A. Y. Moore
History of Hanover College
(Indianapolis: The Hollenbeck Press, 1900)
Hanover Historical Texts Project
Scanned, proofread and posted by Raluca Preotu, 1998-1999.
Page last updated: March 18, 2001.
Chapter V
57-79
The answer of the board to a question of Mr. McMasters respecting the extent of the country that might be considered tributary to the College sets forth very clearly the difference between the Hanover of that day of steamboat traveling, and before there were any railroads in the State, and the Hanover of to-day, when railroads are everywhere and steamboat traveling is comparatively a thing of the past. The board wrote: "Judging from the patronage heretofore given, we would answer that the extent of country is immense, the inhabitants of which are disposed to patronize our College. As it is located on the bluffs of the Ohio river, almost all the States of the great valley are brought, as it were, to its doors, so that we have students from New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois and Missouri, as well as from the Southwestern States." In their reply to the questions of Mr. McMasters the [Page 58] trustees fully set forth the difficulties and embarrassments of the institution: no funds for the support of the faculty and for contingent expenses, except tuition fees of students and such aid as could be gathered by agents from friends of the institution willing to contribute to its support; the debt of the College about equal in amount to the value of its property; the untoward events that had occurred, greatly embarrassing the College; the great tornado that had wrecked the College building; the fact that the College had been without a President or chief executive officer for the past two years; and the great financial depression and distress of the country that had begun in the preceding year and was still prevailing. But the trustees also set forth in their letter the encouragements they had for the institution. First, the fact that, with no other foundation but the faith and prayers and efforts of its founders, it had grown in eleven years from a school of six scholars in a log cabin fourteen by sixteen feet to be one of the most reputable colleges in the West. Second, the fact that the Old School part of the Presbyterian Church took a lively interest in it, and looked to it for their future ministry, and the assurance that the friends of the College were numerous, and would, if it were conducted acceptably to them, exert their influence to direct students to it and aid its funds.
Mr. McMasters accepted the Presidency. He was expected to be in Hanover at the commencement, which then occurred in September, but did not arrive until two days after. On November 7, 1838, during the first week of the opening college year, he was inaugurated [Page 59] President. He was at this time thirty-two years of age. He was a man of great abilities and great learning, and, beginning in his connection with Hanover College the educational work of his life, he became greatly distinguished in it, though not so much in collegiate as in theological instruction. He sought with an earnest zeal the promotion of the interests of the College, and in many ways manifested an eminent wisdom and prudence. One of the first things recommended by President McMasters was the establishment of a Law Department in connection with the College. Upon his recommendation Judge Eggleston, an eminent jurist of Madison, who, it was ascertained, would accept the position, was elected Professor of Law. At the end of the college year four students reported in the Law Department. At the beginning of the year 1839 Professor Butler resigned his professorship, and shortly afterwards Samuel Galloway, of Hillsborough, Ohio, a graduate of Miami University, was elected his successor as Professor of Greek and Latin. At the annual meeting of the board in September, 1839, Dr. Crowe was compelled by the state of his health, which had been declining for several years, to resign his position as secretary of the board, and also his professorship in the College. He spent the winter in western Texas, and returned the following spring with renewed vigor, and, declining the further work of instruction in the College, was called a second time to the pastorate of the church of Hanover, and was again, in August, 1840, installed as pastor.
