This Convention appointed a Provisional Committee of thirty-four, comprising representatives from different States, of whom the Convention designated thirteen, namely: A. M. Merrifield, of Massachusetts; David Millard, David Ely, Esq., Rev. Amasa Stanton, Rev. W. R. Stowe, Rev. Eli Fay, Dr. J. Hale, and C. C. Davison, Esq., of New York; Rev. John Phillips, Rev. D. F. Ladley, Rev. Josiah Knight, E. W. Devore, Esq., and Hon. B. Randall, of Ohio, to act as a sub-committee, having in charge the work of raising funds, and locating and building the College. Of this committee, Rev. David Millard was Chairman, Rev. Eli Fay, Secretary, and A. M. Merrifield, Treasurer. Under its direction agents were put into the field to raise funds at once.

THE FINANCIAL SCHEME.

The original design was to establish a College proper, with four undergraduate classes. The funds for the endowment were to be raised by the sale of scholarships, at one hundred (100) dollars each, entitling the holder to keep one scholar in the school continually, free of tuition charges. Fifty thousand (50,000) dollars were fixed upon as the minimum of funds to be so raised. It was also the expectation to build it in the State of New York, "somewhere on the thoroughfare between Albany and Buffalo." The agents were directed to take notes for the scholarship subscriptions, payable September 1st, 1852.

At a meeting of the sub-committee, held in Stafford, N. Y., October 29th, 1851, it was found that the Ohio agents had far outstripped the others in success, and that that State had earned the right to the College. Here it was decided

1. That the College should be located in Ohio.

2. That a department of Preparatory study should be annexed to it.

3. That at least one hundred thousand (100,000) dollars must be raised as a permanent endowment, no part of which should ever be diverted from its purpose, but the interest alone should be used to pay the tuition of the students who might be sent on the scholarships.

4. That fifty thousand (50,000) dollars must be raised to erect buildings, and grade and ornament the grounds.

5. That dormitories should be built for the accommodation of students.

To the dangers inherent in the original scheme was added a measure still more fatal, in the encouragement given by agents, on the authority of the committee that employed them, that the principal of the scholarship notes would never be called for so long as the interest, at six per cent. per annum, was promptly paid. With this encouragement many gave their notes, believing that, though they might not be able to pay the principal, they could pay six dollars a year for the privilege of keeping a scholar in the school perpetually; especially as the scholarships were negotiable, and many expected to be able to rent them for much more than the annual interest they would have to pay.

For building funds, reliance was placed upon the contributions which might be made for the purpose of securing the location, and upon special donations for building purposes.

THE LOCATION DECIDED ON AND PLANS ACCEPTED.

The sub-committee met again at Enon, Ohio, January 21, 1852. Here, after canvassing the claims of the different places bidding for the location of the College, the preference was given to Yellow Springs, Greene County, Ohio.

The moving causes of this decision were, first, the beauty and healthfulness of the place; and, secondly and chiefly, the pledge from the citizens of twenty acres of land for a campus, and thirty thousand (30,000) dollars in money, to be paid in ten monthly installments of three thousand dollars each. Hon. William Mills made a gift of the land, and became personally responsible for the payment of the money, paying in the end twenty thousand (20,000) dollars himself.

Yellow Springs lies on the Little Miami Railroad, midway between Xenia and Springfield, nine miles from each place. It is seventy-four miles north-northeast of Cincinnati, twenty miles east of Dayton, and sixty-five miles southwest of Columbus. From the earliest settlement of the coun

try, it has been a favorite summer resort for invalids and persons seeking quietude and rest, who were attracted hither both by the delightful scenery of the vicinity, and by the medicinal qualities of the mineral spring from which the place takes its name.

The site donated to the College lies on the southeastern outskirts of the village, and has a gentle slope eastward, towards the railroad, on which it fronts, and the glen, which it overlooks. It is surrounded on all sides by streets seventyfive feet in width.

A set of plans and elevations for buildings was presented to the sub-committee at this meeting by A. M. Merrifield, Esq., of Worcester, Massachusetts, and accepted; and a building committee of seven (D. F. Ladley, J. G. Reeder, and E. W. Devore, of Ohio, Oliver Barr, of Illinois, and A. Sturtevant, of Pennsylvania,) was appointed. Mr. Merrifield was appointed building agent, to make the contracts, provide the material, and oversee the work. He estimated the cost of the buildings at $60,000.

