St. Clair County, Illinois - Chapter 20, 1928

Chapter 20

'he first college paper published at McKendree was known as '"The Lebanon Journal." As early as 1836 It was proposed in the Illinois Conference that a semimonthly paper be published at the college, that would serve both as a college paper and a conference paper. The members of the conference pledged themselves to act as agents for the paper but not to be financially responsible for It. However, this proposal was not carried out until 1847, when Rev. Erastus Wentworth was president of the college. At the annual meeting of the Board in 1847, legislation was passed authorizing the college to publish a semimonthly paper, beginning with the first week of November. As a matter of fact the first issue was dated December 9^ 1847. The delay was on account of securing the means necessary to start the enterprise. The explanation given by the publication committee in the first issue was that they had to build a printing office and procure a press, type, fixtures and other equipment. For the means of securing all these things they were entirely dependent on the donations of friends of the enterprise. The announcement says, "We now have a good office, pre.ss, and new type." It ought to be stated that for the labor of erecting the office building thev were chiefly indebted to Rev. G. W. Robbins, then presiding elder of the Lebanon District, and who was a carpenter before he became a preacher. The Journal was not a student publication, as were most of the later papers issued at Mc- Kendree, but was edited by the faculty, and published by the Joint Board through a committee appointed for the purpose. Only the printer was a student. His name was Thomas G. Weeden. He was a practical printer, having served his apprenticeship in the employ of the Garrollton Gazette, in Green County, Illinois. At McKendree he divided his time between the paper and his college studies. His work was creditable tn both lines.

The editor-in-chief was Dr. Wentworth, president of the college, with all the rest of the faculty as his assistants. However, after the first issue, the president's many duties took him away from home so much that the editorial work was mostly done by other members of the faculty. The assistants whose names appear with Dr. Wentworth's in the first issue, were Professors Cummmgs, Mattison, Goodfellow and Goheen. It appears that the editorial responsibilities fell chiefly upon Professor Cummings during the remainder of Dr. Wentworth's term and after Dr. Cummings became president. Professor James Leaton did the most of the editorial work. After carefully looking through the twenty-six numbers which constitute volume one of the Lebanon Journal, one is led to the conclusion that it is not only a college paper but a church and family paper as well. It is a folio sheet with four pages, twelve by eighteen inches, carefully edited, and containing not only church news but articles of a literary and scientific nature, such as you might expect to find m a good magazine, and would be interesting not only to college students but also to intelligent people m general. The editor's salutatory m the first number contains the following: "If it be asked by what authority we assume the responsible office of conductor of a public print, be it known that among the multiplied ex-officio relations of our present position (President of McKendree College) some prying genius has discovered that of editor, or rather chairman of a corps of editors, of the Lebanon Journal. ****** The Journal will be devoted to local news, general mtelli' gence, literature, science, moraUty and religion. If we shall succeed in our present intent of gathering up and condensing for our little sheet, a suitable variety of entertaining and useful matter for the pleasure and profit of our readers, we shall not only congratulate ourselves upon our success, but shall feel that without boasting we may apply to our sheet the lines of one of the old poets,

From the publishers' address we quote the following: "The Lebanon Journal will be published semi-monthly at the rate of one dollar per annum, in advance, or one dollar and twenty-five cents if not paid till the expiration of six months.* * * * * * No labor will be spared to make it a good family paper and an efficient .luxiliary m the promotion of useful intelligence, science, literature, sound morality, and pure religion. It will eschew the ultraism of the day, party in politics, and bigotry in religion."

There is a brief description of Lebanon under the caption, "Our Village." There is reference to its location and climate; then the statement that "the high road from Vincennes to the principal commercial mart of the far west passes directly through the place. The amount of daily travel usually surpasses the estimate of those who have not witnessed the hourly passage of teams of every description wending their way to market, to swell the business of the capital of the

Great Valley. This will one day he the route of railroad communication between Cincinnati and St. Louis. The telegraph line already passes along our principal thoroughfare. Some four hundred people inhabiting the rolling ridge which bears the popular name of the ancient land of cedars, deem themselves particularly fortunate. For a place of its size ours does its share of the country's business. In addition to its stores and machine shops, it has a steam flour mill and a site has been selected for the erection of a steam saw mill. Living is cheap, the climate healthy, and work abundant. What more can any people wish, with the blessing of Providence, to make them wealthy and happy?"

Belleville is referred to as "a thrifty village, destined to become a city." It had at that time three thousand inhabitants, of whom one-half were German. Chicago had a population of twenty thousand and St. Louis had sixty thousand. So that at the middle of the last century, St. Louis was three times as large as Chicago, while now the ratio of the two cities is just the reverse. Illinois had just ratified her new constitution. It was stated that a justice of the peace in Pike County was opposed to the new constitution because he had sworn to support the old one when he entered upon the duties of his office. The paper philosophizes upon political situations and announces candidates, but does not side with any particular party. Questions of church policy are discussed and even the opinion of a Methodist bishop is boldly and freely controverted. An item entitled, "Literary Societies of McKendree College" s.iys, "The Philosophian has been resuscitated and a new one created with the name 'McKendree College Lyceum.' Both are in a flourishing condition."

There is a column of college news which tells, .unong other things, that the Wesleyan University at that time had one hundred and nineteen students, under the direction of a president, four professors and two tutors. Dickinson had a student body of one hundred and seventy-five and a faculty of eleven.

Professor Stoddard of Middlebury College (Vermont) had resigned his position on account of ill health. Indiana Asbury University expected more of its teachers than Dickinson for it had two hundred and thirty-seven students in charge of five professors.

