ISHOP
NINDE said, in an address delivered before the Educational
Convention, held in Lincoln in the spring of 1889: "Nebraska has
solved the great problem of the unification of Methodist
education."
This question has baffled the minds of
the greatest educators and divines in our Church for the past one
hundred years. This great problem--one of the most perplexing of all
educational problems--Nebraska has been the first to solve.
Up to 1887, the history of Methodist
education in Nebraska had been anything but satisfactory. Up to that
time the efforts of the Church along the line of education had been a
succession of failures and the most disastrous defeats.
Against the multiplication of weak and
sickly institutions of learning, our Discipline for many years has
contained a standing protest. In section 2, paragraph 344, may be
found the following recommendation: "And it is also recommended
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that no fewer than four Conferences unite in support of a college
or university, and the Conferences are earnestly advised not to
multiply schools, especially of the higher grade, beyond the wants of
the people or their ability, to sustain them." The wise men of our
Church, who have given the above sensible advice, knew well that it
takes immense sums of money to build up a successful university; and
where two or more schools of high grade are attempted to be built up
under the patronizing territory of three or four Conferences, all of
them must of necessity be weak and sickly. But, notwithstanding this
urgent request from the highest authorities of the Church, weak and
sickly institutions of learning have gone on, multiplying and dying,
all over our land; and the work of folly goes on to-day as in all the
years of the past. The result has been that many warm friends of
Christian education have become discouraged and utterly disheartened,
and at many points Methodist education and the Methodist Episcopal
Church have received a blow from which they will probably never fully
recover. This process, for years and years, went on in Nebraska, just
as in all other States.
The late Dr. John Dempster at one time
had his eye on Nebraska as a suitable place to found a theological
institute. This great and good man was among the first who felt
deeply impressed
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with the conviction that there should be a seminary for young
ministers. He began to devote himself to this work, and in 1847 he
founded and opened the Biblical Institute at Concord, N. H. For seven
years he labored faithfully as an instructor, during which time he
traveled extensively and collected funds for the institution. After
having, by his tireless zeal and indomitable energy, placed the
institution firmly on its feet, and having seen it securely fixed in
the affections of the preachers, he resigned his place to become a
pioneer in the West.. About this time, Mrs. Eliza Garrett, of
Chicago, Ill., a lady of wealth, was arranging to devote her property
for a theological school. The Doctor visited her, and through her
munificent donations, opened a preliminary school at Evanston, which
afterwards became the Garrett Biblical Institute. Having founded this
school, and seen it. firmly established, he began to look for a
suitable place to found the third. His great heart was not satisfied
with what he had already done. His yearning spirit was turned further
West. He was exceedingly anxious to accomplish still more along the
line of ministerial education. In 1858 the town of Oreapolis was
founded, at the mouth of the Platte River, just north of the city of
Plattsmouth. The design of the parties in locating this town was to
make it a great educational center, and to
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build up a second Evanston. They confidently expected that
Oreapolis would not only become a great educational center, but would
be the eastern terminus of the Union Pacific Railroad, and the
metropolitan city of the Great West. Liberal propositions were made
to the Church by the town company.
At the Kansas and Nebraska Conference,
held in Omaha in the spring of 1859, the Committee on Education, of
which the writer was a member, submitted as part of its report the
following, which was adopted:
Your Committee on Education, to whom
was referred the communication of John Dempster, in reference to the
establishment of a Biblical institute at Oreapolis, would report:
"That they have carefully considered
the propositions therein contained, and recommend the adoption of the
following resolutions:
"1. Resolved, That we will
cordially and heartily cooperate with the friends of ministerial
education generally, and with Dr. John Dempster in particular, in the
great work of founding and sustaining a Biblical institute, for the
education of our junior ministry in the Missouri River valley, to be
located at Oreapolis, N. T,
"2. Resolved, That the thanks of
this Conference be tendered to Dr. Dempster for the noble and
generous donation he has tendered to said institute, and for his
efficient and devoted labors in the cause of ministerial education in
our Church, and that he be cordially invited to join this
Conference.
"3. Resolved, That it is the
opinion of this Conference that said institute may with confidence
expect as
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many as ten students from the Missouri Valley at its opening, as
proposed by Dr. Dempster, in the autumn of 1860.
