Lincoln City (part 15 of 19)

At a meeting held June 25, 1872, at the close of the first year of school the agricultural college was established and $1,000 appropriated for necessary improvements. In 1885 the State Legislature appropriated $25,000 for the chemical building and two or three years later provision was made for the industrial college building, now known as Nebraska Hall ; also provision was made for Grant Memorial Hall. In 1891 the sum of $37,000 was appropriated for the library building.

The medical college was established first in 1884, but was not successful, and was discontinued two years later. The school was revived in 1902 by an agreement with the Omaha Medical College. Thus began the College of Medicine of the University of Nebraska. The State Legislature of 1909 appropriated funds with which to purchase a site for the medical campus in Omaha and the Legislature of 191 1 voted another appropriation for the laboratory building. In the summer of 1913 the entire stafif and e(|uipment of the college was moved to Omaha. The college of law was established at a meeting of the regents in August, 1891. and W. H. Smith was the first dean. A handsome building for the accommodation of this school has recently been erected upon the campus at Lincoln.

Prof. H. \V. Caldwell, in his paper mentioned before, said in regard to the teaching of military tactics: "The act of Congress of July 2, 1862, donating 90,000 acres of land to the agricultural college requires that provision shall be made for the teaching of military tactics. This condition has been faithfully fulfilled. The department was not put into operation without 'some friction ; but in later years the relation between the military professor and the cadets has been peculiarly pleasant. The regents asked as early as 1872 for the detail of Col. James J- Brisbin as instructor in military tactics. This request was refused on the ground that an officer of that rank was never detailed for such a purpose. Finally a commandant was secured, and in the fall of 1876 Lieut. E. S. Dudley entered upon his work. The first year no suits were required and service was voluntary. But m December, 1876, the regents passed a resolution requiring suits, after the word 'advising' had been stricken from the report. The following June drill was made compulsory on certain classes for one hour each day. In the fall of 1877 trouble began. The students felt that their rights and liberties had been invaded and they proposed to have a "redress of grievances, at least to have their say. The old Tichenor House, at the corner of Thirteenth and K streets, was then rented by the university and used as a dormitory for boys. Far up under the eaves on the third floor two or three indignation meetings were held and resistance was resolved upon. A petition was, however, first to be tried, at the suggestion of some of the more conservative. This was really supposed to be a sharp move, for the leaders expected of course that the request would be refused, then they conceived a just cause of rebellion, and of war, would exist. This petition was duly signed by nineteen brave young men asking to be excused from drill on the ground that they had come wdth all the clothing necessary for the year, and their pocket-books would not stand the additional drain for the military suits that were required. The answer was awaited in trembling expectancy for the brave nineteen had resolved to go to some other school rather than submit to such tyranny. The answer came. It said ( i ) tliat for the coming year smce no announcement of the requirement had been made, suits need not be purchased ; (2) that two companies would be formed, one for those with military suits, and one for those who had none. The noble nineteen met and consulted. They agreed that the faculty had out-generaled them ; eighteen of them fell into line and drilled, known in the squibs of the times as the 'ragamuffin squad.' The nineteenth got excused on the ground of manual labor and set type on the Hesperian Student to prove it. He has not been unknown in political circles since."

The Graduate College of the L'niversity was organized in 1886. On February 14, igo8, the regents changed the Department of Education into the Teachers' College, which action was confirmed by the Legislature of 1909. The College of Engineering was organized by the Legislature of 1909 and at the same time the Industrial College was abolished. The School of Pharmacy was organized in

1908. The School of Fine Arts was reorganized in July, 1912 as a part of the College of Arts and Sciences. The School of Commerce was created by the regents in May, 1913. This school comprises courses intended to give the student a tliorough business education.

1909. A farm of 320 acres three miles east of Lincoln was secured for experimental purposes and to illustrate the correct methods of farm practice. Horticulture, animal husbandry, entomology, agricultural botany and experimental agronomy are among the branches taught here. Commodious buildings are erected on this farm for the use of the different departments. The farm is connected with the city of Lincoln by electric railway.

The first chancellor of the University of Nebraska was A. R. Benton. He was selected by the regents on January 6, 1870. He was succeeded by Edmund B.

Fairfield. In 1883 Irving J. Alanatt was appointed chancellor and served until January i, 1889, when he retired. Prof. Charles E. Bessey was acting chancellor until August, 1891, when James H. Canfield assumed the office, and held it until September i, 1895. George E. MacLean then was appointed and he remained until September i, 1899. Again Professor Bessey acted as chancellor until E. Benjamin .Andrews took the office September i, 1900. On January i, 1909, Samuel Avery became acting chancellor and on May 20, 1909, was elected to that office.

Educational work among the Seventh Day Adventists in the Mississippi \'alley began with the Minnesota Conference School at Minneapolis in the fall of 1888. This school was held three years in the basement of the Seventh Day Adventist Church at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Lake Street. It enrolled each year over one hundred young men and women as students. From the first, the accommodations were too small and were otherwise unsuitable, hence a council was held at Owatonna, Minn., May 20-21, 1889, to plan for better facilities. This meeting was attended by Prof. W. W. Prescott, president of Battle Creek College and educational secretary of the denomination ; Elder A. J. Breed, president of the Wisconsin Conference; Elders W. B. White and N. P. Nelson, from Dakota : Elders H. Grant, Allen Moon, and F. L. Mead, representing the Minnesota Conference: and Prof. C. C. Lewis, principal of the Minneapolis school. At this council it was resommended that the several conferences of the northwest unite in establishing and maintaining a wellequipped and centrally-located school, and that a committee be appointed, consisting of two members from each conference, with power to act in the matter of building and opening such a school. The committee was called to meet again at Owatonna in July, 1889. ,

The meeting thus appointed was not held. Before the time arrived, the idea had entirely outgrown its original form. At a meeting held at Lincoln, Neb., a few weeks later, a larger council recommended the establishment of an educational institution of college grade which would serve all the conferences of the Mississippi Valley.

Location Of The College

At the annual session of the General Conference held at Battle Creek, Mich., in October, 1889, it was decided to establish a college, under the auspices of the denomination, at some point between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains. A committee was appointed to select a suitable location. Invitations, accompanied by promises of a substantial bonus, were received from various cities in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska. The committee spent some time in investigating these places, and considering the ad\-antages ofifered. While the question of a central location with reference to the territory from which patronage was expected was regarded as an important one. there were other considerations also that were deemed to be weighty. The general atmosphere of the community and its attitude toward education in general are impor- tant features in deciding a question of this character. It was found that while Lincoln was comparatively a new city, it was at the front in its efforts to advance the well-being of its citizens. Its substantial school buildings, its many and wellbuilt churches, and the fact that it was already the seat of three universities, with a prospect that this number would soon be increased, testified to the interest of its citizens in education and religion. These considerations, together with the hearty interest shown in the project by leading citizens, and the offer of very substantial aid, led the committee, at a meeting held at Knoxville, Iowa, June 28, 1890, to determine upon the City of Lincoln as the location of the new institution, which was afterwards named Union College. The citizens of Lincoln and vicinity donated 300 acres of land, 3;J4 miles southeast of the state capitol, and the General Conference Association of Seventh-day Adventists gave a bond of $100,000 to erect, by July i, 1891, buildings to cost not less than seventy thousand dollars. The raising of funds and erection of buildings were under the direction of A. R. Henry, agent and attorney-in-fact for the General Conference. W. C. Sisley, architect and superintendent of the work ; Elder J. P. Gardiner, once president of the Nebraska Conference, with others, labored strenuously for the success of the enterprise.

The Dedication

On April 10. 1890, the ground was broken for the main college building, and on the 3rd of May the first stone was laid. There were many difficulties in the way, but all were overcome, and the buildings were ready for dedication September 14, 1891. On that occasion the chapel, with a seating capacity of 500, was filled to overflowing with citizens from Lincoln, College View, and the surrounding countrj'. Elder O. A. Olsen, president of the Seventh-day Adventist General Conference, presided, and opened the exercises with prayer. Prof. William P. Aylesworth, of Cotner University, conducted the scripture reading. W. C. Sisley presented to the trustees the keys of the college buildings, accompanying the presentation with a history of the work of building. A. R. Henry, on the part of the trustees, received the keys and responded in an appropriate address. The chief address of the occasion was delivered by Prof. W. W. Prescott, the first president of Union College. In this address he emphasized the three leading features of Christian education as consisting of the study of God's word in the revelation of the Bible, the study of His works in nature, and the study of His dealings with men and nations as revealed in history. Chancellor James H. Canfield of the University of Nebraska followed with an appropriate speech of welcome, delivered in his happiest manner. The dedicatory prayer was offered by Elder Uriah Smith, editor of Review and Herald, Battle Creek, Michigan, and the benediction was pronounced by Elder W. B. White, president of the Nebraska Conference.

Maktin Luther Seminary, Lincoln Cotner Unu'Ersity

At the annual state convention of tlie Christian Church in 1887 a resolution was passed authorizing a committee composed of J. Z. Briscoe, E. T. Gadd, Porter Hedge, W. P. Aylsworth, G. E. Bigelow, J. P.. Johnson, and W. W. West to consider the question of incorporating a Christian university. After investigation the committee accepted donations of land amounting to 321 acres northeast of Lincoln, at the point now Bethany, and on February 14, 1888, articles of incorporation of the Nebraska Christian Educational Board were filed.

