honor was gravely discussed in our counsels. We were preparing many young men and women to enter with advanced standing in other colleges. The State reports gave us the credit of sending out more and a higher grade of teachers than any other similar Institution in the State. Why should we not have the credit of the work done?

This increase of the teaching force gave all better opportunities for study and more thorough work in the class room. As the examinations were public, not only every pupil, but each teacher, was put upon his mettle. President Allen writes of this time: "It was the aim to make students that could think accurately and speak promptly upon their feet. One class being examined at a time, the examination created a good deal of interest, and was listened to by crowded houses of citizens, visitors, and students. This tribunal was the same in kind and quality as all after life's tribunals, with like attributes in its decisions." The lady members of the Faculty, Mrs. Melissa Kenyon, Mrs. Sayles, Mrs. Allen, Miss Susan Crandall,, and Miss S. Coon, were recognized by the public as doing no less efficient work than did the other members of the Faculty.

Though there were necessarily changes in this Faculty from year to year, still the growth of the school in all its departments continued. The students, whether rich or poor, came from all classes and many of the professions, and when they went back they carried much of the spirit and enthusiasm gained at Alfred into their various fields of life work. Alfred's special work at that time was the training of educators for the common schools, more than one hundred of these strong-principled young men and women going out each year as teachers.

As a number of the leading teachers belonged to the Seventh-day Baptist denomination, and as this people had long felt the need of establishing a theological department in some school, Alfred was thought of for this purpose.

AGENTS OF EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY.

Professors Kenyon and Allen had not only made this matter a subject of thought, but had kept it constantly before the peo

ple in their denominational publications and yearly gatherings. These men considered the educational interest as one of the most important in denominational work, and to identify it with the missionary, tract, and publishing associations, it was thought best to have a society organized for this special object. In 1852 an Educational Committee was therefore appointed to look after this matter. This committee drew up a constitution, which was adopted in 1854, after which Professors Kenyon and Allen were appointed as agents to secure an endowment fund. President W. C. Whitford, of Milton College, Wisconsin, says of that time: "I believe that it was impossible for any other man among us to take possession of these different interests and opposing forces, and to combine and organize them as he did effectually into a harmonious, permanent, and powerful movement. I shall never cease to admire the addresses which he delivered at that time while visiting some of our churches. They were the most masterly discussions of certain fundamental principles which it has ever been my privilege to hear. In my opinion they have never been equaled by speakers in any of our State and national associations. They were characterized by a most comprehensive grasp of the vast field of the educational work, and a surprising insight into its various but associated departments and results. If I remember rightly, his prominent theme was the informing and uplifting power which the school exerts over the family, the church, and the civil government." Again Again he says: "I recall at this moment a single remark of most significant import,-'If truth were offered me on the one hand, and search for truth on the other, I would most certainly choose the latter.' To him the active seeking developed far more than the passive receiving. A single idea wrought out patiently and clearly in our daily reflections is worth more to us than a thousand facts simply stored away in our memories."

Twenty thousand dollars were raised the first year by these agents of the Educational Society. In 1855 Alfred was chosen by the churches as the place in which to establish the theolog

ical department, and Mr. Allen was elected to take charge of it. A number of young men and women of different denominations were ready to enter the class, many of them having previously been active members of the Theological Society. These young people became the leaders in the religious growth of the school and surrounding communities. They held Bible classes, prayer meetings, and preaching services in all the schoolhouses around. Seldom a term passed without especial religious interest being aroused. The remarkable feature of all this was the deep-seated and quiet work of the Spirit, so that we seldom found a student in after years who did not hold to the higher impulses and awakening which he received at these little meetings.

This work extended till a number of churches grew up under its influence, such as those at East Hebron, Oswayo, Roulet, Honeyoye, Branch of Scio, and Bell's Run; and the University became the mother of evangelistic work in all that section.

BIRTH AND DEATH OF WILLIE.

We both looked upon President Kenyon as our intellectual father, so when a little boy came to bless our home, we did not hesitate as to its name--William Kenyon represented our ideal for him. We never thought he could leave us, so all plans were made for perfect physical and spiritual development. He was a goodly child, with a promise of long life, so when he left us at the end of two years, we felt assured that had we known better, practically, the laws of life, our boy would have been spared to us. Mr. Allen then determined to know enough of medicine to be able to care for his family, and during the years that followed he took several courses of medical lectures.

CHAPTER VIII.

M

COLLEGE CHARTER AND GROUNDS.

WINTER IN ALBANY.

OST of the winter of 1856-57 was spent in Albany securing our college charter. Hon. John M. Davidson, of Wiscoy, W. W. Crandall, M. D., of Andover, and Hon. S. O. Thatcher, of Hornellsville, were Alfred students and members of the Legislature. Mr. Allen often said that these young men took off their coats, figuratively, and worked for the bill. It was introduced early in the session and passed the first and second readings, but there it stopped. Mr. Allen wonderingly stayed on for weeks and weeks, not knowing some of the ways in Albany. One day upon asking a leading member in the House why the bill was so long delayed, the gentleman laughingly replied, "It waits the bids." "What do you mean?" "You know that here we have one hand before, and the other behind." "But how is that?" "In other words, how much money is there in the bill?" "Not a dollar," was the prompt reply. "Oh, that makes a difference!" It was but a few days after this before the third reading was called for. The regents at that time were opposed to small colleges, and worked against the bill, the State superintendent and all his under officers sharing their opposition. These departments, almost in a body, were on the floor when the hour came for calling the roll, and to their utter astonishment the measure passed the House with an overwhelming majority.

Doctor Woolworth, that grand old man who for so many years stood at the head of our State educational interests, became from this winter an earnest friend of Mr. Allen, often consulting him on educational problems for the growth of the

work throughout the State. At one of the yearly meetings for the regents and educators of the State, the teachers were thanking him for some changes that had been made in the examination papers. Pointing to Mr. Allen's seat, he replied, "Your thanks are due entirely to him and not to me." While detained in Albany that winter Mr. Allen attended lectures in the law school, was examined, and admitted to the bar. This was not with the idea of ever practicing law, but with the thought that the knowledge thus acquired would make him more efficient in his chosen profession.

DUTY ABOVE ALL HONORS PREFERRED.

He had little desire for public recognition, and all honors conferred upon him were entirely unsought. In 1873, when the regents of the State of New York at Albany gave him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, he was greatly surprised. As the sacred mantle was thrown over him, Doctor Woolworth remarked, "This is well deserved, but too long deferred; let us telegraph your wife."

President Allen received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from the State University of Kansas, in 1875, and in 1886 that of Doctor of Laws, from his own beloved university. Important educational positions in different States were many times offered him, but his chosen work for Alfred far outweighed them all, so he was satisfied to continue his labor there in the same sacrificial spirit in which he had begun it. The recognition at Albany that winter of the work hitherto done at Alfred not only for the teachers of common schools, but for general educational interests, gave renewed courage and zeal to the friends and teachers of the Institution. In the language of another, "Allegany County, and all southwestern New York, owe more for the high standing in intellectual and moral reforms to William C. Kenyon and his co-workers than to all other influences combined."

In 1878 President White, of Cornell, Professor Clark, of Canandagua, and President Allen, were appointed a committee