"4. Resolved, That this
Conference respectfully memorialize the Territorial Legislature of
Nebraska to grant the trustees of said institute a charter, with the
usual franchises securing the control of the same in perpetuity to
the Methodist Episcopal Church.
"All of which is respectfully
submitted.
Your committee, to whom was referred
the charter of the university to be located in Cass County, N. T.,
and the communication from its Board of Trustees, have had the same
under consideration, and respectfully report:
"That in view of the establishment of
the institute and seminary at Oreapolis, and the great importance of
concentrating our efforts upon one great leading enterprise in
Nebraska, as a central educational point; in view of the liberality
of said Town Company in not imposing onerous obligations upon the
Conference as conditions of their large donation; and in view of the
necessity of the theological as well as the literary and scientific
de-
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partments being established in connection with a university to
make it really such, we recommend the passage of the following
resolutions:
"1. Resolved, That we accept the
trust imposed upon us by the terms of the charter of said university
in filling its Board of Trustees.
"2. Resolved, That we will
cordially unite with the friends of education in exerting our best
efforts to build up and sustain said university."
The following year a brick building,
eighty feet in length, and three stories high, was erected, and a
school of seminary grade opened. The school ran with encouraging
success for awhile. But the location was bad, the town was not a
success, the school became a failure, the property never came into
the hands of the Church, and the whole scheme fell to pieces. The
seminary, the Biblical Institute, and the Great University proved to
be only the idle dreams of their projectors. Good men often make
great mistakes. Humanum est errare.
In 1864, Professor J. M. McKenzie
founded a seminary and normal institute at Pawnee City. The name of
this school was "Nemaha Valley Seminary and Normal Institute." In the
spring of 1865 the Nebraska Conference passed a resolution,
recommending this institution of learning to the favorable
consideration of all our people. While it never became the property
of the Conference, it was largely patronized by our people.
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This school, under the efficient
management of Professor McKenzie, did good work for awhile but, for
the want of adequate means and patronage, soon ran its course, and
died.
In 1866, under the leadership of the
Rev. H. Burch, the people of Peru and Nemaha County raised several
thousand dollars for the founding of a Methodist school at Peru. A
building eighty feet long, forty feet wide, and three stories high,
was erected. This school was incorporated under the style of "Peru
Seminary and College," and its friends earnestly desired the
Conference to adopt it, and take it under its absolute control. The
Conference, however, was not willing to comply with the request of
the trustees, unless they would modify their charter so as to reduce
the grade of the school to a seminary. This they were not willing to
do. The trustees then offered the property to the State, on condition
that it be made a normal school. The offer was accepted, and a State
normal school was founded, which has had increasing success ever
since.
In 1879 two propositions were presented
to the Conference; one from Osceola, and one from York. The
proposition from York was accepted and a school of seminary grade was
at once started. Soon after this, the North Nebraska Conference
founded a school at Fullerton. This school lived but a little
while.
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Rev. Edward Thomson was appointed princicipal (sic) of the York
Seminary. The new seminary started out under favorable auspices. Its
friends were hopeful, and to them the future of the institution was
exceedingly bright. Their expectations were sanguine in the extreme;
they contracted debts, and these debts accumulated yearly.
In 1883 the grade was changed from that
of a seminary to college, with a full classical curriculum. The
future of the college was as hopeful as that of the seminary.
Students increased. The college grew in favor with the people.
Withal, each year swelled the indebtedness of the college, and. the
trustees had many a fearful grapple with them. Midnight often found
them wrestling with the fearful problem: "How shall we meet these
accumulating obligations?" Then, worn down in body and mind, they
would retire to dream over the gloomy situation.
Central City College, only about forty
miles away from York, was founded by the North Nebraska Conference.
Here were two rival institutions, within forty miles of each other,
each jealous of the other's success, and both struggling for
existence.
Meanwhile, the Mallalieu University was
founded at Bartley; but, like the others, was without financial
bottom.
In the fall of 1886, Bishop Fowler was
to pre-
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side at the Nebraska Conferences. Some of the friends of education
saw very clearly the precarious condition of all our schools of high
grade in the State. It seemed evident to the close observer of
educational matters that the death of them all was only a question of
time. Not one was on a firm financial basis. While Bishop Fowler was
on his way to the North Nebraska Conference, he was met by Dr. C. F.
Creighton and Dr. R. N. McKaig. Dr. McKaig was then president of York
College. Dr. Creighton was pastor of Saint Paul, Lincoln.