In the fall of 1840 an event not a little detrimental to the interests of the College occurred. It was the removal [Page 60] of the Theological Seminary from Hanover to New Albany. For several years this change had been foreshadowed. The primary object in the establishment of Hanover Academy and College had been the education of ministers of the gospel for the growing West. For the accomplishment of this work the Synod of Indiana had established in connection with it a Theological Department. The growing wants of the West had brought into association with the Synod of Indiana other adjoining Synods, and an entire separation of the management of the Theological Department from the College had been effected, and the Theological Department had become a theological seminary entirely independent of the College, except its funds were under the management of the trustees of the College. It had, however, been ascertained that its connection with Hanover College even this much was a reason for some of the friends of the colleges of neighboring Synods to stand aloof from the Seminary, under the impression that it gave to the College at Hanover an important advantage over its rivals in their laudable competition for public favor. The directors of the Seminary therefore proposed, with the concurrence of the several Synods interested, to submit the question of its continuance at Hanover or removal from it to a delegated convention called to determine the question of location. This convention met at Louisville in November, 1838. New Albany, Hanover and Charlestown were put in nomination. New Albany offered a bonus of eight thousand dollars; Hanover offered a bonus of two thousand dollars, which included a beautiful site for buildings overlooking the river, a gift [Page 61] offered by the owner, George Logan, an elder of the Presbyterian church. Charlestown offered no bonus. New Albany was chosen. But it was two years before all arrangements were made for removal of the Seminary to its new home. During its continuance in Hanover its number of students had gradually increased from three to thirty. Dr. Matthews had continued with it from the beginning, and remained in the institution until his death, which occurred on the 19th of May, 1948, in the seventy-seventh year of his age. There had been associated with him at Hanover five different Professors in the chair of Biblical and Oriental Literature. Of two of these, Professors Cunningham and Bishop, mention has been already made. The third was Rev. Oswald Hunter, from Scotland. He was on a visit to friends, and was persuaded by the directors of the Seminary to occupy temporarily the chair of Ecclesiastical History and Church Government. Upon the death of Professor Bishop he was called to the chair of Biblical and Oriental Literature. His wife dying soon afterward, he returned at the close of the session to Scotland. The Synod of Kentucky, in the fall of 1838, elected the Rev. Lewis W. Green Professor of Biblical Criticism and Oriental Literature. He entered upon his duties at Hanover, but after a few months resigned and returned to Kentucky. In the fall of 1839 the directors elected the Rev. James Wood to the chair that had been vacated by Professor Green, and in November he brought his family to Hanover and entered upon his duties. The presence and work and influence of these men had been of great benefit to the College and community, and the [Page 62] removal of the institution which had brought such men and which would take them away with it was felt as a sore bereavement.
Before the removal of the Seminary occurred, Professor Galloway resigned. Judge Eggleston's health also failed him, and the Law Department of the College was closed because the trustees were unable to provide a successor to Judge Eggleston. During the continuance of the Law Departmnent its attendance increased to ten students. At the annual meeting of the board in September, 1840, the Rev. C. K. Thompson was elected to succeed Professor Galloway. Minard Sturgus was elected principal of the Preparatory Department and Professor of Modern Languages. Mr. Thompson could not, on account of other labors in which he engaged, accept the professorship to which he was elected. The year after Professor Sturgus was elected Professor of Greek and Latin. Combined with all these changes and discouragements still continued the burden of the corporation's debt. The financial stringency still continued, and hard times. The attendance of students had also been decreasing. The number on the catalogue for 1840 was one hundred and five, but the largest number present at any time was eighty-five. The number on the catalogue for 1841 was eighty-five, but the largest number in attendance at any time was sixty-five. Certainly there had been depression, and there was discouragement. But the President wrought at his work with zeal amid success. Under a plan recommended by him to the board, and approved by them, for securing a permanent endowment fund, he had obtained twelve thousand [Page 63] and four hundred dollars. Work, however, which had been begun on this endowment fund soon after Dr. McMasters was inaugurated President, was suspended on account of the continued financial depression of the country. But in March, 1842, the President submitted a plan for the liquidation of the debt of the College. The plan was adopted, and December following, nine months afterwards, a report was made to the board of the settlement and payment of all claims, except one claim of a few hundred dollars, which remained unpaid for the time because of legal delays in connection with the settlement of an estate. A debt of fifteen thousand dollars had been removed. The skies certainly were brightening. Dr. Crowe says: "The year 1843 seemed to open with prospects peculiarly encouraging for the prosperity of the College. The stringency of the money market had relaxed, and both agricultural and commercial interests were looking up. Dr. McMasters was popular, both as a presiding officer and as a successful teacher, and the College stood high in the public estimation." At a meeting of the board in 1843 two new Professors were elected: the Rev. Sylvester Scovel, Professor of Chemistry and Natural History, and Rev. W. C. Anderson, Professor of Logic, Rhetoric and Belles-Lettres. Some of the members of the board hesitated, fearing a consequent debt. But Mr. McMasters urged that, as the College was now disenthralled from all pecuniary embarrassments, both its patrons and the community at large expected it to take a higher stand among the literary institutions than it ever had occupied, and it behooved the board to see to it that [Page 64] these reasonable expectations were not disappointed. And while he admitted the correctness of the principle that expenditures should not exceed income, he assured them that if Messrs. Scovel and Anderson were elected, both of whom were known to be successful agents, all difficulty would be overcome by making such arrangements that either he himself or one of these men should be in the field as agents of the College until it should be able to sustain itself. Thus urged, the board elected the new Professors. Mr. Scovel declined, but Mr. Anderson accepted.