Nearly two columns of the paper are devoted to advertisements. Among them is one for the college. An announcement signed by E. Wentworth, president, states that "The next quarter of McKendree College will begin Wednesday, December 2j. For terms see advertisement." It seems a little strange to us of the present day that the new quarter should begin just two days before Christmas. In these times it would be impracticable to get the students to begin anything but a hohday so near the great international festival. The advertisement states that the fees are to be paid in advance. For the quarter of twelve weeks, the fees were: Tuition, $6.00; Room rent, $i2.')0: Library fee, twenty-five cents; Contingent fee, sixty-two and a half cents. No deduction or refund in any of these except in case of sickness. Board in the Commons, $1.25 a week. Students furnish their own fuel and lights at about twelve and a half cents per week for each; and all room furniture except stoves. Individuals board themselves at about fifty or seventy-five cents per week. Books furnished at less than St. Louis retail prices.

"ShaJ^espeare Modernized - As two loafers, sitting m front of a ten pm alley, were exchanging hopes and sympathies, one drew his wallet from his pocket and said, 'He who steals my purse steals trash.' "Yes,' replied the other, 'and he who filches from you your good name, takes from you what you never had'. "

"'Curious Excise Entry - Alexander Gun, an officer in Scotland, being dismissed from employment for making an error in his returns, an entry was made in a book kept for that purpose, as follows: 'A gun, discharged for making a false report'."

It gives news, local, national, and international. The editor comments on the fact that a telegraph line is being constructed from the east to St. Louis, and right thru Lebanon, but regrets the fact that his town cannot afford a station on the line, but news going over the wires must go through to St. Louis and then back to Lebanon by stage coach. But he consoles himself with the prediction that it will not be many years till there will be a railroad to St. Louis. He also refers to and most heartily approves the construction of macadam roads between Belleville and St. Louis, and part way between Belleville and Lebanon. The paper also contained announce' ment of steamship sailings and arrivals at the Atlantic seaboard; congressional news; an article in the scientific column on the theory of hailstones; an account of a railroad meeting, held for the purpose of trying to induce the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad Company to build their proposed railroad through the town of Lebanon, which they eventually did, or at least near it; funerals and weddings thruout the territory, and in case of a wedding, sometimes an acknowledgment that cake had been received by the editor; accounts of temperance meetings and Sunday School conventions and camp meetings; a warning to be prepared for a cholera epidemic ; a discussion of the new republic in South Africa - the story of an encounter with an alligator in South Carolina ; an anecdote of Dr. Chalmers; arguments on the importance of Sabbath observance; and many other things, similar and dissimilar. It gives a much fuller account of the session of the Illinois Conference, held in Belleville in September, 1848, than can be found in the conference minutes. It was presided over by Bishop Morris. It began on Thursday and continued till a week from the following Friday and the appointments were read late that night. So that it lasted fully nine days. The appointments are published for the eight districts of the Illinois Conference; also for the four districts of the German Missions, and the three districts of the Missouri Conference.

Peter Akers was appointed presiding elder of the Qumcy District, Peter Cartwnght of the Springfield District, and Colin D. James of the Lebanon District. The last named was the son-in-law of Dr. A. W. Casad, of Lebanon, and the father of Dr. Edmund J. James, late president of the University of Illinois. Dr. Casad was a long time resident of Lebanon and one of the founders of McKendree. His professional card as a physician is found in the advertisement column of the "Journal." The pastor appointed to Lebanon was Rev. William ClifFe, with Daniel Fairbank as his assistant. Four men were appointed to McKendree College, namely: Erastus Wentworth, president, and Anson W. Cummings, Spencer Mattison, and William Goodfellow, professors. The other member of the faculty at that time, Dr. S. M. E. Goheen, was a physician instead of a preacher and not a member of the conference. The next issue of the paper gave the reports in full of the various conference committees, and a two and a half column account of the bishop's sermon. In one issue is a long article discussing, "Objections to Sustaining Colleges." It sets forth that some have objected to making contributions to McKendree on the ground that it "was established for the education of rich men's sons." A bit of statistical information is found, that there are thirty thousand clergymen of all denominations in the United States at that time, which was doubtless interesting to many readers, since it was before the day of the "World's Almanac." There are biographical sketches of some of the early Methodist pioneers, letters of Peter Cartwright, and sto ries of Jesse Walker. There is a vigorous article on the subj ect of fencing, cleaning up, and beautifying College Hill Cemetery; and a suggestion that like treatment ought to be given Shiloh Cemetery.

One issue contains the story of a Frenchman who was exhibiting some sacred relics to wondering tourists. Among other things, he showed a sword which he claimed was "the sword which Balaam had when he would have slain the ass." A spectator remarked that Balaam did not have any sword on that occasion, but merely wished for one. "Very well," replied the Frenchman, "this is the one he wished for." That Frenchman must have many direct descendants in the European countries today.

One article quotes from the Northern Christian Advocate . That paper, giving a review of the Illinois Conference min - utes, calls attention to the preachers' salaries m Illinois, stating that the largest salary received m that conference was three hundred and forty-four dollars, by Dr. Akers. The others ranged from one hundred to two hundred and fifty. "The Northern" concluded with the remark that "The preachers of Illinois are not likely to become rich, though they live m a rich country." "The Journal" points out that the minutes only report cash payments and take no account of other items received by the preachers, such as donations for the table, house rent, fuel, horse feed, etc., and concludes with the statement that "Illinois preachers are as well supported, if all Items are considered, as the average of those in the east. Though it is rare for a Methodist preacher to get rich, it IS equally rare for a faithful and efficient laborer to Starve."

