St. Clair County, Illinois - Chapter 7 (1 of 2 so headed), 1928

Chapter 7

reasons of his own had not attended the meeting that day. One of the brethren happened to look out of the window and saw him going by on a load of wood. He ran out, hailed him, and urged him to come in to the meeting "because," said he, "we need you." When the old man had taken his seat in the meeting the pastor asked the chairman to refer back to the question of the recommendation of Mr. Ames. It was done and they voted again. The result was a majority of one vote in favor of granting the license. Thus the vote of a colored man made Edward R. Ames a preacher and the General Conference of 1852 made him a bishop. The Illinois Conference met in the fall of 1830 at Vincennes, Indiana. At that time it included within its bounds both the states of Illinois and Indiana. It convened on the thirtieth day of September. For some unavoidable reason the bishop failed to reach the seat of the conference. The brethren proceeded at once to elect Samuel H.Thompson president pro tern. He presided during the entire conference and he, with the presiding elders, made the appointments for that year.

Mr. Ames was admitted on trial as one of a group of seventeen young men who came in that year. One of the number was Wm. D. R. Trotter, who afterward became the son-in-law of Peter Cartwright and also has the distinction of being the first man to receive the Bachelor's Degree from McKendree College. Another member of this class was Simeon Walker who was the father of Levi Walker who for several years carried the Southern Illinois "conference cane" which was the gift of Jotham A. Scarritt and is supposed to be always in the custody of the oldest living member of the conference.

When the appointments were read, John Dew, who had been in charge of Lebanon the year before, was pastor of Shoal Creek Circuit with Edward R. Ames as junior preacher. Dew had been associated with Ames more or less during the previous year and possibly he had asked to have him as his associate on the big circuit. This was in the Kaskaskia District and the presiding elder was Samuel H. Thompson, who was chairman of the Board of Managers of the Lebanon Seminary, so that he was not entirely among strangers. As far as' the records indicate he made a success of his work as a circuit rider m spite of his timidity. One writer says of him, "He had a strong voice, and spoke with great oratorical power and pathos. Great revivals everywhere attended his preach' ing. His strong characteristics were quickness, clearness and comprehensiveness of perception, an unbending will, and an intuitive perception of human character. In generalship he had few equals and no superiors in the church he served." When the Illinois Conference was divided in 1832 he fell in the division that became the Indiana Conference and remained in that body until he was raised to the episcopacy in 1852. He died in Baltimore April 25, 1879.

Miss McMurphy, who was Mr. Ames' assistant m the first two years of the life of the seminary, was the subject of a complimentary resolution in the Board meeting at the close of the first school year. This may have been partly an effort to compensate for the lack of salary since the total amount of money she received for her year's work was eighty-three dollars and thirty-three cents. The resolution introduced by Colonel Clemson reads as follows: "Resolved, that after a fair and full examination, this Board approve the system on which Miss McMurphy teaches the Enghsh language, and that they consider her eminently qualified as a teacher in that branch of science."

It seems that this lady and her system were particularly admired by the gallant Colonel, for we find in another part of the record the statement that Colonel Clemson "submitted sundry resolutions concerning Miss McMurphy 's system of teaching grammar." The Board seems to have winked at this partiality by appointing him a committee to wait on the lady with a proposal for her employment for another year. The record shows that she was employed for the second year at the same salary as Mr. Ames, namely twenty-five dollars a month. Our records do not furnish any further history of Mi.ss McMurphy after two years' service as a member of the faculty in the Seminary.

The election of Rev. Peter Akers as president, is recorded in the minutes of the Board of Managers for September 27, iSjj. This is the first mention in the records of a president. Mr. Ames is designated as "Principal of the Seminary." In March, 1830 at a meeting of the Board of Managers, presided over by Peter Cartwright, a resolution was passed changing the name of the school from "Lebanon Seminary" to" McKendree College" in honor of Bishop McKendree and in consideration of a gift which he promised in the form of a bequest of certain lands which he possessed in Shiloh Valley. This name is used sometimes in the records of the Board after that date, but for the most part, both there and in the conference records it was still called Lebanon Seminary for several years.

