The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-02
Afternoon Session.

The buaipess of the afternoon session was the
consideration of educational interests. 1t was
decided TO hold the next session of the eonven-
ton, at this time next year, at Fort Wayne.
Rev. DIR. c. E. W. Dsbbs, of Madison, was
chosen to preach the annual sermon. with Rev.
j. X. Wheeler, of Terre Haute, as alternate.
Rev. A. 0ge, of Seymour, read the report of
the committee on education, showing chat there
are twenty-seven young men or churches
now preparing for the ministry, of whom two
are at Rochester, N. Y; five at Morgan Park,
Chicago: three at Louisville, KY, and fifteen at
Franklin College, Franklin, Ind There are at
Franklin 119 students, an increase of seventeen
beneficiary receipts have been $427.29. The re-
port urged liberality in increasing the endew-
dowment funds during this jubilee year of the
institution.
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COLLEGE
Rev. DIR. W. T. Stett, president of Franklin
College, followed with historical account of
the college. In 1884 thirteen men met in In
dianapolis to take steps for the founding of an
institution Of higher learning for the BaptIsts
of the State They were William Rees. John L.
Richmond, Ezra Fisher, Henry Bradley, John
Hobart, Samuel Harding, Lewis organ, james
V. A. Woods Elephaiet Williams, John Mccoy,
John Mason, Moses Jeffries and Reuben Coffey.
Elephalet Williams is the only one of the found
ers who still survives; he lives at Lebanon and
To adequately appreciate The sublime faith and
high resolve of those men, as they met here fifty
years ago. we must contrast their surroundings
with ours. They met here with the Baptist
Church, then twelve years old and having mem
bership of lees than fifty. Ezra Fisher was the
pastor, and the church-house was on Meridian
street, where SchnulPs block now is. and the lot
cost 500. The best lots Washington
street sold for 1860. The institution of learning
OF the place was the old county seminary, To-
Gated ut the southwest corner of University
Park. Butler University was not born for about
twenty years after this time. But two years be-
fore this time Governor Noble had been obliged
to send troops to the north part of the State to
intmidate the Indians. There was not mile
OF railroad in the State, and no gravel roads
The Legislature meeting in the COURTHOUSE,
the 5tate-house not being completed until De-
cember, 75s,l In 1884 the number of Baptists
reported in I,y-siar2 was 1888, hut we ara
obliged to believe that not half the number we're
our kind OF Baptists, for as late 1850 the sec
rotary of the convention says that of the thirty
eight associations OF the STAKE only twenty were
missionary. The better statement would he
that when those fathers planted the college
> TO note that between the dates of
1920 and 1910 the following Baptist institutes
were founded: Newton Theological Seminary,
Colby University, Columbian University, Shurt-
Jeff College Georgetown College, Denison TTni-
versity, Wake Forest College, N. q; Mercer Uni
versity, Richmond College, Young Ladies' Ins.i-
tute. Granville, o.; Western Academy and Frank
Among the earliest instructors were A. r.
Hinckly and A. L. Litton.e-T They boBh won %
warm place in the esteem of their brethren, and
both died and were buried in Franklin. Two
others who hold most honored place among
the early Instructors are W. ]. Robinson and his
sister Julia. They are living ON the farm first
settled by their father, John Robinson, near
Greensburg. Mr.. Cottingham, once o stu
dent 10 ~, the .th institution mnt Mr.. Der,
Wisconsin, most prominent worker, succeeded
the Robnsons. The college charter was obtained
diauapos Baptist Church, was the first pFesi-
dent. In 1851 he went to Ore
work. HIS wife survives him. The second
president was Silas Bailey, a true of Anak
as to body. mind and heart. He a graduate
of Brown University and came to the institution
at a time when any large results in education in
the State must be more a matter of faith than
sight. His salary was but 5000 a year during
most of his presidency. Associated win Presi-
dent Bailey during his presidency were Prof. NJ.
Baily, man of sterling ability and an excellent
Instructor. He afterward went to Oregon and
became the president of McMinnvie College,
and j. s. Hougham, after serving the col
lege IN many ways, was afterward connected
with two agricultural Institutions, one at Man
hatt..n, Kan, and the other at Lafayette,
this State. Rev. DR.. Wayland's presidency
was short time ago that most RENE mber it.
AT the close of his presidency there debt of
$4,000, and the creditors took the properly as
secnrity so that all work was suspended and the
organization dsbanded But there was some
thing left. There were hundreds of men over
the State who had received mental discipline
and moral purpose in the Institution, and there
was left deep conviction in the hearts of
brethren over the State that the educational en-
terpriSe must not be given mp. ThaG conviction
was deeper than most deemed, for soon, when
opportunity offered that conviction gave ex-
preston in the most tangible way. Three
thousand students have been In the college first
and last. L am able TO recall about 200 " no are
or have been in the ministry, and doubtless
there are almost or quite as many more not
known by These students in all the
walks of life-in Church and State. 1t is
safe to say that the grade of work done in our
college has teen and is such rs TO compare
ravorahly with that of other colleges. Our pres
emit catalogue shows that IN college proper we
give the student nine terms in mathematics
pure and applied while Wabash gives nine We
give seven terms OF Latin, Wabash gives ak,
We give ten terms of Greek, Wabash seven. We
give seven terms IN science Wabash seven. We
give five terms in history and English litera-
ture, Wabash gives two. We give three terms
in mental philosophy. including it's history,
Wabash gives one. While some of these figures
seem place Wabash in an unfaVoraole light,
want TO say that Wabash gives considerably
more attention to modern languages. The only
fact that is sought make plain is that our
institution stands the peer or the best about us,
even If it feels little delicacy IN saying so from
the house tops
The endowment OF Franklin College is about
$4,000, counting $4,000 non-interest airing
bonds for 1egacies, and the net assets of the col
lege are about Sl32, 900. AS can be shown, q
considerable number of our institutions began a
conrse of large financial prosperity about the
time of their jubilee year, and why not Frank
linf The scale of present operations Ia on en-
dowment of at least ST 600. while in fact IL is
only about half that sum. III IL be asked who
bears the burden implied by the difference. the
answer Is simple and brief 1t is borne by those
who teach. They will not murmur in respect to
the past IL they can only nave the pledge that
there 10 to be a favorable change. The relative
prosperity of the movement beginning in 1872
ia due to the fact that all financial matters have
been managed with the utmost care
fitness and fidelity by the board. There
gas n large constituency all our State,
vomposed OF former students, their parents and
friends; and Derhaps not least, those waO were
mt in immediate charge were ihea Ia bic enjoy