Use, 5iffitntlies C ifspnsion STA RECORD OF FACTS. BY A W. ALEN AL LATE PROFES,.OR. M.V ATi EM.\ TL..\-4A oNOMNY AM)'IViI, EN(;INE'i1 ('4!t' (IN ANTIOCI (''[LLE(F.E I 0 L U M B U S COLUMBUS: PRIN1D AND P!I)t'BLiSt i,').IB'HN (iAt, v SON I A_ REOR O F_ __ 0-. y^^a^'^'D ^ ^'^S^ ^ *"7', I ~ ~ ei~u ~BY~~~~~~ — 1R, \. ITEN, A. 815J A COLLECTION OF FACTS. HISTORY OF THE iHs, JiffitIrties & $usconsiin OF AN T IOCEI COILLLEGE. CONTAINING LETTERS AND STATEMENTS From Professors HORACE MANN, W. HI DOHERTY, T. HOLMES, A. L. MCKINNEY and H. D. BURLINGAME. Elders D. MILLARD, JOHN RoSS, IRA ALLEN, ISAAC C. GOFF, J. D. CHILS, D. P. PIKE, N. SUMMERBELL, D. LONG, J. E. CMURCH, D. E. MILLARD, J. H. CURRIER, J. MCKEE, J. T. LYNN, J. WM. BROWN, A. BRADFIELD, B. SEEVER, H. SIMONTON, M. CUMMINGS, JAMES MAPLE, E. PAY, &c. Dr.'s W. H. BELLOWS and R P. STEBBINS. W. L. SCHENCK, M. D., and H. C. FOSTER, M.D. Messrs. JOHN GEARY, A. M. MERRIFIELD, F. A. PALMER, G. L. SALSBURY, W. MILLS. AARON HARIAN, PETER COOPER, M. H. GrINNELL, J. E. BRUSH, 0. H. ROBERTS, A. S. DEAN, &C, BY IRA W. ALLEN, A. M. LATE PROFESSOR OF MATHEMATICS, ASTRONOMY AND CIVIL ENGINEERING IN ANTIOCH COLLEGE. COLUMBUS: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY JOHN GEARY & SON. 1858. PREFACE. Just one year ago to-day, D. P. Pike, of New England, said to the world, through the "Herald of Gospel Liberty":-"I hope some day a full and truthful expose or history of Antioch's misfortunes may be known and justice done to all." This was the expression of a noble aud generous soul, and thousands of our ministers and brethren have doubtless cherished, if not expressed, the same hope. Four years ago to-day and our confidence in Horace Mann was almost boundless; yet step by step he has forced us to change our opinion. His course at Antioch College has been marked with cruelty and injustice, and has caused great suspicion and wide spread distrust. His venomed javelins have been hurled at all, or nearly all, he representative Professors and Teachers of theChristian Church, ever connected with the Institution; and he has finally succeeded in'wresting the College itself from Its Denominational basis; and yet no Pope at Rome, perhaps,-ever concealed himself so much behind priests and bishops andcardinals, as has the President of Antioch College behind committees, and agents and spies. Within the last few months also, (and for the first time in our life) our character has been ruthlessly assailed by Mr. Mann and his clique, in a variety of ways, and especially through the"Gospel Herald." The columns of the "Herald," however, the only avenue of approach to the masses of our people throughout the Great West, have been closed against any full and fair reply to their false and libelous charges, as the reader will find by perusing the "Introduction to Part Second." Horace Mann and his co-workers are therefore responsible for the appearance of this work. They have called it into existence. They have left us no other honorable course; and for whatever praise or blame may attach to the work, they must be-held primarily accountable. Yet we will not knowingly sit in judgement on their motives. These we leave to the great Judge of all the earth. Their deeds, however, will form a part of history, and will be criticised by the world. The object of this volume is to meet the expectations of Bro. Pike and others; to do justice to Mr. Mann and his coadjutors by a statement of facts which ought to be known: to inform the great masses of the Christian Denomination and render them more self-reliant in their educational enterprises; to benefit Antioch College by redeeming it, if possible, and placing it upon a Christian basis, and to vindicate the holy cause of truth and justice. Our aim has been to injure no one; but to benefit all concerned by a statement of the truth: for " The truth shall make youfree." No mere personal interest could have induced us to prepare and publish this book. We had hoped to be excused from sach a task; and, were it possible, we would now gladly be relieved from presenting it to the public; for we well know that the age of persecution is not yet passed, and we expect that this little "messenger of truth" will call down upon our head the most bitter anathemas of which our assailants are capable; but come what may, commendation or persecution, life or death, our decision is made. We will discharge what we believe to be our imperative duty to the Founders and Patrons, to the Scholarship holders and Trustees of Antioch College: to the whole Christian Denonination, to iv PREFACE. the world and to high Heaven; and then leave the results in the hands of an all-wise and omnipotent Providence. This volume has been made as full and complete as the limits of the work would allow. It covers a period of eight years, and is divided into three parts. Part First treats of the leading events from the Marion Convention, 1850, down to Oct., 1857: and Parts Second and Third, with the conclusion, embrace the leading facts from the latter date down to the present time. The work is made up, to quite an extent, of letters and statements from our leading men, for which they are, of course, responsible. The remaining portions have been drawn from official records and other reliable sources, and for t;eir arrangement we are responsible, errors excepted, which will be cheerfully corrected when they are made to appear: and we hereby request all persons who may peruse these pages to notify us of any inaccuracies which they may find; for we do not claim perfection. Indeed, it cannot reasonably be expected that a work covering several years, and embracing such a variety of incidents and circumstances, could be wholly free from errors. The works of the wisest men are imperfect. Nor have we, in the composition of this volume sought for historical allusions, nor labored to give a classical finish to the style; yet the book has not been hastily thrown together. It is no ignus fatuus, no air castle, as every careful and candid reader will be cjnvinced, We have given much time to the examination of records and statements, and much labor to the clear arrangement and accurate presentation of the facts. Our aim has been to give the plain truth in plain English; and to effect this no pains have been spared. Our enemies, we think, are not numerous, and they have our most hearty good wishes and our prayers. We have not the slightest desire to injure them. We have prepared these pages for their benefit, as well as for the benefit of our friends; and in the discharge of this duty we have received much aid and encouragement from ministers and brethren, several of whom have read, or heard read, considerable portions of the manuscript copy of the book, and advised us to publish it. For their valuable counsels and deep interest in this matter, they have our most sincere thanks. As in all our intercourse with Students and Teachers and fellow Professors in Antioch College, we have endeavored to manifest a Christian spirit; so also in discussing the various topics and events which form the present volume, have we striven to exercise kindness, charity and justice, and if these pages are received in the same good spirit; if they accomplish the objects for which they are intended; if they fulfill the noble mission on which they are sent forth, our highest expectations will be realized, and we shall feel richly rewarded for all our efforts. IRA W. ALLEN. Yellow Springs, 0,, Sept. 10th, 1858. HI ISTO RY OF THlE gse, ititf tict ainb jiXstf iu of aNtiatt;Colltge. Previous to the year of 1850, much had been written and published in our Denominational papers, on the subject of Education; and on the 2d day of October of that year, the largest General Convention of the Christians which ever convened, assembled at Marion, N. Y. It was a delegated Convention, composed of 82 delegates, representing 26 Conferences and 521 votes, or ordained ministers; and never, perhaps, since the beginning of time has so large a religious body come together in a kinder, more earnest spirit, and held a Convention of three days in which greater harmony and love were witnessed. They came with noble purposes and for a noble object. The work upon which they were entering was one on which angels might smile, which God could approve; for it was no other than the establishment of a great Seminary or University in which young men and women were (we hoped) to be educated for the highest usefulness in this life, and the highest happiness in "the world to come." One of the results of that Convention was Antioch College, for which we have hoped; and prayed, and paid our money. But where is Antioch to-day? Does she exhibit and diffuse the spirit which the Marion Convention breathed into her? Is she preparing our sons and daughters for great usefulness on earth and for glory in Heaven? Soon after the Convention, soliciting agents, for various sections of the United States and the Canadas, were appointed and entered upon the work. Eld. J. Phillips, of Ohio, in a few months, succeeded in raising in money and approved notes, nearly $100,000; and this entirely within the bounds of his own state. The palm was therefore adjudged to Ohio; and the locating committee after visiting several places and re3 6 HISTORY OF ceiving proposals, determined Jan. 21st, 1852, to locate the Institution at Yellow Springs, O., widely celebrated for its charming glens and "yellow springs." This small town and vicinity gave 20 acres of land for the College Park, and $30,000 to the Building Fund. The College was incorporated on the 14th of May following; and on the 23d of June the corner-stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies. The concourse of people on the occasion was very large; and after music by the Springfield brass band, and prayer by Eld. D. F. Ladley, singing of a hymn, &c., Judge Probasco, of Lebanon,' delivered an address; after which an ode, written for the occasion by Eld. J. Ellis, was sung; an address delivered by Dr. Freeze, of Philadelphia; when other exercises befitting the occasion closed the day. On the 15th of Sept., 1852, the Faculty of the College was elected. Mr. Mann was chosen as President with the privilege of selecting two Professors. Prof's. Doherty, Allen, Holmes, and McKinney were also elected. The persons selected by Mr. Mann proved to be C. S. Pennell, A. M., his nephew, and Miss R. M. Pennell, his niece; so that the original Faculty was as follows, viz.:FACULTY. HON. HORACE MANN, LL. D., PRESIDENT, and Professor of Political Economy, Intellectual and Moral Philosophy, Constitutional Law and Natural Theology. REV. W. H. DOHERTY, A. M., Professor of Rhetoric, Logic and Belles-Lettres. WRA W. ALLEN, A. M., [Professor of Mathematics, Astronomy and Civil Engineering. Rev. THOMAS HOLMES, A. M., Professor of Greek Language and Literature. C.,it. PENNELL, A. M., Professor of Latin Language and Literature. Miss R. M. PENNELL,'Professor of Physical Geography, Drawing, Natural History Civil History and Didactics. Professor of Chemistry, and Theory and Practice of Agriculture. Professorof Mineralogy and Geology. Professorof Modern Languages. REv. A. L. McKINNEY, Princpal of Preparatory School. ANTIOCH COLLEGE. 7 Early in November the first Faculty meeting, of several days' continuance, was held at Mr. Mann's residence, near Boston, at which important questions touching the College were discussed, and the curriculum of studies mapped out, which soon after was published to the world. There seemed to be a unity of purpose. The meeting was harmonious. The Professors exhibited a noble enthusiasm, and left, on the adjournment of their pleasant sessions, with high anticipations for the future. The second meeting of the Faculy convened at the same place on the 23d of March, 1853. Differences of opinion were fr quently manifested duriig the session, but all par:; off harmioniously; and no one could have predicted, I hilnk, b~from Atr;-y:i wlh.ich transpired on that occasion t:he unpleasant ald unju-s tran-sacions which have followed. Soon.after this meeting I sailed for Europe, and from what transpired during my absence I must rely upon testimony or history. The school opened October the 5th, 1853, by the Dedicatory Exercises, which were interesting and impressive. Many were the hearts which beat strong on that day, and were big with hope for the future prosperity and glory of the College. Among the actors on that occasion were Elds. John Ross and Isaac N. Walter, the former of whom still lives to instruct and guide the church over which he has presided for thirty-five years, an able defender of a free Christianity; but the latter "has gone the way of all the earth;" has "fought the good fight," and exchanged the "sword of the spirit" for a "crown of glory." The number of young persons assembled to enter the institution was as large as the buildings, in their unfinished condition, would accommodate, for the Gentlemen's Hall was not yet in a state for occupancy, nor was Antioch Hall fully completed, as the immense scaffolding, the ring of the mason's trowel, and the almost incessant strokes of the carpenter's hammer, unequivocally testified. The candidates for admission were examined in the Dining Hall; recitations went on; and, notwithstanding the discomfort of unfinished edifices and grounds strewn with building materials, the number of students throughout the year was as large as could well be accomodated. Early in September, 1854, I arrived in New York, direct from Europe, and calling on Eld. Eli Fay, he took occasion to give me a brief history of the College during my absence; and I was greatly surprised to learn that troubles had already arisen. He reflected on Mr. Mann as the chief cause of them, represented B* 8 HISTORY OF him as opposed to prayer meetings in the College, and Prof. Holmes as a firm advocate of them. Mr. Fay said he deemed it his duty to tell me these things; hoped I would stand up firmly for the right for prayer meetings and a Christian influence, and requested me to keep him posted on College matters. Such statements were wholly unexpected; for although I supposed Mr. Mann to be a cool-headed Unitarian, and his religious views to differ considerably from those of the Christians, and although I had had some forebodings that religious differences between himself and the Christian Denomination might, perhaps, at some future time, occasion trouble, yet I did not consider it probable; for however much Mr. Mann might differ from the Christians in religious matters, inasmuch as he had been elevated by them to the Presidency of their first great College, I presumed he would let differences of opinion alone, and labor to build up a large university and their own educational interests. Selfish considerations alone, it seemed to me, if no higher motives, would induce him to pursue such a course. I listenedwto Mr. Fay's story, but determined that my mind should not be prejudiced, for I was a great admirer of Mr. Mann. I had perused his lectures, and they were polished, instructive, popular in their character, and seemed to be pervaded by a high moral, if not Christian, spirit. For mere dogmas or opinions, so long as they are not unseasonably presented or unduly urged, I care nothing. A pure heart and a Christian spirit are the great desiderata-the grand essentials. My personal acquaintance with Mr. Mann was slight, yet I believed him to be just the man for the Presidency of our College; and be his views and practices what they might, I was fully determined that my admiration should not be cooled, nor my faith weakened, except by seeing and hearing for myself. With such a determination Iarrived at Antioch College, September 14, 1854, and entered at-once upon my duties. Prof. McKinney was absent, pro tempere, acting as soliciting agent for the Institution, and in his place was another gentleman, so that all the teachers of the Preparatory Department, seven in number, were strangers to me. Indeed this was my first visit to Ohio, and being by far the youngest member of the Faculty, and the duties of my extensive department being weighty, I engaged but little in the general administration of the College. I was, however, vigilant and observing. In Faculty meetings my voice was not often beard, except on questieo.f importans and when duty called; and then, whether my views AN'TIOCH COLLEGE. 9 were coincident with or opposed to those of Mr. Mann or any other member of the Faculty, I endeavored to present them with courtesy and decision. It did not require many weeks to convince an observer that some of the Professors and Teachers sympathized fully with the founders of the College and labored for their interests, while the others had little or no regard for them, other than as paymasters. Profs. Doherty, Allen, Holmes and McKinney, were of the Christian connection, and labored for its interest. Mr. Burlingame, Mrs. Holmes and Miss Shaw, of the Preparatory Department, were true to the interests of the: Christians, but the four remaining teachers of said Department, brought there through the influence of Mr. Mann or Miss Pennell, or of both, seemed to have decided proclivities in other directions. It soon became clearly and painfully evident that a spirit of partiality was active in the Institution. Mr. Mann and Miss Pennell seemed to be very desirous of obtaining all the teachers possible from Massachusetts, or New England, and especially those who had attended the Normal School at West Newton, the former residence of Mr. Mann, and the scene of Miss Pennell's labors; and unless teachers had been down to this modern Mecca they were looked upon as deficient in the divine art of pedagogy! The lines were sharply drawn. It seemed that Mr. Mann or Miss Pennell could not say enough in praise of the teachers whom they had brought up from New England. Faculty meetings, parties, and other occasions, appeared too few and far between for their fulsome panegyrics of their relatives and friends in the sehool, while those Professors and Teachers sent to Antioch by the Christians as their representatives, were criticised or passed over in silence. In October, 1854, there was a special meeting of the Trustees. But few were present, yet important resolutions were passed, one of which is "Resolution No. 17,"-viz. "Resolved, On motion of John Phillips, that Dr. H. A. Warriner, of Cincinnati, be appointed Professor of Chemistry in Antioch College, whose duties shall commence and be performed at such time and for such terms as shall be decided on by the Faculty, and whose salary shall be in proportion to the number of terms in a year for which he is employed." It is said that Dr. Warriner was recommended to Mr. Mann by one or more Unitarian clergymen, and by him to the Board of Trustees! It is also said that Mr. Warriner cdnnected himself with the Christian Church of Cincinnati, in accordance with Mr. Mann's advice, a short time before his name was laid before the Trustees for a Professorship! 10 HISTORY OF There are not many men, it is to be hoped, who would connect themselves with a church for the sake of a Professorship! Why was not this matter attended to at the annual meeting of the Board? Why have so many important resolutions been passed, at the special meetings of the Trustees, when so few were present? Was it not because a few men can be managed more easily than a larger number? because measures could be executed at these side meetings which would doubtless have been rejected at the annual meetings; and which, once passed, could not be reconsidered without much opposition and great trouble? How very convenient for some persons have these side meetings been! The absence of Prof. McKinney was much regretted by the friends of the College, for he was a zealous instructor and much liked by the students. Besides, Mr. Mann had now a majority of votes in the Faculty by counting his own. But another revelation was at hand. A feeling against Prof. Holmes had been cherished in a certain quarter, and in March, 1855, at the close of the Winter Term, it broke out. Some of the students signed a petition for the removal of Prof. Holmes! Whether Mr. Mann directly favored this movement, and how much, I will not say; but that he did indirectly encourage it is evident. To one of the leading students (H. C. Badger" in the College, and of the chief actors in this movement, I heard Mr. Mann talk one eveningr, -and I know not how he could have given better encouragement in a transaction of this kind. After he had closed, and at his request, I spoke with sail student and reprimanded him severely; so much so, that afiter he hal retired, Mr. Mann said-"Professor Allen you take very strong ground against the right of the students to petition, far stronger than I should dare to take." Replying that I had only briefly expressed my views of right in the matter, I withdrew. Mr. Mann brought up the matter before the Trustees who were then in session, thought Mr. Holmes would have to leave a while, and advised that the Board grant him leave of absence to go to Europe. This was granted; but Professor Holmes was not allowed, as is customary to be a member of the committee to select a person to fill his chair during his absence! Who had so deep an interest in the G-eek Department as Prof. Holmes? and why was he not allowed a voice in naming a sub:. itiuwl There were things connected with this transaction whici.;-a as rhaps be concealed until the "great day of reckoning;" but enough was ANTIOCH COLLEGE. 11 known to produce a deep sensation throughout this and other communities. Many of the friends of the College were not only amazed but deeply indignant at this transaction; and it was whispered around that the heads of Professors Doherty and Allen would fall next! It was believed that Mr. Mann,and his accomplices would be satisfied with nothing short of the removal from the College of all true representatives of the Christians, the founders of the Institution! No Professor or Teacher who was a member of the Christian Denomination, and who had the courage to advocate and labor for its interests could long be safe. But more of this on another page. The Winter term closed on the 13th of March, and the meeting of the Trustees closed sometwo days later. It was in contemplation by some of the Board, to give Mr. Burlingame a more prominent position in the Institution; and Mr. Fay accordingly took occasion to ask Prof. Pennell some questions about Mr. B.; whereupon Prof. P. dropped some remarks prejudicial to Mr. B. touching his method of teaching. Mr. Fay laid the matter before Mr. Burlingame; and after the Trustees had dispersed, Messrs. Pennell and Burlingame happened to meet in my room, when a lengthy conversation sprung up between them, in which Mr. Burlingame demonstrated the folly of Prof. Pennell's remarks, and pinned him to the wall. After dining the conversation was continued during a walk through the glen, the result of which seemed to be beneficial upon Prof. P., at least for a time. In writing to Mr. Fay on the 20th of March, I alluded to the above mentioned conversation, and intimated that Mr. Burlingame had signified his intention of resigning his post, to take effect at the close of the year. In reply Mr. F. penned the following letter, in which he also takes occasion to allude to communications from Prof. Holmes and others: MR. FAY S LETTER. NEW YORK, March 25th, 1855. PROF. ALLEN:-DEAR SIR —Your excellent letters stating affairs at Antioch and explaining your relation thereto have just come to hand, and though I have but little time in which to reply to the whole, yet I dare not delay, and must write what I can. I sincerely hope you will maintain the independence of your position, and defend your rights at all hazards. I also hope that you will never for one moment lose sight of the fact that Antioch College is the property of the Christians, and should be under their control. No man should stand between them; and all attempts to divorce them should be at once rebuked, and by all that is worth defending at Antioch, and all that is noble in the position we occupy as a denomination. I hope you will resist to the last any indignity offered to us by any of the teachers. I hope you will bring before the Faculty those subordinate teachers who openly deride our 12 HISTORY OF people or treat with disrespect the Western students. Submit to no insults for your own sake, and for our sakes, and for the sake of Antioch. Why pay our money to those who insult us? I also hope you and others will stand side by side in trying to make Antioch what its founders and patrons desire it might be. If you do so openly and on all occasions, you will conquer. I know it and can give my reasons. Don't fear to tell Mr. Mann plainly just what you think of the whole affair, and that partiality shown to teachers and disrespect shown to our own will result in an explosion, as it certainly will if it is not stopped. Now, sir, I desire to write to Mr. Mann myself, and tell him that you and Prof. Holmes and lady, and Mr. Burlingame and Miss Shaw, agree in thinking that partiality has been shown to those teachers which were recommended by himself and Miss Pennell, (now Mrs. A. S. Dean,) also that it is the belief of the whole that teachers from the Christians are treated with disrespect, that they do not intend longer tamely to submit to it, and give it as my own opinion that the Christians must be more largely represented in the corps of instruction, or there will be uncontrolable trouble. * * * * I learn by telegraph from Mr. Mann that Dr. Siedorff has not been heard from. Have Mr. Burlingame put in his place by all means. Can't you work with Doherty so that he will assist you in bringing that about?" * * * "You need have no fears about the extent of Mr. Dean's labors as agent hereafter. He will hardly get a new appointment. * This letter is in confidencet except you think best to show it to Mr. Burlingame. He must not leave the school. You see plainly that a crisis is coming, and the Christians will as certainly be victorious in an open war as God reigns. If he will stand by he will have a noble place. Write me immediately and inform me what is now doing. Very respectfully, E. FAY. The Spring term opened on the 28th March, and a few days thereafter the typhoid fever laid me on my couch. My classes in Mathematics and German, each appointed one of its members to fill my vacant chair and conduct the recitations; and their action was well pleasing to me, for they had selected the very persons whom I would have chosen. In a day or two, however, Mr. Mann called on me, and wished to know if it would not be best to have Mrs. Mann take charge of my German class during my sickness. I told him that I had the fullest confidence in all my classes, believed that they were doing well, and thought that the German class would get along finely under the direction of Miss S., whom the class had selected for its teacher during my illness; that Miss S., had studied the German previously and was far in advance of the other members of the class; yet did not know as I had any special objections to Mrs. Mann's taking t The above is the only confidential letter which appears in this review. And this would not now be presented had not Mr. fay violated the most sacred obligations of a man to man. ANTIOCH COLLEGE. 