From time to time several members of the conference were appointed to act as financial agents for the college, sometimes in certain specified fields. The Board at one time requested that Mr. Ames be appointed in that capacity, probably with the idea that by reason of his two years' service as head of the institution, he was better acquainted with its needs than any other member of the conference. The condition of the finances may be inferred from the fact that Mr. Ames did not receive the balance of his salary until November, 1830. At a meeting in the month of April, 1830, the Board authorized the Committee of Superintendence to use their own judgment m employing a principal and assistant for the coming year. There is no record now extant as to how they exercised their judgment, or who was at the head of the school from the close of Mr. Ames' term of service some time in the summer of 1830 until the election of Peter Akers September 27, 1833. The most reasonable supposition seems to be that the institution was under the general supervision of the pastor of the Lebanon Circuit. The pastors appointed to Lebanon in those years were: 1830, Stith M. Otwell; 183 1, John Dew; 1832, Smith L. Robinson. The record of the conference minutes in 1833 shows that Samuel H. Thompson was appointed pastor of the Lebanon charge, Peter Akers "President of Lebanon Seminary," James Mitchell travelling agent for Lebanon Seminary in this state and Missouri, and Smith L. Robinson agent for the Seminary "thruout the United States except Illinois and Missouri." Mr. Akers took charge of the school after conference in the fall of 1833. We have no record of the enrollment at that time nor of other members of the faculty, except that later in the year John N. Coleman was employed as a teacher in the seminary at a salary of "$75 for the present session." There is also evidence that girls were enrolled as students from the fact that Mrs. Peter Akers was employed, by action of the Board in April, 1834, as "principal teacher of the female department, acting under the superintendence of the president of the seminary." About this time the Board ordered that there should be "a charge of twenty-five cents additional for each student whose parent or guardian is not a stock-holder in the seminary, for house rent and fuel." In January, 1834, legislation was passed by the Board indicating that President Akers was about to withdraw from the position. It was suggested that an effort be made to secure either a single man or a man with a small family, from Augusta College, who would be capable of conducting the institution. It is not so stated in the records, but the inference is that the six hundred dollar salary was not sufficient to provide a "comfortable support" for Mr.

Facsimile of a motion passed by the Akers' family. However in February another meeting was held at which the president's salary was increased from six hundred to seven hundred dollars a year. Then two months later when Mrs. Akers was employed as a teacher her salary was fixed at fifty dollars per session and since there were two sessions a year this would bring the family income up to eight hundred dollars a year. This seemed to be sufficient for present needs.

It was during the administration of President Akers that Rev. Learner B. Stateler of the Missouri Conference came with the request that the Lebanon Seminary take two or three Indian boys from Missouri to educate free of charge. The president was not disposed to take the responsibility of deciding the question himself so he called a meeting of the Board and referred the matter to them. After due deliberation the Board requested Mr. Akers to notify the gentleman from Missouri that they "regret their inability to educate the Indian boys gratuitously, either in whole or in part, but they would be willing to take them on the established terms of the institution." This settled the matter and the Indian boys did not come. In September, 1834, there was some legislation in regard to the price of board. We find the statement that when bedding and laundry are furnished by the student the price of board and lodging shall be one dollar, twelve and a half cents a week, and the "table shall at all times be well supplied with good wholesome food, well cooked, in sufficient quantity and suitable variety."

It was also stated that "hereafter no student shall be admitted without paying the price of tuition per session and one third the price of board per session in advance, or giving such security for the payment thereof as shall be satisfactory to the Board." It was in the fall of i8j4 that the Board began discussing the matter of a charter from the state. The school had been in operation for six years, was looked upon as a permanent institution and it was felt that this recognition from the state would be an advantage to the struggling young school. So the Board requested President Akers to draft a memorial to the Legislature "praying the grant of a charter to this institution."

the life of President Akers is given elsewhere in this work and there will be later reference to him since he was twice re-elected to the presidency in the later history of the insti. tution. However, we give here an incident in college life which gives some idea of his unswerving purpose that the school over which he presided should in fiict be a Christian institution.