The commencement in July, to which month it had been changed, gave decided indications of improvement. There were nearly one hundred students, and there were eight graduates. In October Professor Anderson attended the meetings of the Synods of Indiana and of Northern Indiana, and made a verbal report of the condition and prosperity of the College in every way promising, with more than a hundred students in attendance. Resolutions were passed in both Synods, with active unanimity and great cordiality, pledging themselves to sustain the College with all their influence, and recommending it to the patronage of all their churches. The College, indeed, seemed on the high road of prosperity and of desired and deserved success. In December, 1843, another scene opened in the drama of its life, which at first seemed bright with promise, but soon gathered gloom and portents of destruction. On the 10th of December an adjourned meeting of the board was held, at which the treasurer made his report for the college year ending in July preceding, and also a report [Page 65] for the current year. There were nine members present, all from Hanover and Madison. At this meeting the following resolution was adopted:
"Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed on the state of the College, with instructions to report concerning the practicability and expediency of selecting a new location and the erection of new edifices thereon; and also concerning the ways and means of effecting the same and meeting the current expenses of the College."
Messrs. E. D. McMasters, Victor King, Williamson Dunn, L. M. G. Simrall and Tilly H. Brown were appointed the committee. The board then adjourned, to meet on the 18th day of December to hear the report of the committee and to act upon it.
The College building had been sadly wrecked by the tornado of 1837. In repairing damages the third story of the building had been removed, and it had been made a two-story building. The wing that had been demolished had not been re-erected, and the building, as it had not been repaired after several years of use, greatly needed renovating. It was insufficient also for college purposes. The erection of a new building had been talked of. There had been also talk of a change of location, removing from the center of the village to the high bluff a half a mile east, overlooking the river, and visible to the throngs of travelers passing up and down the river on the steamboats of that time. With entire unanimity the action of the board had been taken that this question concerning the new building and new location might be settled. The committee, before dispersing, agreed to meet on Friday afternoon of the following [Page 66] week, three days before the meeting of the board, for preparation and consideration of the report. Dr. McMasters went to Madison with the members of the board from that place, and did not return until late in the afternoon of the Friday upon which the committee was to meet. Before this Friday came, rumors were heard in Hanover that Dr. McMasters was in Madison negotiating with the citizens of Madison for a transfer of the College to Madison, with a change of name to Madison University, and with enlarged powers. On Thursday afternoon word of this proposed change was brought to Dr. Crowe, the founder of the College, and whose life and work had been so intimately connected with it. He had not heard of the matter before. He assured his informant that it could not be; he was certain Dr. McMasters could not be taking part in such a scheme or work. But a few hours later a hand-bill, printed over time names of some thirty citizens of Madison, was shown him. The document was as follows: "To the Citizens of Madison:
"It is probably known to most of you that the Hanover College, which has existed the past ten years in our vicinity, after a period of great pecuniary embarrassment, is at the present time in a much improved condition. A debt of more than fifteen thousand dollars has, we learn, been recently liquidated. The trustees hold a subscription of more than twelve thousand dollars toward a permanent fund.
"The number of students is much increased, about one hundred being in attendance the present session. From a concurrence of causes, this institution is looked to at [Page 67] the present time with a lively interest, not only by a large portion of the citizens of our own State, but from a very extensive region of the Ohio, including large portions of the adjoining States, as well as of the country further south. We understand that the trustees, encouraged by the favorable prospects of the institution, have it in contemplation to take immediate measures to select a new location, erect new edifices, and improve in other respects its condition.
"The question has arisen in our minds, and we trust will enlist the interest of every citizen of Madison, whether such inducements may not be offered to the removal of the College from Hanover to this place and its combination with a large institution to be established here, under the conduct of the gentlemen now at Hanover, and such as may be associated with them, and thus to secure our city the advantages of a literary institution established upon such a character as to become the leading institution for the whole central and lower part of the Ohio valley. The object should be at once to obtain the power of a University, and to take measures for the establishment of a Law Department and for professional teachers, in addition to the general College Department.
"The advantages, pecuniary, literary and moral, which such an institution would confer upon our young and rising city are as obvious as they are numerous and great.
"1. The erection of the requisite buildings would at once cause an expenditure here of from twenty to forty thousand dollars, benefiting mechanics, merchants, laborers and all classes of citizens. And, beautiful and [Page 68] elegant as they would be, would be an ornament to the city.