13 the class, if he thought best. Not many days elapsed, however, before some members of the class called on me, and wished me a speedy recovery, for said they-we have no ambition to study or carefully prepare our lessons under the direction of Mrs. Mann! It had not occurred to me that my classes in Mathematics would be troubled; for it is well understood that, in our Colleges and Universities, each professor has the direction and control of his own department, under no other arrangement would men of ability and integrity consent to occupy Professorial chairs. Judge then of my surprise when a member,of the class in Differential and Integral Calculus, who, calling on me, was asked, how they were progressing, said that they were doing well, and did not wish to leave the study. What do you mean? asked I. Why, continued he, Mr. Mann informed us the other day that the Faculty thought we had better leave Calculus and take French, accordingly our class held a meeting and after consultation declined to take French, for we feared that Mrs. Mann would be placed over us; but supposing it was your wish that we should leave the Mathematics, as Mr. Mann said "the Faculty thought," &c., we concluded to defer the Calculus until the following term, and take one of the studies of that term (Tacitus) in its place, provided Prof. Pennell could hear us recite, which proposition however we hoped would not be accepted, for we much preferred to go on with the study of Calculus! Their proposition was however accepted by Prof. Pennell. Soon after a member of the class in Trigonometry and Surveying called, and on being asked, how they were advancing, said finely, and showed me how much they had accomplished, adding that several members of the class did not wish to leave the study. I remarked that I did not know what he could mean by leaving the study. Why! we supposed you did! We thought it was your wish! said he; and added that a member of the Faculty had been conversing with some one or more of the class, advising them to drop Mathematics and take French; and that four members of the class were rather in favor of the change. I told him my wish was, that the class go on with the Surveying, and that I hoped to be able to resume my duties in a short time. The class then held a meeting, voted unanimously to go on with their Mathematics; and were not further disturbed. Not a word was breathed to me touching the proposed changes in the Mathematical Department, until, as above stated, I learned what was going on from members of the classes; and the better to effect said changes it was whispered that "Prof. Allen will not, probably, be able to take charge of his classes again this term." The plea that I was not able "o converse on such matters is far from 14 HISTORY OF the fact, for I received calls daily from Mr. Mann and others, and talked freely with them on various topics. The scheme, however, failed. No French class could be drummed up; and Mrs. Mann did not win laurels in the German Department, as was fully evident when I again took the class on the 10th of May, about five weeks after I was taken sick. In writing to Mr. Fay I made mention of this matter, as a friend to a friend, in reply to which Mr. F. wrote as follows: MR. FAY' LETTER. NEW YORK, June 12th, 1855. PROF. ALLEN-DEAR SIR:-Yours of the 6th inst. is just received. I hasten to reply; though I can only indicate in general terms the condition of affairs as they exist between Mr. Mann and myself. Mr. Mann heard by way of Mr. Dean that I was not well pleased with many things at Antioch, for I have not hesitated to speak my mind on that subject. Mr. Mann immediately wrote me a very long letter, inquiring what I had heard and asking my authority. I replied at great length and reviewed the whole ground. I told him that there were three leading complaints made to me from various sources. 1st. That there was partiality shown towards those teachers who were brought there by his or Miss Pennell's influence. 2nd. That Miss Pennell is President of the College. 3d. That some of those teachers who are not of us are in the habit of speaking contemptuously of the Christians and the teachers whom they have placed there. I presented with these complaints all the evidence which has been presented to me, not giving any names. In support of the first complaint I stated distinctly that there had been a general uneasiness among all the teachers ever sent there by the Christians, and that not more than one, and indeed I knew not there was one, who was satisfied with the adminietration of affairs. After mentioning the names of Mr. and Mrs. Holmes, I said, "Prof. Allen, Mr. Burlingame and Miss Shaw do not consider their positions pleasant or desirable." * * * Now, my dear Brother, if things are there as you say they are (and I do not doubt it, as all your statements are corroborated by others,) if your rights have been infringed and you feel injured, I cannot see why you should be afraid to meet Mr.'Mann face to face in defence of the right. Certainly I cannot act as a mediator if I must withhold all the facts. How can parties ever be reconciled while they seek concealment with smouldering fires in their bosoms? My only hope of a satisfactory adjudication is in the plainest and strongest statement of all the facts in the case. I am by no means afraid to tell Mr. Mann what I think of his course. I hope you are not. Why not go to him, then, with all your grievances, and demand restitution, or, at least, an explanation? I do not know what will be done with the Preparatory Department. I am tired of this care and almost discouraged.-Very truly yours, E. FAY. ANTIOCH COLLEGE. 15 As to "a mediator," I did not ask Mr. Fay or any other man to act as such, I was by no means "afraid" to talk with Mr. Mann; and was surprised that Mr. F. should draw any such inferences from my letter. I communicated the leading facts touching my sickness and the treatment of my classes to him in compliance with his oft-repeated request that I would keep him advised of College affairs. I was intending to talk with Mr. Mann and others at the close of the term, and this I did do. I have had interviews with Mr. Mann at different times on matters connected with the administration of the College, in which I have given him my views in plain, unequivocal language. Most of these interviews too have been at my own request, thus practically showing that I was not "afraid to meet Mr. Mann face to face in defence of the right;" and had he exhibited any spirit of concession and equitable adjustment, had he not insisted on my coming over to his stand point, or at least, on my silent submission to his views and acts, our interviews would have been more frequent and of a more pleasant character. Our differences were no mere personal matter, but involved general, important and sacred principles, I regarded the interests of the Christian Denomination at stake; and although I was willing to make large concessions, yet I could not consent to sacrifice those principles which I considered vital to our present well-being and future prosperity. The reader will notice that the above letters of Mr. Fay are not only replies to my communications to him, but:that they are also of a more general nature, embracing the general administration of the College, and containing the names of four other Professors and teachers who were displeased with the ruling influence in the Institution. This state of things had commenced, and progressed to some extent during the first collegiate year, and hence before my return fiom Europe. It was quite a common expression at that time "that Miss Pennell is President of the College," and the reader will not be greatly surprised at that remark when he is informed that Mr. Mann, in conversation with one of our ministers a few months since, said-"I (do th enk that Airs )De fn knows more than all the other members of the Faculty puir to] etther, mysl/f included." The reader will further notice that Mr. Fay informed Mr. Mann "that there had been a general uneasiness among all the teachers ever sent there by the Christians," &c.; and also that "all your (my) statements are coroborated by others. How different from Mr. F.'s recent statemen s in the "Gospel Herald!" The above letters contain theadvice and instruction of at least one of the Trustees, and a member of the "Committee on Instruction," and 16 HISTORY OF this was without doubt, the right spirit, for as the Christians had founded a great College, it was not only their right but their duty to direct and control it; and had they neglected this duty they would justly have merited the scorn and condemnation of the world. They looked to me as one of their representatives, and desired me to stand firm in the defence of their rights. This I have endeavored to do in a Christian spirit, and for this consistency of action, this discharge of my duty, I am now reviled and persecuted by the very man who wrote the above letters! The Spring Term closed June 25th, 1855, after which Miss Shaw resigned, being determined that her name should not be connected with an Institution professedly under the control of the Christians, but in reality governed by a foreign influence. And does any one wonder that the accomplished daughter of Eld. Elijah Shaw, one of our oldest, ablest, and best-beloved ministers, could not endure the dominant influences at Antioch? Mr. Burlingame also left for the East with the intention of not returning; but meeting Mr. Fay and other Trustees who urged him to remain at Antioch, and held out flattering inducements, he finally consente d to return for one year; and in the mean time should they execute their purposes he would continue on. During the preceding year, W. H. Knapp, a Unitarian clergyman of the Theodore Parker school, I believe, was steward of the College. He had been secured by Mr. Mann who desired to have a gentleman of more polish and refinement in the stewardship than Bro. F. Applegate, who filled that office during the first year of the institution, and who, under all the drawbacks of unfinished buildings and the lack of conveniences, gave, it is thought, Universal satisfaction, save to Mr. and Mrs. Mann, and perhaps a few others. Rev. Mr. Knapp was liberally provided for. His salary was $800 per annum, besides various other valuable perquisites worth probably $800 to $1000 more. He had the use of the College funds and the College credit, and was backed by Horace Mann's powerful aid and influence, yet he could not sustain the credit of the Hall. From about 250 boarders in the Hall when Mr. Knapp first came to the College, the number dwindled down to about 50, I believe, before the close of the year. After the close of the year Mr. Knapp was requested to leave, and the services of Mr. Geo. L. Salsbury and lady were secured for the next year. And now what is not a little remarkable is that while I write, and after the lapse of four years, news comes thatMr. Mann's clique is laboring earnestly to persuade Bro. F. Applegate to go back into the Hall as steward! and A. S. Dean is active in the matter I ANTIOCH COLLEGE. 17 Why is this? Has Bro. Applegate become highly polished and refined during these four years? or has the College retrograded so that he will now answer! We have always regarded Mr. Applegate as a gentlemanly and honorable man, and fully capable of carrying out whatever he undertakes; and who is so dull as not to see the significance of this new move? Mann, Dean, Fay & Co., know full well that great suspicion rests upon them throughout the country, and hence their desire to secure the services of Bro. Applegate as an important aid in overcoming the distrust of the people. Mr. Mann is shrewd and pulls the wires cunningly, but will he not have to pull them a great many times before he brings his clique into favor with the public? The third Collegiate year opened Sept. 5th, 1855. Prof. Holmes had now been absent over five months; but he did not leave until both Mr. Mann and Mr. Fay (the two most active members of the Committee on Instruction,) had given him positive assurances that Mrs. Holmes should be retained, during his absence, as a teacher in the Institution. This was an important condition, for, since Prof. Holmes had finished his course of Academical, Collegiate and Theological study of nearly ten years, he had given his time to preaching; and like most ministers had not received much of this world's goods. Mrs. Holmes had likewise passed through the same lenghty course of study with her husband, and was one of the most thorough teachers at Antioch. She gave good satisfaction to her classes the previous year, and instead of spending the Summer vacation of ten weeks, as did others at popular places of resort, she remained in Yellow Springs, like a dutiful and devotedwife, to save money for her husband who was far away over the broad Atlantic. That she would be retained in the Institution, she probably had not the slightest doubt, for she was aware of the assurances of Mann and Fay to her husband. Judge therefore of her utter astonishment and disappointment on receiving a note signed by Mr. Mann and one other member of the committee, on the evening of the 4th September, informing her that her services were no longer desired in the Institution! Thus on the evening before the third College year commenced, and after all her preparations to go on with her classes had been made, were the bright hopes of Mrs. Holmes suddenly blasted. Does the reader ask what were the reasons for this fiendish act? I answer that no true and valid reasons have ever been or can be adduced. Attempts were made to create an impression abroad that Mrs. Holmes had done some terrible thing, too horrible even to be mentioned! 1W t rh truth is, she had done no such thing. 18 HISTORY OF The matter came up before the Trustees a few weeks later, Oct. 11th, 1855, when it was stated by Mr. Mann, or with his consent, that she had been dismissed at the request of the Faculty. Prof. Doherty arose, and said that the statement was false, that the Faculty knew nothing of the matter until after the deed was done; (Mr. Mann has often found it convenient, it is said, to screen his acts under the expressions "The Faculty desires," &c., "The Faculty has decided," &c.) Some of the Trustees wishedto know the reasons why Mrs. Holmes had been dismissed; but Mr. Mann thought they ought to have enough confidence in him, in the committee, to believe that the act was necessary without a statement of the reasons. If the call for the reasons is persisted in, Mr. Mann thought they should be stated in private; that the reputation of a woman is her all, and he did not wish to injure Mrs. Holmes 1 The trustees accordingly went into se-, t,'-i.:j. After said session was over, however, some of the Trustees told me what had been said and done, and that not one single valid reason had been adduced for dismissing Mrs. Holmes! The Board, under the lead of a modern Jeffrey, would not receive petitions from Mrs. Holmes' classes that she be retained as their teacher. Ah! No. The petitions were on the wrong side. They were for, not against her! Eld. Summerbell and Bro. Salsbury went over with Mrs. Holmes to the Trustees' room, but the Board would not allow her to come before them and plead her own cause, and as Mr. Mann thought that Mrs. H. should be required to vacate her rooms in the Ladies' Hall, the Trustees passed a decree to that effect, and appointed a committee to carry it into execution I The committee called on Mrs. H., but their courage failed them, and after quite a little visit they retired without alluding to the object of their mission! Some of the Trustees informed me that it was very hard to thus ostensibly sanction Mr. Mann's proceedings; but the College was heavily in debt, and they feared that a contest at that time might prevent the raising of money! To such an extent were the claims of right and justice ignored and baffled by a determined man, aided by the financial condition of the College! But we say, under all circumstances, "Fiat Justicia;" "Let justice be done though the heavens fall." We believe, as Elder D. P. Pike said in the "Herald of Gospel Liberty," of Aug. 30th, 1855, speaking of College affairs, "Let there be no appearance of any design or underhanded movements; no favoritism; no one-man power anywhere. ANTIOCH COLLEGE. 19 Let everything be in open daylight, and then there will be no trouble about collecting money to save Antioch." When the College opened in the Autumn of 1853, there being no regularly appointed College Chaplain, and nearly all the members of the Faculty being clergymen and lecturers, they voted to take turns in conducting religious services in the College chapel on the Sabbath. On my return from Europe, in 1854, they desired me to enter into this arrangement, but I declined, for the very important reason that I was not a clergyman, and did not believe it to be my duty to enter the pulpit. And, had I been a minister, I could not have consistently discharged the duties of the sanctuary, for my Professorship embraced the whole course of pure Mathematics together with the applied, including Astronomy and Civil Engineering, which in most colleges are divided between two professors, and in our best institutions they are distributed among three, and sometimes four, professors. My Professorship, therefore, claimed my whole energies. Mr. Mann, however, spoke to me several times during the year, urging me to preach or read book sermons. I declined, of course, and stated, among other reasons, that I had conscientious scruples against turning the sacred desk into a rostrum for lectures on Physiology, Astronomy and Politics. I thought the great and glorious truths of the Bible should be expounded and enforced on the Sabbath, and that lectures on purely scientific subjects should be delivered during the week. But on the second Sabbath of the third Collegiate year, Sept. 16th, 1855, after Prof. Doherty had conducted the afternoon service and the audience was leaving the chapel, Mr. Mann intimated to me that it would be my turn to preach next Sabbath. I replied that I had no turn, no "part or lot" in the matter, and I thought the Faculty so understood it. He thought not! Said that Prof. Pennell and Mr. Zachos would not go on this year unless I would take a part; said he had not conversed with them on the subject, but he had good reason to think so! With the duties and engagements of the other professors, I replied, I have nothing to do. My business is with my own department. Besides, I do not think that Dr. Warriner, who is daily expected from Europe, will take part in the Sabbath services. Mr. Mann thought he would; said he was very confident, from his acquaintance with him, that he would preach. (Mr. Warriner, however, down to the present time, has not preached, nor even taken part in morning prayers during the week!) Mr. Mann, now seeing that his logic nor his weak sophistries moved 20 HISTORY OF me, endeavored to intimidate me by threats; but his persistent and menacing conversation of more than two hours did not effect his purpose. What did Mr. Mann mean? His object, doubtless, was twofold. 1st. To cause his turn to come round less frequently. (He had expressed this wish more than once in Faculty meetings; said he found it a great task to prepare his lectures for the Sabbath!) 2d. To overload me, and thus injure my influence. Mr. Mann well knew that I had already assumed more than one man ought to attempt; for I now had the entire charge of the highest (Junior) class in the College, except in essay reading once a week to Prof. Doherty. The studies of said class were: 1st. Mechanics, Dynamical and Statical. 2d. Calculus, Differential and Integral. 3d. Dramas of Schiller and Gcethe. 4th. Spherical Trigonometry, Navigation and Civil Engineering. These four recitations, of an hour each, mingled with considerable oral instruction, were my daily duties; in addition to which I also took part in morning chapel exercises and other general duties of the Faculty. The charge of the German dramas was by no means a light task, for they were historical, requiring much research, and were also among the most difficult of the plays of Goethe and Schiller. Furthermore, I took charge of this recitation in German, to save the College additional expense, (more than $100 per term,) and for which I neither charged nor received a single penny. Of all these things Mr. Mann was well aware. He knew that I was doing much more than was required of my Professorship, and more than one man should attempt; and yet he wished to force me to preach or lecture as often as himself, and that, too, when he had not had a single recitation since the College opened. Let us now look upon the other side of the picture. Mr. Mann was much pleased with Eld. Austin Craig's religious opinions, and had desired, ever since the College opened, to get him into Antioch as an instructor. After Prof. Holmes left for Europe, and after Dr. Siedorf declined to take his place, Mr. Craig was requested to become his substitute. Mr. C. declined coming that term, but he would think of it. Mr. Burlingame, therefore, as the last resort, was urged by some of the Faculty (especially by Mr. Mann,) to take Prof. Holmes' classes. He did so at a few hours' notice, and, although a young man, dissharged the duties of his new position to the satisfaction of all eoaeraed ANTIOCH COLLEGE; 21 But, after about five months' deliberation and preparation, Mr. Craig consented to take charge of Prof. Holmes' classes, and commenced at the opening of the Fall Term, Sept. 5th, 1855. In a short time, however, President Mann called on Mr. Burlingame and desired him to take one of Mr. Craig's classes. Told Mr. B. that Mr. Craig was the most like Jesus Christ of any man whom he had ever met! that he was a profound Greek scholar; that he had written a Greek book, which, when published, would prove of great value, &c., but that his health was failing and he could not carry on his three classes in Greek! Mr. Burlingame declined. Mr. Mann called again, but without obtaining' the consent of Mr. B.; and, as the meeting of the Trustees was near at hand, the matter was hushed and rested. As soon, however, as said meeting was past and the Trustees had dispersed, Mr. Burlingame was again urged to take one of the Greek classes! Mr. Craig himself called on Mr. B. and stated his case, that he could not perform the amount of study necessary to carry on the three classes, &c. Accordingly Mr. B., notwithstanding his own duties were onerous, he having charge of the Freshman Class in Higher Algebra, in addition to classes in the Preparatory Department, accommodated Mr. Craig by taking one of the Greek classes. Now, why was Mr. Mann so much more tender of Mr. Craig than of Prof. Holmes? Was it not on account of Eld. Craig's peculiar religious or theological views? on account of his not laying any particular stress on church organization or church ordinances, and thust differing from all, or nearly all, members of the Christian Church or connection and from other evangelical denominations? If this was not the reason, pray what was it? Will Mr. Mann enlighten the public on this point? The people have had an interest in Antioch College, and they doubtless now desire to know what Mr. Mann's policy is? Why not draw the curtain aside and let the truth appear? Christian ministers and Christian churches, at least, have an interest in the Institution, and they should know the facts, and to present these is the object of this work. Previous to the commencement of this same term, the Committee on Instruction engaged a Miss A. J. Chamberlain, (a lady of New York, of considerable and successful experience as a teacher in N. Y. Central College and other schools,) to teach French, German and English studies, Mr. Mann writing the letter informing her of her appointment with his own hand. c 22 HISTORY OF Miss Chamberlain entered upon the discharge of her duties at the opening of the year, Sept. 5th, 1855, one of her classes commencing the study of the German language. On the I1th of October the Board of Trustees convened, and on the 13th they appointed a new "Committee on Instruction" of five members, of which Mr. Mann was chairman as before; and three of the five were citizens of Yellow Springs. This committee passed a resolution to the effect that no assistant teacher should be appointed without an examination; and this was done, I was informed, on account of the known incapacity or unfitness of some of the lady teachers (Misses Wilmarth and Ballou,) from Massachusetts, brought here by Mr. Mann's influence; and so that no incompetent teachers might be engaged in the future. Soon after the Trustees had dispersed Miss Chamberlain received a note one evening from Mr. Mann, informing her that the committee desired to see her at his house. She went over immediately; and what was her. surprise when informed by the committee (a bare majority,) that a resolution requiring the examination of all assistant teachers had been passed, and they desired her to go to Cincinnati, O., (a distance of 75 miles,) and be examined in French and German by a competent professor. They had no doubt but that she was abundantly qualified to teach those languages, but it was necessary to go through the formality of an examination! They further told her that it could be kept quiet; she could slip down to Cincinnati on the cars and return without the students and others knowing it! Of course Miss Chamberlain declined doing any such thing. At a subsequent meeting of the committee it was proposed that, if Miss C. would not go to Cincinnati, that she be examined by Prof. Allen; and Mr. Mann came to my room and requested me to examine Miss Chamberlain in German, and also in French, if I would. I then replied to mM. M"ann that, I was fully aware of the action of ihe commdit ee!ouling Miss CeIhambe;,. v a'.i rIegarde:;ie e sheme alC msost; esx:trinn-;,ar tlF t"- 1 u.'ded t1h' endeav', tr uiv he -thesleui (. se... we'tn.:;.'I'v. E,,, Li: - be.;; ~. A:j, been engatge nd and ha nered upo: ii:.,-did!,:,xgF of Letr duties) ac cx post facto application with abhoirrencle, that ln. teacher having the least self-respect could submit to such an indignityi, arnd that I would not examine Miss C., nor take any part in a tiamnsa.ticon of such inhumanity I Mr. Mann seemed astonished at my knowledge of the affair and ANTIOCH COLLEGE. 