The next step was the erection of a building. Arrangements were made for the building of this structure and on April 30, 1888, the cornerstone was laid, and was completed in April, 1890. The building was constructed of Milwaukee brick aiul trimmed with Michigan red sandstone.

The action of the committee in starting the university was confirmed by the state convention held in Lincoln from August 28th to 30th, 1888. A board of trustees was elected, known as the Nebraska Christian Educational Board, and consisted of J. Z. Briscoe, president; Alvin Saunders, vice president; C. R. Van Duyn, treasurer; Porter Hedge, secretary; and W. P. Aylsworth, W. T. Newcomb, Ira Titus, C. J. Hale, Thomas Wiles, J. T. Smith, C. C. Munson, and E. T. Gadd.

School was opened in the fall of 1889 '" ^ private house, with W. P. Aylsworth acting as president. He was succeeded by D. R. Dungan in 1890, who served for six consecutive years.

At this time the young university was compelled to undergo the financial depression which was general throughout the country. The assets of the institution decreased in value and notes which were given on sold lots for the construction of the buildings were defaulted. In addition to this the price of the lots had gone down until hardly 10 per cent could be realized upon their purchase price. The management of the university, in order to meet the demands forced upon them, gave a mortgage upon the building. Business conditions became so bad that the mortgage was foreclosed and the property passed into the hands of a trustee, acting for the creditors. During all of this time the school was continuing with its educational work, unhampered, or unembarrassed, by the troublesome period through which it was passing. In 1896 D. R. Dungan resigned and W. P. Aylsworth was chosen as chancellor. In 1898 John W. Hilton, an alumnus, was chosen financial agent to raise a fund for the redemption of the school property. After two years of effort upon his part and others interested in the renovation of the university, the debt was paid and the building, the campus and dormitory were deeded back to the Nebraska Christian University. This new corporation was formed Februai-y 11, 1901, and represented the Disciples of Christ in Nebraska. The property of the university is valued at about one hundred and forty thousand dollars. The university has two colleges, liberal arts and medicine, an academy, normal school, business school, school of eloquence, school of music and school of art. The medical college is located in Lincoln and is known as the Lincoln Medical College. This school was opened September 15, 1890, in the university building with Dr. \V. S. Latta as dean.

Nebraska Wesleyan University

In 1886 there were Methodist schools at York and Central City, and both of them were financially in need of assistance.' There was also a tendency to scatter several more educational institutions over the state, all under the domination of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Realizing that this would mean the demise of most of the embryonic schools the bishop asked for an appointment of a commission, composed of five members from each conference, and three from each school, and that the educational work of the church in Nebraska be centrally located in one large school. All of the conferences agreed with this thought. Accordingly the commission, in company with Bishops Bowman and Warren, met at the St. Paul Methodist Episcopal Church in Lincoln on December 15, 1886, and immediately began their appointed task of unifying the educational work of the church. They decided that there should be only one institution of college grade in the state, the location of it to be decided later, and that all other schools of the denomination should be subordinate to this one central college, with the privilege of carrying their course of studies as far as the sophomore year. The commission then voted to place the main university at Lincoln, Nebraska.

The site was located about three miles from Lincoln and a $70,000 building erected. A town was laid out around the school and named University Place, which community has since grown to over 2,000 inhabitants. It has a municipal government of its own, but is closely connected with the City of Lincoln by electric car lines.

The first chancellor of Wesleyan University was C. F. Creighton : he stayed for six years, and was succeeded by Isaac Crooks. In three years he resigned and the place was filled by an acting chancellor until March, 1898, when D. W. C. Huntington was elected to the office. He held the place until 191 1, when Mr. Clark A. Fulmer was appointed chancellor.

In 1905 the charter of the school was amended so as to have two trustees from the Alumni Association of the College of Liberal Arts. In 1911 the charter was again amended in order that two additional trustees could be elected from the Alumni Association. In 1913 the report of the conference commissioners on the Nebraska Wesleyan University was adopted, providing for the election of six members by the Northwest Nebraska Conference, from within its boundaries; eighteen members by the Consolidated Nebraska Annual Conference from within its boundaries ; and four members from and by the Alumni Association of the College of Liberal Arts ; and nine members at large by the board of trustees. One-third of the members were to be chosen annually and to hold office for three years.

In addition to the original building of the university there is now the C. C. White Memorial Building, a magnificent brick and stone structure, used for the College of Liberal Arts. This was built in 1905. The building cost over $50,000.

The Wesleyan University has just become affiliated with the Nebraska School of Medicine at Omaha, Nebraska, in an arrangement by means of which the university will offer the two years of work preparatory to the study of

High School, University Place Public Schools

The attendance of the Lincoln pnlilic schools showed an increase of 470 pupils in the year 1915, as compared with the previous year. In the year just ended 8,894 children enrolled in the grade and high schools controlled by the Lincoln school district. Out of this number 1,250 were high school pupils, an increase of 145 over the year 1914. On the first of December, 191 5, eighteen grade schools furnished accommodations to 7,644 children. The enrollment varied from jt, in the W'illard or West A Street School to "/j^i '" the McKinley School at Fifteenth and M streets. The following table will illustrate the growth, also decrease, in the various grade schools :

The advance of education in the past few years has made many changes in the conduct of the schools and the school systems. No field of activity, perhaps, has had such a rapid development in the past few years as that of education. Schools are undergoing a constant revision and reorganization, wdiereas not so many years ago they were content to adhere to one system for year after year, never appreciating the necessity of change. The newest thing in education is the trend towards vocational training. The cry of the business man for years has been that the schools paid too much attention to the classics and too little attention to the fundamental principles and practical methods. The first lines to be cut were the required courses in the dead languages, namely, Latin and Greek. German was substituted for these. Manual training schools and domestic science kitchens were inaugurated, also printing and sewing.

Some of the things which have been accoinijlished in the public schools during the last few years are: (i) A department of hygiene under the direction of a regular physician hired for full time, and a nurse. (2) A junior civic and industrial league with a branch in each junior high school. The league now numbers over fifteen hundred members. (3) An efficiency list organized under the junior civic league organization. (4) A system of school and home gardens. (5) A night school system with 25 teachers and an enrollment of 1,000. (6) Social and neighborhood centers in three schools, Hayward, Park and McKinley. (7) A newly established system of junior high schools giving language options, with promotion by subject instead of by grade. (8) Three prevocational schools offering industrial work as a large part of the course. (9) Departments for vocational guidance. (10) A preparatory school in which apt scholars do three years' work in two. (11) A housekeeping home in the high school. (12) A $200,000.00 plant for the junior high school and a $750,000.00 plant for the high school. Corresponding changes have been made in the management and government of the schools, the curricula of the schools and the business methods.

Not only has a strong increase been made toward better things in the schools of Lincoln, but in the other districts of Lancaster County there have been like changes. There are, all together, 142 school districts in the county, with 165 school houses - 143 of them frame, 21 brick and i of stucco. In these schools are employed 47 male teachers and 481 female, a total of 528. The county as a whole presents an enrollment of 13,791 students of all ages, and the average daily attendance is 12,483. Almost without exception the school houses in the county are listed either good or fair. Sanitary conditions are observed thoroughly and the welfare of the pupil is constantly guarded. Following in the footsteps of the railroads, industries and other activities, the motto of "Safety First" is acted upon more and more in educational lines.

This state is generally known throughout the country as one which is of the highest agricultural value. Its cattle are found upon the thousand hills, and its waving fields of grain are seen on every hand, but perhaps it is not generally known that intellectually and educationally speaking, Nebraska stands in the front rank.

Only a year or two ago statistics showed that there was a smaller percentage of illiteracy here than in any other state in the Union. It is the second state per capita in owners of automobiles, and is the first state in the Union in wealth per capita. In musical matters we find she is taking rank with many of the states which are much older, where the art of music had been pursued with great diligence before Nebraska became a state.

Recognizing the value of the art, the public schools in Lincoln were the third in the United States to ofifer a course in music in connection w^ith literary studies which would lead to graduation. The University of Nebraska has recognized its cultural value by giving credit for the theoretical and applied music for more than ten years past.

Perhaps one of the greatest agencies in the development of music in the state has been the University School of Music, which was for many years affiliated with the state university, but is now an independent institution. This was established some twenty-two years ago when the regents invited Mr. Willard Kimball to come to this state and operate a school of music.

It is well remembered by those who are still on the ground that the taste for music in this city was very primitive, save for the fact that a comparatively small number of citizens were interested in a higher musical education. The large majority cared nothing for it or regarded it as having no educational value.

Musical Taste Developing

How different it is today, when we have largely attended gatherings at recital? of celebrated artists ; when the ]\Iay festival annually brings one of the largest orchestras in the country ; and the annual pageant, now fully established, consists very largely of high class music which is enjoyed by all.

The University School of Music has grown since 1894 to an institution having an annual attendance of more than seven hundred students, and a faculty of thirty-hve men and women who have received the most liberal education at home and abroad, and who are sought for as concert artists in this and other states. The school has sent out hundreds of graduates who are building up the musical appreciation of the people in many different communities and laying the foundation for increased appreciation of music by the girls and boys who are being educated in our public schools.

More than fifty supervisors of music in the public schools of the state have been furnished from this school, and it undertakes to give free instruction to 100 children from the public schools annually, beside ofifering 100 free and partial scholarships to older students who are not able to pay. It naturally follows that this institution is worthy of the patronage and enthusiastic support of all those who believe that musical education is of value to the individual, and to all such the institution extends a cordial invitation to become better acquainted.