From occasional references to that point, we conclude that "The Journal" had about one thousand subscribers; but many of these did not pay promptly and some not at all. It was issued continuously from the college press for five years. But by 1852 its debts had accumulated to a point where they were embarrassing. So the Board of Trustees decided to abandon the publication of a paper. During its later years, it had changed its title somewhat and was called "The Illinois Advocate and Journal." This indicated that It was becoming more of a church paper, and the leaders of the Illinois and Missouri Conferences felt that it was needed in their work. Therefore, retaining so much as possible of the subscription list, the printing office was closed in Lebanon, and another opened in St. Louis, and the paper was moved to that city under the name "Central Christian Advocate." The General Conference of 1852, held in Boston, failed to adopt it as one of the oilicial papers of the church, so it was conducted for four years as an unofficial church paper in the interest of the conferences contiguous to St. Louis. During these years it was edited by Rev. W. D. R. Trotter, 1852-1854, and by Rev. John L. Conklin, 1854- gone back - they j ed. But bow shall we, know that we are sane- 1 art- allugethcr become filthy - there is none that i tified,? By the direct vjitnefs of the Spirit, the i d..elh good, no not one"'! Listen to Isaiah, deep, powerful injj^resMpn ' which amounts to Brothf^ Jesse Renfro, a local pr«3iCher, re- "Hcar, 0.beavens,andg;ireear,Oaiirth, I have consciousnHs&^C^'s Vrocbunation of hkoselfllTlftHted - lfe«l,it to be a great prirUege to be nounshedAndbroughtupcbildren,ft]idtheTh^Tobjasilcnt, yet uriteislakaBle influence. TTuits [ in the Cijmpany of" so many n ' "

1856. The General Conference of 1856 took it over into the family of advocates anid since that time it has been one of the official papers of Methodism. Its editor for the quadrenium 1856-60 was Joseph Brooks; for the next four years it was edited by Charles Elliott. In 1864 Dr. Benjamin F. Crary was elected editor and held the office for eight years. In 1872 Dr. Benjamin St. James Fry was chosen editor and continued in that important position until the end of his life, which occurred only a few months before he had finished four quadreniums of service. The Book Committee appointed Dr. Samuel W. Williams, of the Cincinnati Book Concern and one time professor m McKendree, to take care of the editorship until the meeting of the General Conference in 1892. That body elected Dr. Jesse Bowman Young, who continued at the helm for eight years, and then the General Conference of 1900 elected Dr. Claudius B. Spencer, who, at this writing, is just completing his twenty-eighth year of faithful service in this important field. In 1900 the "Central was moved from St. Louis to Kansas City, where it is now located. All of these editors, from Dr. McCrary to Dr. Spencer, have been Trustees of McKendree. In closing up the affairs of the paper at Lebanon, Benjamin Hypes, treasurer of the college and member of the Board, was instructed to sell the printing outfit and apply the proceeds on the debts of the paper. The debts not covered by this sale were probably absorbed into the larger debt carried by the Board of Trustees. Thus ended the first journalistic venture of Mc- Kendree College. While it did not continue in the form in which it started, it set in motion an influence for the good of hum;inity which is still going and still increasing in power.

Another "Lebanon Journal" was established some time after the Civil War, which was for about half a century the local city paper of Lebanon. This was not strictly a college publication, yet it was quite closely associated with McKendree. Professor O. V. Jones was its editor during the last few years of his life, and after h's death in 1885, the paper was conducted by his son, William L. Jones, until 1913. For this period of twenty -eight years. Editor Jones, of the class of 1879, recorded many college events in this semi-college paper. In 191 j, the paper passed to the hands of Rev. J. G. Dee, who had been a classmate of Mr. Jones in McKendree. He also made it somewhat of a college paper. About 1920 the Journal was destroyed by fire, and since Lebanon already had another paper, it was never resurrected. THE McKENDREE REPOSITORY One of the most successful journalistic ventures ever undertaken at McKendree was the "McKendree Repository." It first appeared in the fall of 1867 and lasted about a decade. In its early years it was an eight page periodical published semi-monthly by the students of the college. The price was two dollars a year. The first plan of publication was that the work was to be done by editors and publishers elected by the "College Meeting," which was an association of all the students in the institution who cared to be present and vote. After a time there was some dissatisfaction and the senior class was entrusted with the task of editing and publishing the paper, but this method did not prove any more satisfactory, and so they soon returned to the first plan. An article published in the issue for December, 1871, set forth many arguments for having the work done by representatives of the literary societies. So some time later that plan was adopted. In April, 1871, under the College

Meeting plan, we find the following officers m charge. Editors: W. H. Steward, G. W. Hill, T. C. McFarland, and O. M. Edwards. Publishers: W. M. Essex and T. J. Porter. Board of Control: J. M. Brooks, L. A. Berger, J. P. Lytle.

It IS difficult to give any brief description of so varied and versatile a periodical as this was. In the main, its pages are filled with serious thoughts, though each issue had its column of jokes. There are extensive quotations from exchanges or from other sources, when the editors thought they had found something worth quoting. There is also much that appears to be the product of the campus, that is, articles of student authorship, but a marked tendency to conceal the actual author's name. We also find occasional contributions from the members of the faculty. For example, a history of McKendree College, prepared by Dr. Allyn for the educational convention of 1868, was published as a serial. It ran through nearly a whole year. Every number had editorials of more or less merit, and some of them were really excellent, though the identity of the writer is rarely revealed. There are long lists of personals which must have been interesting reading for the students of that day. It was probably easier to keep track of former students at that time than it is now, because they occupied a relatively larger position of leadership in the outside world than they do in the much larger and more complex public life of today. There were also accounts of special events, such as the County Teachers' Institute m Belleville, in which McKendree seems to have been well represented, both in attendance and on the program; or the passage of the "Temperance Bill" by the Legislature of Illinois. Of course important happenings about the campus were reported, such as the open sessions of the literary societies and their semi-annual exhibitions. The last page and some space previous to that was devoted to paid advertisements. The paper was maintained by its advertisements and its subscription list, and the main dependence was the latter. Therefore the paper contained frequent references to its need of money and exhortations to those who were in arrears to pay up. There is evidence that an occasional issue was omitted for lack of means to pay for the printing. And probably the chief reason for its final demise was a financial one.