23 hardly knew what to say. He, however, still requested and begged that I would examine Miss C., and did not retire until I assured him most positively that no amount of persuasion could induce me to take part in a transaction which I considered wholly uncalled for and unjust. Mr. Mann was, therefore, baffled in this scheme for the time being, but as Mr. Craig would not consent to teach the Greek another term, Mr. Mann set about finding a person to teach both the Greek and Modern languages, and thus force Miss Chamberlain wholly into the department of English studies. He at last succeeded in securing the services of a gentleman, who came at the opening of the Winter Term. Why, I ask, were Mr. Mann's tender mercies wholly expended on himself, his relatives and obsequious friends? Why could he not afford to be impartial? Why must he deceive the other members of the committee in order to get their votes? "Honesty is the best policy;" at least, in the long run. Mr. Craig remained in Mr. Mann's family during the winter, preaching in the College Chapel a part of the time, but left in the spring, very well satisfied, no doubt, that the post of Greek instructor in Antioch College was not the post for him. Towards the latter part of the Winter Term the Junior Class also, which was reciting in German to the new Greek and German teacher, and which had been under my direction in that language'during the two previous terms, held a class meeting, and, by a unanimous vote, appointed and instructed a committee to call on me and request that I would take charge of their German recitation for the coming term. I thanked them for the compliment, inasmuch as their present instructor was a native European and a man of extensive attainments in the whole field of Philology as well as in other departments of knowledge, and told them that my own extensive Department demanded my whole time, and, even if there were no other reason, that I could not think for a moment of taking charge of that recitation so long as there was a regularly appointed teacher for that branch of study. On Jan. 30th, 1856, there was a coniention of the friends of the College in Hope Chapel, N. Y. City, at which bonds to the amount of $85,000 were drawn up and signed by responsible parties. New England pledged herself for $25,000; the Central States aln; Canada pledged $30,000; ind the Western States $30,000; it being understood that some one or more of the Unitarians would be responsible for $25,000. On his return, Mr. Mann made a speech before the assembled school, and reported fine suocess. c 24 HISTORY OF He spoke of one denomination (Christian) as founding Antioch College and not paying for it, and of the unparalleled generosity and magnanimity of another denomination (Unitarian) in coming forward and meeting its indebtedness, and that, too, without asking to control it! But did not Mr. Mann well know that, at that very time, a very strong, if not the dominant influence, at Antioch was virtually, if not in name, Unitarian? The Unitarians had given only about $20,000, and of the bonds amounting to $110,000, they proposed to give only $25,000, while the Christians pledged $85,000, and this $25,000 was, I am informed, pledged by two wealthy Unitarians of New York City, who had large amounts of money invested in land and town lot speculation in and near the village of Yellow Springs, and besides, if the Unitarians did not formally claim a voice in the control at that time, they knew that course to be their best policy; for the Unitarian doctrines are far below par at the West, and hence the desire to keep the Christian flag flying over the College, while the Unitarian leaven is working quietly, yet powerfully, beneath! Thus things moved on; and those who were laboring and longing for the realization of the wishes and intentions of the founders of the College, were often made to feel that strong Foreign influences were at work against them; yet they endured these things as patiently as possible and said but little about them, hoping that the Trustees would soon see their way clear before them and rectify these abuses of trust and power. During the Spring term Mr. Burlingame, seeing but little prospect for the speedy triumph of right, resigned his post, to take effect at the close of the College year, July 1st, 1856, when he left not to return. Miss Chamberlain also resigned and left. Some eight days later, July 9th, a forced examination, touching Miss Wilmarth, took place before the Faculty. Mr. Geo. S. Salsbury had now served the College as steward, and Mrs. Salsbury as matron, for the year 1855-6, and they were much rejoiced that the time covered by their contract had expired. They were intelligent and eni:epiriinTf and o amonr'' 1:: -':i'~e, devoted, and iiifluienial of our Ciur':h!, C mim:,:.'ii Ci:: l. i i'i,. 1!f aId situated a-s twhy were, comXi, g i;.i), daily c,'a.' wii. sludi;i:s a1'd teachers and citizens, they had a fian oppoiun:i'y fori lIan.i} d\le views and feelings of various persons both in and out of ihe College. Believing therefore that a statement from Bro. Salsbury must of ANTIOCH COLLEGE. 26 right, and justly, have great influence with our brethren throughout the whole country. I requested him to send me his impressions and the facts which he had obtained while connected with the College. He replied by the following statement:LETTER OF GEORGE L. SALSBURY, ESQ. CARDINGTON, Ohio, July 13th, 1858. PROF. IRA W. ALLEN, Mr DEAR BROTHER-In your letter to me of the 9th inst., you request me to state my impressions of Antioch College and its affairs, as obtained during my residence there as steward during the years of 1855-6, and also any facts connected with my stay and between myself and the College, as in relation to the College. I comply most cheerfully with your request, but can only briefly indicate some few of the leading events or occurrences, for were I to write out a history of my experience and observations here it would occupy volumes. First, then, I will state that during the long vacation at the College in the years 1854-5, I was written to by Eld. Ladley, a member of the committee, and others, strongly urging me to come and take the stewardship of the College, and through their influence, and with the influence of many others of my brethren, I was induced to write out and send a proposition containing the terms upon which I would go, which was, I now think, tendering the services of myself as steward, and of my wife as matron, for $500. I soon received flattering letters, saying that my proposition would no doubt be accepted, and that I had better place myself in readiness to come. Consequently, I wrote to Mr. Gray, my son-in-law, who was keeping a public-house at Ontonagon, on Lake Superior, to come and take my public-house during the year that I should be at the Springs. He left his business there and came to Ohio to do so. But a few days before the school was to commence I received a letter from Eld. Ladley, stating that Mr. Mann had been East, or written East, I will not now say which, and had made an arrangement with a Mr. Knapp, a Unitarian minister, to take that station (the stewardship) unknown to him and those who were making arrangements with me, consequently I would have to abandon the idea of coming. I had made every arrangement to go, besides having got Mr. Gray to leave his business to come and take my hotel, which, in fact, damaged me full $200; but I could not blame Eld. Ladley or others with whom I had acted, for it seemed that Mr. Mann had made the arrangement with Mr. Knapp without their knowledge, and that, too, when Mr. Mann was not a member of the committee. But when I heard that they were to pay him $800 and board him and family, consisting of himself, wife and five children, and school his children, when I had proposed to perform the same services for $500, I thought they had not consulted the interest of the College, at least so far as the finances of the College were concerned. However, it passed by, and some time in the spring of 1855 I was written to again by various persons to come and take the stewardship of 26 fR HISTORY OF the College. I finally went to the Springs, and found that Mr. Knapp had failed to give satisfaction, and that there was a determination on the part of a majority of the committee, having his case under consideration, to have him removed, although he strongly desired to stay, and claimed that Mr. Mann had held out inducements to him that he! could retain the place for a term of years, also that Mr. Mann strongly desired to retain him, although there were a large number of persons connected with the Christians and their interest, and the best interests of the College, who wished him removed. They wished me to leave an offer with them to rent the Boarding Hall for the coming year, and that they would lay it before a committee upon that subject, which was to meet in a few days. I did so; left my proposition and returned home. On my way home, and after I returned, I had frequent conversations with friends upon the subject of price that I had offered. They indueed me to send a new proposition offering $50 more rent, two of the Committee going so far as to say to me, if I lost money by it, they would get the Executive Committee to remit the rent, and, if I still lost money, they would have the College make it up to me, for they were determined to root out that Unitarian clique that was ruining the Christian cause at the College and eating up and filching away its finances at the tune of thousands of dollars. The Committee met at the appointed time, and a majority decided in favor of my offer, and in a few days I was notified by letter to go to the Springs to complete the written contract. I went, and after hearing of the violent opposition of Mr. Mann to having my contract accepted, and of his being strongly in favor of retaining Mr. Knapp; and seeing the disordered and distracted state of affairs at the College, and the two parties, the one in favor of Mr. Mann and his herd of relatives and Unitarian friends, who were sponging the College out of some eight or ten thousand dollars per year; the other, the members of which were truly Christians in sentiment and feeling, and who were acting honestly for the best interests of the College; and learning that with the same hall for which I had agreed to pay rent Mr. Knapp had sunk the College in debt some $2,500 or $3,000, and he having Mr. Mann's influence in his favor, and feeling confident from what was then said to me (and as I afterwards found to be true) that his influence would be brought to bear against me, to make my success an up-hill business or entirely doubtful, I then went to two of the committee, King and Crist, and told them that if they would let me off from the contract I would give them $100 and go home. They objected, and said that they would stand between me and Mr. Mann and his influence; that the rules of the College should be lived up to, let that party say or do what they might, and again reassured me that the rent should be remitted if I lost money; and further, that, if I lost, the College would make it up to me; that they wished to get clear of that Unitarian influence from the Institution and have a good Christian atmosphere pervade the place; and, in view of all these things, they could not excuse me on any terms. Supposing them to be true and honorable men I removed my family to the College, and entered upon the discharge of my duties. I soon found to my *st that my suspicioni had not bean ill-ground ANTIOCH COLLEGE. 27 ed, and that very little confidence could be placed in some men connected with the College, however lofty their position or loud their professions. Suffice it to say that no part of my written or verbal contracts were lived up to where there was a possibility to avoid them; that in many instances the plain and express rules of the College were violated, and, as I have good reason to believe, to make it an upihill business for me; and that students were given the privilege by Mr. Mann to board themselves in their rooms, in the Hall, in open violation of the express rules of the College, which had always been forbidden before. They were given the liberty to take rooms there and board elsewhere; to take their supper and breakfast in their rooms and dinners out, where there were young men boarding (I mean young ladies who had always been forbidden before;) and, in short, there was a boarding room in nearly one-half of the rooms which were occupied in the Hall! When this system first began I called on the young women to know why they were violating the rules of the College. They informed.me that they had received permission from Mr. Mann to do so. I then went to Mr. Mann and he most positively denied having.given such liberty. They again and again assured me that he did, and that it was talked between Mr. Mann and themselves what they should eat in their rooms. They said if Mr. Mann had made the least objection to it, they should not have done it, and still if he raised an objection they would abandon it. Several of them went the second time to see him, and he again renewed the privilege to them as they told me, (and as I have not the least doubt.) I then had the second interview with Mr. Mann upon the subject; and he again denied to me having given those privileges; (but being convinced from what I knew of the character of many of the students that he had so done, I let the matter drop;) and they were permitted to continue the practice of boarding themselves in their rooms during the last two quarters that I was there; and even in several instances to do their washing in their rooms; and the thing became so general that during the last two quarters th ere were as many as twenty-five to thirty, most or all the time, engaged in the practice. The result was that very frequently nearly half of the dishes and tumblers belonging to the house would be taken off and frequently found, tumblers, plates, &c., broken and thrown out of the windows, and on several occasions we have hunted up about the rooms as many as forty or fifty articles, and frequently found them thrown about the empty rooms, behind the wood-boxes, &c. Thus you see that there were really twenty-five or thirty boarding rooms in the same Hall that I was paying rent for, and that, too, while I was compelled to keep up all the expenses of the house; and I think it will not be difficult for any unprejudiced mind to see the difficulties that must necessarily arise where there are so many different interests involved. But yet I was compelled to submit to all this; and why? I answer because I had advanced some four or five hundred dollars in furniture and other things for the College, which, by the terms of my contract, the College was to take at the expiration of the year and allow me for. They were not bound to pay for them until the yea 28 fHISTORY OF was out, and had I left before, I would have been under the necessity of yielding the possession of the property and of looking only to the College for it; and I had learned the College was bankrupt and under mortgage and debts for more than its value. So my only safety was to hold on, till, by the terms of my contract I could compel them to make the payments. Furthermore, when I first arrived there I found that there was no cooking apparatus which would answer to cook for more than twenty-five or thirty persons; and thus it ran on to near the commencement of the school, I frequently calling on the Executive Committee to see to it, and furnish some further necessary cooking arrangements. Finally, two of the Executive Committee agreed with me, that if I would go to Cincinnati and purchase a large steamboat cooking-stove and make the first payment, which was to be one-third of the price, and give my notes payable in three and six months for the balance, when I returned the one-half of the first payment should be refunded to me; and then the College should pay the one-half of the other several notes as they became due; and at the expiration of the year the College should take my part off of my hands and refund me my money. I purchased the stove for one hundred and eighty dollars, I think; paid the one-third down, and gave two notes payable in Bank for the balance, in three and six months; paid the transportation on it to the Springs, and set it up. I soon called on the Committee for the one-half of the advanced money. Excuses and promises were made from time to time, but no money paid before the second payment became due. Then I again called on them to make that payment, which would make their part, as I had paid the first third. They again made promises:until the day before the last day of grace. I then expressed my own money and paid the note. I still waited on promises until the third and last note became due. Again they agreed to pay it, but let it run till about the last day of grace, when they told me to let the Bank sue the note and take the stay! I readily told them that my credit was worth something to me, and that that was not my way of doing business. So I expressed my own money again and paid the third and last note. These things necessarily diverted my money from its proper and rightful channel, and compelled me to borrow money at ruinous interests to keep my business along; and still throwing the College further in my debt; thus further compelling me to stay on and try and secure my pay from the College! Now, this transaction is a fair specimen of about all their dealings with me! As to my opinion about the influence exerted by Mr. Mann and a majority of the Faculty and teachers of the College in favor of the Christian connection, I am free and frank to say that I believe, from my own observations there, that they have no sympathy in common with the Christian connection; but on the contrary they exercise a baneful influence against the Christians, as a body; and that the College under its present and past administration has been nothing more nor less than an incubus, dragging the denomination down to disgrace, and will so continue as long as the present faction rules it; and further, that it has never been really owned or governed by the Christian ANTIOCH COLLEGE. 29 denomination, nor ever will be; and further, that the Christians and the scholarship holders have been basely deceived and swindled out of their money; and that their confidence has all been betrayed by a certain set of wire-workers who have become rich out of that which rightfully belonged to the College. I feel, for one, that I have been wronged out of one hundred dollars which I paid for my scholarship, some fifty dollars donation to the College, the services of myself and wife one year, the loss of some two hundred and fifty dollars through the chicanery and manceuverings of those having the control of the College, together with the use of my property here for one year, and the expense of moving to and from the College, bleeding me at the tune of about one thousand dollars. Taking my scholarship and all into the account with what I had to give in to get my pay on what they honestly owed me; and finally taking a note of forty-five dollars to close up with them; and leaving that with one of the Executive Committee to collect and pay some small debts; and he going off with that without settling those debts, a part of which I have since paid: under all these circumstances I have concluded to graduate. Now, let me ask any candid member of the denomination to look at things which exist and have existed there, and answer whose college Antioch is or has been-the Christian Denomination's or Mr. Mann's? He first secured the Presidency there with a salary of two thousand dollars per year and the use of a house, that was made to cost over ten thousand dollars, while he himself did not spend at the College for the first three or four years actually much more than three months per year; but was off attending to his own business, and lecturing at fifty dollars per lecture. Besides this, before he would accept the Presidency he must reserve to himself the privilege of choosing onethird of the Faculty. And who has he chosen as said members? His nephew, Mr. Pennell, at one thousand dollars per year, and Miss Pennell, his niece, who is now Mrs. A. S. Dean, at one thousand per year; and through his (Mr. Mann's) influence Mr. Blake, a relative, was Deputy Treasurer, at a salary of eight hundred dollars, and Miss Wilmarth, who is also a connection, was a teacher at a salary of four hundred dollars per year; and Mr. A. S. Dean, who married Miss Pennell, was agent of the College, receiving as high as fourteen and sixteen per cent. on subscriptions to the College and on scholarships; and who, on coming to the College, was not worth five hundred dollars in the world, but who now boasts of being worth thirty-five or forty thousand dollars! In view of all these things need I ask whose College is Antioch? The answer is No. It does not belong to the Christians, and I fear not to say it never will be theirs. Indeed, I hesitate not to declare that the first fatal step of the Christians was in choosing Horace Mann as its President, let his educational qualifications be what they may; although I think we have many men who will compare with him in that respect. Again, let me ask what has been the course pursued at the College towards those of the teachers and Faculty who were truly of and with the Christians in heart and feeling? Where is Bro. Holmes and wife? Where is Eld. A. L. McKinney? Where Bro. Burlingame and wife? And where is Eld. 30 HISTORY OF Doherty? A purer or better man the sun never shone on, nor a man better qualified for his station. And where, finally, let me ask, is Prof. Allen? and, in short, any and every one having the true interests of the College and of the Christians at heart? Let Elds. Weston and McWhinney, who have became the white-washers and backers of Mr. Mann and his faction, answer these questions; and let them answer, in view of their previous words and declarations upon this subject; not after their bread and butter depended upon their answer; or answer in view of truth and eternal justice. Where are they all? and at whose instance and chicanery have they been removed? and for what good reasons T When I was there Prof. McKinney was away, and Prof. Holmes was in Europe; and Mrs. i1olrres had just been dismissed; and my mind was clearly convinced during my stay in the College. that Mr. Mann had laid his plans to get both yourself and Prof. Doherty out of the instiiution; and I at the time so expressed my opinion to my confidential friends. Since I left the College (or graduated) I have been quite still, saying but little; but I must say I have been not a little surprised in reading the "Herald" to see in some letters of some of our professed Ministers of the Gospel the great change that has come over their vision within the last year or two; especially when I take into consideration their previous declarations to me and others, and their written declarations published in the "Herald!" Many things which have appeared in the'Herald," I know from personal knowledge, not to be true. In short, I confess I have lost confidence in many of our Ministers, in whom I once had the fullest confidence. But I do not mean by any means to include in the above statement such men as Eld. Ladley, Eld. Lynn, Eld. McKinney, and hosts of others, whom I know to be men of honor and integrity, and true to OUr cause. But it has been charged by some of that faction that the Christians had given but little towards building the College. Let me refer all such to a circular published some four years since by A. S. Dean, (for whose veracity I do not feel willing to vouch), in which, speaking of the College finances, he says: "The Christians, though a comparaiively poor body, have raised among themselves $150,000, already paid into the Treasury. This has been collected under two forms, viz: one hundred thousand dollars towards the Endowment Fund and fifty thousand dollars towards the Building and Apparatus Fund. The Instifution still requires, to support its Professors and to complete and pay for its buildings and apparatus, $100,000." Now, take his word as good, that they had actually paid $150,000, some four years since: then add the large amounts they have paid since, to the 6153,000 paid before, and then ask Mr. Dean to inform the Christians where this large sum of money has gone, together with the large sums given by the people of Yellow Springs, some.33,000, I believe, to ge. the College loclated there, and also the large amounts given by those outside of the Christian denomination. When he can give a satisfactory answer to these questions, and show that all this money has been faithfully and honestly expended for the College, I fear not to pledge my ANTIOCH COLLEGE. 