A Called Meeting Of The Board

A CALLED MEETING OF THE BOARD At the request of the President of the college, Rev. Peter Akers, a meeting of the Board was called on June 4, 1834. When the body had assembled, the following communication was read by Dr. Akers, touching the moral conduct of the students, which may reflect something of the spirit of the times:

"To the Board of Managers of Lebanon Seminary, Dear Brethren : Suffer me to call your attention to a subject of vital importance to this institution, of which you are the guardians and patrons. It is understood that this is the Conference Seminary of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Illinois; over which you have called a travelling preacher to preside as your representative, and whom the conference, according to the Discipline of the church, has appointed to that office. The church, therefore, and the public generally, have a right to expect that the moral discipline and government of the institution shall be creditable to the church, and exert a salutary influence over the youth of our church and common country. That this expectation might be realized has been the prayer of the present administrator of the government of the seminary. And to render some service to the church and community in this way (and not merely to secure a subsistence for himself and family) was the leading motive with him in taking charge of the institution. But it must be obvious to every one that in order to sustain the pretentions of the institution, and answer the wishes and expectations of the friends of literature and morality, the Board of Managers should, both by precept and example, authorize their representative, the president of the institution, to employ such discipline as may be requisite for the promotion of the avowed object of the institution. The present incumbent had supposed that he was sufficiently authorized in the matter.

by the general spirit of the hy-Iaws of the seminary, as s.inctioned by a special committee of the Board, and that he would always find himself abundantly sustained and aided in his efforts to promote the morality of the institution, by the ministers and members of the church that turned him from darkness into light, and from the power of Satan unto God. But he is sorry to have to say to the Board, that a recent occurrence has very much shaken his hope concerning a sufficiently extensive and practical co-operation for promoting the morality of the school.

On last Wednesday afternoon, his department, with the exception of his own son, brother-in-law, and George Peeples, was entirely vacated. And several boys were also absent at the same time from the primary department. On making the necessary inquiry it was ascertained that they were all m town attending the circus. It was also ascertained on suitable inquiry, that with the exception of two or three young men and one small boy, they all had perynission of their parents to go to the circus! Of these parents nearly all are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and some of them are members of your Board of Managers. I cannot well describe the mortification, or rather crucifixion, experienced by the administrator of the laws of this institution, when he attempted to speak to the pupils on wholesome discipline and sound morality. The students felt that they were safely fortified, not only by the current opinion and custom of a great part of the "non-professing" community, but also by the acknowledged sentiment of their own "professing" parents; some of whom had elected to office the public servant then attempting a feeble moral lecture, m such circumstances as gave the hearers a decided victory over the speaker. He felt that his situation was critical in the extreme. Moral sentiment and the reputation of the Seminary, and of Methodism connected with it, were at once involved. He therefore concluded by informing the students that the Managers would shortly be called upon to determine officially upon the merits of such conduct in reference to the future. That if they should agree with the speaker in moral sentiment on such subjects, and would give a practical illustration of the same, then in all similar cases of trespass the delinquents might assuredly expect suitable punishment, even to expulsion from the institution. But that if the Managers should judge differently and choose not to adopt a measure quite so hostile to the Devil and his own country, the carnal mind, then as a conscientious man, having failed in the proper business on which he came to the institution, the speaker would immediately hand in his resignation.

The writer of this unvarnished communication does not think It necessary to add a single argument m proof of the diabolical nature and grossly corrupting tendency of the circus, and of all similar sports. They are the every day and Sunday School of the Devil, and his travelling missionaries, supported by the voluntary contributions of all, both parents and children, who are friendly, for the time being, to such institutions. Nor is it thought necessary to enlarge on the manifest inconsistency of sending the same children to a Christian Sabbath school and to the Sabbath school of Hell. Neither is it now the business of the writer to say to the Board all that probably should be said to "professors" generally, who when they gather not with Christ scatter abroad. I have delivered my own soul.

After the reading of this communication by their worthy college president, the Board adopted a strong resolution authorizing the Faculty to use vigorous measures to enforce all the provisions of the institution for the proper restraint of wayward students. At the close of the year Dr. Akers resumed the work of the circuit rider.

Rev. John Dew

Rev. John Dew was the president during the two years 1836-1838. He was prominent among the early circuit riders and better educated than most of them, tho not a college graduate. A sketch of him appears in the chapter on "Early Methodist Leaders".