THE BUILDINGS

Were erected according to the plans adopted. There are three large buildings of brick. Antioch Hall, the main and central building, is in the form of a cross, 170 feet long, with a transept of 110 feet. It has three stories of 15 feet each, besides the basement, with towers and minarets at the several corners. It contains a Chapel 50 by 90 feet and 32 feet high, Lecture room, Recitation rooms, Library, Laboratory, Society rooms, etc. Standing back from this are two dormitory buildings, one on the north, containing dining hall, parlors, and dormitories for ladies, and one on the south, occupied as dormitories for gentlemen. Their dimensions are each 40 by 160 feet, and four stories high. All of them front the east.

Subsequently, on the opposite side of the street which bounds the College lot on the north, a dwelling was erected for the President. This is a fine brick building, three stories high.

The corner-stone of the main building was laid, with due ceremonies, June 23d, 1852. Judge Probasco, of Lebanon, delivered the chief address, and was followed by Dr. J. R. Freese, of Philadelphia. The North Hall was finished, and Antioch Hall all but the towers, and were opened for occupation Oct. 5th, 1853. The South Hall and the President's house were built during the following year, and were ready for occupation September, 1854. The total cost of the buildings was finally estimated at $120,000. At present prices of labor and material, they would cost far more.

INCORPORATION.

A legal incorporation was effected May 14th, 1852, under the general laws of Ohio. The corporators were David Millard, Oliver Barr, John Phillips, Josiah Knight, E. W. Devore, William Mills. D. F. Ladley, Christian Winebrenner, Ebenezer Wheeler.

The articles of incorporation reaffirmed the original provisions as to the name, the scholarships, the rights under them, the protection to the fund, and the denominationalism of the Trustees and Board of Instruction. They also set forth that "the object of this College is to afford instruction in the Liberal Arts and Sciences usually taught in Colleges; and it shall be allowed to establish any department for the instruction of students in the various branches of academical education, moral and theological sciences, and general knowledge, not included in the usual collegiate courses, and shall afford equal privileges to students of both sexes.

That it shall be under the management of a Board of thirty-four (34) Trustees, who shall be elected for the term. of three years, and shall remain in office until their successors are chosen and qualified." That this Board should be elected by the owners of scholarships, each scholarship entitling the holder to one vote. No one person, however, could cast more

than ten votes.

That "the Board of Trustees shall appoint the President, Professors, teachers, and assistants, and all such officers and agents as the interests of the Institution demands; and the

Faculty so appointed shall have authority to prescribe rules for the reception, discipline or expulsion of any pupil or pupils, to prescribe the course of studies to be pursued in the College or any department thereof, to prescribe books, charts, chemical, philosophical and other scientific apparatus, and shall have authority to confer such honors and degrees as are usually conferred by Colleges."

By these articles the sub-committee became the legal Trustees, and so remained until an election under the charter.

It will be seen that this charter contemplated no State or municipal control or influence of any kind, and provided for no members, ex-officio, not even the President of the College; that the Board of Trustees, two-thirds of whom were to be of the Christian denomination, were elected by the scholarship holders, who thus constituted a joint stock company, with shares of one hundred (100) dollars each; that the Trustees had the power of holding and controlling the property, managing the finances, and appointing the Faculty and other officers, while the Faculty had the sole control of the educational work, including the conferring of degrees.

THE FIRST BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Was elected at a meeting of scholarship holders, held in the College Chapel September, 4th, 1854.

The following persons were elected: Aaron Harlan, Elias Smith, Horace Mann, Jacob F. Crist. Joseph E. Wilson, Charles Ridgeway, E. W. Devore, Nathan Ward, Jacob Reesor, David Cross, Joseph P. Cory, John Kershner, John Kneisley, A. S. Dean, Noah P. Sprague, James Maxwell, Samuel Stafford, John Phillips, William H. Carey, Moses H. Grinnell, William Mills, Eli Fay, Amasa Stanton, Peter Cooper, A. M. Merrifield, D. P. Pike, Benjamin Cummings, Charles H. Olmstead, N. S. Morrison, George W. Webster, J. R. Freese, William R. King, and F. A. Palmer.

The Board was organized by the choice of Hon. Aaron Harlan, President; Elias Smith, Esq., Vice President; William R. King, Secretary; and Hon. William Mills, Treasurer.

The second election took place June 27, 1857. This Board continued in office until the reorganization in 1859.