The gloomy outlook of our educational
matters, the want of sympathy between the friends of these local
institutions, and the demand that something be done, both for the
sake of education and religion, were laid before the bishop.
Dr. Creighton proposed that all our
educational interests in the State be consolidated, and that we build
up one great educational institution. After listening to the above
facts, and the proposition of Dr. Craighton, the bishop arose and
said, with stirring emphasis: "This is the greatest work you have in
Nebraska. Now what do you want me to do?" Meantime, Rev. J. M.
Phelps, presiding elder of the Omaha District, came in, and the
bishop gave him the matter in substance, and Brother Phelps assented
to the wisdom of such a plan, and agreed to stand by it. This was
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the unification of Methodist education in Nebraska in its
incipiency..
That month, September, 1886, all the
annual conferences in Nebraska--namely, the Nebraska, North Nebraska,
and West Nebraska--at their sessions appointed a joint commission of
ministers and laymen for the purpose of unifying the educational
interests of the Church in the State, and the founding of a
university.
That commission met in the city of
Lincoln, December 15, 1886, and remained in session three days.
Bishop Thomas Bowman and Bishop H. W. Warren were present part of the
time. The following plan of unification was agreed upon:
First. That trustees, to be
hereafter appointed, secure a charter for a university, to include,
as contributory or allied institutions, the schools and colleges at
present or hereafter coming under the control of the Methodist
Episcopal Church in Nebraska.
Second. That, all schools or colleges,
which are now or may hereafter become the property of the Methodist
Episcopal Church in Nebraska, shall be under the control of the
university trustees; but all the property, real, personal, or mixed,
shall be held and controlled by their own local Boards of
Trustees.
Third. The first Board of University
Trustees shall consist of seven trustees, from within the boundaries
of
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each Conference in Nebraska, to be appointed by this commission,
and approved by the several Conferences to which they belong, and
that hereafter the trustees shall consist of seven persons from each
and every Conference, elected in four annual classes by their
respective Conferences. The persons thus elected by the several
Conferences shall constitute the local Boards of the several colleges
within the bounds of their respective Conferences.
These several local Boards of Trustees
to hold and control the property of each college as above provided,
and each local Board may nominate so many additional members as each
separate Conference may determine to elect who, in addition to said
local Board, shall perform the duties of said local trustees.
Fourth. Duties of the university and
college trustees:
(a) The university trustees to have and
hold all property belonging to the university proper, and to manage
the affairs of the same.
(b) To determine the course of study,
text-books to be used, systems of grading, and to do all such other
work as appertains to the general educational interests of the allied
colleges; providing that each college elect its own faculty and
arrange for its own internal discipline.
All other powers remain with the local
Boards of Trustees as defined by their charters and bylaws.
Fifth. Any school or college existent,
or that may come under the charter of the university, shall be
entitled to retain its college name, to acquire property to be held
for the benefit of such college, to teach regular preparatory and
collegiate studies, as far as the end of the sophomore year of the
university course, and to confer academic and normal degrees. The
colleges of the university shall have the same courses of study, use
the same text-books, and students of one college shall be entitled to
enter the same grade and rank in any college of the university, on
certificate of standing, without examination.
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Amendment to Article V:
The clause in Article V of the above,
which reads "as far as the end of the sophomore year," etc., shall be
understood to be so interpreted that any college of this university
may be graded in its classical curriculum in every detail, so that
its classical senior year of graduation shall not be graded higher
than the end of the sophomore year of the classical course of the
university.
The following addition was adopted:
The Board of Trustees shall make the
grade of the university equal to that of any Methodist university in
the United States.
York, Central City, Bartley, Omaha,
and Lincoln were all applicants for the university. On the second
ballot, Lincoln was selected as the place for its location. The
friends of York worked hard to secure the location, but failed, and
they returned home sadly disappointed. The trustees in their haste
unwisely passed a resolution declaring York College independent of
the "Plan of Agreement." They soon saw, however, their great mistake.
The cry of disloyalty was at once raised, and the trustees realized
that they were losing the sympathy of people and preachers throughout
the Conference. They then changed tactics and wheeled into line. A
resolution was passed by the Board rescinding the action whereby it
had declared York College independent of the "Plan of Agreement." But
the college was loaded down with a debt of sixteen thousand dollars;
the trustees were sued, and
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were about to be sold out by their creditors, and their property
sacrificed. Rather than have this done, they sold the property
themselves, paid off their debts, and closed the school. It was a sad
day for York College. The noble men who had stood by her in her
darkest days felt most keenly the loss. The money spent on the York
College, however, has not been lost. Forth from that college have
gone students and an influence, the salutary effects of which will be
felt in many parts of the land through all time.
