Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 6.djvu/329

 KIMBALL UNION ACADEMY.

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��KIMBALL UNION ACADEMY.

��Among the institutions of learning in our state this academy holds an important place. Its original design was the preparation of young men for the Christian ministry. Existing insti- tutions at the time did not furnish a supply. Young men had come into the state from England, who had been prepared for the ministry on a shorter course of study than had been cus- tomary in this country. The estab- lishment of an institution for such a purpose had awakened much interest, but it did not meet the approval of the leading ministers of New England. A goodly number of them came together at Windsor, Vt., and gave shape to the present institution (as preparatory to a literary and theological course for the ministry and for general education). The liberal donation of Hon. Daniel Kimball, of forty thousand dollars, for such a purpose, determined the loca- tion of the school at Meriden, the place of his residence.

The charter of the school sets forth its object in the following lan- guage : " To assist in the education of poor and pious young men for the gospel ministry, and such others as may be admitted by the trustees." Buildings were erected and the school was opened January 10, 1S15. On the previous day public services were at- tended, and a dedication sermon was delivered by Rev. Z. S. Moore, pro- fessor in Dartmouth College, and after- ward president of Amherst College.

Rev. Otis Hutchins was appointed the first principal, " a man of undoubt- ed ability, and of superior scholar- ship." Such was the testimony of Dr. Richards, a successor in his office in after vears.

A class of young men, from 18 to 24 years of age, moved, as it was hoped, by the Holy Spirit, and approved and encouraged by the pastors and churches with whom they were connected, were

��gathered into theschool. Someofthem had in view a limited course of prepa- , ration for the ministry ; but the most of them, yielding to the wisdom of age and experience, set themselves to a preparation for college. At first they made slow progress in their grammars. Some few.of them became discouraged and returned to other vocations. Others of them pushed on with all the energy which they could command. The walls of the building, where most of them roomed, witnessed the con- ning of Greek verbs at 4 o'clock in the morning. The founder of the seminary was then living, and had his eye upon each student. A deep religious feeling pervaded the school, and was felt in the surrounding community.

The better to give the result of the efforts to increase the number of Chris- tian ministers, we propose to give such facts as we could obtain in the history of the thirty young men who there com- menced their course, sixty-five or six- ty-seven years ago, under the first prin- cipal of the school. They all had been making arrangements for future life. Some of them had been engaged in successful business. They abandoned all, and gave themselves to eight or ten years of careful study. Most of them had but limited means of support. The aid which they received from the funds of the institution were insufficient to meet their wants. The closest economy was required of them. Many of them were materially aided in clothing, and in other ways, by be- nevolent persons. They aided them- selves by teaching, and in many cases were blessed by strong religious influ- ences in their schools. Such were the facts in relation to them in common. Such as could be obtained in relation to them as individuals will now be given.

Westox Bela Adams, from Meriden, was the first to enter college from this

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