Tag Archives: Compact of 1893

Seminary moved to Rochester; Colgate becomes non-denominational college (p. 289)

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as Dean of Students in 1931. Carl A. Kallgren, ’17, formerly a member of the English Department and more recently a pastor in Binghamton, followed him in office in 1933.

After a reorganization of the curriculum the academic departments were grouped into six “schools” in 1928-Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Social Sciences, Philosophy and Religion, Fine Arts, and Languages-and in 1936 a seventh, Physical Education and Athletics was added. Directors were appointed for four of them-Dr. Bewkes (Philosophy and Religion) and Rodney L. Mott, Ph.D., Wisconsin, 1922, and a former member of the University of Chicago faculty who was made both Professor of Politics and a director (Social Sciences) in 1934; and Leo L. Rockwell, Ph.D., New York University, of the University of Michigan was made both Professor of English Literature and a director (Languages) and William A. Reid, ’18, Graduate Manager of Athletics since 1919 and Associate Professor of Physical Education (Physical Education and Athletics) in 1936. They took over many administrative duties usually associated with the office of a dean of the faculty, including those relating to personnel and budgets.

Another important administrative change which seems to have come about primarily through the President’s leadership was the removal of the Seminary to Rochester to be merged with its counterpart in that city. From time to time since the 1850’s denominational leaders had proposed that Baptist theological seminaries in the East unite and in 1914 an abortive attempt was made to join Newton and Colgate. By 1925 there was mounting criticism of the latter because its development lagged behind that of the College and its curriculum lacked essential courses, especially those relating to practical church problems. Following a three-way discussion involving Newton, Colgate andRochester the two latter institutions reached an agreement which the Baptist Education Society at Hamilton and the New York Baptist Union at Rochester duly ratified in 1926. William C. Eaton, ’69, viewing the action as a betrayal of the principles his father, President Eaton, had fought for in the Removal Controversy of 1847-50, protested but he was unable to win many adherents to his position. As authorized by an act of the New York State Legislature in 1927, action was brought in the courts which led tothe vacating of the injunction of 1850, so far as it related to the Seminary, and the way was cleared for cancelling the Compact of 1893 between the Education Society and

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p. 232 – Colgate in the 1890’s

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Society, reported that the churches were alarmed and the situation became so grave that Schmidt was urged to seek a non-theological chair at some other institution.

In response to questions from Samuel Colgate, President of the Education Society, Professor Schmidt made a detailed statement to Mr. Colgate of his views which he defended as in accord with those usually held by Baptists. The heart of the matter as Schmidt saw it was

 

 

whether there is room in the Baptist denomination for a consistent application of scientific principles in the interpretation of the Bible and for progressive theology to which it invariably leads and what is the true conception of the duty of a theological professor in a Baptist seminary.*

 
Dean Burnham, who seems to have kept to the sidelines at first, threatened to resign if Schmidt remained on the faculty. He considered his associate’s views more Unitarian than Baptist and asserted that the real issue was whether the Seminary was to have a faculty who taught “the generally accepted Baptist truth.” He did concede, however, that in a college the professors might teach “truth as by their studies, they come to believe it to be.”**

Matters came to a climax at the June 1896 meetings of the University and Education Society Trustees. Both Boards, in accordance with their Compact of 1893, appointed a joint committee to recommend action on the Education Society Board’s request that Schmidt be dismissed for teachings which tended “to weaken the confidence of young men in the Scriptures and to alienate the sympathy of our churches from the institution.” The committee promptly recommended that his services be terminated as soon as possible, James C. Colgate, alone of the committee, protesting on the ground that no proper cause of action had been presented. The Education Society’s Board at once unanimously approved the Committee’s recommendation. Since the University Board had already adjourned, Mr. Colgate, as Secretary, informed Schmidt that the University Board was certain to dismiss him at its next meeting in December and advised him to find a new position. At Cornell, meanwhile, President Jacob G. Schurman, himself a Baptist and aware of the Colgate situation, had persuaded one of his

*Letter, Nathaniel Schmidt to Samuel Colgate, May 25, 1895.

**Letter, Dean Sylvester Burnham to Samuel Colgate, February 5, 1896.

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George W. Smith appointed as president (p. 220)

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entire income available when the principal should exceed $3,000,000.*

Since Dr. Dodge alone seems to have understood the intricacies of University-Education Society relations, the need for their clarification became urgent following his death. Because of their ambiguity not only had presidential candidates declined appointment but the Education Society Trustees had become concerned since, under the circumstances, it was uncertain what benefits the Seminary would derive from the Dodge Fund. The old Compacts of 1847 and 1853 had been particularly vague about responsibility for the maintenance  and improvement of real estate. The two Boards ratified a new Compact in 1893 which re-defined their relations. It provided that the University should take over the Society’s real estate and the income of its endowments’ support and maintain the Seminary. Provision was made also for  joint action in the appointment and removal of: Seminary professors, for annual inspection of their classes, and for changes in the theological curriculum. The Baptist Education Society Board of Trustees was to have continuous representation on the University Board of not less than five of its own members.

The interval during which the University had no president ended in 1895 when the Trustees, somewhat desperate at being unable to fill the vacancy, ratified the appointment of George William Smith who was said to have been James B. Colgate’s personal selection. This was a surprise and Smith, himself, admitted later that he never knew why he had been chosen. He had joined the faculty three years before as the successor to Professor Terry who had gone to the University of Chicago. A graduate of Colby College in 1883 and of Albany Law School in 1887, he practiced at the bar for three years before entering Johns Hopkins University; here he took advanced work in history, English literature and philosophy and served as an instructor. He was a popular professor and as an eligible bachelor in his early ’30’s was welcomed in village society where he paid special attention to one or two of the reigning belles. The future of the University under his guidance was felt to be full of promise but in June, 1897, less than two years after his inauguration, he had to resign for reasons of health. His inexperience as an administrator, the work of the Dean which he took over since. Professor Andrews had retired from the office, and his

*New York, Laws (1900), ch. 24. See also subsequent legislation on the Dodge Fund, Laws (1933), ch. 521; (1937), ch. 71; (1945), ch. 177; (1949), ch. 275.

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