USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Waterville > The history of Colby College > Part 5
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31
JEREMIAH THE PROPHET
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wounds of adversity. For that reason his triumphs in behalf of the col- lege were all the greater.10
As we shall see in a later chapter, Chaplin left the college as a result of difficulties with the students. Yet, ten years after that unhappy separation, Dr. Pattison was able to say:
When Dr. Chaplin retired from this place, there is reason to fear that he carried with him an unhappy but false impression of the estimate the public set upon his services. Few individuals ever retired from a station of equal responsibility with more universal respect. He car- ried with him the affections of all who were capable of appreciating him, and the reputation of being a great and good man who had done an important and useful work.11
Stern Calvinist though he was, Jeremiah Chaplin had profound respect for education. He had no sympathy for those who held that the church did not need an educated ministry. He had pity, but no respect for the earnest young men who had envisioned P.C. blazoned across the heavens and had interpreted it as Preach Christ when for them it probably meant Plant Corn. Chaplin was convinced that a man could be true to his Bible and still respect the learning of men. He went a great deal farther than some of his Baptist brethren, who held that a strictly theological education was all any minister needed. He believed that minister and layman alike needed a liberal literary education. To that view too many of the Baptist constituency in Maine were apathetic, and to overcome that apathy Jeremiah Chaplin devoted his talent and his zeal.
Such was the man who came to Waterville in 1818 to start a literary and theological institution. Jeremiah the Prophet was now ready to go to work.
CHAPTER V
A Modest Start
W HEN the Institution was established, there seems to have been no in- tent to elect a president. Jeremiah Chaplin was appointed solely as Professor of Divinity and Ira Chase was asked to be Professor of Languages. That the two were to act independently and both be responsible directly to the Trustees is implied by the records. The Trustees either thought the theological and lit- erary departments would have entirely different students, or they had a naive confidence in the possibility of harmony in a situation where no one in residence had administrative authority.
Ira Chase declined to teach the literary subjects. No one was immediately found for the position, and during its first two years the Maine Literary and Theological Institution lived up to the last half only of its name. Chaplin's theo- logical students comprised the entire student body. In May, 1819, there were seventeen such students. How many were enrolled during the entire existence of the theological department cannot be ascertained. The college archives con- tain no record of those theological students who began, but failed to complete, the course. The Triennial Catalogue of 1825 did publish the names of all men who finished the theological course before it was abandoned in that very year. Three had received certificates in 1820, one in 1821, three in 1822, one in 1823, two in 1824, and five in 1825-a total of fifteen men. Only one of them achieved fame, and he did so vicariously. He was Henry Stanwood, who as principal of China Academy induced Elijah Parish Lovejoy to attend Waterville College.
The Institution, minus its literary department, went through a precarious year in 1818-19. At a meeting of the Trustees in May, the Treasurer reported a current debt of nearly a thousand dollars, in addition to what was still owed on the purchase of Waterville land. Not a single building had yet been erected. Chaplin, promised a salary of $600 a year, had been paid only $490. House rent of $140 was still owed to Abial Wood. John Neal claimed $193 for sur- veying the Argyle lands, and the Treasurer, Timothy Boutelle, was out of pocket $88.52 for money he had advanced to pay small bills. Naturally the Trustees were greatly concerned. How could such a deficit be met?
As was to happen time and again during the following decade, it was Chap- lin who made the first sacrifice. He offered to remit $100 of his promised salary, and the Board solemnly voted that "whereas Professor Chaplin has generously offered to relinquish one hundred dollars of his salary the present year, he shall have similar accommodations the year to come as the last year." That vote meant that Chaplin was to have another year of free rent in the Wood house.
John Neal had taken a few notes for sale of land from the college grant, but those notes could not be turned into cash. Prospective buyers for the lands were
34
HISTORY OF COLBY COLLEGE
scarce enough anyhow, and the few who did seem interested could make no cash payments. The Trustees therefore felt compelled to turn their attention to the land which they had acquired in Waterville.
