The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-05
william l.. Elder Offers Site and
Buildings to Denomination on
Certain Conditions.
PROPOSITION IS ACCEPTED
CHURCH AGREES TO SELL 400 LOTS
AS CONSIDERATION.
School to BE Located south of Gar
field Park, Near Shelby Street
Details Of Proposition.

This city is to have a new UNCONVENTIONAL
college, which, If the plans of its spon-
sors are successfully accomplished, will
be one of the largest and best equipped
sectarian institutions in the country. Will
liam l.. Elder, of this city, has made
proposition to the United Brethren Church
in Indiana which is almost certain to be
accepted. He offers to furnish the site
and to put up the buildings for the new
college on certain conditions which are
considered satisfactory by the leading
ministers of the church.
Mr.. Elder offers to donate eight acres
of ground, to erect buildings Of modern
construction and equipment, at cost of
not less than $4,000. and to turn the entire
institution over to the trustees of the
church on condition that the church take
hold of the disposal of the remaining
ground in the tract of land which Mr..
Elder owns in the southern part Of the city.
II the church shall agree to sell for Mr..
Elder 400 lots In his addition, south of Gar
field Park. near Shelby street, an addition
which contains 100 acres, he will present
it with the college without any expense
on its part.
That the offer is certain of acceptance
was evidenced by the favor with which 1t
was received yesterday by the conference
of United Brethren ministers In Marion.
The proposition was made to them; they
considered II in detail and voted unani-
mously for its acceptance. The proposition
will be made to two other conferences of
the church which will meet in the near fu-
ture. One is the Southern Indiana Con-
ference and the other Is the Northern In
diana Conference. which will be in session
at Peru. Mr.. Elder is assured by ministers
of the denomination with whom he has
talked that the proposition will receive the
unanimous approval Of all the conferences.
For many years the United Brethren
Church has desired to have a college large
enough to accommodate the students of the
faith in Indiana. preferably in Indianapolis,
but on account of the fact that there are
not many wealthy men among the commu-
nicants, the project has not proved feasible
in the past The offer of Mr.. Elder was re-
ceived, therefore. with enthusiasm by the
trustees and the elders Of the denomina-
ton. Indianapolis is considered the ideal
site for a state sectarian institution on ac
count of it's central location and the ex-
traordinary facilities which students Of
such school might enjoy The church in
Indiana numbers $4,000 persons, including
many people who are comfortably well off,
but not many who are Independently rich
AS to the matter of endowment of such
an institution ii is thought that there will
be little difficulty. Help would be received
in all probability from members of the de-
nomination outside of Indiana, since the
school would not draw all its students
from this State, and since the church has
no institution of Importance in this part of
the country. The members of the church
feel also that If proper representations were
made to a number of famous philanthro-
pists there would be no trouble in securing
liberal aid in the endowment.
Discussing the plans for the new school,
Mr.. Elder said last night: Il have offered
tho church eight acres of ground to be used
as a college campus and have agreed to
erect permanent buildings of brick, de-
signed by an architect of national reputa-
ton, and furnished with the most modern
and elaborate equipment, on condition that
the church take up the work of disposing
of the rest of my addition. There are 400
for the college, and ii is expected that these
lots will be sold for the most part among
the members of the church. The addition
will be known in the future as University
Heights.
1.-The plans for the new college will go
forward at once, as there is almost no like
lihood of my offer being refused. The two
conferences to which 1t will be submitted
shortly will undoubtedly approve the plan,
and there will be nothing further to do
except go ahead with the work. / will have
the plans drawn for the brick buildings to
1 am not prepared now to say just how
many. The college will in all probability
be coeducational and liberal in its views.
It's endowment may be 100000 at the start. y