1897-1898 Academic Catalog

6 Cedarville College. HISTORY. ~HE idea of establishing an institution for higher Christian ~ education in Cedarville originated with the General Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America. This denomination is the representative in this country of the historic Covenanter Church of Scotland. The late Dr. Hugh McMillan, for many years pastor of the Cedarville congregation, manifested a warm interest in the cause of higher education and was the principal of a classical academy in Greene county, which he conducted successfully in addition to his pastoral labors. In the year 1885 the matter of establishing a literary institution assumed definite shape through a re olution offered in the General Synod by Rev. David Steele, D. D., Philadelphia, Pa., and in January, 1887, Cedarville College was duly chartered by the State of Ohio. About the same time a sum of money amount– ing to nearly $10,000 was ub cribed by the friends of the College, and since then various gifts and bequest have from time to time. come into the hands of the Trustees. Notably, the late William Gibson, Esq., of Cincinnati, beq~eathed $25,000 for the endow– ment fund. The enterprise then slumbered for a few year , owing to various causes, but in May, 1894, a fresh and most successful start was made. The General Synod elected Rev. David McKinney, D. D., of Cincinnati, Ohio, President of the College, and directed the Board of Trustees to open the College in the Autumn of the ame year. The Board accordingly chose a Faculty, and on Weduesday, September 19, 1894, the College was formally opened. During the first year the College occupied the fine old mansion house in which Dr. Hugh McMillan con– ducted his Latin school, and which is now owned by Prof. David Steele, D. D., of Philadelphia. The accommodations, however, were not sufficient for the needs of the second year, so the Trustees erected a suitable building on the site purchased several