USA > Iowa > Decatur County > History of Decatur County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 10
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But there came a dark day when that one was gone; there were brave men left, there were true men left, but the blessing of God had gone from the little city forever, and it with all its dreams lay in
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ruins. No, not that; for dreams are built of stronger stuff than stone and mortar, and they were still as substantial in the hearts of the strong men of Israel as they had been in the days of Nauvoo's greatest glory.
The day came again when true men and strong gathered to the old standard, and still in the hearts of these were the potential possi- bilities that would have clothed the hills round old Nauvoo with Gothic spires.
In 1869 at a conference at St. Louis, Missouri, after a lengthy preamble the following resolution was adopted:
"Resolved, That this conference recommend for consideration of the twelve and general church authorities, the feasibility and the advisability of establishing a school for the education of our own young men, with a view to the ministry; and that the question be brought up at the next sitting of the general conference."
This was adopted. Accordingly it was called up at the semi- annual conference at Gallands Grove, Iowa, October 7, 1869, and after some discussion was deferred until the annual conference of 1870. April 8, 1870, at Plano, Illinois, the resolution was again taken up, and after much discussion, and efforts to amend, it was lost. The conference evidently thought that the School of the Prophets provided for in the law would meet the requirements sought, for immediately after the rejection of the resolution mentioned above the following was adopted: "Resolved that the School of the Prophets be organized at as early a time as practicable." The con- ference therefore did not intend to discourage the desire for educa- tion, but sought to provide for it in another way.
Nothing more was done for some time. The next attempt was an effort made by the formation of a joint stock company. At a regular meeting of the "Board of Trade of Lamoni, Iowa," held on the 31st day of December, 1888, Articles of Incorporation for a college in Lamoni were presented and read, and upon motion ordered printed; also Joseph Smith, David Dancer, George A. Blakeslee, William W. Blair, and Delos F. Nicholson were requested to act as a committee to secure subscriptions for the purpose of erecting the college. Another committee, David Dancer, of Lamoni, Iowa, and Edmund L. Kelley, of Kirtland, Ohio, and Robert Winning, of St. Joseph, Missouri, were appointed April 18, 1889, to "solicit stock, arrange and devise to put in operation the plan of the college." On May 25th the committee met and reported subscriptions received. In and around Lamoni $4,300. Foreign list reported $625. Israel Vol. I- 7
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L. Rogers, Sandwich, Illinois, $5,000, Edmund L. Kelley, Kirtland, Ohio, $50, Robert Winning, St. Joseph, Missouri, $1,000. The committee was continued, with the exception of David Dancer, who by his own request was released, and Asa S. Cochran was chosen in his place.
During the April conference, the following action was had by the conference :
"Resolved, That in the opinion of this conference, the time has arrived when it may be expedient to establish an institution of learn- ing under the control or influence of our church organization, and to this end there shall be a committee appointed (by the body) to receive propositions for a location and take such other preliminary measures as may be necessary; and said committee empowered after receiving such proposals to make all necessary arrangements for the establish- ment of such institution."
A committee consisting of seven, viz .: George A. Blakeslee, Israel L. Rogers, Edmund L. Kelley, David Dancer, Robers Winning, Frederick G. Pitt, and John A. Robinson was appointed.
Upon the next day the committee reported in part as follows:
"Resolved, That the committee take measures to secure a proper fund for the carrying into effect the resolution relative to the estab- lishment of an institution of learning passed by the conference on yesterday, and to this end we open proper subscription books and arrange for a special fund to be known as the College Fund, for this purpose.
"That E. L. Kelley and Robert Winning be a committee to pre- pare the necessary subscription list and books.
"That the personal canvass be under the direction of the bishop- ric, they appointing suitable persons to solicit subscriptions.
"That all authorized canvassers be instructed to report monthly to the secretary, whose duty it is to collect all moneys and to turn over same to treasurer, taking his receipt therefor.