The university was located at Lincoln,
within a radius of three and one-half miles from the United States
post-office. A beautiful site was selected on an elevated position.
From this elevated position the city of Lincoln and the whole
surrounding country can be distinctly seen. Chancellor Creighton took
Chaplain McCabe to the highest point on the campus before the
building was completed, and then said to him: "Chaplain, look
around." The chaplain took off his hat, gazed with delight in every
direction, and, taking a long breath, inflated his lungs with the
pure air of Nebraska, then said: "Methodism always gets ahead."
At another time the chancellor took
Bishop Joyce to the same spot, and, after the bishop had taken in the
situation, said: "Wouldn't we be jealous if some other denomination
had this?"
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The campus contains forty-four
acres. In the center stands the university building, which is four
stories high, one hundred and sixty-eight by seventy-two feet, built
of brick, and trimmed with red granite from Colorado, and is one of
the most beautiful and imposing structures in the West. The building
cost seventy thousand dollars. Of this amount the city of Lincoln
paid fifty thousand dollars, and the balance was paid from the sale
of lots donated to the university.
Along all lines great victories are not
gained without great conflicts, and the Nebraska Wesleyan University
is not an exception to this rule. The parties who gave the site
required the trustees to give bonds in the sum of ninety thousand
dollars, that the building should be ready for occupancy by the first
of October, 1888, and should cost not less than fifty thousand
dollars. A few of the trustees, individually, gave the required bond.
Work began, but time and again stopped for the want of means. The
matter weighed heavily on the mind of Dr. Creighton. The cloud at
times grew awfully dark. Often at the hour of midnight he would crawl
out of bed, get down upon his knees, and pray for God to come to
their help.
Lots were sold for one-fourth cash, the
balance on one, two, and three years' time. Some of this paper was
negotiated to Eastern parties. The
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banks in Lincoln offered to take this paper at a discount of
twenty per cent, and the personal indorsement of the trustees. The
trustees declined this offer. Again the work stopped. The Board met.
The outlook was dark in the extreme. The trustees looked ominously at
each other. Some said: "The thing is a failure." Bishop Warren was
present, and listened with deep interest to the long and weary
discussions. Finally the bishop said: "I will give you a thousand
dollars." The chancellor said: "That will not relieve us." "What do
you think I ought to do?" "Give us ten thousand dollars," said the
chancellor.
The bishop replied, "I will take five
thousand dollars worth of lots and five thousand dollars of your
paper, on condition that you sell the remaining collateral,"
amounting to over ten thousand dollars. Dr. Creighton sold that paper
within a week, and telegraphed the bishop asking if he (Dr.
Creighton) should draw on him for the ten thousand dollars. The
bishop replied affirmatively, and Dr. Creighton drew the money. The
financial credit of the university from that hour was at par. The
trustees breathed easy; the clouds began to break and roll away; work
on the building was pushed, and on the twenty-fifth day of September,
1888, the Nebraska WesIeyan University was informally opened. A
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handful of students, with a few friends of the institution, met in
the library hall, on the third floor of the building. Dr. W. G.
Miller, president of the Board of Trustees, and presiding elder of
the Lincoln District, conducted the religious services. Chancellor
Creighton delivered a short address, and the writer followed with a
brief sketch of the history of Methodist education in Nebraska. The
few who were privileged to be there will probably never forget that
memorable occasion. The formal opening of the university took place
in the university chapel, October 24th, when Bishop John P. Newman
delivered an able and exceedingly interesting address on the
occasion, and Chancellor Creighton gave his inaugural, which was an
able review of the history of the university up to that time.
Governor John M. Thayer followed with a well-timed impromptu address,
and one of the greatest educational enterprises of the Methodist
Episcopal Church was inaugurated.
It will be observed by the "Plan of
Agreement" that the Nebraska Wesleyan University is the property of
all the Annual Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the
State. Second, that the university includes, "as contributory or
allied institutions, the schools and colleges at present or hereafter
coming under the control of the Methodist Episcopal Church in
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Nebraska." Every academy arid college that shall hereafter become
the property of the Church in Nebraska will be part of this great
university.
