necessary to its future growth and prosperity—that its situation in the State is central, & in the midst of a large agricultural district, not surpassed, if equalled by any other part of Maine—in consequence of which the price of board now is, & will probably continue to be, not more than two-thirds what it is at the other Colleges in New England—
And your petitioners believe, that literary Institutions should be organized & conducted with a wise regard to the situation & exigencies of our State—& that the true interests of science as well as of every free State, require that the means of acquiring a liberal education should be made accessible to the middling classes of citizens as well as the more opulent—They, therefore, pray that the powers given by their charter may be enlarged, & that the power of bestowing such Degrees, as are usually conferred by other Colleges, may be given to this Institution.
May, 1820.
Sylvanus Boardman Committee appointed by Trustees John Hovey Jeremiah Chaplin Nathan Weston Jun E. T. Warren Calvin Stockbridge
Note well the opening- sentence of the third paragraph: "They further represent, that it was the original design of the Trustees, whenever their funds & prospects should warrant to establish a sufficient number of Professors and Tutors to instruct in all the different branches of science and literature usually taught in our Colleges. That single sentence is enough to establish beyond dispute the fact that the founders of the Maine Literary and Theological Institution had in view the establishment of a college. It is, moreover, significant that the first name signed to the petition is that of Sylvanus Boardman, If any man knew what was the original purpose of the founders, Sylvanus Boardman was the man.
Dr. Burrage, in the passage already quoted says of the change of name in 1821:[1] "The reasons for thus giving to the institution a broader character than was at first contemplated were not recorded, and can now only be conjextured. In all probability the change was effected by Dr. Chaplin." (The italics are mine.) Now, if any "change" in policy had been made, it was when the collegiate powers were granted in 1820, and if Dr. Burrage had taken the trouble to inspect the records at Augusta he would have found that the reasons for the step were fully set forth in the petition just quoted, and that in reality there was no "change" whatever in the policy of the Trustees.
The petition bears the following endorsements:
"In Senate, June 2, 1820. Read and committed to the Hon.. Messrs. Boutelle and McDonald with such as the Hon. House may join. Sent down for concurrence. John Chandler, Presdt."
- ↑ History of the Baptists in Maine, p. 174.