"2. Such an institution, with two, three or four hundred students in its various departments, would cause a permanent annual expenditure of not less than thirty to fifty thousand dollars among us.
"3. Every parent who has a son that otherwise must be sent abroad to be educated will save from five hundred to one thousand dollars by having an institution at his own doors, besides all advantages of having his son under his eyes, and enjoying all the salutary influences of home.
"4. The location of such an institution here will enable many to avail themselves of its advantages who could not otherwise hope to enjoy them. Many parents would be able to educate their own sons liberally at home who can not afford to send them abroad. Our young men in mechanical, mercantile and other employments, who do not contemplate the prosecution of a classical education, would have an opportunity of pursuing such branches of study as they might desire without any material interference with their other occupations.
"5. The establishment of such an institution among us would to the commercial character of our city add that literary character which to every liberal and enlightened mind is so desirable, and would confer on it an enviable reputation throughout our own State and the whole country.
"6. It would induce an immigration of families of the best description for intellectual and moral worth, who would be attracted to the place on account of the education of their sons, and who would form most important accessions to our population.
"Such, fellow-citizens, are some of the advantages which at first sight suggest themselves as about to arise to us from the establishment of such a literary institution among us. What say you? Shall we make the effort necessary to secure these advantages to ourselves? The question is, we understand, in agitation already at New Albany, Jeffersonville, and perhaps other towns on the river. These towns will not he slow to perceive the advantages which its location will confer on the place where it may be established. Can not Madison, in this liberal and honorable competition, offer as strong in-ducements as any other of its neighbors? It is true we yet feel to some extent the peeuniary embarrassment of the times that have gone over us. But, should a liberal and spirited movement be made, we trust that such arrangements as time and terms of payment may be effected as shall meet the convenience of the citizens. The citizens will be called on in reference to this subject.
"Madison, December 13, 1843."
The plans and purposes of the new University were ideal. If there could have only been a realization of the ideal, a grand institution would have been founded. The advantages of such an institution were clearly set forth, yet the half was not told. But was the building of such an institution with the means at hand practicable? Was it wise to undertake such a scheme by soliciting subscriptions from those just emerging from the conditions of pecuniary embarrassments and make [Page 70] payment of subscriptions easy by granting long periods of time for payment? Could general promises of influence and help from prominent citizens build up such a projected University? Was it a good, sound, wise, practical judgment to give up an institution that had a heroic history, and had just gotten through a wilderness of trouble, and was on the border of a promised land of prosperity, and concerning whose progress and usefulness there could be no doubt, although there was no immediate prospect of ample endowment and enlarged equipment from resources of wealth in its immediate neighborhood? If some influential and wealthy man or men had deposited in a bank a hundred thousand dollars as a starter for buildings and endowment, there might have been a solid ground of confidence upon which to begin to build in the establishment of the new university. But there was no such foundation. Then, again, Hanover might not die. It had a warm-hearted and large constituency, larger than Dr. McMasters, in his five years' residence at Hanover, had learned of. For it was the college of the church, and was favored and cherished by the growing church throughout the State. But the experiment was to be tried. On the Friday afternoon on which the committee was to meet to consider and approve the report to be made to the board on the following Monday forenoon, Dr. McMasters returned from Madison and read the report which, without consultation with any member of the committee or of the board residing at Hanover, he had prepared. Two of the committee were from Madison. These, with Dr. McMasters, made a majority. His report and recommendations [Page 71] were to be presented to the board, which met on Monday forenoon at ten o'clock.
It was not a day of telegraphs and telephones. It was very desirable that some of the friends of Hanover should be at the meeting of the board. Dr. Matthews, of New Albany, was president of the board, and had great influence with it. A special messenger was dispatched to secure his attendance. But the messenger did not reach New Albany until after the Saturday steamboat up the river had left, and Dr. Matthews could not reach Hanover until after the meeting of the board on Monday.
The board met on Monday, the 18th, and Dr. McMasters read the following report: "To the Board of Trustees of Hanover College:
"The Committee on the State of the College respectfully present the following report:
"The committee have had the whole subject referred to them under consideration, and have given to it the best examination of which they are capable.