The wisdom of this plan will appear if
we take into view a few facts:
First. The age in which we live is one
of the most intense mental activity. One high in authority in our
Church said in a letter to the writer some time ago, touching this
matter: "We are in great need of the best possible workmen, with the
best possible training. Not a shred of Christian faith will survive
that can not be defended on the hottest field, and we are compelled
to go into the death-struggle for the Church with strong, scholarly
men, who can command the attention and confidence of the people. This
makes it necessary for us to have the best possible training-schools.
Our university must be second to none on the earth. If we can make
her the peer of the best, so that our graduates shall be honored
among any company of college men, then we can expect to retain our
hold upon the confidence and patronage of the public. I am sure we
shall come far short of this if we go into the fight with little,
poor colleges, that have only the name arid not the appliances of
colleges. The freshman and suphomore (sic) years can be taught by
drill-masters, whose salaries need never be large; but in the junior
and senior years, where a
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number of elective studies are furnished by our best universities,
thus enabling the students to start somewhat towards their particular
line of life, we, too, must furnish these elective studies, under
competent professors, or we must stand aside and let others do the
work. All this requires money. It needs no argument to prove that
Nebraska Methodism is not capable of running three schools of such
magnitude and character; but if she will combine all he money and
energies on one she may compete successfully with the schools
anywhere in the land."
This is just what Nebraska Methodism
has done. She has founded a university with a grade equal to that of
any Methodist university in the United States, and is uniting her
money and energies in building up this great institution.
Second. Academies at different points
in the State are already projected, with the view of becoming parts
of the university. These will multiply with years, and thus feeders
to the university will be constantly increasing. At these academies
the bulk of education done by the Church in the State may be
accomplished, and will be done at the lowest possible expense. Not
more than ten out of every one hundred who pass through the academy
ever go through the university; those who desire to do so, however,
can receive the greater part of their education at the academy,
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where the expense will not be great, and only the last two or
three years need necessarily be spent at the university, where they
will have all the appliances of a university of the highest
grade.
Third. The students who shall graduate
from the Nebraska Wesleyan University will never be ashamed of their
Alma Mater. From her halls of learning they will go forth to
be honored among any company of college men in the land.
Fourth. Men who, under God, have been
blessed with wealth, and desire to consecrate that wealth to the
building up of Christ's kingdom, want to place it where it will yield
the largest returns for God. They are not willing usually to give
their money to weak and sickly schools, whose existence is merely an
experiment.
Those who have money they wish to
consecrate, and desire to place it where it will yield the largest
income, will make no mistake in endowing the Nebraska Wesleyan
University. Here is an institution of learning that will grow in
usefulness and power with the centuries.
There are consecrated men of means who
are looking around to see where they can make the safest and most
profitable investment for the Lord. Should the eyes of any such
chance to fall upon these pages, they may rest assured that the
Nebraska Wesleyan University furnishes a place for the safest and
most profitable investment.
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Fifth. Already this university,
although only a little over two years old, has more property than all
the schools connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church in Nebraska
combined, and all the schools run by private members of the Church,
from the organization of the Territory, in 1854, to the present time.
Why this phenomenal growth? Why the wonderfully encouraging outlook
of this university? Because she has behind her all the preachers and
all the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church throughout the
entire State.
Every Methodist preacher throughout
Nebraska is an unpaid agent, to advertise, send students, and raise
money for the building up of this institution of learning. Two
hundred miles wide, and four hundred miles long is pre-empted forever
for one Methodist university; namely, the Nebraska Wesleyan
University.
Methodism in Nebraska to-day has
thirty-five thousand two hundred and sixty-one members, including
probationers; and three hundred and fifty-four traveling preachers,
including supplies.
On the same ratio of increase as during
the past few years, Methodism in the State in ten years will have
seventy-five thousand members, and seven hundred traveling preachers.
Then there will be seven hundred unpaid agents working in all parts
of the State for this university.
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From more than seven hundred points
in the State will flow streams of students and wealth to our great
educational center; and these streams of students and wealth will
multiply as the years roll on. If I were to utter a prediction, that
I feel in my heart will be fulfilled if Methodism is true to the
trust imposed on her, as to what this university will be in ten years
from now, I should probably be called an enthusiast. No Methodist
institution ever had such a propitious start.