There is an occasional bit of high grade philosophy m its columns, though in many cases it was obtained from some exchange. The paper had a fine list of exchanges, and must have obtained the favorable recognition of many of the best college papers in the land, as well as some of a more general character.

We find the following list of "Regular Exchanges" m the issue dated April 20, 1S72: "College Argus," "Lafayette Monthly," "College Courant," "Yale Courant," "Cornell Era," "Targum," "Williams Vidette," "Madisoniensis," "Southern Collegian," "Harvard Advocate," "Western Collegian," "Irving Union," "Miami Student," "Notre Dame Scholastic," "Bethany Guardian," "Chronicle," "Monmouth Courier," "Acorn," "Simpsonian," "Collegian," "Tripod," "College World," "College Review," "Beloit Monthly," "Brunonian," "The Nation," "Newspaper Reporter," "Har' pers Weekly," "Qui Vive," "St. Louis Home Journal," "Lebanon Journal," and "Edwardsville Republican." Also In May, 1872, is published an account of the demolition of the row of brick houses along the eastern edge of the campus, which had long served as rooming quarters for students. The article is entitled "Our Classic Bricks." The writer does not lament their passing, but says it is a mark of progress. Although they have served a useful purpose in their day, he hints that now they would be more useful converted into brick walks in various parts of the campus. There is a sket;h of the founding of the Philosophian Society. The majority of the orgiinal members were still living m 1872. In the June number of that year is an account of the reunion of the diss of 1862, on the tenth anniversary of their graduation. Of the twelve members of the class, eight were present, as follows: Nelson S. Cobleigh, Cleveland, Ohio; Joseph Harris, Mt. Vernon; William Wallis, Brighton; James E. Marshall, Centralia; John N. Gwin, Effingham; Henry A. Castle, St. Paul, Mmn.: James H. Lowe, Bslleville; and Daniel W. Phillips, Nashville. Tnis was a fine showing, since two of the class, Boone Griffin and John S. Fitzgerrell, were already dead, and Peachy T. Wilson was a missionary in India; leaving only William A. Young, of Hillsboro, who might have been expected to be there and was not. In all probability he had some good excuse but did not send it. In this same issue other commencement events are chronicled. There is a vivid and detailed account of the society exhibitions, as well as the prize declamation contest, which was won by William W. Edwards, afterwards for ten years a professor m McKendree. On Wednesday afternoon, the Hon. Jehu Baker delivered an address which was highly commended by the Repository reporter. There is also an account of the presentation of the flag, which passed from the custody of the Junior class to that of the Sophomore. Both the speech of presentation by W. V. Wilbanks and that of reception by T. C. Watkins, are represented as un' usually worthy efforts of these flag day orators. A full page is given to the graduating exercises of the class of 1872. There were twenty -four members of the class, and each dehvered an oration. There were two sessions of the program, with an interval of two hours between for luncheon and sociability among the commencement guests. Each of the orators and his oration is given separate treatment in the report. Of this large class, only two, W. A. Kelsoe and Z. T. Remick, are still living. The Latin Salutatory was delivered by William M. Essex and the valedictory by Thomas C. McFarland, both of whom have passed from earth. We quote a couple of remarks with which the interesting article is brought to a close. "The addresses of the young lady graduates were on the whole better than those of the young men." "The bouquet nuisance should be abated at once." At this distance in time we are unable to explain just why it was regarded as a nuisance to "say it with flowers." Space will not permit anything like a complete account of the entire file of this great old college paper, but it may give the reader some idea of what the series was like if we give a rather detailed description of a single issue. For this purpose we have chosen what seems to be a representative number toward the latter part of the series. It is number 4 of Volume VIII, dated February, 1875. The front cover page contains only the name of the paper in large Old English letters. The second page or the inside of the cover is devoted to advertisements. The literary material begins on page three. Under the title "McKendree Repository" is the motto, "Devoted to Literature, Science, and the Interests of Mc- Kendree College." The first article on the page is a poem entitled, "Be not the First." It is labelled "Selected " The first stanza reads,

Whose faith may be true to the end." There are eight stanzas in the poem. The next article is entitled, "Incorporation of McKendree." It is a brief and not very accurate account of the granting of McKendree's first charter in 1835. It is written from Jacksonville, Illinois, and signed "Alumnus."

The fourth page contains a column and a half account of the exhibitions of the three literary societies, which had been presented just before the Christmas vacation on the 14th, 15th and i6th of December. It is a lump criticism, mostly favorable, of the essayists, declaimers, and orators, in three groups, according to the class of performance rather than the society which furnished it. The report is signed.

"Auditor." Next is an account of the celebration of the Clio Anniversary, December 10. The chief feature of the program was an address by Mrs. Hattie McCoy North, which set forth at length some of the achievements of modern woman, and some of the things she may be expected to accomplish in the future. On page five is an essay on "Secrets of Success." It is signed with the initials of E. H. Parkinson. We might infer that he is its author.

Page six contains a well written article on "The Beautiful," which occupies three -fourths of the page. The remainder contains a dozen or so brief quotations of which this is a sample: "An unjust accusation is like a barbed arrow, which must be drawn backward with horrible anguish, or else will be your destruction." Jeremy Taylor.

