The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-10-08
WESTERN MD. COLLEGE.
A Great Educational Institution.

"A GouCdl1Oud1
What task is sweeter, from literary
point of view, than to trace the history of
some grand edifce over which the moss
and ivy have begun to creep in green
luxuriance? Far from the madding
crowd ignoble strife, one here may stand
amid the silence of nature, viewing the
handiwork of man deity carved on arch
and buttress, or chiseled skillfully upon the
marble stone. Beneath the branches of
trees that have waved for ages under
roseate skies, the child of earth-whose
life itself is but span-may contempt late
this structure which mortal arms have
raised towards heaven, while cat itching the
songs of birds or, at intervals, the hum of
traffic in the city S marts of trade. AL
though on the outskirts of Westminster,
the Western Maryland College may be
called its principal attraction, as it is today
one of the proudest monuments that Mary
land possesses.
This college was founded August p,
1866, when its first stone was deposited,
but the usual 'corner stone laying ser
vice did not transpire until September 6
OF the same year.
Foremost on the college archives is the
name of Fayette R. Buell., who had come
to Westminster about 1865 and conducted
an academy for boys and girls. 1t was he
who conceived the happy project of enlarg
ing this school into college Without
means Or denominational support, he un-
dertook the work of founding a college,
and in February, 1866, invited number
of his friends in the NJ. p Church to meet
him and consider the matter. This they
did, and were persuaded to breach the sub
ject to the Maryland Conference of that
church the following spring But the
Conference, after reviewing affairs, de-
clined to further the enterprise
Mr.. Buell., however, was a man of
resolution, who, despite of the action of
the Conference, proceeded with his plans,
and in April, 1866, summoned together a
number of gentlemen whom he designated
a "Board of Directors, and to whom he
had already made known the financial part
of the scheme. This scheme was to issue
about thirty thousand dollars worth of
bonds, redeemable in five years, although
at that time there was not any property of
his own to pledge for them, and they were
simply worth his promise to pay them out
OF the expected revenues of the college.
The project, on this account, would have
failed, only for simple incident, which
may be briefly narrated.
A member of the Maryland Conference
of the NJ. p Church, Rev. James Thomas
Ward, had been obliged by i'll health to
retire from the active toll of the ministry
and had come to Westminster in the spring
of 1866, where he made Mr.. Buell. S ac-
quaintance. Just then the latter needed
another teacher at his school. and since
Mr. Ward desired some employment, an
agreement was soon reached between them.
By reason of prior pastoral relation else
where, Rev. Mr.. Ward possessed the con-
fidence and friendship of two rich citizens
of Carroll county-Messrs. John Smith,
Of Wakefield, and Isaac G. Bale. He
preached the theme of building a college
here and they agreed to loan Mr. Buell. and
himself $40, 600 towards the project. 1t
was stipulated, however, that Rev. Mr..
Ward was to be its head, owing, no doubt,
to his ripe experience in the ministry.
In the brief limits of newspaper article
It would, Of course, be impossible to do
adequate justice to its early struggles. On
September 4, 1867, the first session of the
institution opened with six professors and
'eventy-three students, and at the close of
his session, February p, 1868, Mr..
Buell. called together his Board of Direct
'rs to lay before them the colleges finan-
,ial status. 1t almost inspired tears
With the buildings still unfinished; with
he money loaned by Mr. Ward friends
smith and Bale all spent, and even the
interest on the loan yet unpaid, the prop /
'rty was covered by mechanics liens for
nearly as much as had been borrowed in
he first place, So things stood when the
natter was reported to the Conference of ;
ne M. p. Church which assembled March. l
968.