The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-05-24
Vermont Methodist Seminary.
A New Principal.


The myriad friends and patrons of this
worthy Institution have reason to be con-
graduated on the election of Rev. Edgar
Moncena Smith, A. NJ, ID. D., to the prin-
cipalship made vacant by the resignation of
Professor Il. A. Bishop. DIR. Smith is
abundantly fitted for the position, as a few
facts will demonstrate. He was graduated
from Wesleyan University at the head of
his class, and at once stationed as pastor of
a church having membership of four hun
dred. So great was the appreciation placed
upon him by his Alma Mater that they did
not allow him to finish his pastorate, but
called him back to become an instructor in
that institution. After completing two
years of service as member of the faculty
OF Wesleyan University, he served three
years pastorate over the large and impor-
tant Trinity Methodist church at Provi-
dence, this pastorate being succeeded by
another at Newport, r. l., and still another
in an important city in the Empire State,
each of these pastorates being continued the
full length of the pastoral term DIR. Smith
then spent year abroad and was elected,
on his return, to the presidency of the
Maine Wesleyan Academy at Kent's Hill,
Maine. Here he remained for the last
eleven years, during which time the institu-
ton has been steadily increasing in mate
rial resources, intelligent equipment and
numbers enrolled AS an indication of his
ability to draw and hold students by the
WOrbu VI VIC lubtIuCuioh RlNths ~ may
noted that, although Kent's Hill is mere
| hamlet. and the section of the country in
which it is situated has been steadily de-
creasing in population, the school at whose
head DIR. Smith has been has more than
held its own, and last year had the largest
graduating class of any Methodist prepar-
atory school in New England, and was sec
ond to only one other in the total number
| of different students enrolled. Nothing but
unusual merit of many kinds could produce
| this result for series of years. Dr. Smith
is not only a ripe scholar, an original
thinker, and a patient investigator, but
also an enthusiastic instructor who daily
| does classroom work, and also maintains
careful supervision over the teaching done
by the other members Of the faculty. He
has the power to make students feel the
worth and attractiveness of an education
for its own sake so that they will study fol-
the knowledge and dicipline to be secured
rather than simply for the marks gained
He also comes with high recommendations
as a platform and pulpit orator, and the
churches of the state will consider him one
of the most powerful preachers to whom
they have been privileged to listen. From
different and dsinterested sources Their,
comes the most unanimous and gratifying
testimony as to his ability along these lines
and those in charge OF the matter feel tina
they have made no mistake in electing DIR
Smith to this responsible position, and arr
assured that his acceptance of the princi
palship will mean new era of prosperity
30 the institution which has already sen
out 10, 900 students from its halls and ha
had the training of large number of dis
tinguished men.