When the old campus was abandoned and the college was removed to May- flower Hill, more than a century later, the area of the campus proper had been reduced to 29 acres, with a few more lots still owned by the College on College Avenue between the railroad crossing and the Elmwood Hotel. What had hap- pened to the huge tract of more than 800 acres, which the College had once owned between the Kennebec and the Messalonskee? It was known that several sales had been made to the railroad between 1848 and 1880, but what was not as well known was that over the years numerous sales had been made to indi- viduals, chopping off, bit by bit, all of that extensive acreage except the crowded 29 acres along the river.
The losses began at that pessimistic trustee meeting in 1819. It was then voted that "a committee of three (Asa Redington, Nathaniel Gilman and Timothy Boutelle) be appointed to sell the lands belonging to the Institution in Waterville, lying on the west side of the road leading to Fairfield, and receive notes payable in six or twelve years on interest." It did not appreciably soften the blow when the Board also voted to authorize a committee to "appoint agents for the purpose of soliciting subscriptions and donations for the Institution." The damage had already been done, and a disastrous whittling away of the Waterville land had now commenced.
During the year, Chaplin had become increasingly concerned about local public relations. Waterville citizens were asking pointed questions. Where was the promised literary department? When was the Institution going to start a building? Did the Trustees really intend to build in Waterville, or would they soon set up the school elsewhere? Although a substantial part of the local sub- scription had been promised in the form of labor or material for buildings, Chaplin felt that a significant part could be secured in cash, if the subscribers could be convinced that the Trustees meant business. On March 1, 1819, Chaplin wrote the following letter to William King.
The legislature, it seems, has rejected our petition,1 and in doing this have told us we must either be contented to sink or must help ourselves. I hope we shall unanimously resolve to do the latter. I cannot think of abandoning the Institution. It is, in my view, an establishment of great importance, and eminently calculated, if properly managed, to promote the interest of literature and religion. But I apprehend it is vain to expect any more encouragement from the legislature. So many men of influence in the state are engaged to support the University at Cam- bridge and the two colleges already established,? that we shall find it very difficult to obtain a legislature disposed to assist us.
The members of our legislature who belong to Massachusetts proper expect, no doubt, that the District of Maine will ere long become an in- dependent state, in which event all they give to an institution here will, as to their constituents, be thrown away. Should Maine be formed into a separate state, we should have a reasonable prospect of aid from the new legislature. But a considerable time would elapse before aid could come to us. Our resources are extremely small. The agents ap- pointed to dispose of our township on the Penobscot have not been able to do anything as yet. Nor does it seem likely they will be able to sell either soil or timber very soon.
35
A MODEST START
Besides, we are yet considerably in debt for the lot purchased in this town. There is indeed enough due from persons in the vicinity who subscribed to the Institution, but it is difficult to persuade them to make payment. They feel disappointed. They expected the Institution would go into operation last May. They have now waited nine months and very little has been done. Instruction has not yet commenced in the literary department. As to the theological instruction, they see it in- deed in operation, but on a very small scale. Hence they are ready to conclude that the money they have subscribed will be lost, at least to them and their families. Many of the subscribers are of the poorer class and expected to pay their subscriptions in labor or material for building.
In such a state of embarrassment, is it not necessary to call a meeting of the Trustees without delay? I think if the Trustees would appoint suitable agents to travel through Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts, something might be obtained in this very year.
Messrs. Redington, Gilman, and Boutelle3 all seem desirous that some such measure be adopted. They entertain the hope that, should the people of this vicinity perceive that the Trustees are disposed to make vigorous efforts to place our Institution on a respectable footing, they will not only pay with cheerfulness what they have subscribed, but will afford substantial aid in other ways. These three men expect to assemble the people of our village, tomorrow evening, to hold a consultation on this matter.4
Just a week later, on March 8, the worried Chaplin again wrote to General King. King had evidently assured Chaplin that there was still hope of getting something from the Massachusetts legislature. Chaplin could not share the Gen- eral's optimism. For a man who spent his life in pulpit, study and classroom, Jeremiah Chaplin was an unusually practical man. He advised King to face the cold logic of the situation.