31 word for the Christians that they will again unloose their purse strings and hand out their hundreds and thousands to redeem the College. But until that is done and they have some assurance that the College is to belong to the Christians when paid for, and that the future monies shall be faithfully expended, Mr. Dean had better provide himself with spending money before he starts out to get further subscriptions. I have already, perhaps, spun out this letter to too great a length, although I have spoken of only a few of the many things which I desired to say. But I must close for this time, subscribing myself Your brother in Christ, G. L. SALSBURY. Still later in the vacation Mr. Mann desired an interview with me. The day and hour were appointed; and at the designated time Mr. Mann called at my study in Antioch Hall. He commenced the conversation by charging me with "publishing to the world grave charges against him," and wished to know why I had done so? Why I did not first call on him? I replied that he was mistaken, that I had done no such thing; that to the world I had invariably presented the bright side of college affairs, and to that extent which might perhaps be called almost deception, yet I did it with pure motives, hoping that the errors and abuses of trust might soon be stopped and the institution made what it was designed to be; that he had done things and conducted transactions which I deemed to be highly unjust, and that I had written concerning some of them, under the seal of confidence, to two or three persons whose right and duty it was to know what was going on in the College; that this was my right and privilege and I should exercise them, that he was a public man and he must not expect that his acts, especially when highly unjust, would be passed by without at least some private notice. He wished to know what he had done that was wrong. I replied that of those things he was quite as well aware as myself, and saw no particular good to be obtained by rehearsing them. He wished and urged me to mention some of them. I then spoke briefly of the injustice done by him to Prof. Holmes, to Mrs. Holmes, to Miss Chamberlain, and to others; most of which acts he endeavored to explain away by such expressions as the following:"Now, Prof. Allen, if you only knew the facts in the case you would think differently.' "If you only knew al the facts in the matter I am sure you would exculpate me." But he did not give me such facts! Now if there were mitigating circumstances, if there were facts which, if known, would clear Mr. Mann of suspicion and blame, why did he not present them? The probability is strong that there were no such facts. Mr. M. again presed the question —"Why did you not omen and 32 HISTORY OF consult and advise with me about these things, before mentioning them to others?" Because I did not see what good could be accomplished in talking with you after the deeds were done, especially as you are so set in your own way; and besides I feared you would consider me too officious. I knew that you had been many years in public life and must be fully aware that, as formerly so even now as President of our College, you would be held accountable for your official acts; and that, if you desired my advice on any proposed measure, it was your duty to consult me, I should have been most happy to have aided you in any laudable undertaking. If my advice would have been so acceptable to you, why did you not ask for it before dismissing Mrs. Holmes? or, at least try and explain the matter to me after it was done, as did Mr. -—, one of the members of the Committee on Instruction? But he would not have called on you, had 1 not requested it, said Mr. Mann. Ah! I understand it now! The mystery is solved! His calls at my study were a part of your dark plot, the after plot, of the banishment of Mrs. Holmes from Antioch College! But Mr. Mann, will you please answer one question, viz: "Why is it that all the Professors and Teachers ever sent to Antioch College as the representatives of the Christians have been more or less criticised, and some of them most grossly abused, while the other Professors and Teachers brought here by your influence have been praised and extolled, and their faults and errors sedulously concealed? Why has such marked partiality been shown? "It is no such thing." "It is all moonshine," said Mr. Mann. But all the representative Professors and Teachers of the Christians are agreed in this matter. They came from different parts of the United States, were strangers to each other, and had exalted opinions of Antioch and of its President; and yet all have been compelled to change their opinions after living in the College a few months; and what is remarkable is, that they all, without one exception, have come to the same conclusion! Remarkable? Not at all; for stern facts, unmistakeable and clear, have driven them to this conclusion against their own inclinations! They all believe that marked partiality has been shown; and that an influence foreign to the wishes and intentions of the founders of the Institution has been largely influential if not dominant in the College. To which Mr. M. replied-"It is not true." "It is all imaginary;" and reiterating again and again "It is all moonshine," he left my room. ANTIOCH COLLEGE. 83 On the 1st of Sept., 1856, the Trustees assembled in annual session. Prof. McKinney's leave of absence having expired, he resigned, notwithstanding he was urged to resume his chair in the institution, saying no amount of money could tempt him to re-enter the Institution under existing circumstances. This vacancy was now to be filled. The Trustees took an informal vote; Mr. Burlingame receiving two-thirds of all the votes cast, and Mr, Zachos, who had been acting as Prof. McKinney's substitute for two years, the remaining third. Speeches were then made by Mr. Mann and others warmly advocating Mr. Zachos and urging his election. Mr. Zachos was himself present at times during the meeting, and gave the Board a specimen of his oratorical powers on some question which came up. But little was said concerning Mr. Burlingame. The question came to a final vote, by ayes and noes, which resulted as before in giving Mr. Burlingame two-thirds of all the votes cast! This result struck consternation into that clique which had mainly controlled the College, and which was now struggling desperately to control every department of it, the Finances, the Trustees and the Faculty. Efforts were therefore immediately made to get a reconsideration of the vote electing Mr. Burlingame, but no one who had voted in the affirmative could be induced to make such a motion. For one evening and a day were these exertions kept up. Prof. Pennell was quite active in lobbying; and some students seemed to be thought necessary to influence the minds of the Trustees. Thus hour after hour moved onr the Board keeping up some show of business a part of the time, until the evening of the next day, when this matter was again brought up, and one of those who voted against the election of Mr. Burlingoame, moved a reconsideration of the vote! every man who had voted for him remaining firm. This motion was objected to, as being contrary to parliamentary usage which requires that a motion to reconsider shall be madle by one who voted with'the majority. To this it was replied by Mr. Mfann and the President, I-on. A. Harlan, that although this was the general rule, and practiced in this couniry, yet there had been some cases in England, where persons, voting with the minority, had offered motions to reconsiderl land henc tlhati it would be allowable in this ca;e, and so decided! Thi..,:u-3:iI of 1e., 0i ls:'i w,lhc'e'o)re before the Board which ai ib'o 1., -. oa:..:; -m::mbc wMA:i! iw t n ):e;c' se si,,n! oiJ{ree; Iw*:e, mie on bvih siel e0 v he rh enrlks of IMr. B. s friends were quite brief and made io parry Ihe thrusts of tdie opposition. Mr. Burlingame needed no eulogy. He was known to be a young man of unbending integrity and an able instructor. 34 HISTORY OF The chief speaker against Mr. Burlingame's election was Horace Mann who threw his whole energy into the contest. His speeches were quite lengthy. He made use of every resource of rhetoric and tried every art at his command, to warp the judgments and melt the feelings of his opponents; and in the effort wrought himself up to that pitch of real or feigned emotion that his handkerchief was put in requisition! In order that the reader may know of what kind of material Mr Mann's speeches were made, I will mention two of his principal objections to Mr. B. 1st. He objected to Mr. B'.s ability and experience. Now what are the facts? Mr. B. had been an instructor in different High Schools and Academies in the East; had received $800 per annum; and was at the time he was engaged to come to Antioch, Principal of a flourishing Academy in N. Y. State. He had served in Antioch two years, teaching chiefly Latin, Greek and Mathematics; had filled Prof. Holmes' chair one term; and aided me also by taking charge of the Freshman Class one session in Mathematics; was besides a graduate of Union College; and yet after all this Mr. Mann represented him as unfit for the Principalship of the Preparatory Department of Antioch College. Who is so dull as not to see through such sham pretences! 2d. Mr. Mann said it would be unpleasant to have Mr. Burlingame here on account of his wife! Whereupon Mr. Merrifield arose and moved that the Trustees require President Mann and all the married Professors to obtain divorces immediately!! [Laughter.] Why this grave objection of Mr. Mann? Simply because Mr. B. had recently married Miss A. J. Chamberlain whom Mr. Mann (as the reader has seen on a previous page) had treated with.most despicable injustice! Thus certain fault-finding busy-bodies were never at a loss for some pretext in their opposition to the Professors and Teachers sent to Antioch by the Christians. If they were married men, how very easy to throw out unjust insinuations against their wives, as did Mr. M. against Mrs. Holmes and Mrs. Burlingame. If they were unmarried men, and happened to look a second time at a lady; why! they were making love, &c., or if they attended strictly to their duties and took little or no notice of the ladies; why then, some other beautiful stories must be manufactured out of nothing. It must be stated that they had abused Mr. Mann's hospitality, or had "positively falsified the record," or had instigated the removal of a brother Professor from the Institution, &c., &c.! Such myths would be so ingenious and beautiful and plausible! ANTIOCH COLLEGE. 35 But to return, Mr. Mann finished his long, and very able speech at a late hour of the night; the question was called for; the vote taken; and the result declared that every man had remained firm in his convictions of right! Thus were Mr. Mann's gigantic efforts-wasted upon the air! and that tyrannic power which had so long controlled the College was sharply rebuked. Not one vote had been gained! Mr. Mann seemed for the time completely wilted down. The Board completed its business and adjourned. Mr. Burlingame, who was residing in Michigan and engaged in business, was immediately notified of his election, but declined to accept it. The Principalship was therefore still vacant and the duty of filling it now devolved upon the Committee of Instruction of which Mr. Mann was chairman. The result therefore was that Rev. Alvin Coburn was transferred from the post of Assistant Treasurer to that of Principal of the Preparatory Department. Mr. Coburn had been brought on from New York during the meeting of the Trustees, by A. S. Dean & Co., for the purpose it is said of running him into the Principalship; but that not proving practicable, he was slipped into the office of Assistant Treasurer at a salary of about $700. He had hardly taken up his quill, therefore, before he was tilted into the Principalship at a salary of $1,000 per year. But the reader may be a little curious to know the qualifications of the new incumbent, as Mr. Mann was so particular in the case of Mr. Burlingame. Well, Mr. Coburn's history, as told me by himself, is this: He was a schoolmaster for 16 years in the State of Vermont, teaching common and select schools. He then entered the Theological Seminary (Unitarian,) at Meadville, Pa., where he studied with A. S. Dean and others, after which he preached about 8 years in Western New York, and then rode into the great Antioch on the influence of Messrs. A. S. Dean and Horace Mann! Mr. Coburn had never received a Collegiate education, yet the fact that he was either pled-f to go, or would probably go, wieth Mr. Maun wasV, R d b! ficient virtuea t cover up a ll deficiencies The office of Assi.st.-,tani; Tr',eas.1-er was nowr vacatl,:d the dui4y of filling it rested wi t the Exe c'av- e totmn'iii ee( o f -which J"Tmr Dean was a member; yet, notwithlst anding his i effrrts to seat h!m-,elf in tnhe Treasurer's office, the other members of the committee desired an honest man, and accordingly appointed Eld. J. C. Burghdurf, a gentleman of high respectability and unbending integrity, and that, too, in g36 IHISTORY OF direct opposition to Mr. Dean's insinuations that Mr. B. was incompetent, &c. Possibly the members of the committee were influenced in some degree by a fear of the rats in Mr. Dean's house, and a determination not to feed said rats longer with College books! A word of explanation ~may here be necessary. Some three years ago Mr. Blake, brother-in-law of Mrs. A. S. Dean, was Assistant Treasurer, and while in the office he made out with great care and labor an alphabetical list, in a large blank book, heavily bound, of all the Scholarship-holders' names which could be obtained. After Mr. Blake returned to New York City, Mr. Dean occupied the office, and before long this large book was missing. The matter was inquired into, it is said, when it appeared that Mr. John Kershner, a member of the Executive Committee, had last seen the book in Mr. Dean's house. Mr. Dean was then asked where the book was. He replied that he did not know; did not know certainly what had become of it; but, probably, "the rats had eaten it up!" Since that time, when anything disappears, it is jocosely hinted "that the rats have eaten it up." But seriously. Will not every scholarship holder ask, "Why did A. S. Dean destroy this valuable book, or keep it concealed? Why did he commit it to the flames or other destructive forces, unless it was to aid himself in swindling the College out of hundreds and thousands of dollars? How much of the funds intended for the College Mr. Dean has kept back and applied to his own uses may, perhaps, never be known; but be that as it may, it is known that several paid scholarships have come to light during the last two or three years, of which no mention could be found on the College books! But how easy to smooth over such little delinquencies! Mr. Dean, of course, forgot to note them down when the money was paid him, and they had not occurred to him since! But why have not the College officers been more careful of its funds? Why was Mr. Dean allowed to have $40,000 or more of Scholarship notes in his hands for collection, without giving security to the amount of a single dollar? Was it because he had become by marriage Mr. Mann's nephew? Aftir Mr. Ma-nn's defeat by so large a majority of the Trustees, he seemed to wear a more subdued, yet determined, countenance. An effort was now made to create suspicions in different sections of the country against myself, by representing that I had planned and carried through ANTIOCH COLLEGE. 3f the election of Mr. Burlingame; that I was determined to depose Mr. Mann from the Presidency of the College and seat myself in his chair!.and by other utterly absurd and false insinuations and statements! Yet of these things I took no notice, believing that persons of good common sense would not be affected by them. Thus affairs passed on; and, as the year wore away, it became more and more evident by Mr. Mann's sullen and overbearing manner, (especially in the Faculty meetings, that he was planning some scheme to be executed, if possible, at the close of the College year. The Trustees assembled in Annual Meeting on the 26th of June, 1857, and it was "Resolved, On motion of Eli Fay, that a committee of five be appointed to arrange business to come before the Board," A committee was accordingly appointed, consisting of F. A. Palmer, D. P. Pike, H. W. Bellows, Wm. Mills and John Phillips. The next day, June 27th, the committee reported as follows —viz.: "That in a general estimate of the debts of Antioch College they are not less at this time than $130,000, of which $40,000 is due to the Scholarship Funds, leaving $90,000 now to be cashed. That upon the supposition of the bonds being all paid in April 1st, 1858, with two years' interest, and the expected contribution from Unitarian friends received, and after the remaining scholarships ($75,000) are collected, (supposed not to be worth more than $30,000,) there would remain, after all debts were paid, only $41,000, which, at B per cent., would produce an income for the College of $3,280, just about one fourth of the sum absolutely necessary for the annual support of the Institution. "That this is the most favorable view of our assets, and that, in all probability, the actual realization of our anticipated resources would be far less than is here supposed; that Antioch College is running in debt at least $50 every day; that in this state of things the committee see no wisdom or justice in struggling longer with our irresistible fate, and recommend that the law should be permitted to take its course by assignment or otherwise, and the debts of the College be liquidated by the sale of its property. "In making this recommendation the committee do not fail to consider the possible rescue of Antioeh. Indeed, they propose this course as a means of arousing the friends of education to come forward and buy the College, and carry it on upon the same educational footing and under the same religious auspices under which it has hitherto been conducted. "It is plain to the committee that the grand cause of the unsuccess of Antioch is the Scholarship system, the undertaking on the part of an Institution, with a very poor endowment, to educate at rates next to nothing, several hundred youth. "This is the millstone around the neck of the Institution. Failure is the only means of throwing this millstone off, and the loss falls where T) 38 HISTORY OF it ought to fall, upon those who, for four years, have been enjoying the benefits of the Institution, and who voluntarily undertook whatever risks belonged to an Institution which was an experiment. "Whatever enemies among the scholarship-holders the failure of the College might occasion, it is believed that a position sweeping awsay the debts of the College would arouse new friends, who, in time, when a proper system of tuition was established, would place the College upon a broader footing, and under circumstances of greater prosperity than ever. "We should anticipate a great falling off of students at first; but our faith is, that the four years' experiment has already raised the educational reputation of the Institution to a heighth which will secure it favor in spite of the use of tuition fees, and that a few years will see the number of youth now here back again, and bringing the means of sustaining the Professors, to a great degree, in their pockets. "Once down on the solid rock, the College in the hands of independent, liberal men, and placed, not on a denominational, but a thoroughly liberal basis, it is believed that those whose past interests has made them personally acquainted with the educational wants of the West, would bestir themselves to get a new fund, which should not be wasted to keep the College alive from day to day; which would not run away,. but be permanent and safe. "The committee believe that a strictly denominational basis is not suitable for Antioch College; that its new friends would desire that the name, the honor, and the essential control of the Institution, purchased, if such should be the case, by the mutual contribu!:ions of Christians, Unitarians and others, should be permanently in the hands of the Christian body, as its founders, and the chief among its patrons, pupils and friends. In behalf of the Comlmtiee, "F. A. PALMER, ChcirmcaI.n PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTION. Wherieas, The foregoing report of the committee of five, consisting ofF. A. PALMER, H. W. BEri, ws, P. P. PIKE, WILLIAM MII LLS, JOHN PHILLTPS, On the subject of the finances and available' resources of the Collegey and of its liabilities and annuatl expenses, in the (,pinion of th3 Board of Trustees, presents substa;itinlly the true condition of:\ntioeh College; and inasmucr. as it appears by said report that t-1'- Co1,( ce has no. th e Tnn'ns of p(ayirg its present int cbtedne-ss anid tliat the sali ies oft i!i"'ur'lessors and Teah'ers, together. with the interest arirn::lly acerai',i,; aid necessary expenses, exceed the anmall income of theO Institution by at least $10,000 or $12;000 annually; and the I.nstiuntion at the end of each yeir finds itself at least 1,30,000 imore in debt than at the cormencement; and. to continue thus to increase the debts of the Institation from year to year would be dangerous to the Trustees, unjust to the creditors, unjust to scholarship holders and ANTIOCH COLLEGE. 39 donors, unjust to all friends of the Institution and those interested in its welfare; thereforeResolved, That the President of the College, Professors, Teachers, officers, employees of the College, now receiving compensation for services, be and they are hereby discharged from further service. Provided, this resolution shall not affect their right to receive their salaries, or the possession of rooms which they now occupy, until the 7th day of September next. Said preamble and resolution were passed unanimously, sixteen members of the Board of Trustees being present at the time, viz: Aaroa Harlan, Horace Mann, F. A. Palmer, D. P. Pike, A. Stanton, John Phillips, W. H. Bellows, John Kershner, William Mills, Eli Fays J. P. Corly, J. C. Burghdurf, A. S. Dean, William R. King, James Maxwell, S. Stafford. On motion of F. A. Palmer, Resolved, That A. Harlan and A. Stanton be a committee to obtain legal advice on the best mode of closing up the affairs of the College. "On the adoption of the foregoing report, D. P. Pike arose and said,'that by the adoption of the report he considered the New England Bond at an end, and that its obligation ceased, and he could not pledge New England for this or any amount. He would, on his return, make a statement of the Board's action, and use his influence just as if the Board was still in full force, while the new arrangement continued in harmony with the original design of the College;' which statement, by the request of Mr. Pike, was ordered to be entered on the minutes of the Board." Two days later, June 29th, it was voted to assign all the College property, all voting "Aye" except the President of the Board, Hon. A. Harlan, who recorded his vote "Nay." The assignment was made to F. A. Palmer, of New York City. The careful reader has noticed that the above report is a remarkable document, and revolutionary in character; and being adopted1st. It cuts off all the rights and prerogatives of the scholarship holders. The Committee says: "It is plain to the Committee that the grand cause of the unsuccess. of Antioch is the scholarship system." Now, although I have never been an advocate of such a scholarship system as that adopted by the managers of Antioch, yet I cannot agree with the Committee in believing that to be the chief cause of the downfall of the College. There have been other powerful causes whichi have led to the suspension of the Institution, as will be seen from the preceding and following pages. Indeed, had this system, however defective it is, been well executed and controlled, it would never have given the College any trouble. In truth, this scholarship system has been greatly abused, and from its abuse rather than from its rightful D* 40 HISTORY OF use, has the trouble spoken of partly arisen. The fact is that tih troubles at Antioch have arisen from the violation of both the letter and the spirit of the resolutions passed at the Marion Convention (1850) and soon after, and from a disregard of the College charter. (See appendix.) From the "Herald of Gospel Liberty" I clip the following reply of Prof. Holmes to some injudicious and incorrect statements of O. J. Wait. Most of the article bears directly upon the p&int under consideration: "ANTIOCI COLLEGE.-.-O. J. W. says,'the greatest trouble, the plan excepted, has been in our sectarianism.' In this,'after closely scanning all parties,' I am prepared to say I think 0. J. W. as much mistaken as he was when he thought'Prof. Holmes missed it' in not accepting the invitation to a seat in the present Faculty.'The greatest trouble' has been neither in the plan, (if I understand to what he refers by plan,) nor'in our sectarianism,' but almost solely in the fact that money paid in on scholarships, for the endowment, was paid out for building and other purposes, regardless of Article 14th of the'Articles of Incorporation of Antioch College,' which reads: lVo part of the funds, which now or hereafter may be raised, by gift, grant, or otherwise, as permanent endowment of this Institution, shall ever be expended, but shall be kept at interest on good bond and security, and the interest thus accruing shall be appropriated to the educational expenses of every student sent to it by the owners of scholarships' "Had the endowment money been sacredly appropriated as it should have been, instead of being paid out as it was, all other mistakes would be regarded as minor points and side issues, and as such, would fail entirely to thwart the original and excellent'plan.' Be assured there is no plan for the endowment of a literary Institution that possesses so many advantages as the scholarship plan. By this plan large endowments may be secured with but slight sacrifice on the part of individuals, while at the same time a general interest is created in the Institution, and its halls filled with students, also, who are thus obtained, and being more generally drawn from the laboring classes, are endowed with better physical constitution, appreciate more the adrantages they thus obtain, and make more substalltial, efficient mien in the end. These are advantages which, in my opinion, find no parallel in any other'plan' of endowment. Of course the nioney obtained in this manner is just as good, just as available'; as if it had been furnished by the munificence of a millionaire. "I'recommend' as earnestly as 0. J. W. that'minor points and side issues' be forgotten; but we must not mistake ide issues foi main issues, nor main issues for side issues. "Let us not blame the plan for our disregard of its pro-vsions, nor fancy that the cry of;our sectarianism' will draw off attention from the blind, reckless, impetuous zeal which has driven our beloved Antioch to the extremity in which we now see her. ANTIOCH COLLEGE. 41' "By-gones' must of course'be by-gones,' and I pray too, most ardently, for'the restoration of the property,' if it may be restored to us, but'if worst comes to worst,' I will not'go for what we can get, if it be less than two-thirds,' nor if it be less than the whole.' "THOIMAS HOLMES." 2d. This report is a remarkable document also in its religious leanings. Did the committee suppose that the following statement early ia their report, viz.-"They propose this course as a means of arousing the friends of education to come forward and buy the College and carry it on, upon the same educational footing, and under the same religious auspices under which it has hitherto been conducted"-would blind the Christians to the whole concluding portion, in which they recommend to place the College, "not on a denominational," but what they are pleased to call "a thoroughly liberal basis, in the hands of independent liberal men"-("new friends?")-yet these new friends would desire that the name be "Christian"-i. e., that our colors be kept flying over the College, so that our numerous churches all through the West may pour into the treasury their thousands and tens of thousands of dollars annually, and send in their sons and daughters by hundreds, while the liberalistic (Theodore Parker) leaven is slowly but surely leavening the whole mass! Some of our restless, unstable young ministers may snap and, perhaps, swallow such a bait, but they will be mostly graduates of Meadville Theological Seminary. Our cool, clear-headed men-and many such we have-will not be allured into such a snare! Does not this report make a direct thrust at the spirit, if not the letter, of the Marion Plan? (See Appendix.) Was it the intention of the delegates to the Marion Convention to go into partnership with Unitarians, Universalists, or any other denomination in building up a College? or was it not rather, to found a FREE CHRISTIAN INSTITUTION to be under their own control and direction. 