The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-10

Letter from the Rev. II. A. Goodwin to
the Alumni Association.


The Rev. Thomas A. Goodwin's letter to
the Alumni Association is dated Indianap-
oils, June !, and addressed to Charles A.
Martin. secretary. 1t follows:
You were kind enough a few weeks ago
TO semi-oficially invite me TO attend the
next meeting OF our Alumnal Association,
If possible, or to write letter to be read
at the meeting, IL i could not attend in
person AS it is now quite improbable that
can be with you L write the letter as you
requested.
s'Sinee one Of the prime purposes of our
organization is TO seek the welfare of our
alma mater / shall confine myself ex-
clusively TO some suggestions, born OF a
unvarying devotion TO its interests for
nearly two-thirds of century, promising
that any intelligent study OF the situation
recognize the fact that the Methodist
preachers OF Indiana as represented in the
several conferences in the State are the
that all measures looking to better con-
dition must have their approval and CO.
operation. IL indeed they should not orig
they alone elect the governing board,
which, in law and In fact, is presumed to
reflect and do the will OF its creators. The
fact that this association has for four
years been authorized TO name four out OF
the thirty-ive members Of the board-one
IN nine-does not materially anect the prop
osition that these preachers are the sole
incorporators.
studying present conditions in the light
of the past. we are compelled TO notice
that three distinct and totally diSsimilar
epoehs have marked our history, and a
careful consideration OF each OF these
epochs is essential to such an understand
ing OF the present situation as will lead
from present darkness into the abiding
light which is within our reach
The first OF these epochS extended from
1887 to 1852, and IL may easily be recog-
.n.zed as the era of our greatest prosperity.
Why IL was such is a question of the first
Importance IL We wish 10 prosper again.
The comprehensive answer is that we pros
pered because the preachers, the sole incor-
porators, were impelled by profound con-
vfction that the interests OF Methodism,
which In their conceptions meant the inter-
ests of revealed religion, required a college
an which the Bible might be read and ex-
pounded according TO the views of Meth
odists There were already three colleges
IN the State doing satisfactory work in
the liberal arts, but in every one of them
the d0gmaS OF Calv1niSm were aSSidu-
ously taught. What that meant TO a Meth
odist two-thirds OF century ago can
hardly be imagined by the present genera
ton. There was not even dream then
OF such a revision OF the creed as has just
been effected. eliminating all that was OBJ
tectionable in CalviniSm from 10, and al
most every sermon brtstled with election
and reprobation and all such, while the
Methodists or that period about as con-
stantly assailed these dogmas with a will:
hence they could not consent to educate
their children where the distinctive doc
rated Having failed In their attempt TO
have representatives in the board of trus-
tees OF the college that had been richly
endowed by the State. in the zeal OF des-
peratson they resolved 10 have a college OF
their own; hence the Asbury University
was chartered IL was bold venture. but
Az was a Signal success.
GROWTH OF THE UNIVERSITY.
ITO show how rapidly this young uni
versity grew let notice that the eldest
college in the State had been chartered
seventeen years when our university was
chartered In 1881. and IL had graduated
eight classes. aggregating forty-one. when
our institution had only one lone student
from outside Putnam county; yet three
years later. when we graduated our first
rfas. OF four. II graduated at its eleventh
commencement only five. and In 1851 the
closing year OF the first epoch. We grad
uased class OF nine TO its class OF seven.
10 nightly had we grown without the aid
OF a dollar from the State. while IL reveled
IN the wealth II had derived from the
township OF land the State. had given IT,
8ut these figures do not tell half the story
ef the nrst epoch. Duriny the first fifteen