I am not as sanguine as you in regard to aid from the legislature. I think we should prepare for the worst. Even if the legislature should grant us all we ask, and we should sell a part of the township granted on the Penobscot, we shall still need a great deal more to enable us to put our seminary on a respectable footing. We have expensive build- ings to erect, a library to procure, and instructors to pay. For those objects large sums will be necessary.
The sum of $800 is due in this town from men who, at the time they subscribed, expected to make payment in labor and materials, and who cannot be prevailed to advance the money. Mr. Gilman believes that, should the corporation assemble early this spring and authorize the erec- tion of a handsome wooden building sufficient, in addition to the house already hired, to accommodate the instructors and students, the work might be done without much expense to the Institution. He appears confident that then a very handsome addition to the sum already sub- scribed might be obtained. He, Redington and Boutelle believe the main point is for the Trustees to resolve on the erection of a building this year. Until this is done, it will be difficult to persuade the great mass of the people here that the Institution is likely to go into complete and successful operation. They expected that two professors would have been employed and one building, at least, erected last summer. They complain that so much money has been expended on the purpose of
36
HISTORY OF COLBY COLLEGE
land, and can hardly believe that the Trustees truly intend to estab- lish the Institution in this town. It is useless to tell them that their sus- picion is groundless. They will not believe us till they see effectual means taken for the erection of a building on the college lot.
At a meeting in the village last week, the following resolution was passed: 'Resolved, that Messrs. Gilman, Appleton, Partridge and Chaplin be a committee for the purpose of carrying into effect our resolution that we consider it highly important that the Maine Literary and Theological Institution be put into complete and efficient operation as soon as possible, and that a building for the use of the Institution be erected during the ensuing summer, for the attainment of which object we en- gage to use our best endeavors.'5
General King was reluctant to call a special meeting of the Trustees. He still hoped for aid from the legislature, and much of his personal time and energy were now being devoted to working out the ultimately successful plans for separation of Maine from Massachusetts. He still held the institution at Waterville close in his affections, but it was not his major interest. A month went by, and Chaplin felt impelled to write the General again.
You think it expedient for the friends of the Institution, in case of ex- tremity, to put their hands into their pockets, and you add, 'which I am perfectly willing to do.' I do not know but we shall have to take you at your word. Rev. Mr. Bolles of Salem has generously offered to give $100 toward defraying the expense of the building which we hope soon to erect. A few such offers would put us in possession of all the money we need for that object.
Mr. Boutelle and I believe that little or no money can be obtained from the Baptist churches by addressing them through the medium of the newspapers. Besides, we fear that, to address them in that manner, would give a political character to our seminary, which we ought to avoid.
I have little expectation of legislative aid so long as we remain united to Massachusetts. I am inclined to think we shall ultimately succeed in our endeavor to endow the seminary established in this place, pro- vided we make vigorous and persistent exertions and enjoy the smiles of Divine Providence.
Messrs. Redington, Gilman, Appleton and Boutelle met at the Water- ville Bank on Saturday afternoon and concluded it was expedient to muster a company for the proposed clearing of part of the college lot and of hewing the timber to frame the building. The day appointed is Wednesday next.6
Jeremiah Chaplin's importunity at last prevailed, and a special meeting of the Trustees was held on May 19, 1819. General King was absent, but Timothy Boutelle, who had come to be, next to King, the most influential man on the Board, put the weight of his influence behind Chaplin's plea for immediate building. A committee was appointed "to inquire into the finances and report later in the present meeting what money may be raised this summer for erecting buildings." The committee's report, while not glowingly optimistic, did encourage the Board to set up another committee "to take into consideration and report at the present meeting the expediency of erecting one or more buildings during the present year, on college land in Waterville, and of what size and of what
37
A MODEST START
materials." In response to the report of this second committee, Nathaniel Gil- man, Timothy Boutelle and Asa Redington were made a committee:
To erect a wooden building on the college land, two stories high and 40 by 20 feet, with an ell 22 by 18 feet, and the said committee are hereby directed to use the lumber now on the spot and are authorized to collect the subscriptions which were made in Waterville and vicinity for the Institution, and which were payable in labor and lumber, and to apply them to the building of said house. Said committee are also authorized to contract for brick to be made, not exceeding 200,000, and also for other material for the college edifice to be commenced as early next season as practicable, and to prepare and present to the Trustees at their next meeting, in August, 1819, a plan of a college building; and said committee are also authorized to fix the place on which to erect the wooden building.
