USA > Maine > Cumberland County > History of Cumberland Co., Maine > Part 64
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In September, 1807, in consequence of the death of Presi- dent MeKeen, it became necessary to choose his successor. Some perplexity arose in consequence of the number of ap- plicants for the position, but finally the boards made selec- tion of Rev. Jesse Appleton, A.M., Dartmonth, who was at
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the time settled in the ministry in Hampton, N. II. ITis inauguration took place in December of the same year.
" President Appleton brought to the discharge of his duties a conscientiousness which forbade him to relax any effort, and a deep sense of responsibility both for the literary reputation and the moral and religious welfare of the institution. He possessed also rational views of colle- giate discipline, great discretion, unshrinking integrity, an uncommon spirit of command, true love of learning, culti- vated taste, habits of close application, and a delicacy and refinement of character which could not be surpassed. He had gained, in a degree unusual for one of his age, the respect of the elergy both of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, as may be inferred from the fact that in 1803 he was one of the two most prominent candidates for the Theological Chair of Harvard University. The selection of such an individual for the presidency of the college was deemed highly auspicious. But he was called at the out- set to encounter peculiar trials. Not to mention the relaxa- tion of discipline likely to ensue on account of the protracted illness of the former president, and the interval between his decease and the coming of a successor, it was a time when there was throughout the community a tendency to loose- ness of sentiment and character. At no period in the history of our colleges has there been more recklessness on the part of youth. The habits of society, which then made the use of intoxicating liquors an essential even of com- mon hospitality, exerted a most deleterious influence on all our colleges. . . . By the unwcaried assiduity, however, of President Appleton, by a uniform system of discipline, great energy, and firmness tempered with parental solicitude for the welfare of his pupils, and the influence of high moral and religious principle, which pervaded in .an uncommon degree all his intercourse with the students, the difficulties to which we have alluded were gradually overcome, and under his administration the college acquired a high repute for good morals as well as sound scholarship."
In the month of June, 1808, a few students associated themselves together for literary purposes, under the name of the "Athenacan Society of Bowdoin College." Henry Wood was the first president. This society for a few years surpassed its rival, the Peucinian, but soon languished, and in 1811 was temporarily discontinued. It was revived again in 1813, but was again disbanded in 1816 and its library divided. In 1818 it was again revived, and has continued till the present time. In 1820 the General Society was formed, and Levi Stowell was chosen as its first president. In 1822 its library was injured in the burning of Maine Hall, in which it was kept. In 1828 this society was incorporated by an act of the Legislature, and a new seal was adopted .* In 1836 its library was again almost totally destroyed by fire. In 1850 it received the cabinet of curiosities and other property of the " Caluvian Society." The membership of this society in 1856, the date of its last catalogue, was as follows : whole number of members, 885 ; initiated members, 739 ; honorary members, 79 ; members
of the General Society, 748; of the College Society, 67. Though these two literary societies still exist, yet neither of them, it is believed, are supported with the former vigor and enthusiasm.
In 1811, Mr. Bowdoin, the steadfast friend of the eol- lege, died. He bequeathed to this institution his valuable private library of more than 2000 volumes, besides a large number of pamphlets, charts, maps, and several articles of philosophieal apparatus, a valuable collection of minerals, comprising nearly 500 distinct specimens, arranged by Haiiy, nearly 400 models in crystallography, and a valu- able collection of paintings and engravings which he had collected in Europe. The value of this legacy was certainly not less than $15,000.
At a meeting of the board of trustees of the college, on May 19, 1812, it was voted " that in consideration of the great munificence of the late Hon. James Bowdoin, Esq., towards this institution, and the interest taken by it in his lamented decease, it is expedient and becoming that publie notice be taken of the event ; and therefore, voted, that the secretary of this board be requested to deliver, at the ensu- ing commencement, an eulogy to his memory." The board of overseers coneurred in this request, and at the ensuing commencement, September 2d, the eulogy was delivered by Rev. Mr. Jenks, and was afterwards published in pamphlet form by a vote of the boards.
