The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-26
DE PAuW UNIVERSITY.
An Historical Sketch of One of Indiana's
Great Educational Institutions.

An Historical Sketch of One of Indiana's
Great Educational Institutions
Harper's Weekly.
In the year 1882 while Indiana WAS still in
great part an unimproved of forest and
prairie land the pioneer Methodist preachers OF
that State began seriously to agitate the ques-
tIon of education among the people of their de-
nomination. In their annual conference OF
that year inquiry made to the expediency
of establishing school for instruction in the
higher branches of knowledge. which would
serve as the germ or nucleus of a Methodist uni
versity. The result of this inquiry is best stat
ed in the words of the ministers themselves:
'Deeming next TO the religion of the Son or
God the lights of science best calculated 10 less
the sum of human woe and to increase the
the sum of human happiness We there
fore recommend the establishment of such an
institution"
Three years later these men founded at Green
castle, in Putnam county, forty miles west of
indianapolis. school. to which they gave the
title of The Indiana Asbury University.
With the exception of the name alone, the in
tltution was one of humble BEGINNINGS 1t was
called unis ersity because it's founders not only
desired that it should become such, but they
had faith to believe that the time would soon
arrive when it would accomplish all that its
name seemed to indicate or promise. As might
have been expected, the enterprise regarded
with Indifference, even with hostility, by many
who should have been its most ardent support
It therefore with small degree OF
moral heroism that its founders pledged their
influence, their prayers, and large share of
their means TO its establishment and support
culture and liberal education, but they compre-
hended the nature of the work which they had
undertaken, and they understood its Importance,
not only to the church, but to the community
and the State.
For four years the university consisted of
only preparatory school, occupying two half
furnished rooms in a small rented house. The
principal of this scho oil was Rev. Cyrus Mutt,
one of the most active and efficient OF Indianas
pioneer teachers In 1889 the first faculty of the
college was regularly appointed. Ii consisted
q m
Matthew Simpson, afterward the well-known
bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In the
following year the first class. consisting of four
members. was graduated. Of that class two are
still living-Rev. 7. A. Goodwin. of Indianap-
oils, and Hon. Joseph E. Mcdonald, ex-United
States Senator for Indiana
Since the time of these small beginnings the
history of the institution has been that of
series of struggles, invariably ending in triumph
At first it possessed neither lands. nor buildings
endowment. AT the present time its grounds
embrace, besides ample college campuses, mag
nifcent park and farm of more than hundred
It possesses nine college buildings, some
of them among the best devoted to the purposes
of education anywhere. Among these are the
West College, the McKim Observatory, the
Music Hall. the Larrabee Mansion for students
of divinity. the two dormitorles, and the East
College and Meharry Hall. The present faculty
consists of forty -one professors and teachers,
besides occasional lecturers and special instruct
ors The institution is thoroughly equipped
with libraries. physical, chemical and biologi-
cal laboratories. and all the appliances of first
students now in attendance in the various de-
partments is nearly nine hundred, and includes
young men and young women from all parts of
the United States, from the Bermuda islands.
Great Britain, China, Japan; in fact there is
scarcely any considerable portion OF the globe
which has not it's representative at this great
Methodist university.
In 1882 the name Indiana Asbury UNIVERSE
ty" was abandoned for that of de Paw Uni
versity," in honor of the late Hon. Washington
G. De PAW, to whose wise management and
hers q O
institution has been due. The various gifts and
provisions which the university has received
from Mr. De Pauw will probably aggregate
nearly half million dollars and it is expected
that still more will be received upon the final
settlement of his estate. These donations be-
sides numerous raj contributions from other
friends. both in the church and out of it. have
placed the institution plane higher by far
than the most sapguine of its founders
would have dared hope.
The university embraces at present the fol-
lowing departments:
l. The Asbury College of Liberal Arts,
which includes ~ classical course, ~ philo-
sophical course. (3) scientific course, AZ
course in literature and art.
2. The School of Theology.
3. The School of Law.
4. The School of Military Science and Tao
tics
5. The School of Music.
6. The School of Art
Is z. The De PAW Normal School.
8 The Greencastle Preparatory School.
Since the first organization of its faculty the
u Diversity bas OeSu especially fortunate III the
selection OF Its chief officers. AS already noted
Bishop Simpson was its first president. serving
from 1889 to 1849. He was succeeded by Luz
Glen w. Berry, 1849 to 1885, Daniel Curry 1855
to 1859; Bishop Thomas Bowman, 1859 to 1872;
Reuben Andrus, 1872 to 1873, and
Alexander Martin in 1875. DIR. Martin
still remains at the head of the ms titution. and
it is to his indefatigabie industry and wise man
agement that much of its present efficiency is
due.
Although De PAW University is a denomina-
tonal institution, it is not seetaran either in its
Instruction its tendencies. Its great aim is
to afford the highest quality of Christian edu-
cation to it's students. without any effort being
made to proselyte from other branches of the
church. The results of its work to be
in the large number of young men and young
women who annually leave its halls equipped
and qualified to WELD important influence over
their felloW-men