1st. For the education of their own sons and daughters, and 2d. For the education of all other suitable persons who may seek its halls? Will not Eld's. John Ross, David Millard, Jasper Hazen, D. F. Ladley, and other members of the Convention, who were especially concerned in drafting a plan for the College, tell us what their intentions were? Did they intend that the College should belong to and be controlled by the Christians? Or was it their wish that it should be a Babel of all the foolish and ranting-isms which might be invented? Will our able and reliable men speak out on these questions? 42 HISTORY OF But every person only partially acquainted with the history of the Institution will doubtless ask, why this assignment of all the College property? Was this assignment a necessary and laudable transaction, especially when good Bonds to the amount of $110,000 had been executed by responsible parties, and would be due, principal and interest, in about nine months? Why this haste to place all the College assets in the hands of one man? Was it not the wily scheme of a designing man or clique? Was it not because Horace Mann feared that the Bonds would be promptly met, and the College controlled by the Christians? Because he could control one man more easily than many individuals? For my own part, from the very first breath of the proposed assignment, I Lave not doubted the design of the movement. I have never believed that such a transaction was called for or wise; and had not that step been taken, the College would have been freed from debt before this day. To prove this let us look for a few moments at THE FINANCES OF THE COLLEGE. STATEMENT OF THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF ANTIOCH COLLEGE AS SHOWN BY THE BOOKS, NOV. 14th, 1854. Received - - - -- $120,921.28 Of this amount there is credited to Board, Rent, Tuition and Incidentals - - - - - - 811,458.14 All other sources, including Donations, Loan, Agents' accounts not settled, articles sold, &c., - - $109,463.14 $120,921.28 Construction account is charged, including Lumber, Freight, Wages, Contracts, Insurance, &c., &c. - $90,411.75 Library, Apparatus, &c., -- 5,500.00 Expenses for Salaries, President, Professors and Tutors 7,763.59 Steward's account not settled -- 8,643.65 All other accounts - - - - 8,168.94 $120,487.93 Cash on hand, Nov. 14th, -.-.433.35 $120,921.28 The Liabilities of the Institution as Notes and Bills payable including Mortgage to Conn. NI. L. Insurance Company $ — 46,608.26 Balance due Contractors - - - 11,000.00 Sundry accounts in Cincinnati, Dayton, Boston, and N. Y. City, - - - $9,175.00 $66,783.26 ANTIOCH COLLEGE. 43 Such was the statement of the book-keeper who was employed to examine carefully all the books and accounts, and it is as accurate doubtless as it could well have been made. The reader will notice that the debt at that time was not quite $70,000. In April following a circular was sent out to the holders of scholarship: who had not paid their notes, from which I extract the following: "ANTIOCH COLLEGE, YELLOW SPRINGS, ) Green Co., O., April 16, 1855 "SIR, At a meeting of the Trustees of Antioch,College, held March 7th, 1855, it was ascertained that the current expenses of the Institution far exceed its income. At present, the notes given for scholarships constitute the only permanent endowment of the College. These notes bear an interest of only six, or at most seven, per cent., according to the law of the State where they were given.'What:ever the legal right may be, it is very generally supposed that each scholarship entitles its holder to keep one pupil at the Institution, constanly, vTree of all charge for tuition. But it is plain that six or seven dollars a year, (the iccome on a scholarship note,) will defray but a small part of the expense of educating a pupil at the C.liege. But, could the scholarship money be paid in, it might be legally It aned in several of the Western States at ten per cent. interest, and thus the income of theInstitution be very much enlarged. * * * * "It will of course be understood that no holder of a scholarship can, after the said first day of October, next use his scholarship for the education of any pupil at the College, unless the requirement of the subjoined Resolution is complied with. u"Resolved, On motion of Rev. Eli Fay, of New York, that all owners of scholarships in Antioch College, who, on the first day of July next, shall be in arrears for interest on their scholarship notes, shall be reqnired to pay the whole of said notes, (both principal and interest,) on the first day of October next; and that all others who owe the College on scholarship notes, shall be required to pay one half of the principal of the same on said first day of October, and the remainder in one year from that time. Resolved, Unanimously, that the above Resolution be printed in the form of a circular, and a copy sent to each scholarship holder, and this shall be deemed and taken to be sufficient notice of their being called upon to pay such notes. "The above is the substance of two Resolutions passed by the Board of Trustees of Antioch College, March 7th, 1855. "WM. R. KING, Secretary. A. S. DEAN, )Com. on J. F. CRIST, Printing." This circular created quite a sensation among the drawers of the notes, for large numbers, if not the most, of them had given these notes on the assurances of the agent, that they would never be obliged to pay them, but only the interest annually and perpetually. 44 HTISTO'RY OF A few persons paid their notes in part or in full, but a large majority took no notice of the circular. Early in April also appeared a circular by J. EL Brush which was sent from the offices of our Eastern papers, to their readers. The object of this circular was to arouse the people to action, and by the collection of small sums to meet the current expenses of the Institution. From a somewhat lengthy article in the Messenger of April 12th I clip the following:"ANTIOCH CIRCULAR. "BRO. CUMMINGS —As a friend of our cherished institution, I thank you for the promptness displayed at your office in getting out the circular. * * * To avoid a burthensome tax on a few, and at the same. time enlist the sympathies of a numerous class of friends who are scattered over the entire Union and Canada, we propose to ask from each a DOLLAR for Antioch annually for a few years, or if they please TEJN DOLLARS in one payment; the first to constitute them a privilege of credit in one pamphlet to be hereafter issued by the College, or in the latter case to have their names appear in such issues for life. Now it does appear to me that we have friends enough who will feel it a pleasure to say to the world, "I am a friend of Antioch; my name shall be enrolled among those who are to constitute its early benefactors." * * It is said that the College stands on the highest ground, and is the largest building in the State. Surely it ought to, and will (&t the dollars areforthcoming,) become the highest in point of usefulness to the whole country. * * * "J. E. BUSH. NEW YORK, April 7, 1835." From an article in the "Herald of Gospel Liberty," I also clip the following extract:"BRO. CARTER-YOU have probably received an'Antioch Circular' from Camptown. Before getting out a similar one from your office allow me to suggest that you should incorporate in it the following as a leading feature of the movement. The -object of this Circular is to awaken, if possible, an interest sufficiently extensive to secure for the College donations of one dollar each from ten thousand donors, whose names will be collected in alphabetical form for convenient reference, and each donor will receive an acknowledgment of his or her present in a neat pamphlet, with an article on the condition of the College. The question naturally arises, for what purpose is this solicited? We answer, to sustain the Institution and help its revenue, so that its indebtedness may not increase. A few figures will illustrate more clearly. The current expenses for Teachers, &c., is about - - - $11,000 The interest (at present) on the debt is about - - - 6,000 $i17,Uoo Its revenue from room rent, about - - - 2,000 Its revenue from scholarships,.- -- 5,000 --- 7,000 $10,000 ANTIOCH COLLEGE. 45 "Leaving this amount, $10,000, to be otherwise provided for the present time. The agents in the field, and those who are to be put in commission, will constantly pair down this sum; first, by the reduction of the debt; second, by increasing the endowment fund. Then, again, the action of the Trustees of the last meeting will call in scholarships, and instead of 6 per cent. the College will in a year or two realize 8 or 10 per cent. on the capital. Thus for a few years at most a deficiency of some thousands per annum will be experienced. Now, if the people will step in and fill the gap, Antioch need feel no fears on the score of finances. Ten thousand names look large; yet when it is remembered how extensively the Christian denomination has spread itself, it should not be regarded as a mark beyond the reach of the two papers to influence. Just look at it: suppose Bros. Pike and Goff, with their able associates, succeed in moving only 500 ministers or lay members il so many different sections to do something; we would say such a minister or layman must have quite a limited influence in his village, town or city, if he could not find 20 persons willing to subscribe one dollar for the best and most liberal College in the United States. * * * "Now if our brethren in all directions will set at work and aid the movement by their personal efforts our people will do a deed for Antioch that will be remembered with gratitude by those who are to succeed in the great work of enlightening the rising generation. J. E. BRusIu. "NEW YORK, April 9, 1855." The responses to this call were not very numerous, and but few hun. dreds of dollars, at most, were obtained. And why? The treatment which Professor Holmes had just before received at the hands of Horace Mann and others tended to chill the feelings of many of the friends of Antioch. Prof. H. was quite widely known among our people and much beloved. Early in May following, F. A. Palmer published a statement in our papers, entitled "Extract from the Trustees' Report of Antioch College," from which I take the following, viz:* * F "From a careful and conscientious survey of the College property, including land, buildings, water works and fixtures, together with the library, apparatus, furniture, &c., the Trustees of the College estimate or appraise its value at one hundred and forty-six tlhousand dollars. This estimate has also been confirmed by component public officers of the county in which the College is situated. The College owes as per statements made and examinations had at this meeting not more than seventy-five thousand dollars, leaving, therefore a balance of assets of not less than seventy-one thousand dollars in real estate and other property. There are also seventy-seven thousand eight hundred and eighty 92-lOOths dollars in scholarship notes as an endowment fund." * * * F. A. PALMER, Treasurer. "NEW YORK, May 4th, 1855." This statement was accompanied by a communication beginning as follows: 4G6 1hISTORY OF "MA. EDITOR-DeAr Sir:-Believing that the friends of liberal Christianity will be interested in anyth;ig concerningc Antioch Coliege, I will wm ke the following staienmelt in addition to the above. During the last meeting of the Trustees, held Maarch th, they -eived reports fronL the College agents laboring in the East and nAest. Rcv.,- T. Lynn and A. L. McK(inney, Agents for the West, reported that the subscriptions in Ohio and Indiana amounted to iU000, with a fair prospect to increase the sarme, $30,000 during the present year. These brethren are laboring zealously for the welfare of the College in their respective fields." He then goes on to speak of Mr. A. S. Dean's services as agent; and that the Trustees residing in New York City had "appointed the Rev. Dr. Stebbins to labor in Boston and other Eastern cities as agent for the College," the Rev. John Phillips, "agent for the Christian Churches in New England," and the Rev. John Ellis "agent for the State of New York;" and concludes by saying:':We have $11,000 subscribed conditionally and a good prospect of its being imuch increased in this city and Brooklyn, which we hope soon to be able to collect, and with the present appointment of agents and protumies of liberal friends, we expect soon to be able to r;ise the full amount of funds necessary tj pay all the indebtedless of the C clege and also to raise an Endowment Fund by the sale of Schoel;htLips and donations of at least $200,000. * * * "'It' we will but unite in this noble work, Antioch will soon become the pride of the Christian Church, useful in truly developing the human mind, and the greatest blessing to the growth of our true and glorious country. Truly Yours, "F. A. PALcMER, " Tr'easurer of Antioch College." Eld'.s Phillips and Ellis went on to their appointed fields of labor, but for some reason they did not succeed in raising much money. Dr. Stebbins, so far as we know, did not attempt to fill the Agency assigned to him; but he did make a proposition, the substance of which is expressed in the following extract from a circular put out about this time by the Treasurer of the College: "Our esteemed friend and brother, Dr. Stebbins, President of the Meadville Theological School, has very kindly and generously pledged himself to pay into the College Treasury, before January Ist, 1856, 825,000, provided the scholarship owners will pay in, or pledge to pay, an equal amount by the 1st of July next. lie also suggested the following plan, viz: for each scholarship holder to pay 2'5, and as much larger sum as he can contribute, to pay off our present indebtedness. This is a very simple and sure way to liquidate our debts, and do, at the same time, a great good. The scholarship owners are the real parties who are immediately benefitted by thlis movement, as they are the bona fide owners of the College property, and are personally responsible for all its debts; now, by availing themselves of ANTIOCH COLLEGE. 47 this very generous offer on the part of Dr. Stebbins, they can secure $50,000 by paying the small amount of $25, and upwards, upon each scholarship. This may be the means of saving our cherished Institution, removing the disgrace it has so long been laboring under, and save it to the Christian denomination-to liberal christianity. "By a valuation made in March last by Mr. Mann, our President, together with the Treasurer and Surveyor of Green county, Ohio, the whole value of our College property was $146,000, scholarship notes about $82,000, making together $228,000, besides nearly l30,000 of pledged subscription, which we are in hopes of having paid in within a few months, while our whole indebtedness, at the last examination had in March, was about $75,000; leaving a suplus above debts of $71,000, which, added to our scholarship notes and subscriptions, will give us a gross surplus of $183,000; and this whole property is owned entirely by the scholarship holders. These statements, we think, are as correct as it is possible to make from the College books. "Now, the first thing for us to do is to pay off this debt, which hangs as an incubus over all our operations for usefulness, and then to increase our endowment fund, to at least $200,000, which can very easily be done if we all do what we can in responding immediately to this call. * * * * *''~'' "Wve hope and trust that whatever feelings of dissatisfaction from different causes may have arisen, will now be laid aside, and that every scholarship owner from Maine to the Mississippi will unite and make a common cause to save Antioch by liquidating its debts; and consent, by return mail, to pay the $25 or more, as Dr. Stebbins' proposition is only open until July 1st, 1855, and he will require all the time thereafter, this year, to raise the $25,000, which, if you comply with his proposition, he is pledged to do. "Friends of liberal unsectarian education in the West, in the name of God in whom we trust, and who has blessed our labors thus far in establishing our noble Antioch, we solemnly entreat you, if you have any desire to spread right principles, any love for the rising millions in the Mississippi Valley, or any interest in the first-born Institution of the Christian denomination, to respond nobly and promptly to this call; God requires a sacrifice to-day as mu:.h as in former days, and he loves the cheerful giver. All who are willing to give the 25, or more, (and we trust there are none who will not,) will please sign the annexed circular and return it immecdiately to G. S. Jhltke, Esq., Assistant Treasurer, at Yellow Springs, Green county, Ohio. "F. A. PALMIER, I,'cqsurer." This circular, and especially the proposition of Dr. Stebbin-, created quite a stir, and new efforts were put forth to raise funds to sweep away the debt of the College. From the "SIMessenger" of June 28th I clip the following brief extracts: "'I wish our people to remember that we have a splendid College at 48 HISTORY OF Yellow Springs, Ohio, in full operation, that not only gives satisfaction, but does honor to the people called Christians. * *; * "One Methodist member says if it is sold, he will give of his private funds to buy it $50,000. The Catholics have $200,000 ready to buy it when sold, so that if this debt now against us is not paid, we may safely conclude that our beloved Antioch will pass into the hands of the Roman pontiff, and become a powerful agent in establishing the'man of sin' in the United States.;; *a "This money can be raised in our own ranks, without any brother or friend being burdened in the least; and I mistake the character of our people entirely if they do not respond to this call. *' *':I want,ll the fiiends of education, and lovers of a free and rational christianity, in this State, to think this matter over, solemnly before God, and be ready to do something praiseworthy, when I call at your place Some are able to give one thousand dollars, others five hundred, and a great many can give one hundred each, and still many more can and will, I trust, give fifty dollars each, to relieve us in this distress. And then again, I presume we have more than five hundred good brethren who can and will give twenty-five dollars each rather than to have our College sold. * * "One poor minister told me the othir day he would give bh-lf his salary this year for Antioch; another will give all he gets as marriage fee,; a third will give a gold watch-guard worth 30; and so our ministers make offers to aid what they can at this crisis. And will our brethren be less liberal than our poor ministers? I think not. * *'4What I have said about Antioch is no fancy sketch. It is mortgaged, and will be sold unless the money is raised, and it is for you to say whether it shall be ours or go over to the Catholics. I know you will say when I call upon you by your liberal subscription: Antioch is ours, nozt and forever. "J. ELLIS. "'ALBANY, N. Y., June 8, 1855." In the "Messenger," of July 26th, appeared an article from "Incognito," (alias Eld. Eli Fay,) which ought, in my opinion, never to have been set up in type; and of which I should now take no notice could a true and impartial history of the College Finances and the methods of raising them be given. HIe commences his most ungenerous and uncalled for article as follows: "IMPRUDENT MANAGEMENT.-I learn from various sources, but especially from traveling agents, that there is great dissat;sfaction among our people in regard to the amount of compensation which the agents of the College receive for their services, and also to the manner in which the money contributed has been expended." And then goes on at some length to defend the agents. Why is Mr. Fay so very sensitive about the agents? Is it because a part of the large per centage which he was instrumental in according to A. S. Dean went into his own pocket? ANTIOCH COLLEGE. 49 The Rev. Mr. Incognito then begins his most cowardly and unjust attack upon the Christians in the following words, viz: "But how stands the'case with the Christians as a body-the legel owners and sensitive controllers of Antioch? I-low much interest have they in it? How much have they really paid towards it? "After availing themselves cf all the means of information within their reach, the Trustees unanimously agreed at their last meeting that the College in its present condition did not cost more than $1Q0,000. Probably considerably less. Certainly not more. Our present indebtedness is $75,000. Subtract from this sum $15,000 for interest paid on money hired and amount due to teachers, and we have $60,000 left which has been invested in the property. This $60,000 of indebtedness subtracted from the entire amount which the property cost, leaves $60,000 as the sum which has been donated to the qollege. Of this amount $30,000 were given by the people of Yeltow Springs and vicinity, and $18,000 by the Unitarians of New York City-making $48,000. This subtracted from the $60,000 of donations, leaves $12,000 as the sum contributed by the Christians. In addition to this, a number of thousand dollars have been paid to agents. But after making a wide allowance for discrepancies, the entire amount donated to Antioch College by the Christian denomination cannot exceed $25,000." * * " Think for one moment how ridiculous is the complaint that our College, costing $120,000 is not paid for with the$ 25,000 which we have contributed. Think what its present condition would have been if the advice of some of our wise ones had been followed and reliance exclusively placed upon our own people. The foundation would not yet have been laid, at all events with the pastrate of liberality it would not have been opened for the reception of students in ten years." Let us now extract briefly from a circular by A. S. Dean, Mr. Fay's boon-companion, which was published about a year previously: "ANTIOCH COLLEGE. "1st. ITS PATRONAGE.-Antioch College is the child of the Christian Denomination, &ec."'2d. TTS ORGANIZATTON.-TIhe enterprise was received with hearty enthusi3Ism by thie Christian DeniominrLation. The subscriptions soon wvtlrranted tle laying of the corner-stone on a beautiful site, at Yellow SprinTs, Ohiio, central position, about 74 miles North of Cincinnati, celc)brted for snlubrity, beauty, and fertility. A ch rter was obtained fro lm the State of Ohlio, the 1o i 1. Horace M ann, the most distin-uisl.erl ecu:atlr in the country, calledt to the Presidency, and a corps of Prof'essors Appointed, of whom1 tvWo are Unitarians, four Christians one a Baptist, and one a Dutch Reformer, a set of College buildings erected, of economical yet attraetiv- character; and the Institution opened with about three hundred pupil;: ia O)ct. lAst, baing unable to receive a hundred more applicants, oa account of the yet unfinished state of its accommodations. 50 HISTORY OF "3d. ITS FINANCES.-TO accomplish this gratifying result, the Christians, though a comparatively poor body, have raised among themselves $150,000, already paid into the Treasury. This has been collected under two forms, viz-$100,000 towards the endowment Fund, and $50,* 000 towards the building and aparatus fund, &c." Now who is correct, Eli Fay or A. S. Dean? I should not dare to vouch for 3Mr. Dean's veracity; yet I fear that he is nearer the truth in this matter than Mr. Fay. Two such intimate friends should be careful that their stories hzarmonize! Mr. Incognito continues —"But there is another fact to be chronicled in the hist,.y of this enterprise equally interesting to all parties. We have a perfectly reliable promise from the Unitarians of $25,000 more, if we will at once remove all indebtedness from Antioch. This, with the $30,000 given at Yellow Springs and the remainder of the $25,000 pledged by the Unitarians of New York city, will make $80,000 received from abroad to aid in our noble undertaking. Though it must be admitted that such generosity from others was not anticipated, yet it should be stated that our plan from the first was intentionally so formed as to reach the sympathies and purses of the unsectarian and benevolent. In obtaining aid from abroad, we challenge comparison with any similar movement ever made in America. Our satisfaction in that respect is equalled only by the deep chagrin and burning mortification with which we view the unpardonable penuriousness of our people." Does Mr. Fay intend to say that no part of the $30,000 subscribed by the citizens of Yellow Springs was paid by the Christians? If so; it is not the truth. Members of Christian Churches in and near Yellow Springs gave something towards this fund; although we know that the m:jor part of it ($20,000 or $21,000) was given as a speculation, viz.-to obtain the location of the College, and by Judge William Mlills alone, who was at that time a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Fay seems to exult "in obtaining (so much) aid from abroad.'" Is this laudable? Where is that $80,000? Has'it been received? We answer that not one dollar of that "perfectly reliable promise from the Unitarians of $[5,00T moro" has ever we believe been, received; and that of the other "825,000 pledged by the Unitarians of N. Y. City," only about $20,000 have been paid. Thus we see that most of the $39,000 location fund was given simply as a good,n onied investment. And what about the $20,000 from the Unitarians? Was tlhiu the result of disinterested benevolence? or was it not given because President Mann and some of the Faculty were known to be Unitarians in sentiment? If the truth were known, we fully believe, that it would appear that ANTIOCH COLLEGE. 