Page seven contains an article of highly religious tone on the nature of "The Christian Sabbath," and the remainder of the page is taken up with an obituary sketch of William Monroe Essex, of the class of '72, together with a set of resolutions signed by a committee from the Philo Society, of which he was a member.

The eighth page has the business announcement of the editors and publishers. We note that the publishers at that time were George D. Phillips from Philo and C. W. Parkinson from Plato. The editors were Robert Casey and Orla S. Casad from Philo, T. C. Watkins and E. B. Waggoner from Plato, and Minnie Lane and Laura Hughey from Clio. The subscription price at this time was $1.50 a year. Then follows somewhat more than a page of "McKendriana," made up of personals and current news, a large part of it relating to the policies of the institution; for example, the statement that more written examinations are being required than formerly. Then are mentioned the titles of some lectures which had already been delivered at the college : "The Man for the Times," by President Locke; "The True Man above Price," by Rev. Lyman Marshall, then pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Lebanon; "Difficulties and their Lessons," by Professor S. H. Deneen. During this year, for the first time the students had been seated in chapel according to classes; the four college classes occupying the center, with the seniors in front, and preparatory students on the sides. Also there was an announcement that the much talked of brick walks were soon to be built on the campus. Then follows a highly philosophical and ethical article, entitled, "The Highest Motive." This is quoted from an exchange, "The College Transcript." Then there is a little extract from English history, characterizing Sir Robert Peel. The most of page ten is taken up with what appears to be a prize essay, with the title "Pearl-handled Sickles," and signed, "Emilie." It may he that the readers of that time could recognize the writer from that name. The rest of the page is chiefly "College News" gleaned from exchanges and containing such Items as these: "Drew Theological Seminary has one hundred and eighteen students;" "Dr. Marvin has accepted the Chancellorship of Kansas University:" "Since last June, Syracuse University has receivedcontributions amounting to$i75,ooo." "President Allyn and the students of the Southern Illinois Normal are engaged in the collection of a museum of natural history."

On p;ige eleven we find a column of personals, chiefly about former students, including the announcement of three marriages, in which one or both the parties were old Mc- Kendreans. Then an article on "How to Educate," signed (N). On the next page is a column of humor. We quote a sample: Student to Professor of Geology, "To what age do I belong, Professor?" "I don't know. I have only learned to classify rocks, not bricks." This is followed by a highly philosophical article on "Practical vs. Disciplinary." On page thirteen appears the directory of the "College Meeting" and Literary Societies. Some of these names might awaken pleasant recollections in the mind of some old time McKendrean, so we reproduce them here : veiling m Europe. Page fourteen is devoted to exchanges and a few quotations from standard writers, including one from Plato, the Philosopher. Page fifteen has its first column tilled with a directory of the Lebanon churches and lodges. The rest of the page, as well as all of page sixteen, is devoted to advertisements, mostly of Lebanon business firms. A few names appear which may still be found in a business directory of Lebanon, such as Grauel, Hoffman, Remhardt.

This completes the survey of a single copy of the "Repository." Many of the others are quite similar. They are still interesting reading to the person who is acquainted with the McKendree of that period, or who has friends or relatives who were in McKendree at that time. THE McKENDREE SKETCHBOOK

For a considerable period McKendree was without a college paper. Then during the presidency of Dr. Herdman, a paper was published for a short time, called the "Sketch Book." It was a small quarto published monthly by the students, under the supervision of a member of the faculty. It was short-lived and seems to have passed into such a state of oblivion that we have not been able to bring to light a single copy of the paper. But nevertheless it was a real paper and has a clear place m the memory of some of the students of that period.

Again in the early part of Dr. Chamberlin's administration, a paper was published which was called "The Mc- Kendrean." It was edited and published by two students of that day, W. L. Cunningham, 96, and T. P. Brannum, "97. These young men edited and published the paper, gave the subscribers the best they could for their money, and assumed all the financial deficits. Of course there were no profits. Yet there may have been perquisites. According to the custom of that day, they secured the privilege of publishing the local time table of the B. 6? O. railroad, and in return for this, the editor received the courtesy of a pass on the railroad. Mr. Cunningham, being the senior member of the firm, enjoyed the privilege of the pass. Since it was not transferable and could be used by only one person, Mr. Brannum had to pay his fare on the railroad. The literary societies each had its contributor to the McKendrean. Philo was represented by Mr. J. H. Land, Plato by Mr. C. E. Neil, and Clio by Miss Josie M. Otwell. Charles Page Andrews was also a frequent contributor. The first number of the McKendrean appeared in the fall of 1894, and during the spring of 1895 the whole enterprise was relinquished by its energetic founders, and turned over to the students of the college. It was conducted by them for about a year and then allowed to lapse, because another local city paper was started by John M. Chamberlain, Jr., called the Lebanon Leader, which offered sufficient space in its columns to take care of all college needs in that line. This seemed better than to run an independent paper which was always a financial liabihty to its sponsors. The two editors of the McKendrean both entered the ministry. Brief sketches of them appear in connection with their college classes. The senior, Mr. Cunningham, died recently, but Mr. Brannum lives now at Redlands, California.

The next journalistic venture was "The McKendree Headlight." This differed from the other papers which pre ceded it, except the very first one, in that it was not a student publication. But it was edited and published by President John F. Harmon, with occasional contributions from other members of the faculty and some of the students.

The first issue is dated October, 1909. It was published monthly, at fifty cents a year. The motto on the first page, right under the heading, reads, "We shall endeavor to treat all better than they treat us." The salutatory editorial is reproduced here.