That vote of the Trustees is of such historical importance that it deserves careful elucidation: In the first place, it makes clear that the predicted gathering of citizens to clear the lot, late in April, actually took place. Citizens turned out with axes and saws, cut the trees, and stacked the logs, so that they could be easily carted to a sawmill.
The recorded vote also shows that the Trustees were planning for two build- ings. The first, to be built immediately, was a wooden structure in the form of a dwelling house. A house of two stories, of which the main portion measures only 40 by 20 feet is not a large building, even when a 22 foot ell is appended. That first building on the college lot was intended to free the Institution from the necessity of renting the Wood house. It was to be a home for the professor of divinity and his family, and have room enough to house a few theological stu- dents, just as Chaplin had been doing in the Wood house and previously in the parsonage at Danvers. But such student housing was to be only temporary. Not only did the Trustees expect soon to have more students than the proposed house would accommodate, but the entire house might soon be needed for Chaplin's growing family. That house for the professor was to be erected immediately, in the summer of 1819.
The vote also provided for a second building, to be built in the summer of 1820, and that was to be a substantial college building, constructed of brick, though at the time of the May vote its dimensions had not been determined. At the annual meeting in August it was decided that the large brick building should be 120 feet long, 40 feet wide, and three stories high. That was not far dif- ferent from the building which the original trustees had intended to erect in the wilderness on the Penobscot River, when the first charter had required that the college itself be placed on the Argyle grant. In 1813, within a few weeks of securing the charter, the Trustees had voted:
It shall be the duty of the Standing Committee to fix the spot on the township for the Institution. They shall cause a plot of ground one hundred rods square to be cleared as soon as conveniently may be, the plot to extend 60 rods in front of the spot chosen for the building, and on each side squally. They shall proceed, as fast as funds will permit, to prepare brick and other materials for one building, which shall be 38 feet wide, and its length in proportion to the means and apparent exigency of the corporation, said building to be three stories high, the lowest nine feet, the second eight feet, and the third seven feet all in the clear.
38
HISTORY OF COLBY COLLEGE
The house for Chaplin was started in July, 1819, on the site afterward oc- cupied by Memorial Hall. Waterville's pioneer merchant, James Stackpole, re- corded in his diary that on April 26, "At Mr. Chaplin's request there turned out about six men, to clear a piece of the college lot for him to set his house."7 Then on July 15, "A number of citizens are helping Mr. Chaplin put up his house on the college lot." In September, Chaplin himself wrote to Dr. Baldwin in Boston: "We are going on with our dwelling house and are making preparations for the large college building, which we intend to erect next season. I say 'intend', but how we shall obtain the necessary funds I do not know. All I can say is that I trust the Baptist people in the region have money enough to defray the expense of putting up such a building, and that the Lord will open their hearts. I wish our friends at the West could give us a lift, but this must be as they please." Al- ready, in July, Chaplin had written to Lucius Bolles, a prominent trustee: "Our agent has just begun to prepare for erecting the building which the corporation at their last session agreed to erect on the college lot."
When the new college year started in the late summer of 1819, the frame house being erected for Chaplin was nearly ready for occupancy, and plans were confidently in motion for the large college building. Chaplin's fears about suf- ficient funds proved to be well founded. The big building did not go up during the following summer. It was not until 1821 that those plans came to fruition.