This year Rev. William Jenks, A.M., Harvard, at that time settled in the ministry at Bath, the secretary of the board of trustees, was appointed professor of Oriental and English languages. He commenced his duties Jan. 5, 1813. "The erudition of this gentleman, and his classical taste, rendered his services an important acquisition." His appointment was for three years only, and he kept up his connection with his society in Bath. Efforts were made to retain him as a permanent instructor, but they were unsue- eessful. At this time the finances of the college were in a low state, almost the only source of income being the sale from time to time of some of its wild lauds, which were not then of much value.
In 1814 an act was passed by the General Court, making an annual grant to the several colleges in the common- wealth for ten years. The portion allotted to this college was $3000, one-fourth of which was to be appropriated to the payment of the tuition of indigent students. This year the " Benevolent Society of Bowdoin College" was instituted. It was at first composed entirely of graduates and undergraduates of the college, but it afterwards ad- mitted those not connected with the institution. It was incorporated, and had at one time funds to the amount of $700. From the printed constitution of the society the following facts are obtained :
The object of the society was to assist " indigent young men of promising talents and of good moral character in procuring an education at this college." No person could receive pecuniary assistance unless he had been a member of college for at least one term. Any one of twenty-one years of age or over could become a member by paying one dollar on admission and one dollar annually, or a life-mem- ber by paying ten dollars. The society received donations of books, furniture, clothing, or money, and the donor
* On the seal was engraven a head of Minerva, with the inscription, " Athenæan Society, B. C., Cul. Su. Sei. Cor." The abbreviations are for " Bowdoin College, Cultores suos scientia coronat" (Science crowns her worshipers).
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could designate the manner in which the gift should be appropriated, "provided it be for an object consistent with the design of the society." One-half of the money re- ceived into the treasury and not appropriated by the donors was reserved as a permanent fund, of which only the an- nual income could be used.
The death of President Appleton occurred in November, 1819, and in consequence thereof a special meeting of the boards was called in December to elcet his successor. Their choice fell upon Rev. William Allen, A.M , Har- vard, of Hanover, N. H., who had been president of Dart- mouth College. In September previous, Samuel P. New- man, A.M., Harvard, was elected to the professorship of Latin and Greek, which had been rendered vacant by the resignation, in 1816, of Professor Abbot. The new pro- fessor and president were both inaugurated in May, 1820.
The formation of the new State of Maine in 1820 af- feeted considerably the welfare of the college.
In the " Act of Separation," passed by the Legislature of Massachusetts, June, 1819, it was provided that the grants already made to the college, which would not expire under four years, should continue in full force after the District of Maine became a State, and that all the chartered rights of the college should be enjoyed without change, " except by judicial process according to the principles of law." By the constitution of Maine, on the other hand, the Legislature were restrained from making any grant to any literary institution, unless they should have a certain right of control over such institution." The trustees and over- seers of the college, therefore, deemed it wise to vest such right in the Legislature of Maine, in order to be able to derive aid from the State. Accordingly, an application was made by them to the Legislatures of both States " for their assent to such modifications of the college charter as would remove any impediment in the way of the college reeciving patronage from the Legislature of Maine."
In response to this petition, the Legislature of Massa- chusetts, on June 12th of this year, passed a resolve giving their consent to the alteration of the elause in the " Act of Separation" which referred to this college, provided the Legislature of Maine consented thereto, and that the alter- ation did not affect the rights or interests of the common- wealth. Four days later the Legislature of Maine passed an aet so far modifying the " Aet of Separation" as that the powers and privileges of the president, trustees, and overseers of the college should be subject to be "altered, limited, restrained, or extended by the Legislature of the State of Maine, as shall by the said Legislature be judged necessary to promote the best interests of said institution." The college having given its assent to this act, the Legisla- ture of Maine granted a continuance of the sum which had been given by Massachusetts, and which had been appro- priated for the purpose from a tax on the banks. By the power given them in this act, the Legislature also, in March, 1821, passed another act increasing the number of trustees to 25, and of overseers to 60, and the Governor and Council, by authority granted by the same act, pro- ceeded to fill by appointment the places which had been thus created. In this way 33 individuals were introduced into the two boards.