With the completion of the new $730,000 high school building Lincoln's public schools take rank with the schools of Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City and other large and progressive school centers of the country. Few, if any, of the high school buildings in the country surpass that of Lincoln from the point of view of grandeur and equipment. The new building was first occupied in September, 191 5. It has a capacity of 1,200 pupils. It has thirty-six class rooms, two gymnasiums, a swimming pool, a large auditorium, music and art rooms, lecture rooms, laboratories, inanual training and domestic science rooms. The building is complete in every detail and its arrangement and completeness represents the latest and most scientific ideas in education. The building is three stories high, with a fourth story in the middle. It is 300 by 200 feet in size. The material is cream colored pressed brick on the outside. The rooms are lighted with hundreds of windows from the outside and from court lights. All of the class rooms have natural light in abundance. There are six corridors in the building, one of them

244 feet long and 16 feet wide. The floors are terraza and the walls of marble. Some of the stairs are 16 feet wide and made of fine white marble. On the first floor is the manual training room, 21 by 40 feet in size. There are also printing rooms, typewriter rooms, two banking and business rooms, sewing rooms for girls, and a modern kitchen room for domestic science. The two gymnasiums are 12 by 90 feet each, equipped in addition with shower baths and lockers. On the second floor is the auditorium which will seat more than 1,300 people. The stage at one end is 42 by 22 feet. The auditorium is 80 feet square and has a gallery. On this floor are also the administration offices. The suite occupies a space 30 by 50 feet. The south front of the second floor is devoted to laboratories and a large study room. The third floor contains class and study rooms, laboratories and library. The library is large enough to accommodate more than 500 students at one time. The fourth floor is devoted to music and art. In addition there is a recital hall with stage.

The building is heated by a large plant just east of the main building, with a smokestack 140 feet high. The heating and ventilating systems represent the most modern thought along this line. Only air that has been washed is allowed to enter the rooms. The artificial lighting is done by the indirect system. A large cafeteria is operated in the building where pupils and teachers may obtain luncheon at the minimum of expense.

In the Nebraska State Journal of January 2, 1916, there appears the following article by C. B. Cornell in regard to the vocational work in the public schools of the Capital City:

"In a recent article on the subject of vocational training in the schools Professor Leavitt, of Chicago University, makes the following statements : 'Educators are being warned not to train boys away from the farm and the shop. This the schools have undoubtedly done to some extent. Our revised ideal will require that we educate the boy for work on the farm and in the shop, but that we so educate him that he will make a better farmer and will develop a richer farm life, or will demand a better shop and conditions more favorable to progress and to a reasonable enjoyment of his work and his leisure. The problem is to provide such an education as will make clear to the great majority the meaning and the joy of work and of study. The time devoted to education in the elementary schools is too short to impart all necessary knowledge, but it may not be too short to develop the desire for knowledge and skill, and the habits of study and of industry.'

"This may properly be taken as the principle which underlies the present movement in \ocational education. And may it be stated in the beginning that this movement is not one which happens to be riding on the crest of a wave of popularity, but one which is the outcome of a logical development in educational ideals, and which, as such, is destined to play an active part in the management of the public schools of the future.

"\'ocational work has received its greatest impetus from two sources: (i) the desire of educators to retain children in school, and (2) the demand of the community for a more practical system of instruction. These two forces are working in unison toward the accomplishment of a common end - that of so educating the boy that he may become a more useful member of society, which means that his lot will be a happier one while he contributes in a broader way to the common good.

"The department of boys' vocational work was established in Lincoln by action of the board of education during the latter part of the last school year. It embraces all of the industrial and vocational activities in all the schools, from the fifth grade through the high school. There are three general groups of schools in the Lincoln system: the junior high, prevocational, and senior high, each with a particular course of study in the manual arts. The course in the junior high schools, namely, Clinton, Elliott, Whittier, Bryant, Capitol, Prescott, Saratoga, Everett, and Park, consists, at present, of bench work in wood, with a preliminary course in mechanical drawing in the seventh and eighth grades. Each boy is in the shop one ninety-minute period per week. While this is not sufficient time for the production of a great quantity of work per pupil nevertheless it is maximum amount of time which is feasible with the present equipment and teaching force.

"In these shops the boys are taught the use of various tools common to the carpenter and cabinet maker's trades, also the making and interpreting of the boy along practical lines. Each project is planned with the idea of its utility constantly in mind. No problem is begun until the boy has a clear understanding of its construction and of the use for which it is intended. As far as possible, the boys are permitted to work out their own ideas, and, in the upper grades, may select their projects. Accuracy of technique and close attention to detail are insisted upon. During the present year many projects have been, or are being made, for use in the school rooms, in addition to a considerable amount of furniture repair work. The success in this field is attained when the boy has a genuine interest in his work. The result is at once reflected in his other school work and in his general deportment. In the words of President Elliott, 'To do a mechanical or artistic piece of work thoroughly is much more than the material operation. It is a moral achievement.'

Three Branches Of Work

"In the high school proper three lines of work are open to students : ( i ) Bench work in wood, ten periods per week; (2) mechanical drawing, ten periods per week; (3) printing. The wood working course was offered this year for the first time in the Lincoln High School. The equipment consists of twenty benches, with hand tools, and two turning lathes. This equipment will be increased to meet the demands of additional registration. It has been proposed to erect a manual arts building to house the activities of this department. In order to keep pace with present educational standards. Lincoln will need such a building in the very near future, a manual arts school which can be operated in conjunction with the regular high school. The mechanical drawing course follows the conventional lines of geometric projection, machine and architectural drawing. The print shop is fully equipped to turn out all kinds of job work. In September the students in the printing classes undertook the pubhcation of the Advocate, a weekly high school paper. The shop has three presses, motor, paper cutter, type and cases for ten students. The instruction is given by a high class, practical printer who has been especially trained for this line of work.

"The main activity in the department this year is the working out of policies and courses for the newly-created prevocational schools, Hayward, Bancroft and McKinley. In the report of the committee on course of study for these schools we find the following paragraph: 'The purpose of the schools is to instruct the boys in all the fundamental principles of the trades represented. It is not the intention to make skilled workmen, but "to enable the boy to learn the use of his hands and his head in practical construction in several different lines of work and thus enable him to choose that particular kind of work for which he feels himself best adapted. It is the further purpose of the school to offer to the hand-minded and practical minded boy opportunity to exercise his powers in matters that appeal to his mental constitution and seems to him worth while.'

"The chief function of the prevocational schools, as suggested above, is to retain the interest of the boys who would otherwise leave school to enter industrial work, giving them a practical insight into the various trades, with especial training in lines of work for which they seem best adapted.

Time Spent In Shops

"The amount of time allotted to industrial work in these schools is as follows : Ninth grade, twelve forty-minute periods per week; eighth grade, twelve periods, with an additional six periods optional ; seventh grade, eight periods with six optional in addition ; fourth, fifth and sixth grades, from four to six hours per week. In the upper grade this means that a boy may so arrange his wo-k that he may spend virtually one-half of his time in the shop. The course is very elastic, hence the work may be made to fit the boy, rather than the boy to fit the work. For example, boys of the third grade, if overgrown or retarded, may be placed ill the grade in which he is mentally and physically capable of doing the line with this idea seventy-five backward boys were transferred from the ward schools to these special schools, at the beginning of the year. As a result, in many instances, they are finding themselves and are getting a mental grasp on themselves through the medium of the hand work. Incidentally, the boy is placed in the grade in which he is mentally and physically caapble of doing the best work, regardless of his previous training. Special promotions are frequent and it is seldom that a pupil falls down on the responsibility which he assumes when he 'skips a grade.'

"It was anticipated by some that the increase of time spent in the shop with a corresponding decrease in time allotted to the academic branches would work to the disadvantage of the latter. It has been found, however, that the opposite is true. The boys who spend the most time in vocational work, and particularly the boys who do the best hand work, are the leaders in mathematics, English and the other subjects. The industrial work seems to create an atmosphere - an esprit de corps - which permeates the entire school.

Theory Dispensed With

"The work, as far as possible, is of a practical nature. Preliminary theory is dispensed with and the boy begins with the actual construction of a real, useful object. In no other phase of education is the timeworn tenet of pedagogy so applicable, 'We learn to do by doing.' To be proficient in any industry certain habits must be established. These must be correct in formation and accurate and efficient in their functioning. The boys are taught the most efficient processes of the various trades with a thorough understanding of the principles which demand their use. No particular attempt is made to turn out a finished artisan in any one line of work. Rather, the plan is to give the boy a comprehensive insight into the most important trades. A foreman of a large shop in this city said recently: 'Our trade is suffering through the lack of apprentices. Can't you fellows do something to help the situation ?'

"Wherever possible practical problems are undertaken for the school or the home. For example, during the present semester, the boys of the Hayward shop built a cement walk in front of the school property, 4 by 135 feet, and are completing furniture for the library and school bank. At the McKinley School a complete call bell system has been installed connecting certain rooms in each of the three buildings with the principal's office. The Bancroft shop is turning out kindergarten tables, book cases, hall racks, etc., for use in the school. In each of the shops benches have been made for sheet metal work in addition to drawing boards and other articles.

course as otitlined and which will be followed during the remainder of the year is as follows : Sixth grade, wood work, three eighty-minute periods, and electric wiring one period per week; seventh grade, wood work four, trade drawing one, and concrete one eighty-minute period per week ; eighth grade, trade drawing one, sheet metal one, and wood work four eighty-minute periods per week; ninth grade, same as the eighth. In addition, printing is offered as an optional subject in two of the schools, and shoe repairing in one school.

