WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY to large congregations at Blackheath, near Lon- don, and after the return of his brother from Georgia entered upon the itinerant ministry. After his marriage in 1749 he confined his labors mostly to London and its vicinity. A volume of his sermons, his journal, and two volumes of his hymns, which possess extra- ordinary merit, have been published. He left two sons, Charles and Samuel, who were re- markable musicians. See Stevenson's "Me- morials of the Wesley Family " (London, 1876) which includes historical biographies of its leading members for nearly 250 years WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY, an institution of learning m Middletown, Conn., and the oldest college under the control and patronage of the Methodist Episcopal church. The two origi- nal buildings, which previously to 1829 were occupied as a military academy, were given to the trustees of the college on condition of 559 their raising an endowment of $40,000. Be- sides these there are now Rich hall, the gift of Isaac Rich, for a library building; memorial chapel, built from the contributions oTthe M U /A- m the cent enary year of Americai Methodism 0868) ; Judd hall, the gift of Orange Judd; and observatory hall, which has a re- fracting telescope of 12-inch aperture, made by Alvan Clark and sons. The five principal buildings have a common front line upon an ample campus, and command an extended and magnificent view of the Connecticut river and valley. Observatory hall and the gymnasium are just m the rear of the main buildings. Ihe estimated value of the grounds and build- g nnn $ f 00 ' 000 - Th * "brary has more than 26,000 volumes, and is annually increased from the income of the alumni library fund of over $20,000. Judd hall contains the well furnished chemical laboratory and the large museum of Wesleyan University. natural history. The income of the institution from all sources for the collegiate year 1874-'5 was $47,000. Tuition is practically free, but this is due to a system of scholarships which will soon expire by the terms of their limita- tion. The college was organized in 1830, char- tered in May, 1831, and opened in the follow- ing September. Wilbur Fisk, D. D., was the first president and the leading mind in the or- ganization of the institution, and remained in office till his death in 1839. Under his admin- istration the proficiency of the student in each department separately was the only basis of classification, and upon satisfactory examina- tion diplomas were bestowed irrespective of the time spent in college. This was soon aban- doned, and the class system adopted. At this time the college was among the earliest to adopt the plan, now generally approved, of pro- viding a scientific in addition to the ordinary classical course. Nathan Bangs, D. D., was 832 VOL. xvi. 36 elected president in 1841, and resigned in 1842. His successor, Stephen Olin, D. D., gave a great impulse to the financial affairs and widely ex- tended the reputation of the institution. During the presidency of Augustus W. Smith, LL. D. (1852-'7), a fund of $100,000 was pledged to increase the endowment. Under the adminis- tration of President Joseph Cummings, D. D., LL. D. (1857-'75), the material facilities were extended, and great improvements were made in the course of study. The present incum- bent (1876), Cyrus D. Foss, D. D., was elect- ed in July, 1875. The president is ex officio e member of the corporation, or board of trus- tees, whose number by the charter cannot ex- ceed 40, each patronizing conference appoint- ing one trustee, elected by ballot at a regu- lar session. The present number of patro- nizing conferences (1876) is thirteen, six in New England, five in New York, one in New Jersey, and one in Pennsylvania. Alumni of