51 the Christians have paid by far the largest share of the money used in building and cairying on Antioch College. As a body they have not gone abroad for donations, nor solicited for. eign aid. Whatever has been received from such sources has either been volunteered, or sought for by such persons as A. S. Dean and Eli Fay who seem to think "a prophet is not without honor save in his own country." Rev. Mr. Tneognito also says: The College has been greatly embarrassed for the last year and a kaif, and more than once would have been closed if it had had no stronger friends than the Christians. I know full well that the monetary crisis of the past year has made it difficult to raise money. But I know equally well that ten men might be named in the Christian Denomination who could have paid off the indebtedness of Antioch at any time without injury to themselves or to their families." And without doubt, too, "ten men in the Christian Denomination" might be named, any one of whom might pay the entire indebtedness of the College without injury to himself. But what does this prove, Mr. Fay? Does it not show that our people of means, at least, are not pleased with the administration of College affairs? Does it not indicate that they prefer to pay for and carry on their schools without let or hindrance from other associations, that they choose to mannge their own Colleges rather th.n to engage in partnerships which are the sources of so much tu!troble? Somne of our leading men -have more than once told me that the Christi:ans would pay for Antioch College very quieldly and endow it, if certain persf ns would cnly leave the premises; but that so lona as they remained, they feared that nothing could b)c done, and that the Institution would pass from our hands altogether. Does not Mir. Fay, therefore, see that we have small cause to congratulli:t ourselves, even over the small amount received "from abroadj" and that it has proved a much greater curse to us than blessing? Eli Incglito coneiludes:-"W e have now the last opportunity to retrieve onr r;lut;rtiols alnd save lAntioch. IHard times cannot be uried dlrini n t1. e!i. i..!. vcnar,s a reason for withtli.ldip. Esvery nlei1cier of tl: (Clristian D,,oiii'tio,n should know th].t the flte o f Ai!tic(l aiii th: rciQcIo;tl wrl-t'i(cr it is to continue t;cl'(, (joll- ge will be decided d;'I }i vc. no(t o{n{ word (f i;u7^',rtunity or entro;atv to o rL. If u r pv'npio 1hi.k i t c.';)n r affi~rb t' los( InIio, t i tic(Ii rvo it. n 1( t(y w TM ve'vy~ so.,1 find, ri..lt l nseves of the report, was earnest, and characterized on the part of some by an intolerant spirit. This was chiefly confined to persons not members of the church, who seemed determined to force the members into an arrangement depriving them of their rights, or otherwise compel the Building Committee to sell the chapel at Sheriff's sale, that they might bid it off at $2,000 to $2,500! Such was the ungentlemranly and unchristian spirit manifested by some of the citizens of Yellow Springs, Ohio! Article 4th passed after amending it by striking out "community" and inserting "church," which last word, John Kershner said should have been in the original article, according to his understanding. The chair appointed John Kershner, J. B. Weston and A. G. Kiler Committee of Appraisal, in accordance with the 2nd article of the report. Adjourned to meet in the same place on Monday evening, Dec. 28th, at half-past 6 o'clock. Monday, Dec. 28th, 1857.-"The church met according to adjournment." "On motion of A. G. Kiler, voted to reconsider the vote adopting the 3d article of the committee's report as amended.'" "On motion of Wm. R. King, voted that said article 3d be so amended as to express that the members of the church, not owning or leasing pews, by virtue of their membership be also entitled to vote in the matters contemplated in that article." Mr. King had been absent from town for some time, and had not attended the several preceding meetings. Perhaps he had not been at home long enough to be posted by A. S. Dean. "In answer to inquiry, Mr. Kiler stated, for the Building Committee, that for the sum of $4,000 they proposed to relinquish to the church all their right, title and interest in the house, reserving to themselves no seats or other rights whatever in the property of the house." "On motion of W. R. King, voted to accept the proposal of the Building Committee, as made by Mr. Kiler, and that interest on that amount ($4,000,) be paid by the church from this date." After some further desultory discussion, voted to adjourn, to meet at the same place on Saturday evening next, at half-past 6 o'clock. J. B. WESTON, Clerk pro tem. YELLOW SPRINGS, OuIO.-Jan. 2nd, 1858.-The Christian Church met according to adjournment at half-past 6 o'clock P. M. CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 37 The house was organized by appointing J. B. Weston, President, and A. L. Allen, Recording Secretary. The minutes of the last meeting were read. The Committtee on Appraisal of Pews then made a report. On motion of W. H. Smith the report was received and the committee discharged. A motion was then made by Mr. Kiler that the resolution or article reconsidered at a previous meeting on motion of himself, and subsequently amended on motion of W. R. King, now be adopted as then amended. On calling for the final vote it was unanimously adopted. In reference to a motion made by W. R. King at the previous meeting to accept the proposal of the Building Committee, Mr. Kiler then remarked that the Building Committee was now ready to receive proposals by bond or bonds from the church for the sum of $4,000. iHe was ready to go to Xenia or to any other place that night, if necessary, to draw up and enter into bonds with the church for the payment of the $4,000, or the church might appoint a committee to wait on them and transact the business. After waiting some time and receiving no bids or proposals, or any intimation of any, Mr. Kiler made a short speech, at the close of which some one cried out, "Put up the house at public sale and we will buy it in for $2,000!" Thus the whole matter seemed to be thrown back again upon the Building Committee. After some further desultory discussion, on motion of John Kershner the meeting adjourned sine die. J. B. WESTON, Pres't. A. L. ALLEN, Sec'y. Thus closed a series of the most peculiar meetings that we have ever attended. There were but a few church members at any of them. They were chiefly composed of persons who belonged to no branch of the church of Christ. These persons were the supporters of Eld. Fay, and they threatened the very existence of the Christian Church. And why should they not? Mr. Fay himself, their chief, had been lecturing to them some nine months, and had early "preached" most of the church members away from his meetings. Indeed when first elected, outsiders were allowed to vote; and at the end of his three months of trial he would not allow his name to be used for re-election on any other condition than that the congregation, and not the church only, should have the right to vote! Thus after the first three months, however it may have been before, Mr. Fay,we think, was not the pastor of the church. Moreover, he had neglected the ordinances of the church, and given no opportunity forpersons to unite with it! His discourses were often most biter against the various branches of the church, and far better 38 HISTORY OF THE calculated to please the multitude than edify the children of God. Indeed the Christian Chapel seemed more like a Sunday Theater than like a place for sincere, humble, Christian worship; and under such instruction one must soon come to despise and hate the true followers of Christ or to detest Mr. Fay, for "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." What wonder, therefore, that, in the above-mentioned series of meetings ending Jan'y 2d, the outsiders should endeavor to bring the church under their control. They were highly pleased with Mr. Fay's doctrines (taken perhaps from Theodore Parker and other liberalists,) and were possibly under private instructions from Messrs. Fay, Dean, and Mann. Why should they not, therefore, struggle to disfranchise the members and take the very life of the church! In view of these things, and especially to free our brethren of the Building Committee fromn the threatened necessity of selling their farms, or making other heavy sacrifices to meet the $6,000 church debt, some 23 friends met at the residence of Eld. D. F. Ladley, Jan'y 7th, at 2 o'clock P. M., to consult for the interests and prosperity of the Christian cause in Yellow Springs, Ohio. The meeting was regularly organized, and after appropriate, religious exercises, proceeded to business. The great object was a plan for successful action. It was thought that the money to free the church of debt could be most readily raised by subscription; but right here several of the most wealthy friends declared that they would not subscribe a single dollar for the First Christian Church; that there had been so much "pulling and hauling," passing resolutions at one meeting and rescinding them at the next, that they had no confidence in the body; that such discordant elements had found way into the church, that should they (?) now come forward and pay off the debt they feared that, like Antioch College, the church would soon be in debt again; but added they if the chapel can be a free house, if a new organization can be formed, and if such organization will elect its own pastor, and transact its own business, we will aid, andaid liberally. There appeared, therefore, now to be but one way in which to obtain money sufficient to liquidate the church debt. Taxation or assessment of property had been several times attempted, but as often failed. The sale of pews had been attempted, and on one occasion (Spring of 1855) a sale had actually been effected, yet not one single dollar could be collected. The plan of subscription for the First Christian Church had often been tried, and as often turned out a failure. Indeed to have attempted to raise money for the First Christian Church would have been the height of folly, after Mr. Fay would not CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 39 allow his name to be used by the church for re-election; but by the whole congregation His pretended election as pastor of the church, when hardly a church member voted for him, was very much like resolving the Franklin Convention into a mass meeting, and deeply offended the candid, honest men in our community, whether church members or not. What course for successful action was there then left, especially when wealthy friends and brethren declared that they would not give one single penny to the First Christian Church? There seemed to be none, except on the conditions above specified. These were the only benams of light that flashed in upon the deep darkness. Here the Red Sea of angry contentions and intolerant oppositions, of rampant liberalism and usurping infidelity, opened, and the brethren and sisters, relying upon Israel's God, determined to go over on dry ground to the land of promise. They therefore adopted the following PLAN OF SUBSCRIPTION: "We, the undersigned, hereby promise to pay, provided an amount sufficient to satisfy the Building Committee can be raised, the sums attached to our names in this paper respectively to said Building Committee of the Christian Church for the purpose of enabling them to discharge the debts contracted in the erection of the Meeting House of the said church, on the following conditions-viz: 1st. Said Meeting House shall be a free house-that is, no seats shall be sold; although they may be rented annually for the support of the pastor. 2d. The pastor shall be elected in the manner hitherto usual in the Christian Churches in this State. 3d. That if the requisite amount can be raised, and the property secured, there shall be a new organization. 4th. An acquittance in full of all claims against the property shall be made out and recorded in legal form by the Building Committee." After the adoption of the above plan, a committee of three was appointed to solicit funds and execute the plan. JOHN A. LAYTON, Committee, IRA W. ALLEN, THEO. W. DAWSON. The committee-men met on the afternoon of the nest day, looked over the ground carefully, and concluded that there would be no reasonable hope of success unless six or seven men would subscribe $300 each. They drove out of town just at evening, called on some friends, told them their conclusion, and wished them to put dcwn $300 each. 40 HISTORY OF THE That figure, they replied, was quite too high. They had not thought themselves able to give more than about one-half or two-thirds of that amount. Besides Antioch College may fail, or be entirely disconnected from the Christians, and then we shall wish to sell out and leave the place. Indeed we would now sell, if we could obtain anything like the value of our property. The committee remarked that they still had some hope that Antioch would yet be redeemed to the Christians; and thought, if the friends here would take hold and pay off the $6,000 debt upon the church, that our sister churches throughout the country would take courage, raise $60,000, and buy back the College from the assignee, F. A. Palmer, of New York. This idea gave courage, and four men pledged $1,200. On the day following $600 more were subscribed by two men; and in a few days nearly $4,000 were made available by men of means and integrity. The Building Committee of three brethren subscribed 82,000, and thus nearly $6,000 were pledged on the simple conditions of the above pla4. Success seemed already to hover over the Christian Banner! A future bright with promise, and all radiant with hope loomed up in the near distance; God grant that it may be realized! It was thought advisable therefore to fulfil the conditions of the subscription; and accordingly "a new organization" was made on 22d of Jan., and incorporated as the "Second Christian Church of Yellow Springs, Green Co., Ohio." The church was organized by Eld. D. F. Ladley, assisted by Eld. S. Richardson, and consisted of 14 members, persons who had removed to this place from different parts of the Union, during the last five years, and all of whom save one had been members of the Christian Connection. None of them were members of the "First Christian Church" of this place. The organization was therefore "new" and satisfied one of the conditions of the "plan of subscription." Jan. 23d, 1858.-The First Christian Church met according to notice, published in the "News Letter" of the Saturday previous. The meeting was fully attended, nearly all the members of the church being present. Nearly every seat in the large vestry was filled. "On motion of S. Richardson, I. Kershner was appointed to the chair." Prayer was then offered by Eld. Richardson. "On motion of D. F. Ladley, N. H. Walbridge was appointed Assistant Secretary." After some time, "On motion of A. G. Kiler, the following resolution was adopted:" CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 41 " Whereas, At a meeting of the First Christian Church of Yellow Springs, Greene Co., Ohio, held according to adjournment, on Dec.'8, 1857, on motion of W. R. King, it was voted to accept the proposal of the Building Committee, and that the interest on that amount (being $4,000) be paid by the church from this date, and' Whereas, Said church has failed to fulfil said resolution or vote, therefore, be it "'Resolved, That said resolution or vote be and is hereby rescinded." Passed unanimously. Later in the meeting-"On motion of John Kershner, the following resolution was adopted:" Whereas, We the members of the First Christian Church of Yellow Springs, Greene Co., Ohio, on examination into our financial affairs, do find that as a church we are heavily in debt on our church property; and Whereas, We are fully aware that we as a church should pay all our honest debts at the earliest moment; therefore Resolved, "That our Trustees be and they are hereby authorized to sell the church property to the best advantage and as soon as possible, in order to liquidate the debt." Passed unanimously. Eld. Ladley then made some remarks of a religious and encouraging nature. Eld. Fay arose and requested the privilege of speaking. The President objected on the ground that Mr. Fay was not a member of the church, and the church had not invited any persons not members to speak that day. Mr. Fay said he was pastor of the church, and therefore had a right to speak; that his relation to the church was much more intimate than that of any member, and he claimed the right to be heard. The President remarked that if the church would so order he would not object to his speaking, but that he could not be heard without a vote of the church. Eld. Richardson then moved the following: "Resolved, That Eld. Fay have the privilege of speaking, as he expresses a desire to do so." Passed. Mr. Fay then arose and made a speech of some length, the substance of which (taken down at the time) is as follows: Eld. F. said that there had been conflicting elements in this community for a long time, in short two opposing parties. They differed1st. On the college question. 2d. In what manner a pastor should be elected. 3d. How many shall vote for a pastor. 4th. The position of the pulpit on the great questions of the day. IIe then spoke of the Second Christian Church, which he called a "new enterprise," and said "in this new enterprise I heartily rejoice," because 1st. The Building Committee will be released. 2d. Something good may be effected. I bid it God speed. 42 HISTORY OF THE "I will not oppose a single obstacle to the new organization, it can do its own business." He then went on to say that he was the pastor of the First Christian Church, and yet he rejoiced in this new movement. Ist. F. r the sake of the Building Committee. 2nd. Because each man can now go his own way to his own place. He again alluded to the two parties and did not believe they could ever harmonize; did not think that affairs in this town could ever be brought into a state of unity. Yet if they are, said he, I will give of my means as freely and largely, in proportion to what I am worth, as any other man, to support the cause under this new banner. If I have friends in this community, and I think I have many, judging by my audiences, which have been the largest ever assembled in this house, (and for these statements I can be excused as I am the pastor of this church;) if I have friends, I say, I hope they will, if possible, co operate with this new movement. I bid them God speed. All who can sail under this new banner, try it. If you succeed, I am the last man who will throw any embarrassment into this meeting or this community. I will stand aside and never say one word against it. Go ahead. I bid you God speed. If you pay for this property I don't know what will become of the First Christian Church. I might hand in my resignation, but it might not avail anything, for I suppose the church will be ignored, perhaps become extinct. Don't know what I shall do with myself! Ha! ha! Will some of the brethren tell me? After some further church business, on motion of Eld. Ladley, Resolved, That we adjourn to meet at this place on next Thursday, 28th inst., at 10 o'clock A. M. D. F. LADLEY, Clerk. Late in the afternoon of the same day the Trustees of the Second Christian Church, understanding that the First Christian Church had authorized its Trustees to sell the chapel, met said officers and made them an offer for the house. They accepted the offer, saying that it was a better bid than they had ever received for the house, and better than they could expect to receive if they should wait any longer. They expressed themselves entirely satisfied with the offer, and proceeded that afternoon to an office of a Justice of the Peace and executed a Warrantee Deed of the property of the First Christian Church to "the Trustees of the Second Christian Church and their successors in office for ever." On the very next day, Sabbath, the 24th inst., Mr. Fay, notwithstanding his assertions in the above public speech, began to operate against the "new movement," as he called the Second Christian Church. He went out to the residence of John Kershner, but not finding him at home left a message with his wife-viz. that he very much desired CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 43 that Mr. Kershner would not accept of the offer of the Second Christian Church, &c. Who can place confidence in such men? A friend, in looking over the laws of Ohio, discovered one on reversionary interests. The attention of our counsel was called to this. He thought the transfer of the property, as already effected by warrantee deed, a legal and sufficient one, yet, if we had any doubt about it, the transfer could also be made by permit of Court; that the one process would'not invalidate the other. The case was somewhat complicated, yet he thought that no claim of any reversionary interest could ever be sustained, if any were made in future. -It was thought best by some to obtain a permit of Court, and accordingly our counsel drew up a petition, which was signed by Judge Wi. Mills and the Trustees of the First Christian Church. Mr. Mills renarked that such a petition was not at all necessary, for he had sold the land to the First Christian Church and deeded it in such a way that there could be no reversionary interests claimed in it by any of his heirs. He examined the Ohio statute referred to and thought there was no necessity of following that in transferring the property in question; that he was perfectly willing, however, to sign the petition and did so. Jan. 28th, 1858.-"The First Christian Church met according to adjournment. Isaac Kershner in the chair. Prayer by Eld. Ladley. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved." Eld. Ladley being in feeble health and somewhat weary from walking over to the chapel, in reading the minutes happened toomit the names of some of the movers of resolutions, when Mr. Mann took occasion to pick flaws and make objections to the minutes as read by Eld. Ladley. Mr. Fay also had a word to say, but they effected nothing; for the minutes were in proper legal form, as the names of the movers of all the resolutions were on the book. The Trustees, who were authorized at the previous meeting to sell the church property to the best advantage and as soon as possible, were called on for a report. Said Trustees made a report of progress, which report on motion was accepted. On motion of D. F. Ladley, Resolved, That we adjourn to one week from next Tuesday, at 2 o'clock P. M. —viz., Feb. 9, 1858. D. F. LADLEY, Clerk. Feb. Ist, 1858.-The aforementioned petition of the Trustees of the First Christian Church and William Mills to the Court of Common 44 HISTORY OP THE Pleas was presented to said Court at Xenia. A. S. Dean was present and made, through his lawyer and his own testimony, some false claims, owing to which and to the Judges not being familiar with the statute, and also to the pressure of other business, the case was laid over for a further hearing. In the meantime, however, a new Judge came to preside over the Court, and the time for receiving the petition registered for a later day of the session. Our counsel informed us that A. S. Dean came to Xenia very early on the previous Thursday morning and called at his residence before he was up. Mr. Dean said he had come to consult with him about a certain matter; a church case; about the sale of some church property in Yellow Springs. Counsel told him that he could not talk with him on that subject. A. S. Dean now gave counsel to understand that the Hon. Horace Mann had instructed him to consult with him on the matter. Counsel could not help that, he was not at liberty to talk with him on that subject. A. S. Dean still persisted in talking, and gave our counsellor a long, sad story about affairs at Yellow Springs, throwing in a question now and then, which counsel did not take the trouble to answer. After Mr. Dean had "said his say" he took his hat and left, none the wiser after his long effort to pump our counsellor! Feb. 6th.-W. H. Smith (a student,) one of Mr. Fay's clique, broke into the chapel vestry through a window and opened the doors, when Mann, Fay and others came in and held a meeting, which they claimed to be a monthly meeting of the church! and that, too, when monthly meetings had fallen into disuse. *According to the records of the church there had been but one monthly church meeting since the 1st August, 1857, and that one was held Oct. 3d, 1857. The whole affair was, of course, illegal, for the house did not belong to them; and 1st, they broke into the house, and that, too, when it was known that the Second Christian Church had had the keys and possession of the chapel since the 24th of January. 2nd. The meeting was not legally called, no public notice having been given, and was known only to a very small minority of the members of the church. Besides, the regular legal meeting of the church had adjourned over from Jan. 28th to Feb. 9th. But, notwithstanding all this, they proceeded to smuggle 18 or 19 persons into the First Christian Church! which was the first opportunity to join the church which Mr. Fay had given since his residence in CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 45 Yellow Springs; and this, even, some weeks after he had been excused to act as agent for the College. Why was he not off on his agency? The manner, too, of receiving these persons was not a little strange. They were received without asking them any questions, not even whether they believed in the New Testament or no! and in the face of opposition! On such easy conditions one would suppose that Eld. Fay might have persuaded a larger number of his congregation to join "his society." Mr. Kiler charged them with a violation of the laws of Ohio in breaking into the house, and intimated that he who comes in by any other way than through the door "is a thief and a robber." Horace Mann arose and asked the chairman if he did not come in by the door? and said he had a right to the church for he owned a pew. Mr. Kiler asked him how much he had paid for his right? and charged home upon him that he had not paid a single dollar on the meeting house, which Mr. Mann did not deny, for it was a fact. News of this remarkable revival and large accession to the church spread rapidly through town and country, reaching Cincinnati and other distant places with almost telegraphic speed. Of course this secret underhanded movement was "for effect," to enlarge the small faction of the church which supported Eld, Fay, and, if possible, obtain votes enough to control the adjourned meeting to be held Feb. 9th, three days later. Mr. Mann now moved that a new clerk be appointed; and, although there was no vacancy, the regular standing clerk not having resigned, and although Mr. Kiler protested against any such action, yet a new clerk was elected, after which they began to rescind the legal and orderly transactions of the two preceding meetings of Jan. 23d and 28th. Eld. Richardson, on going by, saw that there was a meeting in the chapel. He went in, and observing the character of the assemblage gave battle. Layton also learning of the meeting went in and contested their illegal and disorderly proceedings. They (the factionists) passed resolutions rescinding all that was done in the meetings of Jan. 23d and 28th, save the one resolution instructing the Trustees to sell the church property "to the best advantage and as soon as possible," which they almost totally changed by an amendment. Feb. 9th, 1858.