1787 - On With Transylvania Seminary

Excerpted from microfilm of the KENTUCKE GAZETTE, found in the collections entitled RECORDS OF THE STATES OF THE UNITED STATES, Reel #1 of Ky, produced under the authority of the Library of Congress, in association with the University of North Carolina and collected and edited under the direction of William Sumner Jenkins, in 1949. This edited, printed text differs at many points, primarily in capitalization and punctuation, from the handwritten copy excerpted from the Draper Manuscript Collection, indexed in The Preston and Virginia Papers of the Draper Collection of Manuscripts, State Hist. Soc. of Wisconsin, pub., 1915, in which he recorded his readings from early printings, or, in this case, perhaps from the author's original handwritten copy, as Draper refers to "a pen mark" which "makes it Caleb Wallace", of the Kentucky Gazette - found on microfilm in the University of Arkansas audio-visual department.

Wallace was deeply involved in and committed to education; he devised plans for the establishment of such "academies" throughout the new state of Kentucky and became known as the "Father of the Academy System" in that state. It appears, in this account, that his views on separation of church and state did not extend to education, which was, indeed, still a private matter in Kentucky in his time; his exposure to frontier existence seems to have led him to a more radical insistence on the explicit inclusion of a Christian morality, and even theology, in a standard curriculum. This position led him to become involved in the near-destruction of his dear Transylvania Seminary which, he felt, had fallen into unreasonably liberal hands. He took part in the establishment of a rival institution, Kentucky Academy, which, for a time, competed with Transylvania until a reunion was effected.

" KENTUCKE GAZETTE

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1787

Mr. Bradford,

A desire that your Press may be extensively useful, will apologize for this, and any future essay I may make to contribute my mite. My only request is, that what you judge worthy of the notice of the public, may be inserted in the Kentucke Gazette.

I have heard many good Citizens express surprise that the Trustees of the Transylvania Seminary should so long delay the taking any effectual steps to forward the design of that well devised Institution. A dearth of cash may make it imprudent for them to attempt splendid Edifices; but the daily lamentations we hear for the many promising youths among us, who are fast advancing to manhood in the most profound ignorance of Political and Scientific Knowledge; renders it certain, that contributions in lands and in country produce, might easily be obtained, sufficient to erect Buildings for the cultivation of their minds, not less convenient than those in which their parents have raised them to as great vigor and agility of body as if they had been nursed in a Palace. As to the masters that may be immediately necessary; the price of tuition that is usually received from students, will nearly produce adequate salaries for them: so that neither in this respect is there an insurmountable difficulty. From what has been suggested, it appears that the requisites essential to a place of education are not beyond our reach. And if some other conveniences or even necessaries may still be lacking; as the inhabitants of an infant country are obliged to do in other cases, we must bear with such wants untill by vigorous exertions a supply can be had: for nothing is more absurd than to neglect to seek what we may enjoy, because we cannot attain all we desire.

But it is surmised by some, that the Trustees, being of various Religious Denominations are each of them averse from the election of teachers, until they severally can have the prospect of succeeding in the choice of those who are of their own Profession. Such preposertions, so far as they are wrong, ought to be accounted a human frailty, rather than a voluntary error; I am therefore persuaded, that the e[sic] Gentlemen will candidly consider by what means their perncious consequences may be avoided in the interesting business they have been intrusted with. It is an essential right of free agency, to embrace the doctrine we prefer; and it is as certainly a violation of the same right, to enforce them on others by any methods but that of persuasion: therefore should a faction predominate in any social combination, it may subvert the privilege the compact was designed to ensure. In such cases enmity is a virtue, and constant watchfulness a duty which we owe to ourselves and those with whom we are combined. If a party in the Board of Trustees should ever obtain an ascendancy of this kind, an Institution that was designed to promote the general weal, may possibly be perverted to the selfish views of a particular sect; but we should not by this be deterred from pursuing a certain good that we may avoid a possible Evil. A evil against which the three following Remedies are proposed.