31
The college buildings at this time were three in number, arranged to form the three sides of a square, but at suitable intervals from each other. The southern building was of wood and two stories high. The lower apartment contained the library, consisting at that time of about 6000 vol- umes. The building on the north was a large, square, brick building, three stories high, divided into apartments for the philosophical apparatus, laboratory, mineralogieal cabinet, ete. The eastern building was of brick, and was four sto- ries high, and contained 32 rooms for students.
In 1822 an additional building, Winthrop Hall, was erected for dormitories. In March of this year, Maine Hall took fire and the entire interior was burnt, though the walls were not materially injured. The fire was dis- covered at three o'clock in the afternoon, and when first noticed was beyond control. It is supposed to have eaught in the garret, but no satisfactory knowledge of its origin can be given. The loss by this fire was considerable. The building alone eost $16,000. The theological library, con- sisting of from three to four hundred volumes, was almost entirely consumed. Twelve of the students lost all their wearing apparel, except what they had on at the time, to- gether with their furniture and bedding. The private property thus lost was estimated at the time not far from $1500.
This severe blow to the prosperity of the college was averted by the public liberality. Individual donations were extensively made, and contributions were received in a large number of the churches in Maine and Massachusetts, and thus the loss was fully repaired.
In 1824 two new professorships were created. Rev. Thomas C. Upham, A.M., Dartmouth, who was settled in the ministry in Rochester, N. H., was chosen Professor of Metaphysics and Ethics ; and Samuel P. Newman, Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory. They were inaugurated in Feb- ruary of the following year. Professor Newman also con- ducted the recitations in civil polity and political ceonoury, and Hebrew was taught by Professor Upham.
This year Alpheus S. Packard, A.M., a graduate of the college in the class of 1816, who had been a tutor since 1819, was chosen Professor of Languages and Classical Literature.
Professor Packard was the son of Rev. Dr. Hezekiah Packard, and was born in Chelmsford, Mass., on Dee. 23, 1798. Ilis connection with the college for a period of fifty-eight years is evidence not only of the high esteem in which he has always been held by the public, as well as by his colleagues and the alumni, but is also a proof of the wisdom originally displayed in his selection. Professor Packard, in addition to the professorship to which he was originally chosen, was appointed from 1842 to 1845 to fill the vacancy in the Chair of Rhetoric and Oratory, and in 1864 was made Professor of Natural and Revealed Religion. In addition to his college duties, he has, from time to time, supplied the pulpit in the churches of the neiglibor- ing towns. In 1860 he was honored with the title of S.T.D. from this college. In 1828 he was elected a member of the Maine Historical Society, in which he has for some years held and still holds the office of secretary. Ile has also for several years been one of its standing committee.
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MAINE.
In 1825, William Smyth, A.M., a graduate of this col- lege in the class of 1822, who had been a tutor for two years previously, was appointed Associate Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy. In 1828 he was made a professor in full. This year, 1825, a branch of the literary society of graduates, known as the Phi Beta Kappa, of which there is a branch in nearly all the older colleges of the country, was organized at this college.
In 1826 the first graduation* of a student belonging to the colored race occurred. John B. Russworm, afterwards Governor of Liberia, was the name of this individual.
In 1829, Ilenry W. Longfellow, A.M., a graduate of the class of 1825, was chosen to the professorship of Mod- ern Languages, towards the foundation of which $1000 had been bequeathed by Mrs. Dearborn, formerly the widow of Ilon. James Bowdoin. Professor Longfellow resigned his office in 1835, having been invited to a similar professorship in Harvard University. What is usually designated as "Commons Ilall" was built this year. It was designed, and for many years was used, as a dining room for the stu- dents. It is now used as a laboratory of analytical chem- istry.
In March, 1831, an act was passed by the Legislature which provided that no person then holding the office of president in any college in the State should hold said office beyond the day of the next commencement of the college, unless he should be re-elected ; and that no person should be elected or re-elected to the office of president unless he should receive in each board two-thirds of all the votes given on the question of his election ; and that any person elected to said office should be liable to be removed at the pleasure of the board or boards which should elect him. It was furthermore provided that the fees usually paid to the president for degrees should be paid into the treasury, for the use of the college, and be no longer a perquisite of office. " This unprecedented act of legislation excited the deep concern of all who felt an interest in the permanency and stability of our literary institutions. Though applica- ble alike to both colleges of the State, its immediate object and direct bearing no one has ever pretended to disguise."