-The First Christain Church met according to adjournment from the 28th ultimo, at 2 o'clock P. M. 46 HISTORY OF THE Isaac Kershner in the chair, D. F. Ladley, church clerk. After prayer by Eld. McWhinney, the chairman called for the minutes of the last meeting. The clerk commenced to read when he was interrupted by Mr. Mann, who asked Eld. Ladley if he "was about to read the minutes as the clerk of the church." Mr. M. said that at the last meeting of the church, (Saturday, the 6th inst.,) owing to the absence of the clerk, "the church proceeded to elect another clerk in place of Mr. Ladley, and as the clerk then elected was now present, Mr. Mann took exception to Mr. Ladley's reading the minutes." Why is it that Mr. Mann is so often desirous to have a special clerk? The reason is very evident in this case. He wished to have the minutes of the spurious church meeting of the 6th inst. read and approved, and how could this be effected except through the counterfeit church clerk, Wim. M. King? The Chair informed Mr. Mann that the meeting alluded to was illegal and he should.not recognize it in any way. Mr. Mann somewhat excited replied to the Chair, and again excepted to Eld. Ladley's reading the minutes. After considerable sparring between Mr. Mann and others, the Chair requested the church clerk to proceed to read. Mr. Mann now remained in his seat-and Eld. Ladley completed the'reading of the minutes. The report of the Trustees was then called for, on motion of Eld. Ladley, when the Trustees reported that they had sold the church property according to their instructions. After the report was made Mr. A. S. Dean attempted to speak, but was stopped by the Chair, who said that outsiders could not be allowed to speak without permission of the church. Mr. Dean again attempted to speak, and was again interrupted by the chairman. Mr. Dean persisted and said, "I have been implicated. You called on the Building Committee to report, and I am a member of that committee," when he was finally silenced by the Chair and kept his seat. On motion of Eld. Ladley, the report of the Trustees was accepted by a unanimous vote. Mr. Dean's statement, "You called on the Building Committee to report," is about as correct as most of his sayings. The Building Committee had not been called on, in this meeting, to make a report. The Trustees, and not the Building Committee, had been authorized to sell the church property, and they only were called upon to report. Eld. Fay arose and requested permission to speak. CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 47 The Chair said Mr. Fay cannot be heard. Eld. Fay asked if he could not be permitted to submit a single proposition. The Chair objected. Mr. Mann arose and moved that Eld. Fay have liberty to submit a proposition. Motion was lost. Affirmative 12; negative 38. Mr. Mann arose and said that as Mr. Fay was debarred from speaking to his (Fay's) own church, he (Mr. Mann) "would read to the church some propositions which Mr. Fay had desired to present with the view of reconciling the differences which now divide the church." Mr. Mann went on to speak of the great desirability of harmony and good feeling in the church, and thought that the propositions which he was about to read might bring affairs into a'state of unity. He deprecated divisions and dissensions and trusted that the differences might be harmonized. ELI FAY'S PLAN. "Propositions by which to liquidate the indebtedness of the First Christian Church in Yellow Springs, and also to harmonize all parties in sustaining it. First. "The subscription raised by the Second Christian Church for the purpose of purchasing the church property, shall be so increased by the First Christian Church and its friends as to cover the entire indebtedness upon the property, exclusive of the just and equitable portion which the Building Committee should assume, which shall be determined by themselves and three other men to be chosen by the First Christian Church. The whole of the subscription thus increased shall be secured to the Building Committee on the conditions as to the payment of the subscription belonging to the Second Christian Church of Yellow Springs, when the Building Committee shall give to the First Christian Church of Yellow Springs a warrantee deed of the church property. Second. "After the property shall be thus secured to the First Church, an opportunity shall be given to all suitable persons who desire it to unite with the First Church. Two months shall be deemed a sufficient time for that purpose; at the expiration of which a pastor shall be chosen by a majority of the church members present at a special meeting which shall be called for that purpose, due notice of which shall be given. This proposition shall not be considered as a precedent to control future action, but simplyas a measure to meet present emergencies. (!) Third. "The pews of the church shall be rented annually to defray the expenses of the church. Fourth. "If these propositions shall not be accepted, we propose that, according to resolutions passed at our church meeting last Saturday, the Building Committee keep the sale of the church property an open question until the 20th instant; and that if during that time the First Christian Church shall make as good an offer as any other party, 48 HISTORY OF THE they shall be entitled to the property. The comparative value of the property shall be determined by a disinterested committee to be chosen by the Building Committee and the First Christian Church." Messrs. Mann, Fay and Dean talk about harmony, peace, "unity," when they had done so much to distract and divide! when they had within a few weeks endeavored to disfranchise, if not utterly destroy the church What confidence could be placed in them, in their plans, or in their professions? They had never paid a dollar towards the debt on the chapel! They (Dean and Mann) had been endeavoring for nearly three years to force the church into the pew-selling arrangement; and opposed the raising of money by other plans. They had prevented the taking up a collection on the day of dedication, which at that time would have gone far towards liquidating the debt. They had for a long time been "stumbling blocks" and almost "insuperable barriers" to the advancement and prosperity of the church, and now M.ann and Fay come forward with a plan, professedly to harmonize all parties!" Greater duplicity could not well be exhibited. There was in this plan no basis for the noble superstructure of harmony and Christian unity; and this they well knew or ought to have known. Only a few days previous, Jan'y 23d, Mr. Fay said before a large audience, that "there had been conflicting elements in this community for a long time; in short, two opposing parties;" and affirmed his belief that these parties could never be harmonized; yet he now comes forward with "peace propositions!" Was there sincerity here? Were these the propositions of a conquered enemy suing for peace? or were they not rather an intriguing scheme to gain time, a stratagem to decoy the victors upon mines all ready for explosion? The object was clearly to destroy the new organization, to break up the only successful arrangement by which the church was freed from debt, and the Building Committee from a crushing burden. It was to make the whole matter an open question again; to roll the burden back upon the Building Committee that they might yet be forced to a sale of the pews, or to the only other alternative, to a sale of the property by the Sheriff. And this last would doubtless have been the result, had any considerable portion of the church accepted the specious and sophistical argument of Mr. Mann in favor of the adoption of Mr. Fay's plan. Mr. Mann* certainly struggled powerfully to forestall the minds of the * We regret exceedingly the course which Mr. Mann has taken since he joined the Christian Church. Had he manifested an interest in our weekly prayer meetings; had he attended our monthly church meetings and taken hold, heart and hand with us, he might have accomplished gleat good. And we would ask why Mr. Mann was not CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 49 audience, and on reading each portion of the plan, made lengthy comments and commendations; yet all to no purpose, for his motion, at the close of his speech, that the church reconsider its vote, and permit Mr. Fay to speak upon his propositions-was lost by an overwhelming majority as before! It was well known by persons at a distance from Yellow Springs, that such conflicting forces had found way into the church, that such innovations had been allowed, that there was now no hope for peace except in a new organization. As one instance we give the following: "This is to certify, that Eld. J. G. Reeder, one of the so-called self-constituted committee has frequently called at my house during the last three years, and on more than one occasion has said concerning church affairs here, that our only-salvation would be to form a new organization. "July, 1858. " JOHN A. LAYTON." But let us examine these so-called "peace propositions." 1st. "To liquidate the indebtedness of the First Christian Church." Was not the church already free from debt? The Trustees sold and deeded away the church property, Jan'y 23d, and received therefor money, notes, and approved subscriptions; and the members of the Building Committee, who were personally bound for the whole debt, approved of the sale. 2d. "To harmonize all parties in sustaining it," &c. Had Mann and Fay the slightest idea that " all parties" could ever be induced to sustain the First Christian Church? We think not. Several men of means had said that they would not subscribe a single dollar for the First Christian Church; and Mr. Fay's experience in circulating subscription papers had, doubtless, shown him that the debt could not be cancelled without their aid. Besides one of the express conditions of the plan on which the money had just been raised was that "there shall be a new organization." How then, we ask, could the subscribers to this plan and this condition (who embraced nearly all the able and respectable members of the First Christian Church) now stultify themselves by accepting the propositions of Messrs. Fay and Mann! The idea is supremely ridiculous, and was so regarded by candid men. baptized, especially when heacknowledged that immersion is the true mode? Why has he not attended to the ordinance of the Lord s Supper, with the Church? Why has he not attended our prayer meetings, if his sympathies are so emphatically with the Christians as he has often publicly asserted? Why has henot attended our fellowship or monthly church meetings except when he has hadsome plan or scheme to accomplish? Does Mr. Mann believe in practical Christianity as manifestedby the Christian Connections? Was Mr. Mann a frequent attendantat prayer meetings in Massachusetts; and did he exhibit a deep interest in practical piety? We ask for information. Will Mr. Mann, or any one who knows the facts, give candid and truthful replies to the above questions? 4 50 HISTORY OF THE 3d. "The subscription raised by the Second Christian Church," &c. The Second Christian Church did not raise the subscription. The money was pledged before the Second Christian Church had an existence, and was subscribed by members of the Christian, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches, and by those belonging to no branch of the church, and with the definite understanding that there should be a " new organization," one that should elect its own pastor and transact its own business. This subscription was presented to Horace Mann, A. S. Dean, Austin Craig, H. A. Warriner and others connected with Antioch College; but they would not subscribe a single dollar, and yet they or some of them desired to control the church! If they wished to aid in liquidating the debt, why did they not then subscribe on a pledge which they were assured would be successful? Was it because they were determined to wrest the church, as we believe they had the college, from her denominational, her old Bible platform? and place her upon a sandy foundation? The pernicious influence of the College was deeply regretted by good Christians of all the churches of the place; for the Christian Church wa's not only threatened, but the true interests of all denominations, pure and conservative Christianity herself. There was great joy therefore when the money was raised, the Second Christian Church organized, and the chapel purchased for a free Christian House. Of course, Mann, Fay & Co. would be delighted to add a few dollars to the successful subscription, if by that means they could bring back the chapel to the possession of the First Christian Church! but they were several weeks too late. 4th. "By themselves and three other men to be chosen by the First Christian Church." Did Messrs. Fay and Mann intend to insult the Building Committee, after they had so deeply injured them? Of course Mann, Dean, and others were to be perfectly free to pay what they pleased, but the members of the committee who had "borne the burden in the heat of the day," who had been oppressed with a $6,000 church debt, must be instructed by a Church Committee how much they ought to give! Would Mr. Mann have the Building Committee men subscribe more than $666 67 each, or $2,000 together, the amount which they actually did pledge? Was not this suTiciently liberal, when himself and others better able to give largely than the committee-men, had not paid a single dollar to diminish the church debt! Let these gentlemen come for CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 51 ward and pay handsomely, before they talk about instructing the Building Committee in liberality, 5th. "When the Building Committee shall give to the First Christian Church of Yellow Springs a warrantee deed of the church property." After the First Christian Church has sold and deeded away "the church properIty" and the Building Committee men have expressed their satisfaction with the transaction; what then M essrs. Fay and Mann? Would you have the sale vitiated, the money reverted to the subscribers, an:d the,:000 debt thrown back upon the Building Committee? God fo rbid. 6th. "An o5portunity shall be given to all suitable persons who desire it, to unite withl the First Christian Church." Do l ann F:L iay consider all the 19 individuals whom they smuggled i -dto the church on Feb. 6th "suitable persons?" If so, better take in the whe community. Of coulrse, the election of a pastor' by a majority of the church menbers" unler siuch. eircumstance-seven, ought not to be "considered as a prececdent' cC orol future action!" but simply as a measure to meet present cui er-lncies'!"' Ever:c\f,:r this first election the pastor will, doubtless, be chosen by the congrhein or' the community 7th. "Of c,&rse 51ann, Dean and Fay are very willing that the pews should be rented to meet the annual expenses of the church, after others had paisi the k^,000 debt, especially if the lessees only have votes!" Sthl. But sluld the above plan not be accepted, Mr. Fay offers another, vii: —"that the Building Committee keep the sale of the church property an open question until the 20th inst." according to resolutions passed at the spurious church meeting of Feb. 6th by said Fay and his co-laborers. Does Mir. Mann suppose that the church will be so stupid as to recognize the proceedings of an illegal meeting as valid, and coercive of her acti n? Besid es what right has the Building Committee to keep the sale an "open question," even had the Trustees not sold the chapel? Jan'y. 23d the First Christian Church instructed her Tri stees to sell the church property'as soonl as possible," but not the Building Committee. 9th. What itr. Fay means by "the comparative value of the property shall be determined," &e. we do not understand. What has " the comparative value of the property" to do in the case? Be that more or less, must not the whole church debt be paid? Such were the so-called "peace propositions" of Eld. Fay; but did they contain any elements of peace, of sincerity, or of honesty? 4* 52 HISTORY OF THE Eld. Ladley said that it is singular that persons will now put forth efforts to accomplish that which is already accomplished; that these propositions (of Mr. Fay) came too late; that this house is sold, a deed is made out for it, and a consideration already, perhaps, in hand. Tlhe work is accomplished, and the debt liquidated. Mr. L., referring to those who complain of the sale, said: These'men have paid nothing out of their pockets; they ought not to complain. The Second Christian Church organized here has no new banner. They have rehoisted one, under which some have rallied, and more will. Mr. Mann replied-" We did not know the church property had been sold until we heard it here this afternoon," &c. Here Eld's. Fay and M cWhinney officiously volunteered some remarks contrary to the rules of the meeting. Eld.; McW. had doubtless been brought over from Enon, to aid Messrs. Fay and Mann! J. F. Crist arose, and said that many of these remarks here this afternoon were made for effect; that it was well known there was a certain party here headed by Mlr. Mann, which had always thwarted the Christian Church. Now, said Mr. Crist, we have here a rallying against that party; and this will go much further than Yellow Springs; it will spread through the Christian Denomination. I've heard down at Cincinnati, said Mr. Crist, the news that there has been a glorious revival here! That nineteen new converts were added to the church last Saturday! Mr. Crist said that these were not genuine additions to the church, but that those members were brought in for effect. (Mr. Crist was here interrupted.) He proceeded to say that nine or ten months ago this party elected a certain pastor, and that threefourths of the church were disaffected at this. Fay was elected by a small minority, without the church having had sufficient notice that there was to be an election. The strife now going on will result in good. Mr. Mann's remarks commendatory of, and in connection with, Mr. Fay's propositions were quite lengthy and intended to affect the feelings and carry the votes of church members. He endeavored to work on the sympathies of the Building Committee, and to excite their feelings of self interest by showing how much more money they would receive if these propositions were adopted. During the whole speech, and especially during these remarks, Mr. Fay eyed the committee men with most searching eagerness, apparently expecting every moment to see them yield to Mr. Mann's magic power, surrender to his specious logic, repudiate their endorsement of the recent sale of the chapel, and throw the whole thing back upon the church and themselves! But Mr. Fay watched in vain, and all of Mr. Mann's labored efforts were in vain; for John Kershner arose and said " the Trustees CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 53 have sold this house to the Second Christian Church of this place according to their instructions, have executed a warrantee deed for the same, and they intend to stand to the sale." The Building Committee remained firm. Not a single muscle relaxed. They had endorsed the sale and they would stand to it, and why not? They knew that all the Horace Manns, A. S. Deans, and Eli Fays in the country would not pay them as much as they have received for the church property. They knew that they had received nearly four times as much available means as had ever before been pledged to the liquidation of the debt. They knew, too, that if this sale should be invalidated, they would never again receive so good an offer, that the property would be thrown back upon their hands, and that they would probably be compelled to sell it at Sheriff's sale. Besides, they had sold to the friends of the Christian Denomination, to the friends of a free but genuine Christianity, and to the foes of irreligion and infidelity. Every consideration, therefore, of interest as well as of duty, notwithstanding oIr. Mann's specious sophisms, called on them to stand to the sale; and this they were fully and uncompromisingly determined to do. Indeed it is difficult to catch old foxes after you have several times endeavored to trap them. The First Christian Church having sold her property, freed herself from debt, and now completed her business. Thomas Kershner moved the following: " Whereas, We the first Christian Church of Yellow Springs, Ohio, through our Trustees, have sold the property of the church in order to pay the debt thereon, and Whereas, We as a church are now without a chapel, or any suitable place in which to meet for worship, therefore, Resolved, That this church be and is hereby dissolved." Mr. Mann desired to see the resolution. The Clerk handed it to him. He looked it over carefully, then jumped from his chair and poured forth a sweeping, excitable speech of some five to ten minutes. He protested against the resolution, and declared that it would be impossible to dissolve the church so long as any member objects; the law would not permit it; and he defied the whole world to take from him his church rights and privileges without his consent. Mr. Mann's sweeping declarations, and almost phrenzied asseverations, however, did not convince the church of the illegality or impropriety of passing the resolution. Before taking his seat, Mr. Manni requested that counsel be taken from ministers present, mentioning Eld's. McWhinney, Craig and Wes j4 nHISTORY OF THE ton; and accordingly moved that these ministers be invited to address the meeting, before taking the vote on the resolution. The chairman objected. He said that this is strictly a business meeting of the church. The gentlemen called on for speechesl are not llmembers of this organization, and hence have no legal or moral ri,' U to oeak in this meeting without an invitation or vote of the church. He was sorry to be under the necessity of refusing, ermi;sion to outsiders to speak; yet he must do so unless otherwise ordered by the church. bIr. Mann then moved that Eld. MIcWhinney be allowed to speak. Motion lost by a vote of nearly 3 to 1. He then moved that Eld. Craig be allowed to speak, andi afterwards that Eld. Weston speak; but each motion was lost by a lheavy iuajority of nearly 3 to 1, the vote in the affirmative being 13, in the ne-gative about 40. Elder Faay —'Mr. Chairman, may i take one look at this corpse before you proceed to bury it?" Chair-"I can't allow Mr. Fay to speak." Elder Fay said: "I now give notice, as pastor of this churcnh, that it is not disbanded, and cannot be." Eld. McWhinney now forced himself upon the meeting in a few fire-eating remarks aimed at Eld. Ladley. Then followed two of Mr. Fay's clique (members of the curch,) one a student, W. H. Smith, the other a workman in the factory, Lr. Twist, whose speeches were full of border rufian invective. Eld. D. F. Ladley arose, and in his usual calm, coileicte manner spoke to the resolution. He thought the resolution a piLoper ce. uni der the circumstances. The church had sold her entire prcp':rty, icudl now no place for worship; and moreover a lare share, doubtless nearly all of the members, wished to leave the church, and hence the resolution to dissolve the organization. He believed such a step to be warranted and legal, and dcid not see that it would do injustice to any one. It would place all on the same level; and each one "could then go his own way to his own -?irne.:' If any wished to unite with the Second Christian Church, they could do so. If any wished to unite with other churches, they could then h"ave the privilege; and if others desired to organize a new church, ti n wuould undoubtedly have a right so to do. Believing the resol'Utii-n thereore to be legal, as well as just and equitable, he should vote r it. The motion on the resolution was now put, and passed unanimously. Affirmative 34, negative none. The First Christian C(hurch of Yellow Springs, Green co., (io, was therefore declared dissolved. MIessrs. 