Meanwhile the Trustees were busy winning friends and influencing people to loosen their pocketbooks. The first printed document issued by the Institu- tion was widely distributed in the summer of 1819. It consisted of two parts: an historical account of the school's origin, and an appeal to the public for sup- port. The full text of this document, published on May 21, 1819, will be found in Appendix H.8
The pamphlet called attention to the two distinct departments of what was termed a "seminary." It said, "The design of the Trustees in founding this sem- inary is not limited to such students as have the gospel ministry in view, but ex- tends to those who are desirous of engaging in any of the learned professions. It has, accordingly, a literary as well as a theological department. Students who enter the former are required to possess nearly the same qualifications and pur- sue, in general, the same courses of study as those who enter the several colleges of this commonwealth."
The theological students were divided into three groups. Those who had already received thorough instruction in Latin and Greek would devote two years to theology and sacred literature. A footnote added, "At present there are in the seminary no students of this description." A second group, with no classical background, would remain for four years, devoting the first three to Latin and Greek, and the fourth to theology. A third group was comprised of students who had no intention of studying the classical languages. They took a two-year course, pursuing in the first year English grammar, arithmetic, rhetoric, logic, geography, and English composition, then devoting the second year to theology.
The seminary calendar can be deduced from what the pamphlet says about vacations. The statement reveals, to our surprise, that the school year began, not in September, but in May. The first term extended from the middle of May to the third Wednesday in August; the second term began early in September and closed on the last Wednesday in December. Then came the long vacation, which was to be customary in New England colleges through fully three-quarters of the nineteenth century. The third term began about the first of March and closed on the first Wednesday in May. The most familiar feature of this calendar was the
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A MODEST START
three-term system, which prevailed in most colleges until well into the twentieth century, when the semester plan became more common.
What did it cost to attend the Maine Literary and Theological Institution? Tuition was four dollars a term. Board and room could be had for one dollar a week, if the student cared for his room and did his own washing. If care of the room, washing and mending were supplied for him, the cost was $1.50 per week. He had to supply his own fuel at $1.50 a cord in four-foot lengths, then saw and split it himself.
As early as 1819 the Institution recognized a custom which caused annoyance to both faculty and students in the New England colleges for many years. The pamphlet refers to this custom in these words: "Students are permitted to assist themselves by keeping school during the winter vacation, and may be absent, for that purpose, four or five additional weeks, provided the instructors deem it necessary." As a result of that provision, the spring term often opened with fewer than half the students in attendance. They straggled back over a period, not only of five, but sometimes of seven or eight weeks, with the harassed pro- fessors doing their best to see that missed recitations were properly made up. Sometimes the work could be covered by examinations, but in that day, when great emphasis was placed on the oral recitation, professors devoted many extra hours to students who had spent the winter presiding over one-room district schools.
That portion of the pamphlet concerned with the "Address to the Public" called attention to the Institution's religious emphasis, but because it was meant for all citizens, it did not refer to Baptists.
It has long been a subject of regret that at many of the literary institu- tions in this country a large majority of the students are utter strangers to experimental and practical religion. The pious young man who be- comes a member of any of these seminaries is placed in circumstances far from favorable to his spiritual progress. Hence, however fervent his piety at the commencement of his collegiate or academical course, he usually becomes cold and formal in his devotions long before that course is completed. This fact ought to influence the inhabitants of Maine to patronize the Institution established at Waterville. All the students in this seminary at present have the gospel ministry in view and are hope- fully pious. How much better it must be for a pious youth to receive instruction at a seminary where a large proportion of the students pos- sess a spirit congenial to his own, than at a seminary where the pre- dominant influence is directly contrary. In a seminary where many are truly pious, the rest can hardly fail to be overawed and may be ex- pected to refrain from many vices into which their unhallowed passions would otherwise hurry them.
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