At their next meeting the trustees and overseers voted to acquiesce in this act of the Legislature, and at once pro- cecded to choose a president, but failed in consequence of their inability to get a two-thirds majority in both boards. A committee of the two boards was chosen to petition the Legislature for a repeal of the provision of the act requiring a two-thirds majority in each board. President Allen, how- ever, did not wait the result of this petition, but at once proceeded to test the constitutionality of this legislative en- actment by a suit in the Circuit Court of the United States. The case was argued before Honorable Joseph Story, asso- ciate justice of the Supreme Court, and Honorable Ashur Ware, district judge. The decision of the court had not only an important bearing upon the welfare of this college, but was also one which involved the chartered rights of all such institutions, and is deserving, therefore, of more par- ticular mention in these pages.
The following abstract of this decision is taken from a
" In 1858 a colored gentleman named Jacob M. Moore was gradu- nted from the Medical School.
published sketch of the college by Professor Packard, from which we have already freely quoted :+
" ]. A college established for the promotion of learning and piety is a private and not a public corporation. Io the charter of Bowdoin College the visitorial power is intrusted to the Boards of Trustees and Overseers; as soon as they accepted the charter, they acquired a permanent right and title in their offices, which could not be diverted except in the manner pointed ont in the charter. The Legislature was bound by the net; they could not resume their grant, and they could not touch the vested rights, privileges, or franchises of the college, except so far as the power was reserved by the sixteenth section of the act. The language of that section is certainly very broad, but it is not unlimited. It is there declared that the Legislature 'may grant forther powers to, or alter, limit, annul, or restrain any of the powers by this act vested in the said corporation, as shut be judged necessary to promote the best interest of the college.' Whatever it may do, then, must be done to promote the best interest of the college. It is true that it is constitute'd the sole judge of what is the best ioterest of the college ; but still it cannot do anything pointedly destructive of that interest. Its authority is confined to the enlarging, altering, annulling, or restraining of the powers of the corporation. It cannot intermeddle with its property ; it cannot extinguish its corporate existence ; it cannet resume all its property, and annihilate all its powers and franchises. The Legislature must leave its vitality and property, and enable it still to act as a college. It eannot remove the trustees or overseers, though it may abridge, as well as enlarge, their powers.
"2. Bowdoin College has never surrendered any of its rights. Whatever may have been the intentions of these concerned, at the outset, in regard to a surrender of the college to the State, there has been a miscarriage of the parties; it has never been de jure under the control of the Legislature of Maine.
" 3. But admitting that the college, as was contemplated, did come under the control of the Legislatore of Maine, when it is stated in the act modifying the college charter that the president and trustces and overseers of Bowdoin College shall enjoy their powers and privileges, subject to be altered, limited, restrained, or extended by the Legisla- ture, no authority is conferred upon the Legislature to add new mem- bers to the boards by its own nomination or by thut of the Governer and Council of the State. That would be an extension, not of the pewers and privileges of the boards, but of the legislative action over them. If the Legislatore could add one new member of its own choice or appointment, it could add any number whatsoever. It could an- nihilate the powers and privileges of the charter boards under the pretense of alteration or extension. The Legislature might authorize an enlargement of the boards, but the places thus created must be filled by the boards themselves.
" 4. The act of the Legislature, removing the presidents of Bow- doin and Waterville Colleges out of office at a certain time, is a direct exercise of a power which was expressly and exclusively conferred on the college boards by the original charter, and which has never been taken from them.
" 5. President Allen was in office under a lawful contraet made with the boards, by which contract he was to hold that office during good behavior The act of the Legislature directly impairs the obligations of that contract. It takes away from him his tenure of office, and removes him from it. Heldiag his office during good behavior, he could not be removed from it except for gross misbehavior ; and then only by the boards, in the manner pointed out in the original charter."