*
"That the secretary communicate with Lamoni College Commit- tee and subscribers, and if possible secure the turning over to his com- mittee of all cash and other subscriptions made. *
The joint stock plan failed, but the agitation of the college prop- osition still continued. In 1894 at a joint counsel of the twelve and the bishopric held in the editorial room of the Herald office on Fri- day, April 20th the following action was had :
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"Resolved, That we look with favor upon the effort to build a college at Lamoni to be controlled by the church. Resolved further, That we believe that it should be a purely educational institution and free from sectarian influence or bias. Resolved further, That we give our hearty support to the present movement looking in the above direction."
Those present were Joseph Smith, William W. Blair of the presidency, Alexander H. Smith, Edmund C. Briggs, James Caffall, William II. Kelley, John H. Lake, Joseph R. Lambert, Heman C. Smith, Joseph Luff and Gomer T. Griffiths, of the twelve; Edmund L. Kelley, George H. Hilliard and Edwin A. Blakeslee, of the bishopric. The resolution was adopted without a dissenting vote.
By the time of the next conference, 1895, the college committee was ready to report. Land had been donated by Sisters Marietta Walker and Minnie Wickes, and Bro. W. A. Hopkins for college purposes; also twenty-six acres had been purchased from Mr. Hop- kins, making sixty-six acres in all.
The conference ordered the college committee to incorporate as provided under the laws of Iowa, and a board of directors was sub- sequently chosen. The former board was known as a board of trus- tees and was composed of the following: Edmund L. Kelley, Daniel Anderson, Robert Winning, Joseph Smith, William Anderson, Ellis Short, Edmund A. Blakeslee. The board of directors consisted of Joseph Smith, Daniel F. Lambert, Parley P. Kelley, Edmund L. Kelley, John H. Hansen, James R. Smith, Alexander H. Smith, William W. Blair, and Edwin A. Blakeslee.
The board of trustees started the erection of the college building and its equipment. By them it was christened Graceland College and the grounds the Graceland Addition to Lamoni. The streets were named-articles of incorporation filed and adopted. Along the platted streets of the grounds the committee set out about eight hun- dred shade trees.
On November 12, 1895, the cornerstone of the building was laid with elaborate ceremonies.
The procession formed at the east side public school and led by Lamoni's junior band, marched to the college, carrying the stars and stripes.
Services were in charge of Bishop Edmund L. Kelley. Prayer was offered by Elder Henry A. Stebbins. Directed by President Joseph Smith, the cornerstone was lowered into place by L. J. Frink, L. B. Mitchell and John Weedmark, and President Smith officially
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laid the cornerstone. Speeches were made by William W. Scott, mayor of Lamoni; Joseph Smith; Zenos H. Gurley; Daniel F. Lam- bert, superintendent of public schools, and Alexander H. Smith, president of the quorum of twelve.
During President Smith's speech he announced that the follow- ing articles were placed in the cornerstone: Copies of the Chicago Chronicle, Chicago Times-Herald, Chicago Inter-Ocean, Chicago Tribune, Saints' Herald, Autumn Leaves, Independent Patriot, Col- lege City Chronicle, Zion's Ensign, Holy Scriptures, Book of Mor- mon, Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and church articles of incorporation.
Before the winter of 1895-96 closed the basement was completed and the walls up about as high as the second floor. The building was estimated to cost about ten thousand dollars, and some lots in Graceland Addition were sold with the hope of meeting the expense.
The first faculty consisted of Thomas J. Fitzpatrick, Joseph T. Pence, Jeremiah A. Gunsolley and Nellie Davis. The first enroll- ment was thirty-five, and they began work September 17, 1895, in a rented building in the business part of Lamoni, known as the "France Block."
The college building itself was ready for dedication on January 1, 1897.
The dedication service was under the direction of the program committee, consisting of Edmund L. Kelley, Daniel Anderson and Daniel F. Lambert. The opening prayer was by Rev. George Mitchell, of Davis City, Ia. The dedicatory address was delivered by President Joseph Smith. Speeches were made by Judge H. M. Towner, judge of the Third Judicial District of Iowa, and by Elder Joseph R. Lambert. The dedicatory prayer was offered by Prof. Mark H. Forscutt, dean of the faculty, and the dismissal prayer was offered by Elder Columbus Scott. An entertainment was given in the evening, and the day's exercises closed with a benediction by Elder Alexander H. Smith.