"The McKendree Headlight comes to occupy a vacant field and to speak where silence has long reigned. Knowledge and righteousness shall feed her fires, and her aim shall be to point our youth to the highest heights and noblest attainments possible. A good education is the birthright of every American. 'When wisdom entereth- into' _thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant to thy soul; discretion shall preserve thee' and thy living shall be to the sufferings and^^needs of humanity as rain to the parched earth or as showers to drooping plants. Even though your purposes be not high nor the aim of your ambitions beyond personal gain or happiness, still we entreat you to get knowledge, for 'happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding; for the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver and the gain thereof than fine gold.' Then why be ignorant when the path of knowledge lies wide open and leads to every good thing. In all thy getting, get a thorough education - get a good understanding - get wisdom. The Headlight will not speak with the language of the learned, nor in words hard of understanding, neither will she dwell on the mountiiin where knowledge is enthroned; but her dwelling shall be with the humble and her language that of the field and forest."

Another article on the second page tells of the paper's financial basis. "This paper is published in the interest of McKendree College and is entirely dependent upon subscriptions for support. The paper will be issued monthly. Price fifty cents per year. Four paid up subscriptions from each pastoral charge in the conference will support the pa' per and put us in touch with every pastor and leading lay men in every charge. Please send your subscription to the editor at Lebanon, Illinois. We also solicit your advertising."

Still another article in the first issue referring to the paper's future is entitled, "Help us solve the problem." It reads as follows; "For many years McKendree has greatly felt the need of a college paper, but no funds have been available for that purpose. A college paper seems absolutely essential to the highest success of the college. So without money we are taking the risk, personally, and with this issue of the "Headlight" we put an eight page monthly in the field. Price fifty cents per year. If every one who reads this issue will send fifty cents for a year's subscription, its financial problems will be settled, and we will be put in touch with the alumni, with present and prospective students and their parents, with all our ministers, with the trustees, with lead' ing laymen of the conference, and with the citizens of Lebanon. There are a few laymen in every charge in Southern Illinois who would subscribe for the paper if they knew its mission. Readers, help us to get started and then when you get in a close place, call on us and we will give you a lift."

A whole column is given to the account of how Lebanon set the pace for raising money to pay the conference note. This was a note for $jo,ooo, given by the conference to the endowment fund of McKendree. According to the apportionment to the charges, Lebanon's share was $229, or $22.90 a year for ten years. The matter was presented in the church on Sunday morning. When the meeting closed, the subscriptions totaled over $2,000, and a committee was appointed to see those who could not be reached at church and raise the total to $j,ooo.

In the eight pages of this first issue there are forty-seven separate articles and a quite complete announcement of the Conservatory of Music. At that time, Professor F. M. Church was Musical Director and teacher of piano, and Miss Amy Pinkerton was teacher of Voice. The Headlight was an efficient news organ for the period it covered. It made frequent mention of former McKendreans, and since its editor, President Harmon, spent much time m the field and among the charges where students might he turned toward McKendree, he naturally brought to the paper many Items of news from all parts of the conference. In this way many interesting events have been put on record which otherwise would have passed into oblivion. There were also many contributed articles, but the editor had one rule which he always insisted upon - they must be short. If any writer was too lengthy, his article had to be cut in sections and appear as a serial. However, an exception to that rule occurs in the number dated February, igio, when a letter from William J. Ross, of Hutchinson, Kansas, full of reminiscences of the period when he was a student in McKendree in 1837 and following. In the catalogue for 1837 a"'^ also i8j8, we find Mr. Ross" name. His address was Burlington, Iowa Ter. We quote a few extracts from the letter :

"Professors Merrill and Sunderland occupied a room on the ground floor of the east wing ot the college building until Prof. Merrill got married, which I think was during the vacation of 183,7, after which he lived m town, leaving

Sunderland to 'batch it' alone, which he continued to do as long as I remained m school. President Merrill, a brother of the Professor, was a sparely built, small, weakly man, a diligent student and an able minister.

"In 1838 the trustees had a long one story frame building erected just north of where the new college was to be built, and It was used as a dormitory." [This was the building that later became the residence of the president of the college, and many years later it became the residence of the head janitor. |

"It was President Merrill who at prayers one morning m commenting on Proverbs, 22, 11, pitched the key note of my life. I remember once hearing Rev. John S. Barger, principal of the Preparatory Department, preach from eleven o'clock, A. M. until three P. M. - a four hour sermon."

In the issue tor May, 1910, we find this little poem, written by Arthur H. Mueller, then a member of the senior class. He IS now a physician, practicing his profession m Denver, Colorado.

After two years, m the fall of 191 1, the "Headlight" was turned over to the Y. M. C. A., and that body appointed the editorial staff from among the students. The subscription price remained at fifty cents. The first editorial staff under the new plan was as follows :

Editor-in-Chief, Clark W. Hoar; Literary Editor, Clark R. Yost; Religious Editor, Robert M. Peters; Social Editor, T. Ralph Isaacs; Business Manager, H. Warren Bullington; Assistant Business Manager, Ernest M. Fisher. At the beginning of the year 191 3, the form was changed somewhat. The page was folded once more and a cover of heavier paper put on it, giving it a magazine form.

After a time the idea that the Y. M. C. A. was publishing the paper dropped out of the public mind. The announcement on the editorial page in January, 1914, is as follows: "The Headlight is published by the students of McKendree

College at the College Press Hall, and entered at the Post Office at Lebanon, Illinois, as second class mail matter. Subscription price, 50C per year."

At that time the following students constituted the editorial staff: I. G. Moorman, Editor-in-Chief; G. F. Cummins, Business Manager; C. Trueb, Circulation Manager; E. E. Reisner, Literary Editor; P. A. Shields, Athletic Editor; Mrs. L. D. Wiggins, Religious Editor; Mabel Crump, Social Editor; Emma Berry, Intercollegiate Editor.