"The policy of the board is to equip the shops in these schools in every detail necessary for the successful teaching of each subject. This year three highest grade circular saws, a lathe and a joined have been installed. Also all necessary tools for instruction in elementary sheet metal work, including snips, forms, stakes, soldering furnace, etc. Each boy is furnished with a complete set of drawing instruments, triangle, drawing paper and ink.

''The course in wood working consists of the processes in joinery, cabinet making, wood finishing and house construction. In sheet metal work it is planned to have each boy make several useful articles of tinware and galvanized iron in addition to repairing articles brought from the home. The course in concrete during the second semester will include mixing and pouring concrete, and making forms for sidewalks, steps, pedestals, etc. Trade drawing covers a wide scope during the two years in which it is taught and will equip the boy to fill satisfactorily a position in the draughting room of any manufacturing establishment. The course in electric wiring is practical in every detail. Large forms or booths have been erected in which the problems of wiring are actually worked out by practical installation of bell circuits, telephones and electric lights.

"With a teaching force of nine men the department is run with an annual expenditure of approximately twelve thousand dollars. While at times the hoped for results seem slow of realization nevertheless it is felt that the work is well worth the effort and expense and will sooner or later be recognized as an important factor in the production of a more eliicient citizenship."

Other Schools

The Lincoln Normal University was started in 1891 on a site four miles southeast of Lincoln and a three-story brick building erected to accommodate an expected one thousand students. The building cost $100,000. However, the success of the institution never reached the pinnacle anticipated and the years of financial depression brought many hardships to the school. On December i, 1898, the building was destroyed by fire and the school never resumed. At the time of the conflagration the finances were in very poor shape.

The Nebraska Alilitary Academy was started in the fall of 1909 and now occupies a large, fireproof building in Hawthorne, two miles from Lincoln. Very shortly after the school had started in the old Western Normal School Building a fire completely destroyed the plant, but the school continued until a new building was erected despite the inconveniences suffered. Col. B. D. Hayward is the superintendent of the institution and maintains strict military discipline over the boys enrolled. The school has the same standing with the university as all accredited schools, the graduates being admitted without examination to the freshman class of the university.

The Lincoln Business College was founded in 1884 by Prof. F. F. Roose. In 1884, the first year of its existence, the school occupied rooms in the office building at the corner of Eleventh and O streets. After a few years these quarters were outgrown and a place was secured in the Oliver Building at Thirteenth and P streets. Here the entire fourth floor and a half of the third floor were utilized by the school. For sixteen years this remained the home of the school. On January i, 1914, the school moved into its present home on the corner of Fourteenth and P streets. This is a modern building, designed and erected for the purposes of this school. '

In the Lincoln Sunday Star, is.sue of August i, 1915, Dr. Samuel Avery, chancellor of the University of Nebraska, contributed a very comprehensive article upon the subject noted above and the plans which are to be followed in the future by the university. As this article contains much which will be of interest to the readers of this volume, it is quoted verbatim following :

"I have been asked by the management of The Star to write a short historical account of the plans under way for campus extension and the development of the university plant in Lincoln. Inasmuch as the period of my administration will doubtless figure in the future history of the university as the period of campus agitation, extension and development, I am glad to have the opportunity to write a brief synopsis of what has been accomplished up to date.

"When I took nj) the work of this office on January i, 1909, the university was confronted with the task of securing funds from the Legislature, the majority of whose members had been elected on a strict economy pledge. The time did not seem ripe for proposing any elaborate program of extension or development. Nevertheless funds were secured with which to purchase the athletic field north of the old campus. Our entire campus up to this time had been four city blocks with the vacated cross streets, or approximately thirteen acres.

''With the actual purchase of ground outside of the original plat the time seemed ripe for a definite building program. L'ntil the building of Leland Stanford University in the early '90s symmetry of architecture had hardly been thought of in America. The Stanford buildings, attractive but not very practical for university purposes, caused the sharpening of the pencils of many university planners. The stately Gothic buildings of the University of Chicago stimulated planning still further. Having occasion to be in Boston in the fall of '09, I called on Mr. Rutan of a well known architects' firm of that city and asked him to visit us with a thought of making a layout sufficiently comprehensive to cover our possible growth for many years.

People Of Many Minds

"When we were agitating for a harmonious extension the friends of the institution were of many minds. This ditYerence of opinion stood out clearly at a rather brilliant dinner held at the Lincoln Hotel at which Mr. Rutan spoke. Members of the board of regents, distinguished citizens, among whom was Hon. W. J. Bryan, representatives of the daily papers of the state, and others, were present. The ferment for campus extension and the harmonious development of the university was working, but there was no evidence of any tendency towards unanimity of opinion as to procedure.

"Mr. Rutan was inclined to think that under the condition then existing we would most likely succeed in endeavoring to persuade the Legislature to give us sufficient money to extend the old campus north of the railroad tracks. It was argued that it would be the best policy to secure land where the houses were of the least value, and accordingly he drew a sketch of the plan which he presented to the university for development along this line. This sketch did not meet the approval of the regents. It called for the finest and best buildings on ground lower than the present campus and nearer the railroad tracks. It was pointed out that the athletic field would be pushed so far towards the tracks that the viaduct would offer free standing room, where the game could be easily viewed, and finally it was shown that while the houses were very poor they were very numerous and consequently the price could not be as reasonable as anticipated. Nevertheless Mr. Rutan's sketch gave something definite for discussion and eventually clarified the situation to this extent: If going north further than U Street was excluded, about the only possibility that remained was to go east on R Street.

Agitation Was Unexpected

"The agitation for removal to the farm came about unexpectedly. While there had been some discussion of the proposition for thirty years, the immediate occasion for the agitation arose in this way : A prominent citizen of Lincohi (whose name I will suppress as he is now deceased), felt that the university campus should be turned over to the City of Lincoln for high school purposes, park space, an art gallery and the Historical Society. He felt very strongly that the high school could be developed on a departmental plan, not as a single unit ; that it would bring tuition pupils from all over the state and be a great asset to the city ; and that the university proper should be removed to the farm and consolidated with the agricultural plant. Though not taking the matter very seriously, I invited this gentleman to meet with the board of regents and explain his ideas. At this meeting of the regents he professed-himself thoroughly converted to the plan, so thoroughly that he never gave it up even after the Lincoln gentleman, who made the suggestion to him had long abandoned any thought of the possibility of utilizing the old campus for other Lincoln activities. The history of the removal agitation and its final settlement by a gratifying majority is doubtless in the minds of all your readers and need not be reviewed in this connection. "I pass then to the plans that have been maturing since the troublesome question has been eventually settled. In order to avoid loss of time, the well known architects, Shepley, Rutan & Collidge of Boston and Chicago, had been working on three layouts for the institution - the city campus extension, the farm campus plan and the consolidated plant at the farm. During his time I felt justified in telling the architects that the probabilities of the state's ever using the third plan were so remote that they need do no work on it other than what was necessary in the interest of fair play before the question was settled. When the question was settled we had a fairly good looking plan for extension. The citizens' bond guaranteeing that the tract from Tenth to Fourteenth and from R to U could be rounded out for $300,000 fixed the space limits of extension. The problem, then, became one of harmonious grouping and of architecture.

"Great progress had been made since our first struggles in '09. As soon as the verdict of the people had been announced I secured permission of the board to make a trip with the regents-elect and Mr. Hodgdon, of the firm of Coolidge & Hodgdon, successors to the firm that we had previously employed, to inspect the plants of half a dozen universities of the ^liddle West. The university senate was invited to name a representative and the choice fell on Professor Barbour. After this study had been made the matter was thoroughly discussed by a university committee consisting of Professors Stout, Caldwell and Barbour and finally by the university senate itself. The regents desired that at the cost of a little time all interests should be heard. The result of the discussion is shown in a plan for campus extension that hangs in my ofiice and which has been published in the daily press.

No Building Destroyed

"This plan represents all the building that will probably be done in the lifetime of anyone now actively interested in the university. It provides for no destruction of buildings except old Nebraska Hall, which has already been condemned as dangerous. Twelfth Street will be left open for an automobile drive

"The lirst building to be erected will be Bessey Hall. Doctor Bessey himself began drawing the plans for this building and it is in accordance with his wish that it will be placed on the north side of the new campus. He used to say to me, 'A botanist wants a north broadside. He does not care for an attractive street view. The north light for the use of our microscopes is what we need.' While he was working on the plans for this building I noticed with profound regret a falling off in the vitality of Doctor Bessey, and I asked him if there was not someone of the younger force who could relieve him of the drudgery of working out the technical requirements of classroom and laboratory. He at once thanked me for the suggestion and named Professor Pool. Professor Pool was given permission to visit various laboratories and after consultations with Doctor Bessey, Doctor W'olcot and others, he handed to the architect his first sketches. It was still hoped, however, that we could have a celebration on his birthday which would represent the breaking of the ground even though the plans were not complete. No one hoped for the completion of the plans, let alone laying the cornerstone, but the citizens' committee that was securing the ground for us found it impracticable to have the space vacated at that time. In the meantime Doctor Bessey's death followed and it 'seemed best to postpone the exercises planned until the actual laying of the cornerstone. The first pencil sketch of the building showed a more expensive building than it seemed wise to build, especially since the Legislature expects that most of the departments of the university will be fairly well housed with this appropriation. Personally the regents would have been glad to spend any sum given them as a memorial to Doctor Bessey, but they could not go beyond a certain limit in justice to other departments and to the taxpayers.

