The following account of this Institution is given in a work entitled Public Service of New York, published in 1882:1

"This University is located in a beautiful village near the geographical center of the State, and near the center of a network of railways, which give easy communication with every part of the State. In its several forms it is sixty-one years old, having been opened as a theological school in 1820, organized as a Seminary, College and Academy in 1834, and chartered as a University in 1846. As a University it at once appropriated the patronage, faculty, classes, alumni, and whatever of property and other resources there then were in the "Hamilton Literary and Theological Institution." Its early patronage was drawn not from New York only, but from Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan. The sect that founded it was, at the time, weak in educational advantages, but energetic and diffusive. It looked to this school as its great hope, and on it concentrated its best offerings and fervent prayers. This school was strictly indigenous, springing up from the smallest of beginnings, brought from no foreign land, borrowing its type from none then existing. It grew under the pressure of an outward need and an inward zeal, and became the expression of a denominational sentiment. Free in its benefits to all, it yet acknowledged its chief allegiance to those representative Baptists who founded it. The times that gave birth to that enterprise were eventful. The French power in the North had been broken by the combined arms of England and the Colonies; the Colonies had become independent States, and now the second war with England had closed with the Treaty of Ghent, December 24, 1814. The country was stimulated by a new sense of freedom, and the American idea of independence and undisputed sovereignty in the western world was, for the first time, having full scope. Emigration was flowing west of the Hudson and carrying New England education, religion and thrift over this State and, through it, into Western States. One of these tides moved down the beautiful valley of Chenango, and towns, villages, schools and churches sprang up along. its course. The Baptists had no College in the State of New York, nor had they any schools for common education or for the education of the ministry. And while no convention was called, and there was no general concert of action, almost unconsciously the work began to grow.

In 1817, thirteen men met. They each gave one dollar, and these

authorizing a change of location to Syracuse, Rochester or Utica, unless those interested in Hamilton raised $50,000 as an endowment before the second Tuesday of August next, or gave a bond of $100,000 for the raising of that amount within one year. See Memorial, praying for the repeal of this act, Senate Doc. 37, 1842, Remonstrance against repeal, Senate Doc. 52, 1849, and Report on the bill relating to Madison University, Assem. Doc. 111, 1848.

1 Vol. III, p. 309.

thirteen dollars were the beginning of an endowment. Soon Dr. Baldwin, of Boston, and thirty others gave two hundred and thirtyeight volumes, and this was the beginning of the library. A room was secured, and this was the beginning of the College buildings. Two students came in poverty, Wade and Kincaid, and these were the beginning of generations of students. Such beginnings did not seem auspicious, but faith gave superhuman energy. This energy, vitalized by the idea that Baptists must have an institution that could furnish a complete education, gave unexpected development and growth. The Alumni, most of whom have graduated from some one of the courses-Academical, Scientific, Collegiate or Theological, number about two thousand six hundred.

The first two students, Rev. Jonathan Wade, D. D., Rev. Eugenio Kincaid, D. D., and eighty others went out as foreign missionaries; twenty-one are counted as Presidents of Colleges, eightyeight Professors and Principals, sixty-three as Authors, Legislators and Congressmen. The Alumni are found in all the professions, but the largest number are ministers of the Gospel. One hundred and thirty have been honored with the Doctorate from different Colleges and Universities.

The three schools have graduated about as follows: From the Theological Seminary, 700; from the College or University, 850; from the Academy or Grammar School, 1,050. The annual average of male students in attendance is about as follows: In the Theological Seminary, 38; in Colgate Academy, 102; in the College or University, 100. One man only lives who can represent all of the decades of student life in the institution-Kincaid, the first student of the first class organized. The first class that took the full College course of four years, and graduated in 1836, numbered twentysix, ten of whom are still alive, and eight of these now living have been honored with the Doctorate. This class entered fifty years ago. There have been four Presidents. Dr. Nathaniel Kendrick, the first, died September 11, 1848, being seventy-two years old. He was elected in 1836, but was virtually President during the twentyeight years of his connection with the institution. He was easily "Primus inter pares," and of natural right presided everywhere. His influence was as far-reaching as his name. He had a commanding presence, a clear voice, an earnest look, and was truly eloquent. Standing by Dr. Kendrick is Rev. Professor Daniel Hascall, who came to Hamilton in 1812, and settled as Pastor of the Baptist church. To him is accredited the original idea of a Seminary in Hamilton. Dr. Kendrick, in 1816, became Pastor of the church at Eaton. These two men supplemented each other and harmonized in every good work. In 1820 when the school was opened, Hascall became Professor of Languages, and Kendrick of Theology. Hascall continued eighteen years and resigned, and Kendrick remained till his death. Along with these men we find Hon. Jonathan Olmstead, Judge Samuel Payne, Deacon William Colgate, Hon. Seneca

B. Burchard, Judge James Edmunds, and others - men ready at all times for great sacrifices and great achievements.

In 1851 Professor Stephen W. Taylor, LL. D., was elected the second President. He graduated at Hamilton College, had made teaching his life work, had been from 1834 to 1836 Professor or Principal of the Academy at this institution, had in the meantime founded the University at Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, and, after the settlement of the removal question, returned to Hamilton. He was of the English type, square, strongly-built, methodical, firm of purpose, a good organizer and strong executive officer. He was connected with the University, in different posts of instruction, for eighteen years, and left his mark on its history. He died January 7, 1856, at the age of sixty-five.

