The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-03-15

ana almost one thousand graduates 5ot
Bethany college. scattered over this and
other countries, oiIe would suppose,
would be sufficient guarantee that there
would be patronage enough to support
the faculty without endowment, but the
facts are, a large number Of her alumni
have founded, like lnstitutlonH. and
while they express love and devotion TO
their Alma Mater theIr Interests
prompt them to draw students 10 their
own colleges,
Az n member OF a committee to re-
port at the next meeting OF the board
OF trustees the past financial history OF
the college wc have carefully gone ovcr
the books and reports OF the ircasurers
from the beginning up 10 the year 1872,
and hope TO complete the work by the
next June meeting. We find that during
the fifteen years Alexander Campbell
held the office OF treasurer for fourteen
years the college was his debtor for adj
vances OF his own means, In sums rang
Ing from $500 to $4,000. The board
awarded him q salary, but In no In
stance Is there q record Of his ever hay.
ing received one dollar for his services,
except in the way OF tuition for sounS
men whom he was educating for the
ministry He paid his own travelling ex-
penses except when accompanied by
others who were acting as agents. 50
Z II has been surmisod by some that
the college was source OF financial ad-
vantage to him. Nothing could be farth-
,er from the truth. It was q constant
drain on his resources. ] write advised
,ly when l say that during his life he
nor his descendants were ever pecunl-
arily benefited by or through his con-
nection with Bethany College.
When a mere lad made his deposits
In bank, aud from the year 1919 had full
charge OF all his property iutercsts,with
a power OF attorney 10 act for him In
all business transactions. Being his
sole executor, on the first day OF De-
cember, 1865, paid to the treasurer OF
Bethany college, as directed by his Will.
"sl0, 200. the interest accruing annually
to be added 70 the endowment fund Of
Bethany College" I have his bank
books and account books as kept by
his clerks. and IN no instance is there
any record OF his having received any
sum, as before written. by or through
his connection with Bethany College for
his personal benefit, except on one &C.
caslon.
find that an auditing committee was
appointed TO so over all the accounts OF
the college from Its foundation, and
they made an itemized report OF oil
sums expended. This was done By two
thorough business men, DR.. John c..
Campbell and William Stewart. Their
report Is recorded. showing the most
minute item, even postage, STATIONERY,
etc, and one Item is mentioned OF $500
awarded A. Campbell for 1Sio-4e, while
obtaining subscriptions" This is the
only record OF any award to him for the
fifteen years he was treasurer. He
must have travelled on horseback and
sojourned with his friends, to have ex-
pended only $500 In three years.
After making the itemized report
showing 4 balance due A. Campbell for
advances OF sS,oi6 L. the committee re-
corded the following memorandum:
THAT Is to say, that after examining
all the bills of expenditure. as afore-
said, including oil accounts, settle
ments and expenditures from the COM
mencement OF the college, 1t appears to
us that the balance now due A. Camp
bell, advanced by him over ond above
all collections, amounts to sS.OiG L" the
committee recorded this memorandum:
Signed, ~. C. Campbell. William Stewart. A
further entry says "A. Campbell Is TO
be credited with $1,000 as the purchase
money OF the college grounds. this day
conveyed and charged with $1,000, the
balance OF his subscription, making the
college his debtor. as above. 3S.O46 Il,
and his subscription paid as above"
Signed, John C. Campbell, William
Stewart, July J. 1913.
On the first OF October, 1879, the plan
Of Bethany College was presented by
Alexander Campbell, and 4 charter was
granted by the legislature of Virginia
at its next session, through the Kind
services OF DR.. ]. C. Campbell, who was
also = lawyer and president OF the
branch of the Northwestern Bank OF
Virginia, at Wheeling.
While DR.. Campbell was member OF
the Presbyterian church, no one was
more ardent In carrying out the objects
and aims OF Bethany College. During
his whole long and active business life
he seldom, II eve-, was absent from a
meeting OF the board of trustees. His
wisdom in business matters can now
De seen III tlt StlkiciieAt Vi h~NS
in motions and resolutions offered by
him at almost every meeting OF the
board, for period OF over thirty years.
With such directors as Adamson Bent
~, Samuel Church. P. S. Fall, r. L.
Coleman. Thomas ". Allen, Peter Cur
ran, Campbell Tarr. John Atkinson,
John Mendel, Mathew Mckeerer, Or.
A. w. Campbell. John C. Perry, \. G..
Ewing, r. G. Henley, Governor X. NJ.
Bishop, James A. Garfield, J. Z. ROD
ison, Isaac Errett, Constant Lake,James
DarsIe and host of others, known all
over the nation for their ability and
devotion to the cause represented or
Bethany College, there was no distrust
and all moved on smoothly, doing q
good work. While these great and goou
men have all gone to their reward, l
wish here to emphasize the fact that q
large number OF the present board OF
trustees are Just as faithful and show MS
much devotion to the interests OF Beth
any College as did their honorable pred
ecessors. There IS much I would like to
add to this already TOO lengthy letter,
for IS heard my grandfather. Thomas
Campbell. remark after four-hour SER
mon, ~ am only in the suburbs OF the
subject"
Recently, Senator Tarr, OF this state.
wrote a brief review OF the work OF a.
Campbell for one Of our state papers,
and Mr.. Jacob, editor OF the Wellsburg
Herald, In writing Of the distinguished
men of the state. has written quite a
lengthy review Of the life of A. Camp
bell. Mr.. jacob has been the editor OF
one OF our county papers for forty
years or more, and is forcible and
able writer. Many OF his articles in
years past would have reflected great
credit on the largest metropolitan jour
nails OF our country. He'is a Prcsbvter-
ian and graduate OF Washington Col