"However, the cutting down of tentative sketches has not resulted in a delay of more than four weeks. The main delay is in giving the professors an opportunity to work out their thoughts and to plan to provide for their various needs. An arbitrary and unsympathetic administration could hustle matters along and satisfy certain misdirected popular clamor, but the results in the end would not be as happy. However, it is expected that the complete plans and specifications will be ready for the bidders in about two weeks.

New Chemistry Building

"The plans for the chemistry building are nearly as far along. While this building will house more students than the biological building, it is adapted for a single department only. Hence it has been planned with less discussion and adjustments. The head of the chemical department has shown himself especially reasonable in his requirements and appreciative of the needs of other departments. The plans of this building will be complete and bids called for presumably before September ist.

"While the regents have not formally authorized any further construction at the present time, yet studies are being made for a building to house political and social science, history and possibly psychology. Just now conferences are under way looking towards extending this building into a home for those departments of the arts college commonly known as the humanities. Whether the larger arts college building or the smaller social science building will become an actuality can probably not be definitely decided until after the professors return from their vacations. In working with the professors the regents and the chancellor have constantly sought to guide but not to dictate. The administration has endeavored to avoid mistakes and to secure a harmonious, symmetrical development of the institution, but does not in any way wish to suppress an expression of the technical skill, insight and comprehension of departmental needs that must come from the professors who are to use the buildings. Hence, a little delay is preferable to arbitrary acceleration.

"If the building just referred to should take the form of a special home for the arts college, it will probably be approximately as large and expensive as the Bessey Building and the chemistry building combined.

"Tentative plans have also been made for an education building to house our educational departments and the Temple High School. The development of these plans will depend somewhat on the form that the third building assumes. The various men connected with the teachers' college have not sufficiently threshed out the matter to reach unanimity of opinion as to what departments should be housed in the education building.

"The buildings that I have outlined will somewhat more than exceed the appropriation now available, but there will be the two final years of the levy, which will doubtless be made available by the next Legislature.

"In the grouping of buildings care has been taken to have allied departments situated in close proximity. The engineering college will ultimately be extended along the athletic field, starting from the present mechanical engineering laboratories. The chemistry building will in a sense link engineering with the biological sciences. The new library, which may not be built during the present generation, will occupy a central position. The museum, auditorium, art galleries, etc., which probably cannot be built out of the present levy, will occupy a commanding position closing the vista of Thirteenth .Street. The building for political and social science, which as before stated may be extended into an arts college building, appears on the layout as occupying the space on the new campus just across from the old chemical laboratory. The sketch shows an L-shaped building longest on Twelfth Street, but extending a considerable distance east in a line projected from Memorial Hall.

Style Of Architecture

"Probably the style of architecture of the new buildings has been discussed as much as any other subject. About this much has been definitely determined: The buildings will be of classical style, Gothic being too expensive and not in harmony with the buildings already erected, some of which as the temple, the law building, the mechanical engineering laboratories, are very worthy structures. The building material will be of red brick. A modest amount of cut Bedford stone will be used in the trimmings. The buildings will be of the steel structure wall bearing type. In other words, the interior frames will be of steel but the walls will carry their own load and support in part the steel inner structure. They will, of course, be entirely fireproof. Dignity, harmony and a reasonable, though not deadly, uniformity will dominate the grounds. The architects will depend

"While the buildings will be as permanent as it is possible to build them, the cost will not be excessive. The buildings at the University of Chicago will run about 35 cents per cubic foot. At Princeton the expense is as high as 45 cents. On the other hand, some very plain reinforced concrete buildings have been built at state universities for as low as 13 cents per cubic foot and it has been well remarked, 'They look it.' Probably the new buildings will run from 15 cents to 20 cents per cubic foot owing to the character of the buildings. It is needless to say that the cost will vary in accordance with the number and size of rooms per building, the amount of laboratory fixtures required and other varying features. Little will be spent for marble and other decorative effects, but on the other hand special attention will be paid to heating, ventilation, sanitation, convenience and general utility.

"It should be remembered that the total sum is not large in comparison with the amounts expended at Minnesota, Illinois and Wisconsin. If it were the regents would confine themselves to two-story buildings. As it is, it seems necessary to build three stories and also to utilize some basement space in addition to this for storage and locker rooms. However, especial attention is being paid to locating those departments and rooms most used by women on the first and second floors. Basements and attics will be used, if at all, principally by the young men.

"The public may be further interested to know that the university authorities appreciate highly the work of the very efficient citizens' committee in securing the ground. The problem of extending the campus from seventeen to forty acres at an expense of only $300,000 to the state has been an exceedingly difficult one and the State of Nebraska owes much to the citizens' committee for the way in which it is being handled.

"In conclusion I wish to explain why the university has not followed the suggestions sometimes made that we develop something new, unique and characteristic of Nebraska in the form of architecture. Our architectural advisors make this answer: 'Architecture is a growth. We can no more create a fiat style than we can a fiat language. W'e can no more have Nebraska architecture than we can have Nebraska music. If we should vary violently from established lines, we would simply develop some freak buildings which presumably in the end would please no one.' "

Cotner University And Bethany

The Nebraska Christian University was the outgrowth of a desire upon the part of many members of the Church of Christ to enlarge the work in Nebraska. During the year 1887 the Baptists held a meeting in the City of Lincoln, with a view to locating a seat of learning in that vicinity. During that meeting a proposition was made to them offering to donate 250 acres of land, if they would locate on the present site of Cotner University. The conference failed to agree on the advisability of starting a new institution in this state and upon their failure to accept the offer submitted to them the donors approached the members of the Christian Church with a proposition increasing the donation to about three hundred acres. In July, 1887, the state mission appointed a committee of which C. C. Munson was chairman to "receive propositions to donate lands, etc., for the location of a Nebraska State Christian University and to report results to the convention to be held at Fairfield in August." This was done and a committee of seven appointed by the convention "to receive and accept propositions, incorporate, hold property for, and locate such schools and colleges, and take such other steps as the best interests of the brotherhood of this state, in their judgment may demand." The committee consisted of the following persons: J. Z. Briscoe, chairman ; Porter Hedge, secretary ; W. P. Aylsworth, G. E. Bigelow, J. B. Johnson, W. W. West and E. T. Gadd.

The first meeting of this committee was held at the store room of Webster & Briscoe, where organization was made and adjourimient had to the Windsor Hotel in the afternoon, where the committee was met by Prof. Neill Johnson, Sam McClay, W. Rulifson and Theodore F. Barnes, who at once conducted the committee to view the present site of Cotner University, then a dense corn field and known as the Hawley Farm. At this time no definite proposition was made. Negotiations were continued from this time until May 31, 1888, when the following report was submitted by Messrs. Bonell and Cropsey on the part of the donors :

The proposition was accepted and the location of the proposed university was declared to be upon the northeast quarter of section 16, township 10 north, range 7 east of the 6th principal meridian. The only competing site was the location of the later Western Normal (now Nebraska Military Academy site), at which point the committee was ofifered 500 acres for the location.

On the 14th day of February, 1888, the following named met with the committee at the Capitol Hotel in Lincoln : Ex-Governor Saunders, George S. Smith and W. H. Gadd, of Omaha ; C. W. Henry, C. R. Van Duyn and C. C. Munson, of Lincoln. After visiting the proposed site adjournment was had until evening, when the above named again met with the committee for the purpose of adopting articles of incorporation, which had been carefully prepared by Porter Hedge. After discussion of the different articles, on motion of George S. Smith they were unanimously adopted, signed and acknowledged. The following are the names of the incorporators : Alvin Saunders, J. Z. Briscoe, E. T. Gadd, W. P. Aylsworth, George S. Smith, Charles R. Van Duyn, C. C. Munson. These men, with S. D. Mercer, Thomas Wiles and J. B. Strode constituted the first board of trustees until the next meeting of the Nebraska Christian Convention.

At the second meeting of the board on Marcli 4, 1888, it was ordered that the executive committee proceed at once to plat and sell the lands belonging to the university. It was found on application that Mr. Cropsey was unable to make a title to the eighty-five acres which he had subscribed, it being largely encum- Ijered and he only had possession of an option upon the land. In this extremity a syndicate was formed, consisting of C. C. Munson, C. R. \'an Duyn, Porter Hedge and J. Z. Briscoe, which undertook to purchase the quarter section out of which the donation was made and release the cam[)us of twenty acres and alternate blocks which were to be deeded to the university free from all incumbrance. This was accomplished, but was no easy task. The title having been cleared, the land was platted by J. P. Walton, county surveyor, at a cost of $232.09 and named after the denomination's oldest college, "Bethany" Heights. The main street of the village was called Saunders Avenue in honor of the oldest member of the board..

The donors having turned over deeds to the property donated, the board gave a bond for $150,000 for the faithful performance of their part of the obligation, which was to erect a building worth at least fifty thousand dollars, within a certain limit of time. The committee on plans reported favorably on O. H. Placy, and accordingly his plans were adopted and a contract entered into, in which he was to serve both as architect and superintendent at a compensation of $1,000.