He showed himself a leader among his contemporaries in the church of that period. Had his life not ended at fifty-one, while he was still in the prime of usefulness, his influence would no doubt have been more far reaching and he would have occupied a larger place in the history of the college and the church. It was under his leadership that McKendree first began to assume the character of a college rather than a mere preparatory school. Dr. Akers had secured the charter and Mr. Dew felt that there ought to be a college trained faculty. Looking to that end he secured two young men who had just graduated from the Wesleyan at Middletown, Connecticut - Annis Merrill and James W. Sunderland. They were fresh from an eastern college and were ambitious to pass on their college culture to the people of this new western country. Now for the first time departments of instruction were organized in the institution. The president took charge of the department of English Literature, Professor Merrill, of Ancient Languages and Literature, and Professor Sunderland, of Mathematics and Science. Besides these there was a Preparatory Department in which there were two teachers. Rev. John S. Barger, principal, and Wesley Bennett, assistant.

In August, i8j7, appeared the first printed catalog the college issued. It has twelve pages. It gives the names of the sixteen trustees, ten of whom were laymen; executive committee; conference visitors; financial agents; and auditor. Then after the faculty, is a list of the students, twenty-two college and fifty-one preparatory. Then follows a statement of the course of study and instruction, and announcement of the examinations, public exhibitions, and vacations. This is followed by a table of expenses including tuition, room, board, wood, lights, and washing, which is estimated at a total of $87.50 to $99.50 a year.

"It is earnestly recommended that students shall not be authorized to contract any debts. All students will furnish their own beds and furniture. No student will be admitted to the college classes who is under fourteen years of age, and unless he is personally known to some member of the faculty, he must present a certificate of good moral character. Immoral or disorderly conduct is always considered a sufficient reason for directing the student to leave the institution."

Annis Merrill

ANNIS MERRILL Annis Merrill was the younger brother of John Wesley Merrill. He was born in 1810 and graduated from the Wesleyan in 1835. He came to McKendree one year earlier and staid one year later than his brother, and so spent six years of service in the college. In 1842 he decided to take up the profession of law. He went to Boston and spent several years in legal studies, and then in 1849 when multi' tudes were smitten with the gold fever he went along with the maddening crowd to California. He settled at San Francisco and made that his home for the remainder of his life. He was concerned more, however, with the application of the law than with gold digging. When civilization had been established and the church gained a place he was always identified with the First Methodist Church in San Francisco. For many years he was the teacher of a large men's Bible class in that church, and it was said that he prepared each Sunday's lesson as carefully as he would a plea before the Supreme Court. He was elected a lay delegate to the General Conference of 1876. He was one of the founders of the University of the Pacific and for many years was the president of the board of trustees of that institution. He acquired considerable wealth in his long life. He was a man of great vitality, which he preserved so well that he was able to spend ninetyfive years m this world. He left not only a fair fortune but a good name as a legacy to his children.

James Warren Sunderland

JAMES WARREN SUNDERLAND James Warren Sunderland was born at Exeter, Rhode Island, February 9, 1813. He was graduated from the Wesleyan University at Middletown, Connecticut in i8j6 and the same year was elected Professor of Mathematics and Science at McKendree. His term of service ran parallel with that of Professor Merrill. They had been friends during their college course and were friendly colleagues in educational work in this western educational enterprise. He had a good reputation in every respect while at McKendree. In the opinion of the students he seemed to be above reproach. Johnson Pierson, a member of the class of 1841 at McKendree, testified m a letter written soon after his graduation and still preserved in the archives of the college, to the extremely high regard in which Professor Sunderland was always held by the students . The students were willing at times to play pranks on the professors and make uncomplimentary remarks about them in their absence, "but never about Prof. Sunderland." He tried to resign his position several times, probably on account of the unsatisfactory salaries paid to the faculty in those days, but the board would refuse to accept his resignation, re-elect him and finally persuade him to stay another year. He did this until the commencement of 1843, when he refused to reconsider. When the Board could hold him no longer, they placed in the minutes a highly complimentary resolution expressing the high regard in which they held him.

From McKendree he went to Ursinus College at Collegeville, Pennsylvania, where he maintained a long and honorable educational career, and where he also spent his years of retirement after he had finished his years of active service. He died on April 9, 1904, at the age of ninety -one.

Since it is not a long one, we give the list of students in this first catalog, as nearly as possible in the form in which they appear in the catalog.