary
permission was obtained, and charter
granted, giving to the new society full
grant of rights and privileges
From that time the Webster Literary
Society has had a successful career. In
one year its membership increased from
nine to twenty-five, and during the eleven
, years of its existence it has had more
than one hundred and thirty members, of
whom about thirty are now on the active
: list. Eighteen graduates of the college have
gone from the Webster Society. Of the
more than one hundred ex-active members
; fourteen are ministers of the Gospel, while
: others are building themselves good repu-
tations as lawyers, physicians, merchants,
journalists, teachers, etc. Starting in 1871
: without single volume or d single speci-
| men of mineral, the Webster Society now
has library Of over six hundred volumes,
and mineral case full to overfowing of
: rare and valuable minerals and curiosities
s from many parts of the world.
a The society has celebrated ten anniver-
b saries, by which it has won many encOm-
1 iums of praise Anentertainmentat Buck
eystown, Nd, and reception and welcome
o home to Prof. j. NJ. Reese, on his return
e from Europe, add materially to its record
|. while annual participations in oratorica
e contests with the Irving Society, he
annual reunions, are events long to be re