The fifty students in attendance were immediately transferred to the new building. In 1898 the trustees and directors were united in one board, to perform the duties of both.
Mr. Joseph T. Pence, first president, acted in that capacity until 1898, when Prof. Ernest Ritson Dewsnup, of Manchester, England, was secured. Professor Dewsnup acted until the end of the college year 1899, when he was succeeded by Prof. R. A. Harkness. In 1901 Prof. Herbert Spencer Salisbury, of Illinois, became president;
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following him C. O. Taylor acting president from 1902 to January, 1903; Charles Marr Barber, January, 1903, to June, 1903; Professor Dewsnup resumed the chair in 1903 and acted until June, 1905, when Prof. Rolland McLaren Stewart, of the University of Iowa, was called to the position. When Professor Stewart resigned, in 1908, Prof. David Allen Anderson, of Iowa University, became head of the college for one year, since which time, in the absence of an elec- tion to that office, Prof. Jeremiah Alden Gunsolley has acted in that capacity.
Many good and capable men and women have served on the faculty of Graceland in her history, and it is impossible in limited space to name them all. Almost without exception they have had the college and her interests at heart, and have helped in making Grace- land what she is today-contributing not only in their official capacity to the life of the college, but sacrificing of their time and talents outside of their work to the college and community, and even at times giving material aid financially.
The library of the college early became an important factor. Mrs. Mina Cook Hart was the first to attempt getting it in con- dition and properly classified. She arranged the books according to the Dewey Decimal System. A few years later, however, the library lapsed into a condition of haphazard growth, and by the fall of 1908 was in a condition of decided chaos so far as library law and order were concerned. Prof. Thomas J. Fitzpatrick, who had been that year elected to the head of the Department of Mathematics, being himself a private librarian and collector of some note, took the library work in charge, since which the library has assumed a rather phe- nomenal growth. He has been helped in his work as librarian by donations from individuals, faculty members, funds donated by the Athenian Literary Society, Zion's Religio-Literary Society and the General Sunday School Association. The library at its present rate of progress will soon comply with state requirements.
The museum, also an early attraction to college visitors, is now being well cared for, and will become more and more interesting and instructive. Professor Fitzpatrick is also in charge of the museum.
But in financial matters, in common with many other schools of her class, Graceland came near being grounded. There were those who expected to see her able to make her own way in the world, and there were those in the church who began to feel the support of this child of their own adoption becoming a burden to them; so in the
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year 1904, in about the seventh year of her age, Graceland received what was at the time considered her deathblow, when at Kirtland, O., the church in conference assembled, passed, after a lengthy dis- cussion, by a yea and nay vote of 851 for and 826 against, the follow- ing preambles and resolution :
"Whereas, The maintenance of Graceland College is proving to be a serious burden in a financial way and is likely to so continue; and,
"Whereas, There seems to be but a minority of the members of the church who favor its continuance; and,
"Whereas, The operation of a college of its character does not lie within the direct line of our appointed work as a church; therefore,
"Resolved, That we favor a discontinuance of Graceland College after the close of its present term, and recommend that the property be turned over to other uses such as may be agreed upon by the bishopric of the church and such other councils or persons as may be chosen by the general conference until such time as the general con- ference decides to reopen the college."
On May 12th the bishopric and board of trustees took under advise- ment the carrying out of the resolution and decided upon the follow- ing action, which, whatever may be said about its legitimacy, we believe has proved a blessing to many of us, who had it not been for the open doors of Graceland College, would never have had the privilege of the little learning we have had. The report of the council was as follows:
On May 12, 1904, the bishopric of the church and the Board of Trustees of Graceland College, to whom was referred the matter of the use and disposition of the property of Graceland College by resolution of the general conference at Kirtland, held a joint meet- ing in the rooms of the Herald Publishing House, Lamoni, Ia., and after due and careful consideration of their powers and duties in the premises adopted the following as a basis of work:
"First: That the Board of Trustees of Graceland College was by the general conference at its last session appointed a committee to act with the bishopric in caring for the property of Graceland College as shown by minutes of said conference, pages 705 and 706, and following the passage of a resolution of said conference, page 698 of minutes, to-wit:
"Resolved, That we favor a discontinuance of Graceland College after the close of its present term, and recommend that the property be turned over to other uses such as may be agreed upon by the bish- oprie of the church and such other councils or persons as may be
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chosen by the general conference until such a time as the general conference decides to reopen the college.
