The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1888-05-18
the III. g. UNIVERSITY.
Strong Appeal on Behalf of the
institution,


Rev. c. III. Smith in Zion's Herald.
Dne of the most unfortunate calami-
Ties that could possibly befall the Da-
kota conference. occurred on the night
bf the Sth of Nfarch-the burning of
Dakota university The magnificent
Structure, built of Sioux Falls jasper
Granite, was il5 feet front and Sc feet
n depth. and three stories in height.
above the basement. The building
was begun during the summer of 1888
Dn Il site which commands fine view
bf the city oi Mitchell and surrounding
Country, in the pleasing vallewof the
Sim river. After some peculiarly var
fed and uncertain experiences, it was
Formally accepted by the Dakota con-
Ference in 1856, and recognized as a
ehi!, of the church,
4 it,a building was valued at S5OUOO.
Beiiis: built of stone and heated by
Steam, it was considered very safe
krotn fire. and rs the board has all
Rlong been seriously i'll need of funds,
FL Insurance of only $500 had been
proyit!ed. Therefore, besides the loss
d! life and misfortrnes to injured ones.
u is IL heavy loss to the church i'm this
pcality.
\ The ~liool has this year been doing
Excellent work, and attracting atten-
E"n throughout the territory. Last
leason Hon. y. j. Edgerlon, one of the
h,ost careful and able men in the ter
fitory. accepted the place at the head
pl The board of trustees. Though DIR.
Nm. Brush, president OF the faculty,
Is absent most of the time, the school
Buffers no loss. being under the con-
stant personal supervision of the vice
president, Rev. p. A. Reno, recently
From the Erie conference.
4 At the time of the disaster the fac
1lty numbered twelve and the stu
Dents one hundred, with more entering
hearty every week. Though still need
Ing money, the school was not serious
y crippled for funds as it had been
luring part of its earlier life.
h Without boasting. it may be said
khat the M. E. church is the church of
Dakota. She has more churches, more
ministers, more members, and is doing
slore work in this territory than any
ister organization. But in one thing
Pur church is behind, and the recent
fire places US still farther behind in
thaU one important need. 1t must not
pc. The Lord leads. He can Danish
the smoke and clouds. The church
must "arise and build!''
Dakota university is our only school.
We say sis" for though the building
is gone, the school still exists. Other
churches have one, two or more schools
established, and seems to have been
more successful in securing money than
the M. E. church has been. The terri
torial legislature has been quite lavish
an its expenditures for schools of
higher grade, making it the more need
full for thoroughly equipped school
OF the church in the field for the train
ing of the youth of its members.
Pastors are assured that there are
goodly number of young people who
have been planning to enter the uni
|yersity at the opening of the next year,
and the friends of the school have
counted on it's ranking with any insti-
|tution in the territory at this time.
EIhis calamity enforces the beginning
Rgain. Valuable lands near Mitchell
Rnd the insurance are sufficient for the
commencement.
1t is reported that just before the fire,
||Df. Brush, who is east, had received
from Senator Stanford promise of
$4,000, provided he could secure $4,000
more elsewhere. 1t is not likely this
offer, if correctly reported, will be
Withdrawn in this time of greater need.
with true western activity the church
FMoyes forward in the name of the
Master TO rebuild, and expects ere long
Eto have school second to none in this
fair land.
A Voice From the Past,