Hastings Gazette Journal September 14, 1882

THE COLLEGE RECEPTION

      At about eight o’clock Tuesday evening, quite a respectable congregation of the friends of education met at the Presbyterian Church, to participate in and witness the reception advertised for that time. Judge Hewitt called for the choir who opened the meeting by a chorus. Reverend J. D. Stewart read a chapter from Paul’s letter to Timothy, and Reverend J. H. Mize invoked the Divine blessing upon the College Board, the Faculty, Students, the Friends of the Institution, and the People of the city in a brief but eloquent prayer.

Mr. J. B. Heartwell, President of the College Board, then addressed the audience in a few well chosen words. He spoke of how the “star of empire” had moved westward; how the people had come from their homes in the East and the red man and the wild beast were compelled to disappear from these rich prairies; how homes had sprung up and dotted the plains, how Hastings had come into existence and grown to its present proportions; how the people labored for educational and religious instruction and advancement, as seen in our school houses and churches; how some had twice before attempted to inaugurate the college enterprise, but failed, and how it had come to its present satisfactory state by the noble spirited and generous people of the city. He warmly welcomed the faculty and students to homes, hearts and affections of the friends of education in Hastings.

Judge Hewitt, at the close of President Heartwell’s address, introduced Professor Wilson to the friends present. The professor thereupon read a most valuable and well-written paper and showed some of the advantages the educated “mind” had over the “uneducated”! He called attention to the needs of Christian schools and colleges in the Great West where so many millions of emigrants from the Old World were settling, that they may be fully Americanized in their sympathies, their culture, and their lives. He urged the people to give the enterprise their earnest support and encouragement. He was very glad to work with the citizens of Hastings in advancing her educational interests.

Professor George E. White, a graduate of the Iowa college at Grinnell, was then presented and briefly, but eloquently, seconded what had been previously said in regard to the importance of establishing and maintaining first-class Christian colleges in the West. Men of broad culture, loving hearts, and Christian fortitude were needed all over the vast new empire of the West to grapple with and master the moral, economic, and political questions that may come up. A belief in, and adherence to the great truths of Revelation were fundamental necessities in a free government. Christian schools are potent factors in the proper education of the people. He, too, was pleased to be a co-worker in this good cause in this fair young city.

 
                Miss Abbie Brewer was then called out and gave her hearers a short talk. Her remarks were pertinent, encouraging, and her advice valuable, and left a good and lasting impression on the minds of all. She was, likewise, pleased to assist in the up-building of the moral and educational interests of the people.

 
                Reverend S. H. Henderson of the Hastings M.E. Church, being called upon, said we need not regret the inauguration of this enterprise. It would have been advantageous to have started it years ago. Such institutions were the greatest blessings possible to a community in a new country, inasmuch as they brought in the very best class of citizens, and elevated the moral and aesthetic tastes of the people and drove out, to a great extent, the vicious element. He predicted that in five years, the College commencement exercises would be witnessed by from five to ten thousand interested people of Hastings.

After a chorus by the choir, the meeting adjourned and the friends re-assembled in reception at the neat, commodious parlors and reception rooms in the College building. The remainder of the evening was spent in social greetings, and in viewing the College apartments, as well as in securing acquaintance with the College faculty; which is composed as follows:

Professor J. M. Wilson, teacher of mathematics and principal of normal departments. Professor George E. White, A.B., teacher in ancient languages, history, and English literature.  Miss Abbie Brewer, A.B., preceptor and teacher of modern languages.

 
                The College was duly opened on the morning of Monday, September 18, 1882. The above-named faculty was installed with an encouraging number of students present and with the promise of being still more to come this, (the trial) term.

May the College grow and prosper until it shall be all that its most ardent friends now hope for.