The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-10-08
wnsFrarv I'D. eonAEon.
A Great Educational Institution.

"a oTC&G 6ouCdl1Oudl
What task is sweeter, from a 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 a span-may contemplate
this structure which mortal arms have
raised towards heaven, while catching the
songs of birds or, at intervals, the hum of
traffic in the citys 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 81,
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 I'M
dertook the work of founding 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,
1866, summoned together, a
n. 81 no doSio,n, -
directors, aad 10 i' whuaniii'' he
) O:f'N lASu'e 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 a simple incident, which
may be briefly narrated.
A member of the Maryland Conference
of the M. P. Church, Rev. James Thomas
Ward, had been obliged by ill 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. 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-
fdence and friendship of two rich citizens
of Carroll county-Messrs. John Smith,
of Wakefield and Isaac C. Bale. He
preached the theme of building college
here and they agreed to loan Mr. Buell. and
himself SO, 900 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 dc
adequate justice to its early struggles On
September 4, 1867, the first session Of the
institution opened with six professors and
seventy-three students, and at the close OF
this session, February p, 1865, Mr..
Buell. called together his Board of Direct
ors to lay before them the college finan.
cial status 1t almost inspired tears.
With the buildings still unfinished; with
the money loaned by Mr.. Ward 5 friend,
Smith and Bale all spent, and even the
interest on the loan yet unpaid, the prop
erty was covered by mechanics liens fog
nearly as much as had been borrowed il
the first place. SO things stood when the
matter was reported to the Conference Of
the NJ. p Church which assembled March,
| 1853