"It is known to the board that after a period of extreme depression, arising from pecuniary embarrassments and other causes, the College is in several respects in a much improved condition. A heavy debt, which had long embarrassed the institution, discouraging its best friends, and producing a widely spread expectation of its entire failure, had been recently liquidated. The number of students in attendance at the present time is larger by about one-third than at any preceding period for the last six or seven years, and the College, we have reason to believe, is looked to with a [Page 72] lively and favorable interest by a large and intelligent portion of the community, not only of our own common-wealth, but of the neighboring States. Your committee believe that the prospects, if proper measures be taken to accomplish the object of building up on a sound and permanent foundation a large, flourishing and efficient literary institution, to subserve the interests which this College is intended to promote, are far better than at any previous period.
"This very improvement in our condition and prospects creates the necessity of corresponding efforts on our part. We ought not to lose the advantage of what, by much toil and patience and sacrifice, has been gained through want of wisdom or activity to avail ourselves of it. If we suffer the present tide of favorable regard, which appears to be beginning to set towards us, to flow and ebb back without our promptly taking it at the flood, it may be long before we shall have another opportunity. If we be competent to the position in which Providence has placed us, we will arouse ourselves, seize the opportunity offered, and strain every nerve to lay upon perhaps one of the finest fields for such an enterprise that ever opened to the eye of man the foundations of what shall become (if not in our day, after we shall have ceased from our labors) a great and influential institution, to be the handmaid of the kingdom of our God and of his Christ. If all our hopes of this are not to be disappointed, the public expectation directed toward us must be met by the establishment of such an institution as shall deserve, and by deserving, command the public confidence and respect, and give to us our [Page 73] share of the education of the young men of the country. Measures vigorous, decided and adequate to the accomplishment of this object must be taken. A corps of instructors sufficiently numerous and competent must be maintained, and to retain such the means must be provided of affording to them a liberal pecuniary remuneration. If instructors are expected to perform what belongs to their places, they must be adequately provided with libraries, apparatus, and whatever else is needed to the successful discharge of their duties. A suite of plain but tasteful and commodious buildings, in view of the great highway of steam navigation, near to which we are placed, is of very great importance in furtherance of this object at which we aim.
"Your committee, in view of all these things, have revolved with anxiety the subject of the present condition of the College and of the provision of means to enable it to accomplish the objects for which it has been established. They have been particularly instructed to report on two points: First, the practicability and the expediency of selecting a new location and erecting new edifices thereon, and the ways and means of effecting the same; second, the ways and means of providing for the current expenses of the College. Both these questions in our present circumstances seem to be encompassed with difficulties.
"In respect to the first question, they believe the erection of buildings more suitable than the present edifice to the purposes of a literary institution to be exceedingly important. No intelligent man, it is presumed, with the subject fully before him, in seeking to found a [Page 74] great institution that is to stand for many ages, would deem the present site eligible in preference to one in view of the river. Yet if a site near the river be selected it will render necessary not only the erection of the buildings requisite for immediate college purposes, but of houses and other appurtenances for the professors and for the boarding and lodging of students. All this would involve an expenditure of not less than fifty thousand dollars. Your committee know not where or by what means such a sum can be raised to be expended for this purpose in this place, or even the amount requisite to the erection on the present site of buildings on the most restricted plan which any may have contemplated. The other question referred to them presents, if possible, a still more serious aspect. It appears from the treasurer's report, presented to the board at their last meeting, that the income is not equal to one-half of the current expenses of the College, and that within sixteen or seventeen months there had been incurred a debt of about twenty-three hundred dollars. Thus, after having by great efforts and sacrifices freed ourselves from a similar onerous burden, we are plunging headlong into another ruinous debt. This sane and honest men can not allow. The case is one of pressing urgency. The employment of an agent to secure contributions for this purpose has been suggested. But your committee, upon the best information which they have been able to obtain, believe that, though some small sums might be thus collected, the expectation of providing in this manner for so great a deficit as exists in the means of defraying [Page 75] the expenses of the institution would be delusive and end in disappointment.
"Under the pressure of these difficulties, an overture has been made by the citizens of Madison, proposing an incorporation of the interests hitherto concerned in sustaining this College with a larger institution, possessing the powers of a University, to be located in that city, and promising on these conditions, in subscriptions and property (exclusive of the Seminary lot and building), a sum estimated at twenty thousand dollars, with verbal assurance from prominent and influential citizens that the whole expense of the requisite buildings will be contributed by citizens of that place. It has also been suggested that by a removal to that town a much larger number of pupils can be brought into the preparatory school that can be at this place, thus increasing the number of students in the higher departments, and so increasing the amount of income, so that it shall be equal to the present annual expenditure.