Immediately upon the decision of the court being an- nounced, President Allen resumed the discharge of the duties of his office.
In 1835, Daniel R. Goodwin, then a tutor in college, suc- cecded Longfellow as Professor of Modern Languages. Ile served in this capacity until 1853, when he resigned, to accept the presideney of Trinity College, Connecticut.
President Allen resigning in 1839, Rev. Leonard Woods, of Bangor Theological Seminary, son of Rev. Leonard Woods, a well-known divine, was elected as his successor. President Woods was at that time well known for his
+ For the full text of this decision see Allen rs. McKeeo, I Sumner's Report, 276.
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scholarly culture and attainments, and his reputation has steadily increased. In 1839 he received the honorary de- grec of D.D. from Waterville College, and in 1846 from Harvard College. In 1866 he received that of LL.D. from Bowdoin. He was not only an eminent scholar and a fine teacher, but he attracted students by his courteous demeanor and by his lenient disposition. Ile resigned in 1866, after a period of service extending over twenty-seven years,-much longer than that of any previous president.
In 1842 a professorship of Political Economy was founded, and Alpheus S. Packard was chosen as the first professor in that branch. He was succeeded in 1845 by Hlenry Il. Boody, then a tutor.
On July 16th of this latter year, the corner-stone of King Chapel was laid with Masonic ceremonies. There were present the Grand Lodge of Maine, the Boston Encamp- ment of Knights Templar, the Portland Encampment of Knights Templar, the Mount Vernon Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Portland, the Montgomery Chapter of Bath, Ancient Landmark Lodge of Portland, Solar Lodge of Bath, Freeport Lodge of Freeport, and United Lodge of Brunswick. At the northwest angle of the ground there was a raised platform, upon which were the officers of the college, the Grand Lodge, and the Knights Templar. President Woods read the psalm "Latatus sum," and made an address. Prayer was offered by Rev. William T. Dwight, and John T. Paine, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Maine, assisted by Hon. Robert P. Dunlap, ex-Grand Master, then laid the stone in due form. A silver plate provided by the college, and one provided by the Grand Lodge, were deposited in the proper receptacle in the stone.
In 1855 the new chapel was completed. The entire cost was $45,000. On June 7th it was dedicated. The services of the occasion consisted of a selection from the Scriptures and a prayer by Rev. George E. Adams, a hymn, an address by President Woods, a second hymn, a sermon by Prof. Hitchcock, and a concluding prayer by Rev. Dr. Dwight. The services were attended by the under-graduates, many graduates, the college boards and faculty, and many friends of the college, who assembled in the library, from whence they moved to the chapel in a procession conducted by Hon. Charles J. Gilman as marshal.
In 1848 a professorship of Rhetoric and Elocution was founded, that of Political Economy being merged iu it, and Prof. Henry HI. Boody was appointed to this office. He was succeeded in 1856 by Egbert C. Smyth, son of Prof. William Smyth, a graduate of the college in 1848, and a tutor in 1849.
A professorship of Natural and Revealed Religion was founded in 1850 by subscriptions among the Orthodox Congregationalists, and Calvin E. Stowe, D.D., of the class of 1829, an eminent scholar and theologian, was chosen to that office. Ile was succeeded in 1852 by Roswell D. Ilitch- cock, a graduate of Amherst in 1836, now of New York City. In 1856, Prof. E. C. Smyth was transferred to this chair, and Joshua L. Chamberlain, of the class of 1852, was appointed to the chair of Rhetoric and Oratory. In 1858, William Russell, a distinguished elocutionist, assisted in his branel.
Prof. Goodwin resigned in 1855, and Charles Carroll
Everett, now a professor in Harvard College, occupied the chair of Modern Languages for two years, from 1555 to 1857. He was succeeded by Prof. Chamberlain for two years, when William A. Packard, class of 1851, now pro- fessor at Princeton, gave the instruction for one year. In 1861, Prof. Chamberlain was again placed in the chair of Modern Languages, that of Rhetoric and Oratory being filled in 1862 by Rev. Eliphalet Whittlesey, a graduate of Yale.
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