In answer to advertisements for bids on foundation there were five presented, prices ranging from $9,965 to $12,500 The bid of Thomas Price and Company was accepted, it being $11,572, and contract signed July 21, 1888. The honor of holding the plow which threw the first dirt from the foundation was conferred upon Col. E. T. Gadd, who had been employed agent for the sale of the property of the school. The Nebraska Christian Missionary Society held its annual convention during this year with the First Church at Lincoln in St. Paul's M. E. Church. The first price lists of lots was presented by the committee appointed for that purpose on July 6th and adopted, fixing prices at an average of about $200 each. An auction sale of lots was held during the above named convention and that body invited to attend. The cornerstone was laid during the afternoon and about $8,000 worth of lots were sold at from $150 to $300 each.

By request of the convention in session in Lincoln, August 30, 188S, a long and tedious attempt was made to unite Fairfield College and the university. To this end they had placed two brethren from Fairfield on the board. A report on the liabilities and assets of Fairfield College was made by W. T. Newcomb, as follows: total assets, $7,102.25; liabilities, $16,933, with $400 outlying lots unsold.

On September 26th a building committee was appointed, consisting of J. Z. Briscoe, chairman, C. C. Munson and E. T. Gadd, who at once proceeded to carry out the work of construction of the building. The contract was let to Chester and Barris for $47,000 on March 4, 1889. The building was to be finished by the middle of the next January.

The faculty for the first year was as follows : W. P. Aylsworth, vice president, professor of biblical literature and occupant of the Briscoe Bible chair; .A.. M. Chamberlain, professor of ancient languages ; P. B. Burnett, professor of modern languages; E. D. Harris, preparatory department; Mrs. W. P. Stems, instrumental music; A. Webber, vocal; Almeda Parker, elocution; Dr. .A. T. Noe of Nemaha City, anatomy and physiology ; Lulu Murphy, drawing.

Methodist Episcopal Denomination

First in the list of churches of this denomination in Lancaster County may be mentioned the St. Paul Methodist Episcopal Church of Lincoln. This is one of the pioneer churches of the county and today is one of the largest. The first Methodist meetings in the county were held in the old Town of Lancaster, before the founding of Lincobi. The first class was in charge of Robert Hawks, an itinerant preacher, who had been appointed in 1867. At the close of the first conference year the Lancaster class had a total of sixteen members. When the state capital was established at the new Town of Lincoln the class was moved there. In the spring of 1868 the class was made a station and named the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Lincoln. Rev. H. T. Davis was appointed the first pastor, residing in Lincoln. Prior to his coming services had been carried on in a small frame church building at the corner of Tenth and P streets. Among the more prominent of the si.xteen members then composing the class were Captain Baird and wife, John Cadman and wife, William Cadman, A. K. White and wife, J. Kimball and wife, Mrs. J. Schoolcraft; J. Kimball was the class leader. At the end of the first year the number of members had increased and to accommodate them a $2,000 church building was erected on the spot where the St. Paul Church now stands on the corner of Twelfth and M streets ; the old church building was cleared of a $400 mortgage and sold for school purposes. Reverend Davis remained with this church for three years, having a membership of 202 at the close of his pastorate. The pastors who have sened the St. Paul Church since this time until the present are as follows: Revs. J. J. Roberts, G. S. Alexander, W. B. Slaughter, H. S. Henderson, A. C. Williams. R. N. McKaig, C. F. Creighton, J. S. Bitler, F. S. Stein, C. C. Lasby, W. R. Halstead, Fletcher L. Wharton, J. W. Jones, I. F. Roach, T. W. Jeffrey. Reverend Jeffrey began his service on March i, 1913.

During the pastorate of Reverend Roberts the first church parsonage was constructed. While Reverend McKaig was pastor of the church there grew up a sentiment for a new building for worship. On April 23, 1883, an official meeting of the church was held and the decision was reached to begin the erection of a new building at once. Committees were appointed to superintend the various departments of the work. On June nth the plans of Mr. Wilcox of Minneapolis were accepted, the cost of the building placed at $25,000. Ground was broken for the new church on July ist and the cornerstone laid by Reverend Marine in the spring of 1884. The church was dedicated by Bishop Bowman on Sunday,

August 22, 1885. Instead of costing the original amount of $25,000 as planned fully $45,000 was expended before the structure was completed. In the fall of 1883 the name of the church was changed from the First Methodist Episcopal to the St. Paul Methodist Episcopal.

The church structure was used by the society until September 16, 1899, when flames destroyed the building. ' Plans were at once made for the erection of a new church and during the progress of the building the St. Paul congregation held services in the Oliver Theater and in other churches. The new building was opened to the society in November, 1901.

The Grace Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1885. On March 19th of that year the St. Paul Church decided to build another church east of the Antelope. This decision was the result of the enormous growth in the church membership to 1,200 people, due in great part to the Bitler revival which had taken place just previously. A site was selected and a temporary tabernacle constructed for use until a new building could be erected. The new church was begun on the corner of R and Twenty-seventh streets and within four months was ready for occupancy. At the annual conference held in the following September Rev. J. T. Minehart was appointed pastor of the new church. The society was officially named the Grace M. E. Church and the church, which had cost $11,000, was dedicated on September 19, 1889, by Bishop Warren. In 1894 the church building was rebuilt and the cornerstone reset, the latter event taking place on July nth of that year. This building served the needs of the congregation until the present $60,000 structure was erected. The cornerstone of the new church was laid August 4, 1912, and the finished building was dedicated June I, 1913. The total church property, including the parsonage, is worth about eighty thousand dollars. The following men have served as pastors of the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church: Revs. J. S. W. Dean, George W. Isham, Charles M. Shepherd, Lewis T. Guild, Richard N. Orrill, P. P. Carroll, D. L. Thomas, J. W. Jones, H. B. Collins and J. F. Boeye. The church has a membership of about eleven hundred people.

The German Methodist Episcopal Church of Lincoln had its beginning as early as the year 1869. The first Nebraska Legislature in this year donated three city lots for the German Methodist Church at the corner of Fifteenth and M streets. There was no German society here at that time and no German who was a member of the Methodist Church except Mr. Adam Bax, who was connected with the First Methodist. Governor Butler called upon Mr. Bax and insisted that he should build the church, that it had to be done before July ist in order to retain the lots. The governor oflfered to contribute $125 as a start to a building fund; Colonel Cropsey volunteered a donation of $120; Thomas P. Kennard, then secretary of state, gave $75 ; John Gillespie, auditor of state, presented $50. Mr. Bax canvassed the east side of the public square in Lincoln and secured promises of money to the amount of $840 for the new building. The presiding elder of the Methodist Church was appealed to for a German preacher. A small chapel was constructed with the money received, located on the southwest comer of Fifteenth and M. The organization of the German Methodist Episcopal Church was accomplished in the fall of the year 1869 by F. H. Menger, who had a large circuit of congregations. From 1869 until 1872 Revs. H. M. Menger, F. Miller and G. Schultz served intermittently as jiastors of the church. From

1872 until 1875 the congregation had no regular pastor. Pastors of other churches in this part of the state frequently came here and preached. In 1875 Rev. H. R. Rienier was sent as regular pastor and he constructed the first parsonage two years later. The following pastors have succeeded Reverend Riemer: Revs. Charles Harms. September, 1878-79; T. J. Kost, 1879-82; F. Unland, 1882-83; Charles Harms, 1883-86; Christian Bruegger, 1886-90; J. J. Hammell, 1890-93; F. Reichard, 1893-94; F. H. Schultz, 1894-96; John Demand, 1896- 1902; Charles Harms, 1902-07; William Fricke, 1907-10; H. C. Elfeldt, 1910- 13; Matthew Herrmann, 1913-. The old chapel which was built in 1869 was replaced with a beautiful brick structure in 1902. The present membership of the society is 124. Mr. Adam Bax remained a staunch member of the church until his death in Lincoln on December 17, 1915, aged eighty-seven years. The only living charter member of the church is John Giesler. In April, 1914, Reverend Herrmann began the publication of Der Kleine Bote, a weekly parish paper.

That which is now the Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church of Lincoln was at first a part of the Lincoln Circuit, which embraced several appointments. In the fall of 1878 Rev. A. L. Folden was appointed to the circuit. At the first quarterly conference of the First Church, now St. Paul M. E. Church, a vote was passed requesting Reverend Folden to take an appointment in South Lincoln and a committee of two, J. C. Johnson and Mr. Lawson, were named to assist him in this enterprise. A small building was at first used on Wood Street, between Ninth and Tenth ; and after this services were held for a time in the old Universalist Church on Twelfth Street near H. Reverend Folden remained three years in the work here. During the conference year of 1880-81 an effort was made to build a Methodist Church in South Lincoln, but it was bitterly opposed by Rev. A. C. Williams of the First Church. However, a small frame building was erected on A Street, near Twelfth, for $1,200, and the congregation used this until the fall of 1887. ^'Y this time the pastorate had grown from fifty-three members to eighty-four. In the fall of 1887, as mentioned above, the little church building on Twelfth and A streets was presented to a new organization called the Bethel Church, located one mile west, near A Street. The South Lincoln Church erected a new tabernacle on Sixteenth and A streets and within a very few months the membership had grown to 258. Then the church was reorganized and named Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church. During the year 1892 the society erected the chapel part of the present church for $15,000 on the rear of the lot at Sixteenth and A. No more building was done until the new building was constructed in 1910. costing Sioo.ooo. The plans for this handsome structure were drawn by Reverend Huntington, once pastor of the Trinity Church. The church is one of the most complete in the Capital City, including besides the regular church features, a fully equipped gymnasium. The parsonage was erected in 1896 at a cost of $8,000. The membership of the church is now approximately one thousand. Following are the names of the pastors who have filled the pulpit at Trinity: Revs. S. P. Vandoozer. A. L. Folden, P. S. Mather, J. Marsh, C. H. Gilmore, H. T. Davis, S. D. Roberts, D. W. C. Huntington, R. T. Chipperfield, N. A. Martin, W. M. Balch, A. J. Northrup, E. D. Hull, E. N. Tompkins.