3Iann and PFay now announced that the First Ch risti:an Church is not dissolved and cannot be, and requested the meLmbes and f'iends CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 55 to remain. Most of the members however left. Mr. Fay took the chair. A majority of the Trustees'of the'Second Christian Church, owning the house being present, announced that no meeting could be held in the chapel without their permission. Mr. Fay said he had money enough to pay a fine, if necessary, and he preferred to pay a good fine rather than not to speak for ten minutes. The Trustees protested against any meeting in their house that evening. A. S. Dean declared —any man who interrupts does so at his peril," and dropped a hint about "funerals.' Mr. Mann took his seat at the table and employed his pencil busily in drafting resolutions. Mr. Fay went on with his mercurial speech, throwing out sweeping and reckless assertions. * * * * "As the pastor of the First Christian Church in Yellow Springs, I now give notice that this church is not disbanded, nor is there any power on earth which can disband it according to the usuages or the profession of the Christian denomination." Let the reader not be deceived. The usages of the Christian Penomination are different from those of most, if not all others, branches of the church of Christ. Each one of our churches is congrezational or democratic, and supretne to control its own affairs. Our Conferences are simply advisory bodies, made up of free and independent churches. Our United States or General Convention (quadrennialh is also purely an advisory body, made up of delegates from our vrilous Conferences. It has no power to dictate to or control any Conference in its action; just as the Conference has no right or prerogative to control any church. Our churches are, therefore, free, independent, democratic bodies or corporations, transacting -all their business by a majority vote of the members present at any rueular (o- legal business meeting of the same. Every member is entitled to one vote and but one. Such at least are the.general usages of our denomination; and if any single sister church has any special regulations conflicting with the above general rules, we are not advised of them. In view of the above, therefore, we ask why a unanimous or even a majority vote cannot dissolve one of our churches? We see no reason why the power which creates cannot destroy; why the power which organizes cannot disorganize; why our churches cannot dissolve by a majority vote even as well as organize and transact other business by such vote. That a corporate body can be dissolved no one will pretend to deny. 56 HISTORY OF THE A church is an incorporate body. A church can, therefore, be dissolved. Moreover, Mr. Kershner did not offer said resolution hastily or thoughtlessly. Counsel was taken of several ministers of the Denomination as well as of able lawyers, and the almost universal opinion was that our churches can dissolve by a majority as well as by a unanimous vote. Let Mann, Fay and Dean make as many reckless assertions as they will to further selfish interests and carry out selfish schemes, we still firmly believe in the omnipotence of truth and the final triumph of justice! Mr. Fay further said, "We have accepted the Holy Scriptures as our only rule of church government; and there is not an example between the lids of the Bible of such an attempt as that which we have just witnessed; nor is there a sentence which can be so tortured as to countenance this attempt. The Bible gives no authority to disband a church." "The Holy Scriptures our only rule of church government " How does this declaration harmonize with some of Mr. F.'s statements in his'Incognito' articles? Elds. John Ross and 0. E. Morrill, of New York, can doubtless answer." We would ask Mr. Pay if the Bible declares that a church organization cannot be dissolved? Do the Sacred Scriptures teach that churches were not organized on the democratic principle, and that a majority vote was not competent to control? Do they teach that churches were incorporated bodies, and that they can never be dissolved so long as one member objects? We cannot believe that any sane, well-informld man will contend that Christ and his apostles had the Ohio statute laws, that the churches of that day were incorporated according to said laws and could not be dissolved; or that the churches as they existed at that time could not be dissolved. Did not "the Amen, the faithful and true Witness," declare to the church of the Laodiceans, "I will spew thee out of my mouth?" We believe that the First Christian Church of Yellow Springs, Ohio, both as a corporate body and as an association of professing Christians, was dissolved on the 9th of February, 1858, and that such dissolution was both advisable and necessary. Mr. Fay also said, "I offered my propositions for pacification in good faith." If Mr. F. offered his plan in good faith, what will be CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 57 thought of his statements on the 23d- January, when he declared that he believed that the two parties could never be harmonized? Did he make both speeches "in good faith?" or were his "God speeds" on that occasion a mockery, and his declaration that "he would not oppose a single obstacle to the new organization" a lie? Why does Mr. Fay make a declaration one day and belie it the next? Mr. Fay, about a year previously, had said a considerable privately about forming a new organization "of the right sort of men," yet now he pretends that he desires peace and "fusion." But read the following: CARD. "This is to certify, that some time in the Spring of 1857 1 was standing under the awning in front of the Post-office, when Mr. Fay came along and said he wanted to speak to me in private. We stepped to one side, and Mr. Fay remarked there was going to be a'new organization' and that I was too good a man to be lost." "I replied by saying,'What do you mean, sir?' "He said that they were going to get up a'new organization' and wished me to go with them, but that it must be kept secret I "July, 1858. "JOHN A. LAYTON." J. B. Weston then arose and made quite an excitable speech, directly in the face of another protest of the proprietors of the house, in which he endeavored to show that the dissolution of the church was not legal. He affirmed that "no final action in the matter of the sale has been reported," which is a direct denial of the report of the Trustees of the First Christian Church made but an hour or two before, and which Mr. Weston himself he: rd, for he was sitting within a few feet of the Trustees who made the report. Why did Mr. Weston allow himself to be so carried away with excitement? He also said, "If every member of the church, with the exception of only one person, should vote to dissolve the church, that one person protesting against it, tLa thur:-h could not be dissolved." Because a very few members opposed the resolution to dissolve the church therefore Mr. W. declares the dissolution illegal. Does Mr. Weston know more about law than men who have given their lives to the study and practice of it? Able lawyers of the State of Ohio have given their opinion that there is nothing in law (common or statute) to prevent such dissolution, and when they were informed of the customs and usages of the Christian Denomination, they saw no reason, in an ecclesiastical point of view, why a majority vote was not coipcletl:t to dissolve one of our churches. "But Mr. Weston said that this whole thing was as unprecedented 58 HISTORY OF THE and unwarrantable in its nature as it was unchristian in its conception." So Mr. Weston said an hour or so before, just as the vote to dissolve had been taken, to Bro. David Jewell, who voted for the resolution, "Nobody but a black-hearted hypocrite could take part in such a proceeding." Bro. Jewell pleasantly checked Mr. Weston, and hoped he would not allow himself to become too much excited. Deacon Jewell is one of our most candid, thoughtful and reliable men. Eld. A. Craig followed in some brief remarks, when Eld. M[cWhinney gave vent to his pent up feelings. And why not? After he had come over from Enn to defend Mann and Fay in church affairs, as he had previously in College affairs, it would certainly be rather unpleasant to be compelled to return without "freeing his mind." His speech, however, was desultory and composed of assertions. The resolutions which Mr. Mann had drafted were passed,'appointing committees to obtain the keys of the chapel, &e. Prof. Allen supposing that these individuals had now given vent to their envious and seditionary feelings, arose and remarked that he had nothing to say, on the present occasion, touching the action of the First Christian Church. and would now add nothing to the protest of the present proprietors against the disorderly and illegal proceedings just witnessed; but he would repel the unjust insinuations and charges against the Second Christian Church. He was a member of that church, was acquainted with its proceedings, and knew the charges to be without foundation in truth. He remarked that the money to clear the chapel of debt could be raised only on condition that there should be a "new organization," that the Second Christian Church had been formed to comply with that condition, that it is based on the old Christian platform, "the Bible our rule of faith and practice," that it harbors no hard feelings towards any church in the place, intends to do its own business, and to observe the glorious precept, "Do unto others as ye would they should do unto you." Eld. Fay then made a second speech, after which A. S. Dean mounted a seat and poured forth a torrent of foul-mouthed personalities, such that even J. B. Burrows would not insert them in his scurrilous "Yellow Springs News Letter." "A resolution was then proposed that the vote empowering the committee to sell the church property be rescinded." What did Mr. Mann mean by this resolution? The church had not instructed the Building Committee to sell the property, but the CHRISTIAN CHURCH 59 Trustees; and the Trustees had fulfilled their instructions and made their report, which was unanimously accepted by the church. Why, therefore, this illegal, disorderly meeting, and this resolutibn to rescind what had never been done? "If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." "A committee of three was appointed to wait upon Eld. Ladley and in the name of the First Christian Church demand the book of church records." Thus a few excited, disorderly persons continued to give vent to their bitter and envious feelings, until they exhausted themselves for the day and adjourned to the 20th inst., at which time their committees were requested to report. On the 12th of February, towards evening, Wm. M. King and Mr. Harrington broke into the chapel, when L. G. Fessenden, S. M. Davis, Birch and sons, Twist and others, came in, and taking possession of the large melodeon used by the choir carried it away. Soon after MIann and Fay, followed by their disciples, came in. Mr. Fay took the chair and called on the Committee on "Keys" to report. L. G. Fessender reported that he could not obtain the keys of the chapel. Mr. Fay reported for the Committee on Church Book that they had called on Eld. Ladley, but he refused to give them the book; that he asked Eld. L. his reasons for refusing to comply with the committee's request and also asked him to arbitrate; but Eld. L. replied that he had nothing more to say at present on that subject, but he would be happy to see the committee-men when they had anything pleasant to say. Win. M. King moved the following: lWhereas John Kershner and wife and others voted to disband the church, therefore"Resolved, That said John Kershner and others be and are hereby suspended from this church until they make reparation." Adopted. Mr. Fay arose and said that he held a statement in his hand, by a student of the college, which he trembled to read. That that statement contained a charge of abusive and profane language against a member of the First Christian Church, (one of those embraced in the above resolution,) and had he known that said church contained such a member he would not have preached to it! IMr. Fay then read the statement, which was signed by J. W. Eddy. Mr. Eddy then said that there was one person who heard tle conversation; thinks J. B. Burrows was the man. 60 HISTORY OF THE Mr. Fay said he understood that Mr. Lewis was also present and heard the improper language alluded to. Mr. Fay calls on Mr. Burrows to state what he knows about the matter. Mr. B. responds in a few remarks; thinks the gentleman did use profane language. Mr. Lewis was then called on and corroborated the statement of Eddy in part. Mr. Mann then asked what is customary in such cases. Mr. Jewell arises and asks if it is customary to suspend a man from the church and try him afterwards? Mr. Fay said the Bible rule is, "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him the fault between thee and him alone," &c.; but this case is different. This is a public offence, and the mildest course would be to appoint a committee to wait upon the accused. Mr. Mann moved that a committee of three be appointed to attend to the matter. Carried. C MR. FESSENDEN, Committee appointed, " DENORMANDIE, " LEWIS. Mr. Fessenden was excused from acting on the committee at his urgent request. Perhaps visions of lost music students loomed up before him. Not one of said committee has lisped the matter to the accused! But the reader asks who is this Mr. Eddy? He is an eccentric young man and is thought to be extremely odd, if not of unsound mind. The Professor of Logic and Belles Lettres in the College remarked that he was frequently under the necessity of stopping Mr. Eddy and silencing him from reading his essays, on account of their infidel statements and vituperation of the Bible. J. B. Burrows was the editor of the short-lived and scurrilous "Yellow Springs News Letter." Mr. Lewis is a shoemaker, one of Fay's clique. Such were the men who brought forward or abetted the above charge. Who would not respect himself the more for being accused by such persons? and who would not be suspicious of himself if praised by them? Eld. Jacobs, writing on this matter, speaks briefly of the occurrences of the 12th February, and then says: "On the next day I was in a store where several persons were talking CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 61 over the doings of the preceding evening. I stated that the proceedings uf that meeting were much like the proceedings of an inquisition; that the actors on that occasion appeared to exhibit a desire to crush the accused, who was not present, and therefore could not answer for himself. His offence had been concealed for two months or more, but now at this crisis it is published to the world, and after the accused had declared by his vote he would act no longer with them! "I further said that a Christian should endeavor to restore a brother in the spirit of meekness when he knows of his transgression; and if he says nothing to the offender privately to restore him, he should not bring the matter before the public. The doings of last evening looked as if certain persons wished to despitefully use and persecute the accused. "Becoming somewhat excited at these remarks, Mr. Lewis, who was sitting near by, jumped up and said,'Gentlemen, I will tell you just how it is. I heard the abusive language alluded to about two months ago. I said nothing to any one about it; but Mr. Eddy informed Mr. Mann of it two or three days ago, and he (Mann) had it brought forward.' "JESSE JACOBS." The gentleman thus attacked and vilely accused was absent, but on learning the charge pronounced it false. He says he used ungentlemanly language to Mr. Eddy on account of his frequent insults to him in his office, but no profane terms. Is not the above one indication, at least, that there are no depths to which Mr. Mann will not stoop to accomplish his schemes; no instruments he will not employ to traduce the characters of those who dissent from or oppose his views and plans? Mr. Fessenden moved that an Executive Committee of five be appointed to attend to the business and guard the interests of the church. MR. DENORMANDIE, A FESSENDEN, Committee appointed, " TWIST, " Buss, DR. WARRINER. Mr. Buss excused on request. Mr. Fessenden excused on his urgent request and Mr. Birch was appointed in his place. Mr. Mann moved that the Executive Committee have power to fill vacancies. Passed. Mr. Fay requests the Executive Committee to remain a moment after adjournment. Adjourned. The Executive Committee, after the audience had mostly dispersed, ordered the Trustees of the Second Christian Church out of the house. 62 HISTORY OF THE The Trustees gave the committee to understand that they owned the chapel and that they should take care of it. The committee left and the Trustees locked up the house. Nest day, Feb. 13th, the Trustees of the Second Christian Church drove to Xenia to obtain counsel touching the disorderly course of W. M. King and his co-laborers, Fay, Dean and others. Said King made a false affidavit before Justice Shroufe, swearing that the book of church records is his own personal property, and a writ of replevin was issued for seizure of said book wherever found, and summoning Eld. D. F. Ladley to appear on the 16th inst. before said justice to answer the action of Wm. M. King. The book, however, disappeared, and could not be found. On their way home from Xenia the Trustees of the Second Christian Church were met by the constable, who served writs of replevin on them, summoning them to appear on the 16th before Justice Shroufe! The present proprietors of the house had now an excellent opportunity for bringing a legal action against King and others, as they had a few days later against Burrows and others; but they concluded to stand simply on the defensive, and suffer if need be in the cause of truth and justice, and on arriving at home they placed a watch in the chapel in accordance with the counsel of able lawyers, which was kept up for some days; and since which the disciples of Fay and Mann have not disturbed the premises. On the next day (Sabbath) the proprietors of the chapel recalled the permission which they had previously given to the Sunday School of the late First Christian Church to hold their meetings in the chapel. They regretted exceedingly to take this step, but those connected with and sustaining said school had broken into the chapel and held the disorderly meetings above specified, and besides their counsellor had advised them to withdraw their permission. On the 16th, the persons summoned, appeared before Justice Shroufe, but as the plaintiff did not appear, the action was set aside. Indeed how could said plaintiff have appeared and held up his head in the presence of the court, after breaking into a chapel and aiding in carrying off a melodeon, after his false oath before Justice Shroufe, and when the original writ had been greatly changed by interlineations after it left the office of the Justice. After all these and other things could said King look any honest man in the eye! Had he appeared on that occasion he would have been covered if possible with still deeper contempt and disgrace. As it was, said King, Miann and others were in Xenia to attend CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 63 court, expecting that the petition of Wm. Mills and the Trustees of the late First Christian Church would be presented that day. On the preceding evening, Mr. Twist had been dispatched, it is said, to West Liberty for Fay and McWhinney, who had just been making speeches in behalf of Antioch College and the proposed "Joint Stock Company," to the citizens of that town, and had closed their meeting by informing said citizens that they would call on them the next day for stock subscriptions. The next day came but no Fay and McWhinney were to be found or heard of! Had they been abducted? or had they gone up in the chariot of their college eloquence? Said Fay and McWhinney passed, according to report through Yellow Springs by night and turned up in Xenia before daylight of the 16th and spent the day lounging about that town instead of taking the stock subscriptions of the good peopl:e of West Liberty some 30 miles distant! In.he morning of the same day there was quite a rush of Fay's disciples from Yellow Springs to Xenia. Wm. M. King who broke into the chapel, and Horace Mann, driving down in company in single carriages. The exodus however turned out to be "a wild goose chase." The 16th was, it is true, the day appointed by court in which the First Christian Church might represent her petition; but said church had previously disbanded, and, of course, no petition could be presented, nor was it necessary. But the counsel of Mr. Fay's clique, not fully posted, had informed them that said petition would be before the court again on the 16th inst., and hence the rush of the so-called Fayites. They had their labor for their pains, for after watching the court all day, and hearing of no church petition, they returned by night, completely crest-fallen, to Yellow Springs. What a pity this had not been the first day of April! These proceedings damaged them greatly, their prestige was gone! They were now comparatively quiet, and it was said that they did not want the chapel, that they would build a new and better one, &c. Mr. Harrington, had a few weeks previously opened a Commercial College in Yellow Springs, and engaged Wmn. M. King as one of the teachers. They had, it is said, quite a number of students, and were doing very well; but after they broke into the Christian chapel on the afternoon of the 12th, and King had got out a writ of replevin for Eld. Ladley, the community became so disgusted and outraged, that the students left the Commercial School and it was broken up. Soon after Mtr. Harrington and two other members of Mr. Fay's 64 HISTORY OF THE clique purchased or leased Eld. Fay's nursery, and are now endeavoring to make a living by nursing fruit trees. We hope the trees will grow straight, and that the fruit will not be poisonous! On the 18th Feb. Eld. Maple, editor of the Gospel Herald, wrote a long letter to Eld. Austin Craig, in which he stated what was not true and broke the most sacred obligations of friend to friend. A few days later, a so-called " convention for the redemption of Antioch College" was held in Stafford, N. Y. An examination of the minutes shows that there were ten actors in that meeting, and that the five who managed and controlled the convention went from this place and vicinity and were members of Mr. Mann's clique! And one, if not more, of the remaining five persons was a coadjutor of Mann and Fay! Let any one acquainted with the facts read the minutes of that meeting, and say if ever a convention was more partizan. Of course, Mr. Mann's clique-viz., "Dean, Fay & Co.,7 which Maple had pronounced-a "little, scheming, selfish, greedy clique," had full swing, and blew off a large amount of gas. They spoke of a plot which "more than two years ago," they said, "was in existence to effect the removal of Mr. Mann from the presidency of Antioch College." * *"that in furtherance of this plot, the Christian Church in Yellow Springs had been divided, and an attempt made to destroy the First Christian Church there," in confirmation of which Eld. Maple's letter was read and an extract from it published as a portion of the minutes of the convention, which contains the following, viz:"The sole object of this Second Christian Church organization is the removal of Mr. Mann and the present faculty." 1st. Concerning the plot, spoken of we know nothing. 2d. The division in the church was caused by the plottings of Mann, Dean, Fay and others, as the history of the church shows. 3d, The First Christian Church of Yellow Springs was dissolved on Feb. 9th, 1858, by a unanimous vote of its members-viz., Affirmative 34. Negative none. 4th. The charge of Eld. James Maple against the Second Christian Church of Yellow Springs, is false, as the following documents will show. STATEMENT OF ELD. LADLEY AND SNOW RICHARDSON, WHO ORGANIZED THE " SECOND CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF YELLOW SPRINGS, GREEN CO., OHIO." "To whom it may concern:-We, the undersigned, having attended the preparatory meetings of the organization of the Second Christian Church of Yellow Springs, did by request, on the 22d day of January, CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 65 1858, organize said Second Christian Church at the house of D. F. Ladley, and neither at that time nor at any other time did we hear it intimated that this organization was to interfere with or effect Mr. Mann or the College in any way. "YELLOW SPRINGS, Signed D. F. LADLEY, April, 1858." ne SNOW RICHARDSON." STATEMENT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SECOND CHRISTIAN CHURCH. "We, the undersigned, members of the organization of the Second Christian Church, of Yellow Springs, which was organized at the house of Eld. D. F. Ladley, on the 22d day of January, 1858, in view of the erroneous and false statements as published in the Gospel Herald of April 15th,'58, feel it to be duty to ourselves and to the cause of Christ to make a statement of facts, viz.: that we attended the preparatory meetings to said organization, and that we never heard at any of those meetings one word said about removing Mr. Mann from the Presidency of Antioch College, or that this organization would affect said college; and that the assertion made in the Gospel Herald of April 15th, to wit: "The sole object of this Second Christian Church organization is the removal of Mr. Mann and the present Faculty," is without foundation in truth; yea, is absolutely false. E. LAWRENCE, E. J. LAWRENCE, A. M. LAWRENCE, S.G. JONES, G. W. JONES, JOHN A. LAYTON, Signed ELEANOR JONES, IRA W. ALLEN, JESSE JACOBS, W. H. DOHERTY, T. A. LAWRENCE, T. W. DAWSON." SAMANTHA JONES, "YELLOW SPRINGS, O., April, 1858." The above are the names of all the original members of the Second Christian Church save one, a lady. None of these were members of the First Christian Church, and only five of them ever had been; four of the five withdrawing on account of selling the pews in the spring of 1855, and the other at the time Mr. Fay was chosen by the "congregation," June, 1857. During the month of Feb., much excitement was stirred up in town by A. S. Dean, Eli Fay, Horace Mann, and a few others, by means of false charges against the Second Christian Church. 5 66 HISTORY OF THE Some of these charges were:1st. That the members of the Second Christian Church voted in the meetings of the First Christian Church and controlled her action. This charge is incorrect and malicious. Some of the members of the Second Christian Church, it is true, attended some of the meetings of the First Christian Church, but they took no part in them, either in speaking or voting. They were simply spectators, which cannot be said of some who were not members of either church. 2d. It was said that the Second Christian Church was established on a pro-slavery basis, and was opposed to the First Christian Church on account of her anti-slavery sentiments. There is not even the shadow of truth in this. We did not hear the word slavery mentioned in connection with the church until our enemies harped upon " that word" to gain sympathy for their clique. 3d. That the object of the Second Christian Church was to overthrow Antioch College. It was said by some of the Soliciting Committee, early in Jan'y. to some persons who declined subscribing much towards the church debt because of the assignment of the College and the strong probability that it could not be redeemed to the Christian Denomination, that, if the brethren in Yellow Springs will subscribe and pay the $6,000 to clear the chapel of debt, the sister churches of the denomination may perhaps be encouraged to raise money, lift the college out of the mire, and place it upon a secure foundation; that if this should be the result, their property would rise materially in value, and return to them, doubtless, more than the amount of their subscriptions to the church. This is directly the of opposite the charge. The charge is therefore untrue. The statements on the prece.iing pages prove this. The individual members of the Second Christian Church have always and constantly desired the prosperity of Antioch College as intended by the Marion Convention; and they will do as much to establish it upon that basis as any other church of equal ability. We therefore repel with indignation and pity the untrue charges against the Second Christian Church which wily enemies have circulated through the country in print and by letter. The second Christian Church occupies no sectarian ground, but is organized on the old Christian platform, "The Bible our rule of faith CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 67 and practice," upon the broad, free, inspiring principles of the Sacred Scriptures. She will cherish no feelings of unchristian rivalry or opposition towards any church or any denomination. JOHN KERSHNER, i Christian Church. A. 0.G KILER, N Trustees of the late First BENAJAH WILSON. chritlan Church. THOMAS KERSHNER, THOMAS KERSHNER,)nio I K^Building Committee of JOHN KERSHNER, the late First ChrisA. G. KILER. tian Church. D. F. LADLEY, Clerk of said late First Ey (~ Christian Church. The above persons were members of the First Christian Church from the day of its organization, January 19th, 1852, to its dissolution, February 9th, 1858, and were in office most of the time. J. A. LAYTON, IRA W. ALLEN, T Trustees* of the Second IRA W. AIW EN, S Christian Church. T. W. DAWSON. JESSE JACOBS, Clerk of econd Chhrl E. LAWRENCE, Treasurer of Second LAWR NC, Christian Church. *The Trustees of the Second Christian Church never belonged to the First Christian Church, and are not personally acquainted with its entire history, yet to the best of their belief the lollowing is a true statement.