Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 6.djvu/144

138 138 JAMES R. ROBERTSON. closer relation be established between the college and the Congregational Church, and proposed that the association of ministers and churches of the Congregational body elect the proportion of trustees allowed to that denomina- tion rather than that they be elected by the board itself, as the charter provided. The difference was one of those honest differences of opinion which are always likely to occur and have occurred in so many religious institutions in regard to the same question, but it was unfortunate in its effect in that it led to divided councils where unity of aim was best calculated to insure permanence for the work already done and to secure such progress as the founda- tions already laid promised for the immediate future. It also added greatly to the burdens of President Marsh, who was opposed to the plan, and together with his naturally delicate constitution and a life of hard work caused his breakdown. Unable to complete the work of his last trip to the East he returned with the work unfinished. In hope of recovery he went to Eastern Oregon but failed to derive the benefit hoped for, and died in February of 1879. The selection of a successor to President Marsh was not an easy matter and considerable time elapsed before the choice was finally made. During the interval Prof. J. W. Marsh, who was familiar with the policies of his brother and with the details of the work, acted as president. In 1880 the trustees elected as president Rev. John R. Her- rick. President Herrick was a native of Vermont and a graduate of the University of that state. He had served for a time as professor in the Bangor Theological Semi- nary and as pastor at South Hadley, Massachusetts. He was a man of broad culture and high standards. Because of his ideas, his birth place and college connections he was a logical successor to President Marsh, and seemed in every way fitted to carry on the work of the college as already established by his predecessor. In regard to the