Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1914-05-22
NEW CHAPEL FOR COLLEGE.
Or. John a. Mead Gives 100000
for New Building.


stood on the campus of the institution
78 years is to pass and in its place is to
be erected structure of marble to cost
about 5000 the funds with which to
build it being gift from Ex-Gov.
John A. Mead of Rutland, who gradu-
ated from Middlebury so years ago this
year. The announcement of the gift
came as complete surprise last Friday
evening when President ohm M. Thomas
read letter from DR.. Mead, at an as
sembly of the faculty and student body
in the Mccullough Gymnasium, called
by the president. The purpose of as
sembling the faculty and students ex-
cited considerable curiosity and when
President Thomas made the announce
ment the enthusiasm became contagious.
DIR. Mead who was present, was over
whelmed with thanks from scores of
men and women, past and present stu
dents of the institution.
The new chapel, the corner stone of
which will probably be laid on Tuesday,
June %, during Commencement week,
will be located on the highest land on
the campus, west of the present chapel.
The building, colonial in design, built of
marble, will be about 58x100 ft. and will
seat 700 persons. There will be bal
cony in the rear overlooking the main
floor. Allen & Collens, Boston archi-
tects have submitted plans to President
Thomas, DR.. Mead and the former pres
ident, Ezra Brainerd, who will act as the
building committee. A bronze tablet
in the building will contain the following
inscription: Mead Memorial Chapel,
Erected in 1914, by John Abner Mead of
the Class of 1S64".
President Thomas called the meeting
to order and read DR.. Meads letter
The president spoke briefly in express
ing his appreciation of the gift and
dwelt upon the significance of such a
building in upbuilding college life.
President Thomas said that Dr. Mead s
gift was the largest received during the
five years of the present presidents
administration.
He read the following letter from
DR.. Mead:
Rev. DR.. John NJ. Thomas, LID,
President of Mddlebury College.
My Dear President Thomas
In commemoration of the fiftieth an
niversary of my graduation from Mid
dlebury College, and in recognition of
the gracious kindness of my heavenly
Father to me throughout my life,
desire to erect chapel to serve as a
place of worship for the college, the
same to be known as the Mead Memo
rial Chapel. | have in mind digni-
fled and substantial structure, in har-
mony with the other buildings of the
college, and expressive of the simplicity
and strength of character for which
the inhabitants of this valley and the
State of Vermont have always been
distinguished.
1t was my great-great grandfather,
the first white settler of this valley,
who brought the first copy Of the Holy
Bible into this unbroken wilderness,
and it was his wife, my great-great-
grandmother, who gathered her large
family about her in an Indian wigwam
for the first Christian service of the
Vermont pioneers of this immediate
region. With this memory ever pres
ent, it has been my hope and prayer
that might be able and permitted to
build for this college a suitable place
for divine worship and that it might rise
from the highest point on its campus
as a symbol of the position, most prom
inent in every respect, which Christian
character and religious faith should
always maintain in its work for our
youth.
have in mind the furnishing of from
$50. 900 to $50, 600 for the erection OF
such a structure, and | hereby suggest
that the Trustees of the college secure
appropriate plans for its erection which
shall meet with my approval, and that
said Board appoint Building Commit
tee at once, consisting of President
Thomas, former President Brainerd
and myself to make the necessary con
tracts for such a structure and to super
wise the erection of the same, and will
then bind myself and estate to provide
the necessary means for its erection
and completion in accordance with the
suggestions of this letter and with the
contracts to be made by your com
mittee.
Respectfully.