Occupying a foremost position among the Methodist churches of the city and county is the First Methodist Episcopal Church of University Place. On November 18, 1888, nine men and nine women met in an unfinished room in the main building of the Nebraska Wesleyan University and there organized this church. They met that day in the old library room, now used by the school of commerce, and there in the light of kerosene lamps held their first services. Chancellor Creighton was the preacher in charge. Doctor Creighton served as pastor by appointment as supply for the first eight months, with Rev. Isaac L. Lowe as assistant. Their work in the university became heavier and they were relieved from pastoral duties. Rev. D. L. Thomas was pastor from July, 1889, until September, 1890. Rev. Asa Sleeth was then appointed to the charge and served for one year, when he became presiding elder of the Lincoln District, and Rev. W. B. Alexander was sent here as pastor. Rev. G. \V. Abbott came in 1892 and remained until 1897, when he was succeeded by Rev. James Mailley, who, after serving but a few months, went to the Philippine Islands as chajilain of the Second Regiment, Nebraska Volunteer Infantry. Rev. Hiram Burch supplied by appointment until the following annual conference, when Rev. W. B. Marsh became pastor for two years. He was followed by Rev. L. C. Lemon in September, igoo, and was reappointed each year until 1904. Rev. P. P. Carroll then came from Grace M. E. Church of Lincoln to this charge and after two years was succeeded by Rev. W. P. Ferguson. The latter stayed but six months and then came Chancellor-Emeritus D. W. C. Huntington who served out the conference year as supply. In 1907 Rev. L. M. Grigsby came and remained until 1910, when Rev. I. B. Schreckengast assumed charge of the pastorate. In April, 1913, Dr. E. S. Brightman took the place of Reverend Schreckengast when the latter became vice-chancellor of the university. In September of the same year Rev. J. R. Gettys became the pastor and served until the present minister. Rev. Charles W. McCaskill, came in 191 5. The membership of the church is about twelve hundred.

After the beginning of this church the place of meeting was soon moved to the old chapel, which was the church home until 1902, when the society moved into the basement of a proposed church building on the site of the present edifice and which was known as the "hole in the ground" church. After five years spent here the auditorium of the C. C. White Memorial Building was utilized until the construction of the present church building, which is one of the handsomest and most impressive of any similar building in the county. The new building was dedicated witli appropriate ceremonies on December 12, 1909.

Following is the list of charter members of the First M. E. Church of University Place: Mrs. C. F. Creighton, Emma T. Cline, G. E. Giwits, H. E. Hanthorne, Myrtle Learned, O. P. Sheldon, Mrs. O. P. Sheldon, Mable Sheldon, T. W. Sprowles. Phillip H. Smith, W. H. Turrell, Mrs. Hannah R. Warfield, Hattie Warfield, Laura A. Weed, A. R. Wightman, Anna J. Wightman, Rev. C. F. Creighton, Rev. I. L. Lowe.

The Emmanuel Methodist Episcopal Church of Lincoln was founded August 15, 188S, Rev. W. W. Mallory being the first pastor. Services were first held in a building on T Street, between Twelfth and Thirteenth, known as the Red Ribbon Hall. Soon after this J. M. Burks organized a Sunday school. The name Emmanuel was given by the presiding elder, W. G. Miller. In 1890 the congregation moved from their hall to a church building at the corner of Thirteenth and U streets, which they used until the present building was completed. The cornerstone of this new structure was laid July 7, 1912, and the dedication occurred

The First Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church of Lincoln was organized July 8, 1889, in the home of August Kallstedt, 1919 O Street, by the district superintendent, Rev. Olin Swenson. Rev. J. B. Anderson was the first pastor and the successive pastors have been : Revs. A. F. Winell, A. R. Mellen, Peter Munson, C. A. Anderson, J. Gabrielson, O. G. Sandberg, Gustav Erickson and K. G. Norberg. The charter members of the society were: Gust Reynolds and wife, Leonard Tidstrand, Airs. Sophia Hill, O. J. Linder, Carl John Malm, Miss Caroline Larson, Miss Mary Dahlgren, Miss Mary Nelson, Miss Mary Erickson, August Kallstedt and wife, and Axel Segerholm. There are at present about one hundred members in the society. In 1891 the first church was built at Eighteenth and R streets. In the spring of 1892, when the Rock Island Railroad was built through Lincoln, the property was sold to them, a lot bought at Eighteenth and J streets for $2,400. The old church was moved on to this lot and used for twelve years. In 1903 the present church was built, costing the sum of $8,000.

The Elm Park Methodist Episcopal Church was first organized as a Sunday School in May, 1906. in a store room at Twenty-seventh and Randolph streets, by Rev. W. W. McGuire and was known as the Randolph Mission. There were less than a dozen enrolled, mostly children. It was in the summer of 1907 that the church was really organized and a building started on the corner of Twentyninth and Randolph streets. This building was dedicated March 9, 1908, by Bishop McDowell. The following have serv^ed as pastors here: Revs. J. H. Bounds, H. W. Cope, B. L. Story, Whitney, J. D. Hollister and L. L. Hanthorne. A modern parsonage was built in 1914. The present membership of the church is 200.

The Lincoln Heights Methodist Episcopal Church was started about the year 1891. The first trustees were elected on March 19, 1891, and were: Ephraim Rife, H. J. Rickard, H. J. Phillips, W. C. Hook, George Camp. John Ferrier; Rev. G. W. Miller was chairman of the meeting. The church was built in 1892, located at Seventh and Superior streets, and dedicated in February, 1893, by D. W. C. Huntington, D. D., with thirty-three members. For several years the church was quite prosperous and its membership increased until numbering eighty-five. After this the membership dwindled until in 1903 there were only eight left. During the pastorate of E. E. Bowen, a university student, the dilapidated church was moved to the present location at the corner of Eleventh and Nelson streets. The building was repaired and reopened on January 10, 1904. Since then the society had been growing steadily and the membership is now about one hundred and forty. The first pastor of the church was AI. -A. Wimberley. and since then the following have served: R. N. Orrill, R. J. McKenzie, C. L. Myers, J. A. Nichols, A. D. Hull, R. C. Howard. J. W. Warfield. C. E. Rush, L. L. Gaither, J. Fowler, H. B. Seymour, A. S. Woodard, E. E. Bowen, C. E. Austin, J. McVay, W. S. Ryle, C. G. Cole, O. L. Kendall, E. V. Price.

The Free Methodist Church of Lincohi was started at Fifteenth and Vine streets in the spring of 1889 by Rev. W. W. Harris. The charter members were: Mrs. A. C. Bakzell, J. \'. Parks, Mr. Marshall and ^[rs. Fggar. In 1S94 the first church was constructed at Tliirtieth and Y streets. In 1<P5 the location mentioned above was sold to the Iiiterurban Street Car Company and another location was secured on Twenty-seventh and Orchard streets. The first conference minister was Reverend Stephens, who was followed by Reverends Taylor, Josephine Ackerman, Deaxter, Hatfield, Steward, Barnes, p-inch, Amspoker. Eggers, Bruce, Mary E. Stafford, McElfresh, J. L. Riley, C. L. Manning and C. L. Fike. The present membership is sixty-one.

Warren Methodist Episcopal Church at University Place was organized by Dr. G. W. Isham. He' was appointed pastor for three successive years. This church was started in 1908. The present membership is 140.

Normal Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1901 and now has a membership of 120. The church is located at the corner of South and Fifty-fifth streets.

The City of Lincoln has two colored Methodist churches, the First African Methodist Episcopal Church and the Neumann Methodist Episcopal Church. The former was organized in the year 1873 ^^"d now has a membership of 130. The church is located at 1845 C Street. The Neumann Church was organized in 1895, has fifty members, and is situated at 733 J Street.

The First Presbyterian Church of Lincoln was organized on April 4, 1869, by Rev. J. C. Elliott, at that time a pastor in Nebraska City. There were eight charter members, namely : Howard Kennedy, Mrs. Maggie A. Kennedy, Paren England, Malinda W. England, John H. Baird, Mrs. Serena Baird, .\. M. Mc- Candless and Mrs. E. A. Guy. Howard Kennedy was elected ruling elder and the church was declared duly organized. At first it was impossible to hold regular services as there was no regular pastor and no meeting place. But after a few months a frame building on O Street, near the present site of the First National Bank, was rented and the real work of the church begun. The first members were received in this building, the first adult baptized and the first communion service held. The first child baptized was Howard Kennedy. The first persons to unite with the church by certificate were : W. J. Turner. John N. T. Jones. Mrs. E. L. Jones, Cyrus H. Street, Charles Mc.Manon. Samuel .\lexander, John Morrison, James Eckerman, Dr. L. H. Robbins, Mrs. M. A. Robbins, W. A. Kellogg. The first person received on profession of faith was B. M. Brake and

The first church edifice was erected at the corner of Eleventh and J streets, on lots donated by the state, and wasS dedicated on October 9, 1870, by Rev. T. H. Cleland, then of Council Bluffs, Iowa. This first .church cost the Presbyterians $5,000 and, with several improvements, continued to hold the society until December, 1884. In April. 1884, ground was broken for the erection of the present church building at the southwest corner of Thirteenth and M streets. The vestry room was completed in September, 1885, and was occupied as a place of worship until January, 1886, when the main auditorium was finished. This church building, which had cost $40,000, was dedicated on July 18, 1886, by Rev. A. V. V. Raymond.