1. To keep up a kind of balance between the Sects, the Board may elect an equal number from each to be Teachers. This, however equitable and safe it may appear in theory, will leave it to the power of those teachers who possess the most popular talents to proselyte the Students to that System of Religion which they would promote; and after numberless jarrings and rivalships, tend on to the inconveniences it was intended to avoid: from which it is manifest that this Remedy is not complete.

2. Or, it may be ordained that the attention of the Students shall be solely confined to mere moral precepts and the knowledge of things temporal; without permitting any Theological Tenets to be taught, or Religious Exercises to be performed within the limits of the Institution. This indeed would be something new amongst Civilized Nations, but must be an excellent device for assimilating us to our neighbours on the northwest side of the Ohio, to whose sentiments and mannners we are makeing speedy advances in some other Instances. As this Expedient did not originate with myself, but was substantially suggested to me by others, I shall treat it with the greater notice, and further observe; that if it were adopted, it would not only relieve us from the Dilemma aluded to above, but it would also have a powerful tendency to eradicate any remains of the Christian Ri(sic)ligion with which we are still shackc'ed. It may however be objected, that this Remedy would be too unpopular to be attempted; or if it should, that the prejudices in favour of Christianity are so invincible, that they would encourage a Seminary of Learning from which is excluded a Religion they so highly esteem.

3. I shall, therefore, submit another Expedient that will be more consonant to the ideas of a christianized Country, and I think strictly conformable to the designs of a Seminary of Learning; which can neither be considered as a Political or Ecclesiastical Institution, but, like a private family, ought to be conducted, as to be subservient to the true interest of both civil and religious life. Man, as a rational creature, is to regard both soul and body; or, to express it more justly, he is to regard the interest of his mortal, that he may the better secure the interest of his immortal part: for this reason an Education that only qualifies him for the one or the other of these is materially defective; and an intelligent Parent who is anxious for the one cannot be regardless of the other: he who would restrain his Son from the study of Politics, through fear that he should embrace an erroneous System,will detain him in ignorance the sure source of error; and the same is true in the case of Religion. What then is to be done, when the world is filled with jarring and dangerous opinions on both? My present purpose only requires me to answer with respect to Religion. Furnish Students with the opportunities of knowledge and free enquiry, and the ancient adage will be verified, Great is the force of truth and it must prevail. Without regard to Denominations, let Masters of enlarged minds and virtuous deportment be encouraged; the moral Sentiments being the same, in all, where they are not obscured by ignorance nor corrupted by vice, it will be found that such Men generally agree in the great Doctrines of Religion, however they may differ about Rites, Ceremonies, or matters of speculation, which all parties must acknowledge to be of less importance and of doubtful disputation; and as such, may be deferred until the mind is well furnished and at leisure for their investiagtion. It would be indiscreet to direct the attention of Youths to such points, whilst they are only laying the foundation, or learning the first principles of Science; and a regard to duty and to character are the only effectual restraints against such improprieties in those who guide their studies. The just and liberal policy of the AMERICAN STATES have cut the sinews of ecclesiastic ambition, by abolishing all partial emoluments and invidious distinctions on the account of Religion; so that, among us, Faction on this score can only be ideal: or if any danger yet remains, the Governors of our Seminaries of learning can prevent it, by cultivating wisdom and virtue the faithful Guardians of Liberty.