In the same issue is the announcement that Cyrus Stokes Gentry had received the appointment to the Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford University. This was to cover a three year period, beginning in the fail of 1914. It carried at that time, a cash stipend of $1,500 a year, which with reasonable economy, would meet the expenses of a student in Oxford. Since the war, the stipend has been increased to $2,000.

We quote from the ""Headlight's" characterization of Mr. Gentry: ""As a student. Gentry approached the ideal. Not only did he excel in his class room and literary work, but also he was a brilliant athlete and a genuine 'good fellow" on the campus. Although he was never a 'grind,' he was always a good student and equally popular with faculty and fellow students. He was a star member of the basket ball and gymnastic teams, his work in the gymnasium perfectly equipping him for his present position as director of athletics."

It may be appropriate to say here that Mr. Gentry went to Oxford and entered upon his scholarship, taking up the study of law. However, the breaking out of the World War affected the work of the university so much that his scholarship was suspended and he went into war work in France, and then returned to Oxford and finished his law course after the close of the war. He is now practicing law in Houston, Texas. He was the second McKendrean to secure a Rhodes Scholarship. The first was Newton E. Ensign, of the class of 1904. A sketch of him is found elsewhere m this history.

At the close of Dr. John Harmon's administration, the Headlight was allowed to lapse for a time and there was no college paper. But some time in the fall of 191 5, the matter of a paper began to be agitated. In due time, arrangements were made to publish a paper semi-monthly. A contest was put on and a prize offered for the best name for the new paper. Many were proposed, but the one finally chosen was "McKendree Echo." The Echo was a four page paper, but the pages were just twice the size of the original form of the Headlight, so that gave the same amount of space. However, sometimes an extra leaf was put in and that made it 50 per cent larger. It was about the same type of paper the Headlight had been. In an editorial in the first issue in the fall of 1916, we find this statement:

"It is our purpose to present the news of College Hill in an interesting and impartial fashion, and to make our college paper truly representative of college life. To do this we must have the support of the students as a whole. It is your paper we are endeavoring to publish, and if it is to be made an expression of the spirit of McKendree College, you must get behind it with your enthusiasm and energy, and boost. Help us with your contributions. If you know a good joke on your fellow student, let us know about it. If some amusing incident has happened under your observation, write it up and hand it to a member of the staff. Help us by paying your subscription promptly and by working to enlarge our circulation. If each one would do just a little toward the making of a real college paper, the sum total of work done would insure success. To print all the news all the time, we recognize as an impossible achievement. To print all the news part of the time is too hard a job for most papers. But with your assistance we expect to print a good share of the news most of the time."

From this it will be seen that the "Echo" was primarily a newspaper. In the main it lived up to that ideal fairly well. In the fall of 1Q16, the Editorial Staff was as follows:

The price of the paper at this time was seventy-five cents a year. We give a few brief extracts from the paper which may prove interesting to the later reader. There is an article advocating the establishment of intercollegiate debates. It has taken more than ten years to reach this ideal. Here is a little suggestion in the line of athletics. "All those who find foot -ball a little rough and who are interested in a nice gentle game, please come out at 4 o'clock for a tiddle-dewinks rehearsal. And, we might add, if any one player gets the idea that he can run the athletics of a college, he had better go to the Sahara desert where he can be monarch of all he surveys."

There is an account of a special meeting of Plato held in honor of Captain Fike, who was one of the founders of Plato, and was at that time in Lebanon attending the reunion of the McKendree Regiment, the 117th Illinois, who fought in the Civil War. The program was chiefly impromptu, and is given as follows : Selection by the orchestra. Solo by Pavey. Declamation by Merkel. Then a debate on the question. Resolved, That the Democratic party is more entitled to the suffrage of the voters at the coming election than the Republican party. The affirmative speakers were Professor Gentry, Professor Thrall, and V. S. Morriss. The negative, Professor Waggoner, J. B. Sager, and St. Clare Flint. It is stated that the speeches were all "funny," but special mention is made of th'at of Professor Waggoner, because he held the Democratic party responsible for the bad weather, the high prices, and the war.

The College Directory, giving the officials of the various organizations found in the institution requires more than a full column in the paper. It gives the list of officers of the Athletic Association, The Carnegie House Council, The Clark House Council, Clio, Plato, Philo, Y. M. C. A.,

There is an announcement of the Music Recital of the Conservatory Faculty. On this program, a specially interesting trio was to appear - Professor Fransee, Violinist; Professor Zinkeisen, Cellist; and Professor Moore, Pianist. This trio pl.iyed at the session of the Southern Illinois Conference at Robinson in iqi6, and received high commendation. THE McKENDREE REVIEW The latest of McKendree's group of college papers is the "McKendree Review." It started on its career November IS, 1921, and is still going strong. Its seven years of history indicate that it is already past the worst dangers of infancy and bids fair to become the longest lived of all McKendree's periodicals. Unlike its predecessors, it is a weekly. It has four pages and sometimes six, according to the demands that may be made from time to time for more or less of news space. When some important event occurs, like the home-coming, or the high school meet, or a basket ball tournament, the two extra pages are inserted. Just beneath the title of each issue appears the motto, "Devoted to the Interests of McKendree." The editorial announcements indicate that from the very beginning, it was published by the class m journalism. In fact, it is probable that it first had its existence for the sake of the class in journalism, in order that they might have opportunities to practice the journalistic art. But even then it was necessary to have editors and officers in order to fix certain responsibilities in the diversified work of publishing a college paper. The first staff consisted of only four members: Mabel Bower, Editor; Mildred Wilton, Assistant Editor; Violet Glenn, Circulation Manager; and Fred Faverty, Business Manager. The same plan of publication has been followed down to the present time, but now it carries a more elaborate staff than in its first year. In the issue of January 19, 1928, we find the following staff announced : Editor-in-Chief, Edna Kinsey; Managing Editor, John Oster; Business Manager, Emery Martin; Advertising Manager, William Gillespie; Circulation Manager, James Stuart; Assistant Circulation Manager, James Hortin ; Sports Editor, Stephen Tedor ; Society Editor, Geneva Grieve; Feature Writer, Lucille Hadfield; Exchange Editor, Clifton Oxendine; Faculty Advisor, Belle M. Nixon; Reporters, Nina May Harmon and Frank C. Brown.

