Proceedings of the Inauguration 25^ 
It has no theological department, it insists on no articles of faith, 
it excludes no class from its benefits. True education is the build- 
ing up not only of mind, but also and preeminently of character, 
and you cannot rightly impart education without you have some 
guiding principles, some absolute convictions. You cannot 
rightly tone up the mind or strengthen the character without im- 
parting some right conceptions of God and His Christ. 
Some have found fault with our Charter because it requires 
our Trustees to be chosen from men residing within the bound- 
aries of the State of Ohio, This was wise originally and it is wise 
today. This College was founded at the outset for the special 
benefit of young men residing in this general locality and who, if 
they desired the advantages of a higher education, must take the 
long and tiresome journey beyond the Alleghanies, then un- 
tracked by steel rails and knowing nothing of lightning speeds. 
But permanently, there is a strong sense in which the College is 
for the State, and the State for the College. Men should be 
chosen to administer its affairs who have a local knowledge and 
a local interest. It must be remembered, too, that this is a State 
of boundaries scarcely less in dimensions than those of a great 
kingdom, having a great circle of men of many minds, and pos- 
sessing interests wide and large. If we were a little state like 
Rhode Island we should perhaps go beyond our limit to find men 
of sufficient quality and variety of intellect. I once heard Dr. A. 
C. Kendrick, of Rochester, N. Y., speaking on this very point, 
say somewhat amusingly, ''Little Rhode! Why, it is so small 
that when they would build a railroad they would have to build 
it narrow gauge in order to get both rails within the State.'' I 
am quite certain they would have to attempt something similar 
were they to try to build a college for the special benefit of the 
State, 
So, Mr. President, I present you this Charter feeling as- 
sured that you will find it sufficiently adequate for all your pur- 
poses in assuming command of this great work. We trust you 
will remember the noble men who framed it, and be inspired by 
their example. We love you, and believe in you. We have great 
hopes of you, and pray that God's blessing may be upon you and 
that you may be greatly strengthened by Him for your arduous 
undertaking. 
