A tended system as fast as the advance of classes now in the institute shall require." But, sooner than was expected, the accession from Lane Seminary brought to Oberlin a full-fledged theological seminary, professors and students, and since that time the seminary has been the dominant force; the history of the Oberlin Theological Seminary is the clew to the history of the college. Students in the preparatory and collegiate departments looked forward to the seminary as the culmination of their studies. Of the 839 gentlemen graduated from the classical course during the first 50 years of Oberlin's history, 310, or 37 per ent., became ministers. The ecclesiastical history of the college has been peculiar. It has never been denominational or sectarian according to the usual policy of religious institutions, namely, to extend the power of the controlling denomination. The original colonists were members of the Congregational body, but the Oberlin church at first sought fellowship with the Presbyterians of the Western Reserve under the so-called "plan of union." This connection, however, was dissolved in 1836, when a Congregational association for the Western Reserve was organized. The college is not organically denominational. It has no connection with any ecclesiastical organization. The trustees invite the State Congregational Associations of Ohio and Michigan to send visitors annually to the theological seminary. The board of trustees is a self-perpetuating body, and there is nothing in the charter, nor even in the by-laws, limiting the choice of the trustees in any respect whatever. The nine corporators named in the charter as granted by the legislature were pastors and members of the churches under the plan of union, a considerable port them decidedly Presbyterian in their leanings. Of their successes the majority have been Congregationalists; but there have ala beep members of the board who were connected with other denominations. There is no regulation requiring that professors and instructors shall have any church connections whatever. There is no creed to which theological professors even are required to assent in their inauguration. All these things regulate themselves under the organic forces that have controlled the movement, and no embarrassment, no question, even, has ever arisen upon the subject.' The college is Congregational, not because of the definite purpose of the founders or of any of the earlier framers of its polity, but because the seed that was planted thus grew. For the first two years it seemed an even question under what influences it would at length develop. If the surrounding Presbyterianism had been able to welcome the new enterprise, Oberlin might have been Presbyterian. CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC. The department of music seemed to spring up naturally from the circumstances of the college. The principle of coeducation and the 1 Oberlin, the Colony and the College, pp. 107, 108. HIGHER EDUCATION IN OHIO. higher spirit of Christian culture bring together large numbers who furnish proper soil for the cultivation of this art. In 1835 a (6 professor of sacred music" was elected and free instruction was given to classes in singing. Not, however, until 1865 was the "Oberlin Conservatory of Music" organized and the attempt made to give special scientific training in this art. The conservatory in its organization was, until 1884, independent of the college, but was operated in harmony with it. Since the erection of Warner Hall it has been adopted as an integral part of the university work of the college. Its prosperity has been marked. The attendance in 1883 was 461 pupils, of whom 310 took music only. The following, from President Fairchild's history, indicates the posi tion of the musical department in the history of Oberlin : The school of music has already shown its value as an educating force, operating upon the whole body of students. It elevates their ideals and furnishes an atmosphere of culture, of which they partake almost unconsciously. Our music is also a spiritual power which we could not spare. In the churches and in the college chapel at daily prayers it lifts and inspires many souls. The service of prayers in chapel can never become wearisome or monotonous while so many hundred voices, under a skillful director, unite in the hymn of thanksgiving or of supplication. There are few among teachers or pupils who feel that they can afford to miss the opportunity. It is a constant benediction in our college life. It will be seen from this brief review that Oberlin has been a pioneer in more than one of the great social and educational movements of the past half century. Starting out with a religious and humanitarian enthusiasm far in advance of current educational traditions, she soon acquired the fame of obnoxious radicalism; and to this day, in many places, her popular reputation of ante-war days continues to be the prevailing one, and she is called erratic. But it is overlooked that in those days she stood for an idea, and a hated idea, too. With the "genteel" and "cultured" world of society and religion bitterly against her, with opposition on every side, her students and graduates exposed to scorn in the North and persecution in the South, it is not surprising that her representatives became extreme and uncompromising in their dealings with the world. It is her glory that she stood boldy for the right even in her darkest hours, when property and friends failed her. But with the ultimate triumph of her idea a new phase has come over her work. She is now more like the world at large, or, perhaps, the world is more like her. The "Oberlin idea" of to-day is not confined to a single exciting reform movement, but is rather a spirit of progress in all things. With new opportunities and endowments she has turned to the development of her collegiate side by extending her electives and making her requirements more stringent. Formerly she sought to propagate certain specific moral and political views, but now her energies are devoted to a scientific and Christian scholarship. Many of the members of her faculty come from other colleges and universities, and there is diversity in their attitude on public questions. She has passed from the old propagand spirit into the modern university spirit, at the same time retaining a marked religious and moral earnestness. But she can be pardoned a feeling of satisfaction as she looks back over her early period of zeal. Her position at first seemed radical, but her "fanaticism," "heresy," and "abolitionism" have now been justified. The educational world, indeed, has not yet universally adopted her principle of coeducation of the sexes, though some of the leading institutions have done so; but she has led the way in compelling recognition of the principle that women ought to have opportunities for education at least equal with those of men, and this has opened the way for colleges like Vassar, Wellesley, and Bryn Mawr. Of late years the numbers of colored students who attended her classes has decreased, but Oberlin has seen with satisfac. tion that the cause of this is the opening of other institutions to those people whom she welcomed when they were spurned. She has furnished an army of teachers who since the war have labored in the South for the freedmen. Her missionaries are scattered over the world, and thousands of places in the great Mississippi Valley have felt her religious and educational influence. This was the hope and purpose of her founders. Since the organization of the college the following persons have occupied different chairs: 1835 Rev. John Morgan. Resigned. 1850 1866 1889 (died) 1875 1850 1881 1891 1872 Rev. Elijah P. Barrows 1880 1878 Rev. William G. Ballentine, Hebrew and Greek of the New Testament. 1880 Rev. William G. Ballentine..... 1880 1891 1891 James A. Craig, Ph. D... |