In the earlier years of the Review, one of its editors who deserves special mention was Mr. Milburn P. Akers, who was a student in McKendree at the time. He served as editor and general manager of the paper and did much to promote its interests until after his graduation. When later he went into the newspaper work himself as publisher of the Wood River Journal, he did not lose interest in the Review, but gave the stiff the benefit of his experience whenever possible. For some time the Review was printed in the office of the Wood River Journal under the direct supervision of its former editor. But of course there were difficulties in having the editorial office and the printing office so far apart, and sometimes there were delays in trans, portation which prevented the paper from being distributed to the students on time. So m recent years it has been printed in Lebanon.

In its early years the subscription price was Si.'jo a year. Then it was raised to one dollar a semester, or two dollars a year. Of course it is not published during the summer vacation nor in the Christmas recess, and usually the publication IS omitted in examination week, when the staff is too busy to get out the paper and the students are too busy to read it if it should be printed. Perhaps on the average, there are thirty issues a year. In 1926, the incidental fee was raised one dollar a semester, and seventy-five cents of that was applied to a subscription to the Review for every student. This is collected by the fiscal agent of the college and paid over to the business manager of the Review. This relieves the management of the task of making a canvass among the students, and since by this plan every student is a subscriber, it became possible to reduce the price to $1.50 a year. This, with the income from advertisements, meets the necessary expense of the paper. It is primarily a muis paper, having for its aim to record the principal events of the campus from week to week. Of course there are editorials also in every issue. Some of these very faithfully reflect student sentiment on important questions of the campus, and others represent such ideas as the editorial writer wishes the students to entertain. A glance at one of the early copies may give some idea of the character of the paper. The second number of Volume I takes a whole column to set forth the very important announcement that the General Education Board had appropriated $150,000 to become a part of McKendree's endowment on condition that the college raise $350,000 more from its own constituency. This was in the midst of the "McKendree Movement" and of course aroused great enthusiasm. The same issue contains an account of the joint-meeting of the Young Men's and Young Women's Christian Associations, a basket ball game between the Freshmen and the Juniors, in which the Freshmen were victorious; an account of a convocation of colleges and universities held in Chicago to consider the question of World Peace, in which McKendree was represented by President McCammon and Hon. Charles S. Deneen. The big headline article on the front page declared that by defeating Shurtleff in the last game of the season Mc- Kendree had won the foot ball championship of Southern Illinois for that year. There are two columns of editorials, chiefly concerning the "McKendree Movement" for new endowment. There is a long article on methods of caring for a cold, as advocated by various members of the faculty and student body. There are a few jokes and a column and a half of personals, in which we are informed, among other things, that Professor McClure entertained the "Bachelors' Club" at a dinner Monday evening, and the Clio Quartette sang at a banquet at Union Church, St. Louis. On the last page is a two column report of an evening entertainment in Singer Hall given by the McKendree players of the Expression Department, under the direction of Miss Cheseman. The performers in the first play, "The Beauty and the Beast," were chiefly from the Public School. The names mentioned are John DoUey, Grace Renner, Orena Mowe, and Robert McCammon. In the play "Suppressed Desires," the principal actors were Alice Walton, Mildred Wilton, and Fred Faverty. The last play, "The Brink of Silence," was presented by Alonzo Catt, Harold Van Dyke, and George McCammon.

Sonnet

SONNET When I do look about me in this age And see the turmoil, strife, and envying of man, When I behold the war of industry that's waged, And see the greed of all on every hand; When hard men seem barren of love Toward bleeding, torn, toil-worn humanity. And mankind's soul all shriveled up whereof Is born a hate for toil and honesty; Then of Thy strength, Oh God, I remind me; That Thou among the hearts of men must go, And show each one himself as Thou dost see;

A report of Senator Williams' chapel address; an account of Dr. Harmon's visit to Atlantic City where he attended the annual meeting of the Association of American Colleges; the story of the "open house" held recently in each of the dormitories; announcement that the McKendree quartette sang at the Billy Sunday meeting in St. Louis; and that the McKendree basket ball team had lost the game with EvansviUe.

On the second page are several brief editorials, a review of an article by Professor Walton on McKendree History, which was published lately in the magazine. The Christian Student; and the usual column of "The Campus Owl." Page three contains an account of a recital given by the Music and Expression Departments and an open session of Clio, a list of new books just received by the library, and the report of the monthly meeting of the Dames Club.

The last page is filled with miscellaneous matter and advertisements. The Review is a member of the Illinois College Press Association. It is not only a medium of transmission of college news among the students themselves and the college community, but it goes out into all parts of the conference and into the high school and thus keeps the patronizing territory of McKendree to some extent informed on the progress of affairs at McKendree.

The College Bulletin

Another publication which has been published with more or less regularity since 191 3 is entitled McKendree College Bulletin. This is published monthly unless an issue is omitted for some good reason. When the president has some message for the preachers of the conference and the general public, the College Bulletin becomes the means of its conveyance. The annual catalogue is issued as a number of the bulletin and therefore it can be mailed at the second class postal rate, which is a considerable saving to the college in the matter of postage. Also the Summer School announcement is issued as a number of the college bulletin for economic reasons as well as for reasons of convenience.