"Second: That the resolution favoring the discontinuance of Graceland College was acted upon without any notice whatever hay- ing been given that the same would be presented for action, as is required by the articles of incorporation of Graceland College, which reads as follows :
"These articles may be amended at any general conference of said Reorganized Church, or at any meeting of the board of trus- tees herein named, providing sixty days' published notice of said amendment and the nature of the same be given through the Saints' Herald prior to the time of such annual conference or meeting."- Article 15 of incorporation act.
"Third: That the resolution referred to of the general confer- ence cannot properly be considered an order for the closing of Grace- land College, for the same would be contrary to the articles of incor- poration, and the former action of general conference requiring sixty days' published notice before action upon such a resolution, and therefore absolutely void; but, that it was simply the expression of the sentiment of those present at the conference upon the ques- tion, without the authority of an action to close the college.
"Fourth: That this council, after due consideration of the ques- tion of closing the college and diverting the property to other uses than that of a college, which is duly provided for in the articles of incorporation, believe that it will actually cost less to run the college the ensuing year than to discontinue the running of the same; besides, it will so disturb the educational work, already in operation at great sacrifice and expense, as to make it doubtful if the college could ever recover from the effects of so stopping it.
"Therefore, after a full and respectful consideration of the feel- ing and sentiment expressed in the resolution by the general con- ference, it is the sense of this council that its members in their respective capacities and duties as members of the bishopric of the Reorganized Church, and as trustees of Graceland College, use every legitimate effort practicable to solicit and collect the means to liqui- date the full indebtedness now against the college, and, should the means be furnished, continue the running of the college according to its articles of incorporation, and the trust reposed by the church."
The board of trustees also took action as follows:
"Whereas, The conference in session at Kirtland, O., took action favoring the closing of the college without regard to a provision in
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the articles of incorporation requiring sixty days' notice in case of change of said articles, thereby doing injustice to a number of stu- dents and to parties who had purchased scholarships and made dona- tions, when a year's notice would seem none too long to take such action in a matter so important; and,
"Whereas, The sacrifice made in closing the college at this time is entirely too great, both by losing the services of President Dewsnup by reason of his educational standing, together with the extra expense of securing a president, who, if his equal, would cost us several thou- sand dollars more for the term which he was engaged, and the dis- couragement it may cost to the many who have given their aid in many ways and who have cause to fear the stability of the institution which may be closed with scarcely a moment's notice; and,
"Whereas, A resolution was presented later in the conference than the foregoing, by the quorum of twelve, favoring the running of the college as soon as the debt was paid, the board believing such to be the sentiment of the church membership generally, and that the closing of the college at the end of this year will present almost insurmountable obstacles to its reopening, and having an assurance from the bishopric that active measures will be taken at once looking to the immediate liquidation of the debt; therefore, be it
"Resolved, by the Board of Trustees of Graceland College, in special session assembled on this 12th day of May, 1904, That we immediately proceed with the work of procuring and electing mem- bers of the faculty, the distribution of catalogues, and the performing of such other duties as are prescribed by the articles of incorporation to continue the college in session for the next year; it is understood, however, that such action is to be contingent upon the debt against the college being paid."