"It would seem to be well worthy of reflection whether this proposal does not offer important advantages that ought to be embraced. Certainly, if we attempt at all to promote the great interests of truth and godliness through the establishment of a literary institution, we ought to make it the largest and most influential which it is in our power to make it, and the opportunity of establishing, under such a control as we approve, an institution such as it is hoped by the blessing of God the foundation of may be laid, is not to be lightly rejected. If we do so, and draw ourselves up in our narrow shell, others wiser in their generation will not be slow to seize [Page 76] the advantages which we thus refuse. It is, moreover, worthy of consideration whether it is not necessary to enlist some local interest by which the necessary buildings may be obtained from the place where this institution shall be established. This will still leave the libraries, apparatus and endowment, without which no such institution can be well established or be expected to take a high rank, to be provided for from other quarters. Can we afford to reject the proposal made to us? The opportunity of adding a large number (probably from sixty to one hundred) of students to the preparatory school, and a corresponding amount to the income of the institution, is perhaps not to be rejected in our present pecuniary circumstances without thought. How else is the support of the institution to be provided for? It is vain to think that it is to be by pecuniary sacrifices on the part of the instructors, such as they have made during the last five years. We have the assurance from the best authority that these can be continued no longer. It may be said that we have the prospect of a large increase of students, and of income from that source. Not unless we can at once put the College in such condition as to meet and satisfy the reasonable expectations of intelligent and thinking young men and of their parents. It is idle to expect it. The instructors may, by their personal exertion and influence abroad, bring students to the College, but they can not keep them. The decided indications from the last two months have been that, continuing in our present condition, we will have a less number the next session than we have the present.
"Your committee, unable to propose any other measures [Page 77] that seem to them to promise success, and not knowing how otherwise the pressing necessities of the College are to be provided for or it sustained, submit the proposal to you for your consideration."
The report was received.
Following this report was a series of resolutions providing for the abandonment of the College at Hanover, the surrender of its charter to the Legislature of the State, the securing of a charter for Madison University, and the acceptance by the board of a Seminary building at Madison and gifts aggregating, with the value of the Seminary, twenty thousand dollars, supplemented by verbal promises of other gifts, which, assurance was given, would be contributed.
In vain did the members of the board residing at Hanover plead for delay in voting upon the report until there should be a full meeting of the board. Dr. McMasters said he had conferred privately with a number of members of the board enough to make a majority. And while he had not hinted of the matter to members of the board residing at Hanover, he had consulted with all, he afterwards declared, whom he thought competent to give a good and sound judgment upon the matter. Among those whom he trusted as confidential advisers were new members, little conversant with the affairs of the College, and who had met but once before with the board.
There was a majority in favor of the report and the action provided for in the resolutions accompanying it, and the report, with its resolutions, was adopted. Committees were appointed to apply to the Legislature, then [Page 78] in session, for all necessary legislation for the changes contemplated, and so that Madison University might be opened in the second week of January, 1844, at the regular time of the opening of the second session of the college year.The State Legislature enacted all the legal measures necessary, and Hanover College reached what seemed to be the end of its life. It was a tragic event for Hanover. The College was dear to its people. They had loved it and cherished it and made great sacrifices for it, and devotion to its interests had entered very largely into their religious life. The College had in turn become inwrought with their business interests, and the industry of numbers had been so shaped that their support was dependent upon the supplies necessary for the College population. The removal of the College was not only as the death of one beloved, but one who also was a stay and support. The mourning was like that of Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted because they were not. Dr. Crowe, in his manuscript history, speaks of the tears of widows who saw in the removal of the College the loss of their earthly all. He also speaks of his own agony of heart in seeing thus ruthlessly swept away, without any previous warning or expectation, the College for which lie had so labored and had made so great sacrifices, and which had accomplished so much good and seemed to be just entering upon a bright era of prosperity.
If Madison University could in its beginning have realized the ideal of President McMasters, and, as Minerva from the brain of Jove, in full stature and [Page 79] complete panoply, could at once have entered into a complete equipment of buildings and libraries and endowments, doubtless every friend and supporter of Hanover would have rejoiced in the new University and in the transfer to it of the reputation and honor of Hanover and whatever of material possessions it held. But to destroy that which had been built up in faith and prayer and with self-sacrifice, and which had survived threatening perils, had accomplished untold good and was full of promise, and to attempt to realize a high ideal upon a foundation more inadequate than that which was abandoned, and to build up with iridescent verbal promises an institution whose fame should go through all the Central West, seemed not only unwise, but heart-rending and ruinous.