Page:The formative period in Colby's history.djvu/26

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When the Maine Literary and Theological Institution came into corporate existence two years and four months had passed since the first action of the Bowdoinham Association. Five years more went by before the work of instruction actually commenced at Waterville. They were not years of inactivity, but were spent in securing from the State the township of land donated by the act of incorporation, in deciding upon a suitable location, and in endeavors to obtain further state aid. We cannot follow in detail all the steps taken, but must confine our attention solely to the documents which have a direct bearing on the character of the institution which the founders had in mind to set up.

As early as June 4, 1813, the Trustees attempted to secure by a Resolution' of the General Court the laying out of Township No. 3 on the West side of the Penobscot river for the benefit of the Institution, but it was not until February 15, 1815, that the grant was made. And on June 14, 1813, the Trustees sought to obtain permission to locate the Institution elsewhere than on the township specified, but not until June 15, 1816 was the desired permission given. By a vote of the Trustees on October 1, 1817, Waterville was chosen as the site of the Institution. This meeting, which occupied two days, October first and second, was a most important one. Among the votes recorded we find:

While in itself of no great importance, this indicates that the Trustees had in view the establishment of an institution of a grade equal to that of the college in Brunswick. Taken in connection with what comes later it is an interesting link in the chain of evidence. At this meeting, also, the Trustees considered the "expediency of electing any of the officers of the Institution," and "also at what time tuition may probably commence;" but it was not until the following February that the Rev. Jeremiah Chaplin was chosen Professor of Theology and Rev. Irah Chase, Professor of Languages. Mr. Chase declined the appointment, and on July 6, 1818, Mr. Chaplin alone commenced the work of instruction. The Trustees continued to seek a man for the position declined by Mr. Chase, but it was some months before they were successful.