The bishopric also took action regarding the financial phase of the affair, and the whole was embodied in the report of the trustees to the general conference of 1905. At the same time a minority report was brought in, and the subject of the legality of the action was discussed at length on the conference floor. As a good way out of the dilemma the conference finally decided to receive both reports and indorse neither. At the same conference the question of con- tinuing the college was again broached, and the following resolutions relative to the matter, after having been adopted by a joint council of the twelve, presidency and bishopric, were presented to the body and eventually adopted:
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"To the General Conference, Greeting-At a joint council of the first presidency, twelve and the bishopric held this morning, the following was adopted and presented to the conference:
"First. That after due consideration of the question of con- tinuing the running of the college, and the importance of the same in giving proper training and educational facilities to the youth of the church, and such others as may care to avail themselves of its bene- fits, together with the present status of the financial condition of the same, we are of the opinion that the college should continue; and whatever minor changes as to courses of study and methods of devel- opment, if any, be left as provided by its articles of incorporation with the board of trustees, and such changes as may be made directly by the conference.
"Second. We favor recommending to the conference that the expenses of running the college be met by voluntary contributions for the purpose, and that one day in each year be set apart, to be known as College Day, upon which offerings, in the manner of col- lections, shall be taken up in all districts and branches of the church, to aid the college work, the same to be forwarded to the bishop of the church to be devoted to such purposes.
"Respectfully submitted, "HEMAN C. SMITH, "FREDERICK M. SMITH, "Secretaries of Joint Council. "Lamoni, Ia., April 7, 1905."
The school had opened the previous fall as usual, but with the tremendous handicap of public opinion throughout the church against it. A fair number of students enrolled from various localities, rang- ing from Massachusetts on the east to Arizona on the west, Saskatchewan on the north and Texas on the south. It was at this perilous time that the advent of President Rolland M. Stewart found college affairs in a dubious condition. In all Graceland his- tory perhaps there never was a better loved, respected and capable president than Professor Stewart. It is enough to say for him that, laboring under the prejudices above mentioned, he doubled the enroll- ment during two years of his presidency. The year 1905 brought the first agitation for dormitories and industrial work. The first Sunday in each September was set apart as Graceland Day through- out the church for the taking of collections for the support of Grace- land. The next year this was changed to first Sunday in October.
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The refunding of railway fare brought the college nearer to the door of the prospective students. The action of the 1905 confer- ence brought new lease of life, and once more Graceland faced her problems with renewed determination to make good.
In 1907 the Industrial Department, mueh planned and talked of, was begun in a small way. A dormitory for girls was built at a cost of $3,100, and given the name of Marietta Hall, in honor of Mrs. Marietta Walker, a pioneer in church and college work. Mrs. Bettie B. Smith, a kind-hearted, motherly saint, was put in charge of the dormitory, and kitchen and dining room in the basement of the col- lege. It was a large family to cook for, and no one but "Aunt Bet- tie" could have done it. It was a small beginning, but by no means meager in memory to those who were there and visited there. The precious "first things" are always best, and the first days of dormi- tory life at Graceland were no exception. The boys and girls of those days could tell you the most interesting part of this history, for like most history, the best parts must forever be the unwritten ones. But who has forgotten the strolls on the college campus, the informal "sings" in the chapel, the quarrelings and makings-up of college life in those days? If that crowd were once more gathered on the eam- pus, I am sure that none would have forgotten how to play "three deep," or if they met in the basement kitchen would any fail to remember the right proportions of sugar and milk that would result in "dandy fudge." Even dish-washing had a charm undreamed of in mother's kitehen. But the Industrial School has grown older, more staid and more sober now, and things move in a more dignified way than at first; but perhaps some of the students of later years ean testify that none of the good times have been lost on the road.
The future of the Industrial School devolved upon Prof. Charles B. Woodstoek, of Kenosha, Wis., who has made a success of that phase of his work by his untiring effort. By this means many have gained an education who, had it been otherwise, might never have had it. The kitchen and dining room work and part of the laundry work is done by student help. The farm and all outdoor work is carried on by the men who are studying at the institution, as is also the janitor work, and in faet everything that student labor can do. The Graceland boys of several years ago, some of whom are now in the missionary field, who used to canvass the town in search of wood to saw, can best appreciate the better facilities for the man who wants to help himself. Professor Woodstock is the head of the manual training course, a department of the industrial work, which is desery-
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