It only remains to consider, What Forms of Worship may be kept up in a Place of Public Education that is conducted on principles of equality? Nothing can be more proper than that those who are combined for the purposes of studying the Perfections of God, and his wonderful Works in creating and governing the World, should also frequently join together in his Worship. This has generally been done, by meeting daily in an Oratory or Chapel allotted for the purpose. In the morning some chapter or portion of the Holy Scripture is read, and a prayer made suitable to the occasion; in the evening a Psalm or Hymn is sung, and a Prayer again addressed to the Almighty; and on the Sabbath, besides these private exercises, they are all required to attend the public Preaching of the Gospel. In this District we are generally agreed as to the authority of the Scriptures; we are also well furnished with Psalms and Hymns that are generally approved; and none can doubt but that a prayer made with or without a written form is equally acceptable to the DIVINE BEING: so that these parts of Worship may be conducted with safety. Neither from Preaching of the Gospel need danger be apprehended: if Ministers of every Denomination, who are well reputed by the Church to which they belong, have permission to preach occasionally in our Seminary; and such of the Teachers as are Clergymen are encouraged statedly to perform this Service in rotation; when other Supplies do not offer, the Students will be edefied, and, in this way, be taught catholocism, by finding that the diversity of Doctrine is not so great as is commonly imagined, or, if a diversity should appear, it will afford an opportunity of proving all things, and holding fast that which is good. As to those few who deny the authority of the Scriptures; they must confess it gives the most exhalted ideas of the Perfections of God, and of what is praiseworthy in Man; they only doubt its Inspiration, while they admire the purity of its precepts and the harmony of its doctrines. What Religion then would they have substituted in its stead? Not that of Mahomet or Sommonocedom; these they account more fabulous than those of ancient Greece or Rome which they likewise ridicule. If they propose the Religion of Nature; this, like Fate, means every thing, but means nothing that has yet been defined. In the meantime, is it not rational for them, as well as us, to teach or cause our children to be taught and exercised in that Religion which is supposed to be promulgated by the God of Nature? And which has been authenticated by every Evidence internal and external that can be pleaded in favour of the most undoubted Records existing; leaving them unrestrained to judge of the sufficiency of those Evidences when their minds are matured and furnished for the so'emn Decision: more especially, as without this general agreement, only one of the two great objects of Literary Institutions can be obtained.

Thus, sir, I have proposed a System as unexceptionable as that which has been universally adopted in every age;----of committing the Education of Youth to Parents and Guardians; and far more safe and rational than that of discarding all Religion from Seminaries of Learning; through fear that the Students may embrace that which is erroneous.

CATHOLICUS"

Draper appends, in his account of the above letter, "[Whom a pen mark it makes C. Wallace.]

[The above article is well written, and deserves reprint.]"

The following is also excerpted from the Draper Manuscript Collection, indexed in The Preston and Virginia Papers of the Draper Collection of Manuscripts, State Hist. Soc. of Wisconsin, pub., 1915, in which he recorded his readings from early printings of the Kentucky Gazette - found on microfilm in the University of Arkansas audio-visual department. [Bracketed statements] and other comments appear to be additions from Lyman Draper's copy work - in which he also sometimes summarizes, rather than quotes from, the original articles. This was followed, in Draper's account, by the below article, attributed by him to "R. Todd", who would have been an associate of Wallace ["Robt. Todd" is listed among subscribers to a fund-raiser for the Seminary, dated May 28, 1788 - The History of Transylvania University, Peter, Robert, M.D. & Peter, Johanna, John P. Morton & Co., Louisville, Ky., 1896, pp. 27-28] - does this sound a bit like manipulation of the press??)

" Mr. Printer,

As I have signed the subscription for your press, and take your paper, my curiosity eggs me on to read everything in it. in your last week's 'paper, I discovered a long piece about the school or seminary, as they call it, which I thought contained a great deal of edifying reading, and some of the proposals or plans mentioned, I sort a approved of as far as I could judge; but there was some words or names that I never heard of, particularly Sommonocundum, he seems to be represented as the first starter of some religion that I never had the pleasure of hearing named before; but far from thinking hard of the author for that, I only wish he had let the common people know who he was, where he lived, what was his religion; all of this would not have taken up a great deal of paper or time, and he might have done that much for the pleasure of inroducing(sic) such a nation" (is the phrase "to a" omitted here?) "great stranger to the public. As you are well acquainted with me, and know verry well I am no scholar, I hope you and the public won't laugh at this little piece, published for the sake of dreawing another piece from Mr. Catholicus. (I don't know if 'tis his given name or surname) to let us know something more about this said Simonacundum. I shall at this time conclude, your friend and constant reader -

Sept. 4 - 1787 Roger Dean [whom a pen mark makes 'R. Todd.']

[Ky. Gaz. No. 6. Sept. 15-1787.]"