In October. 1888, a number of persons interested in the work met in a vacant store building near the corner of O and Twenty-seventh streets and organized a Sabbath School. This was the beginning of the Second Presbyterian Church of Lincoln. At the meeting there were sixty-four persons enrolled as members of the school and Thomas ^Marsland was chosen superintendent, George G. Waite, secretary, and Almon Tower, treasurer. A full corps of teachers was organized and classes grouped. Preaching services were held every Sunday in this store room until February 14, 1889, when the school moved into the basement of a church being erected on the corner of Twenty-sixth and P streets, on lots donated in part by William M. Clark. On the evening of March 13, 1889, a meeting was held and a church formally organized, to be known as the Second Presbyterian Church of Lincoln, Nebraska. There were forty-six charter members. The first elders elected were: Alyron Tower, Thomas Marsland, W. C. Cunningham and William M. Clark. On April i, 1889, Rev. Charles E. Bradt took charge of the work.

On May 16, 1890 at Warn's Chapel on Wood Street the Third Presbyterian Church was organized. J. W. McMillan and C. S. Clason were elected elders and Rev. C. G. A. Hullhorst was chosen as the first pastor. A chapel was constructed and work begun on the corner of Eleventh and Plum streets. In 1894 this chapel was enlarged. The Third Church is not now in existence, having disbanded several years ago. The building became the Knox Presbyterian Church, then, and now, the St. John's Lutheran house of worship.

The Westminster Presbyterian Church of Lincoln was organized at Westminster Chapel, Twenty-fourth and A streets, on February 12, 1905. Rev. Thomas L. Sexton, D. D., synodical superintendent of home missions, presided. E. R. Mockett was elected clerk. The sermon was preached by Rev. R. M. Stevenson. There were forty-one charter members of this church, namely: E. R. Mockett, Mrs. Ada C. Mockett, E. E. Mockett, Mrs. N. N. Mockett, M'rs. N. S. Nichols, Mrs. L. Schwind. Miss N. Schwind, Miss Faith Schwind, Mrs. M. Schlueter, Mrs. H. Needham, Mrs. L. Needham, A. E. Patch, Mrs. Bessie Patch, Miss Hazel Patch, Theodore Randolph. Mrs Alice Randolph. Mrs. M. L. Strother, Mary C.

Young, Florence Ward, Nellie Ward, Lillian Ward, Dora Merritt, Frank Miller, Kate Dunkle, H. A. Carr, L. J. Dunn, Clinton Hosick, Mrs. Anna Hosick, Mrs. Ellen Rowcliffe, Mrs. Mary E. Hutchinson, Miss L. Young, Miss Minnie Hutchinson, Mrs. S. A. Betzer, Mrs. S. L. Lyman, Mrs. Mary L. Gabriel, John G. Bovvers, Mrs. D. Bowers, Mrs. Susie E. Jones and Mrs. D. B. Abbott. The church building for the society was constructed in the year 1906. There are now 257 members. Following are the pastors who have served this congregation : Revs. R. M. Stevenson, Ralph H. Houseman, H. V. Comir and Rudolph Caughey.

The Memorial United Presbyterian Church of Lincoln was organized December 22, 1890, at the corner of Sixteenth and R streets by Rev. J. A. DuiT of Minden and Elder W. L Brooks of Pawnee City. Albert Small and G. E. Sloss were chosen ruling elders. The charter members of this church were: Mrs. Mary Anderson, W. H. Boyd, Mrs. l\L J. Campbell, Miss Alice L. Campbell, Miss Ella J. Campbell, Miss Emma O. Campbell, W. R. Carter, Mrs. Anna Carter, William Ellis, Miss Marion M. Embleton, Samuel R. Edmondson, Dr. F. A. Graham, Miss Jennie Graham, Alexander Hutton, Mrs. Mary E. Hutton, Thomas Hutton, Mrs. Sarah A. Hutton. Elmer S. Hutton, Miss Isabella J. Hutton, James Humphrey, Mrs. Nancy Humphrey, Mrs. S. V. Hubbard, Miss Eva M. Irwin, Mrs. O. S. Morrow, Miss Jennie Morrison, Mrs. EHzabeth McEwen, James McNerney, Miss Libbie McNerney, Mrs. Anna R. Stewart, Albert Small, ^Irs. M. J. Small, G. E. Sloss, Mrs. Mollie Sloss, Mrs. E. J. Said, W. L. Said, Mrs. Underwood. Rev. O. S. Morrow was the first pastor of the church and was followed by Revs. E. E. Fife, D. E. Smith, W. M. Lorimer, J. A. Thompson. C. B. Gilmore, Albert Gordon and S. W. Woodburn. In 1890 a small frame building was constructed for church purposes. In 1893 t^^ present church was completed and the parsonage in 1906. There are at present seventy-five members of this church society.

The Westminster Presbyterian Church of University Place had its start in 1907. In January of that year Reverend Thompson, pastor of the United Presbyterian Church of Lincoln came to University Place and preached a sermon in Beebe's Hall. After preaching for several Sundays and awakening spirit among the Presbyterians here the question of organizing a church was brought up. but was not favored owing to the fact that there were not enough people of the Presbyterian faith to justify it. Then Rev. M. Long of Lincoln came to University Place and held services in the afternoons at Beebe's Hall for several months. On April 21st an organization was perfected with thirty-six charter members. On December i, 1907, J. E. Weir was secured as the first regular pastor. Rev. I. Keener came next and is in charge at present. In 1910 the society erected a $10,000.00 church building. The cornerstone was laid May 15th and the dedication occurred September nth. The membership is about two hundred.

First Church Of Christ, Scientist

The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Lincoln was organized October 10, 1902, and took the place of the First and Second churches that had already existed. About one hundred and twenty-five persons first met in the Farmers and Merchants Building and there proceeded to the organization. The membership book was opened for those who desired to enroll themselves as charter members and at the close of a thirty-day period 133 persons had written their names. The readers chosen to conduct the services for the first term of three years were Horace \\'. Hebbard and Mrs. Emma Hagenow. The hall in the fraternity building was leased for the services of the society. The congregations for the first few months averaged between 300 and 400. The attendance steadily increased and it became evident before long that larger quarters would soon be necessary. Accordingly the question of building a church was agitated. About seven hundred dollars had been paid into the treasurey as a nucleus to a building fund at the time of the organization of the church. At the annual meeting on October 9, 1903, a building committee of five members was elected, namely: William M. Leonard, Arthur C. Ziemer, Royal D. Stearns, Elon W. Nelson and Horace W. Hebbard. The first work of the committee was the selection of a site for a church edifice. Several locations were discussed, but the committee finally decided on the two lots, corner of Twelfth and L streets, belonging to Dr. B. L. Paine. This was on March 14, 1904. There was at that time about two thousand two hundred dollars in the building fund and the price of the lots was $7,000.00. The committee agreed to pay $3,500.00 in twenty days from the time of purchase. At the close of the time, owing to the liberal response, $5,000.00 was paid on the lots. Work was then started upon a fund to build the church, but shortly afterward the building of the extension of the mother church in Boston was undertaken and the work of raising a fund for the Lincoln Church was suspended in order that aid might be more freely given to the mother church. In June, 1906, the Lincoln work was opened again. Plans for a church building submitted by S. S. Beman of Chicago to cost between $65,000.00 and $75,000.00 had been adopted, but as the church was not yet ready to undertake so extensive a work, the plan was presented of building a part of the structure, that part which would eventually be used as a Sunday School room, to be used for holding services until the main part of the building could be erected. On February 21, 1907, a contract was signed for the erection of this portion of the building and on Thanksgiving Day of the same year the first services were held therein. About the first of July, 1908, the stone foundation for the balance of the structure was completed. At the semi-annual meeting on July 6, 191 1, a contract was let to F. P. Gould & Son of Omaha for the completion of the church, for the sum of $54,- 400.00. The cornerstone of the new building was laid on October 6, 191 1. The Christian Scientist Church in Lincoln is one of the handsomest buildings in the city, both in architectural beauty and finish. The church society is in a very prosperous condition and has a strong membership.

Lutheran Churches

The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lincoln was formally organized on December 20, 1870, by Rev. S. G. Larson of Saunders County. There were fifteen charter members, namely: A. Cbppom, L. P. Lundgrenand and wife, John Nelson, A. G. Quick, John Lyon, Carl Lundquist, P. Bengtson, Alfred Anderson, Gustaf Bengtson, Miss Augusta Lusch, Miss Lotta Widen, Miss Thilda Bengtson, Miss Bengta Didrick and Miss Nilla Didrick. Rev. S. G. Larson was the first pastor of the congregation, although he never located permanently in Lincoln. He resided at Mead, Saunders County, Nebraska. The first resident pastor was