In 1856 Rev. George W. Eaton, D. D., LL. D., was elected the third President. In mind and body he was cast in a large mould. He was a natural orator. In memory, imagination and description he was masterly. A scene once before him, he could reproduce with all the freshness and vividness of the reality. His religious emotions and convictions were strong, and constituted the underlying current of his life. He was connected with the University in different capacities as Professor of Mathematics, of History, of Philosophy, of Theology, and as President - for forty years, and died August 3, 1872, at sixty-eight years of age.

The fourth and present President is Rev. Ebenezer Dodge, D. D., LL. D., elected in 1868. He has been connected with the University twenty-seven years as Professor of the Evidences of Christianity, of Metaphysics, of Biblical Interpretation, of Theology, and as President. He graduated from Brown and Newton, and has earned a reputation as scholar, teacher and author that places him among the best thinkers of the age.

Some of those who have been connected with the Faculty in past years deserve mention. Dr. Barnas Sears, the Secretary of the Peabody Fund,' and former President of Brown; Dr. Thomas J. Conant, a well-known exegete and translator; Dr. A. C. Kendrick, a Greek scholar and author, have helped to make Madison Univer sity, and have been made by it. Dr. John H. Raymond and Professor J. F. Richardson, the one President of Vassar, and the other Professor of Latin in Rochester, now both deceased, were former Professors in Madison. The financial condition of Madison University is somewhat complicated. It should be noticed that since 1846, two corporations have had a hand in the enterprise.

"The Baptist Education Society," for twenty-seven years, had the sole responsibility and management. For the last thirty-four years "The Madison University "has had the same in all except the nomination of Theological Professors, and the support of needy young men for the ministry. All the salaries and running expenses of all the three schools fall upon "The Madison University."

1 Since deceased.

The annual income needed for this corporation is about $40,000, the salaries alone being $30,000. When the University was chartered it had no property. It had none in 1850, on the adjustment of the removal controversy. It had only about $52,000 in 1864, when the war of the Union closed.

Without a hired agency, the most quiet and energetic measures were prosecuted to fill the treasury. The old policy of borrowing and paying was set aside, and the University put upon the most rigid cash system.

For seventeen years, by assistance from liberal donors, the University has each year essentially balanced its accounts, drawing nothing from endowment funds. No pledges were counted or even reported, till they were turned into cash or its equivalent. The progress has not been rapid, but of steady growth.

In round numbers, the endowment fund has stood in 1864, $62,000; in 1865, $121,000; in 1868, $177,000; in 1870, $255,000; in 1874, $304,000; in 1876, $405,000; in 1881, $480,000; without debt. The unproductive property-buildings, grounds, Library, Museum, Apparatus, President's house, which have come of gifts within the last sixteen years amount to $120,000 more, making the whole sum raised since the war, $600,000. These figures are independent of the Education Society's funds, for scholarships, beneficiaries and agencies."

There are two courses of study in this University; the Classical, requiring four years, and the Scientific of three years; the former leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and the latter to the degree of Bachelor of Science. Those taking a partial course are entitled to a certificate of standing and attainments.

The total value of property belonging to this institution is given for the year ending June 21, 1882, at $673,059, of which $120,000 was invested in buildings and grounds, $29,000 in educational collections, $515,509 in invested funds, and $8,550 in other property. The receipts for the previous year had been $3,775.16 from tuitions, $31,930.52 from invested funds, and $5,570.79 from other The sum of $23,400 had been paid for instruction, $4,846 for prizes and scholarships, $1,435.86 for improvements and repairs, and $11,034.61 for other purposes.

sources.

Tuition is $30 per annum; room rent, $9; incidental expenses, $8; sacred music, $1. Total, $48.

*Not reported to Regents for many years.

Total number of Graduates from the beginning, 884.

FACULTY (1884).

President and Professor of Metaphysics - Ebenezer Dodge, D. D., LL. D.

Dean, and Professor of Greek Language and Literature — N. Lloyd Andrews, Ph. D.

Secretary and Professor of Logic -Alexander M. Beebe, D. D. Professor (Emeritus) of Hebrew and Latin - Philetus B. Spear, D. D.

Professor of Physical Sciences - Lucien M. Osborne, LL. D. Professor of Civil History, English Literature and Oratory — John James Lewis, A. M.

GRADUATES.

B. S.

A. M.*