The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1895-03-14

Saturday evening small company
of ladies and gentlemen met at Cow
ms hall, in answer to a call for
college meeting. j. w. Ayers was
chosen chairman and j. Z. Wolfe
secretary. Rev. E. A. Paddock arose
and in quite extended remarks stated
the object of the meeting, and in brief
this was to consult together and de-
wise ways and means to establish an
institution of learning here in Weiser
an academy at first, trusting that
time would so prosper the effort that
it might develop into the higher dig
nifty of college or university. To
some of doubling disposition the idea
may seem visionary and success
doubtful, but brief glance back
ward over the educational history of
our country will clearly show that the
chances for success here have ele-
ments that were impossible for some
of our now great national schools
One illustration will suffice for all
One hundred years ago Q794) in a
New England home small company
of men met to deliberate and devise
means for the establishment of new
institution of learning, the need of it
even then being evident. After due
thought an organization was perfected
and then came the vital question of
means and location. The money re-
quired for a commencement came to
hand and the location. Yes, far
away from the then centre of culture,
in the wild forests of Maine, James
Bowdoin, son of the governor of
Massachusetts, had grant of land,
land of this he donated 5000 acres.
Here in the midst of these rude sur
Kroundings and remote from the pop
gulated centers, the now great Bowdoin
college had its start, and prosperity
and the blessing of. Providence has
followed it all its days. From out
& its doors have come scholars who
have filled the chairs of professors in
all the famous colleges of the land
and many are her sons all around the
world that remember and call her
blessed. Our needs, as compared to
those long-gone days, are much
greater. a present and steadily
increasing population demands the
means of obtaining higher education
than our public schools afford, and
which is now only possible by attend
ing institutions so remote as to be
prohioitory in most cases by reason
of expense and the solicitude that dis
lance naturally creates. Such an in
stitution as is contemplated here
would attract many to make homes
among us, for we know that of all
things the desire to properly educate
children is the leading desire in the
heart of every parent. No other in
fluence so attracts as a properly con-
Quoted school. Opportunities will be
offered for study in special branches
of science, art and music, and the
refining influence that must emanate
from such a source cannot be esti-
mated in the lasting and ever incras-
ing benefits that will follow. James
4 Bowdoin has laid beneath the New
England sod for So years, and yet
see the work that he founded and the
blessings that have followed it. Last
summer, standing on an immense
mountain and looking away over the
vast and awesome scenery of Snake
river canyon, conversation turned OIL
the subject of education, and oul
companion, graduate of that col
lege, closed his remarks with, "GoC
bless him Who can measure The
good, past and present, and to follow
that his thoughtfulness has done thu
world?" And so with this. Alread,
feeble start has been made, sufli
cient to prove future possibilities
There seems to be a providentia
combination of circumstances nov
that favor success. Why not accep
the suspicious moment and do al
that is possible to plant the seed tina
will in time develop into the gian
tree, whose kindly branches will shell
ter the coming thousands that will
foster it still and turn back wit
grateful hearts to the days of 1S9'
and the founders of Weiser College