106 JOHN C. ALMACK
establishment was 1852, so it antedated the Monmouth school by nearly three years. It was soon discovered that there was not sufficient field to justify two schools in the same locality, and in 1865 Christian College was chartered, thereby merging Bethel Collegiate Institute and Monmouth University.. L. L. Rowland of Bethany College, Virginia, was the first president. Mr. Rowland was afterward elected state superin- tendent of schools and recommended the establishment of a state normal school. Christian College was controlled and sup- ported by the Christian Brotherhood of Oregon. Authority was granted to confer the degrees of A. B., B. S., and M. A. 13 The buildings and grounds were appraised at $20,000, and an endowment of $25,000 was promised.
The college was quite successful 14 even in those pioneer days. Sylvester Simpson, who was superintendent of schools in 1873, said the school had an enrollment of 300 students with a school term of ten months. Receipts for the year were given as $4,500, with expenses of only $3,500. However, there were lean years, 15 and the presidents 16 were alert to discover opportunities to advance the interests of the school. President Stanley is said to have conceived the idea of having Christian College made a state normal, and J. D. Lee of Dallas intro- duced a bill to this effect in the legislature of 1882.
But Christian College was not the only candidate for such advantages. The Methodists had founded the Collegiate and Normal Institute at Ashland in 1879, and it soon became a flourishing institution. By 1880 there were 54 students en- rolled in the academic department, and 33 in the primary. The first president was Rev. L. L. Rogers, who for the first year was paid the munificent salary of $1,500 much more than
13 The catalogue of Christian College 1872 said: "Any bachelor of arts may receive the degree of A. M. on paying a fee of ten dollars to the library fund, provided he shall have shown himself competent and worthy of such distinction. This degree may be conferred on eminent persons for distinguished merit."
14 In 1874 when_the question of the location of 'the state university was under consideration, Christian College was offered to the state. The committee ap- pointed by the legislature to decide on the site voted on Eugene and Monmouth. The latter lost by one vote, R. S. Crystal of Dallas voting against his own county.
15 In 1879 the attendance had fallen to 13 in the academic department, and the tuition brought in only $600.
16 President Campbell traveled about the country collecting donations for the support of the school, and at one time raised $15,000. Women raised money by doing washings, and by labor of other kinds to enable them to contribute to the cause of education. Mortgages were not uncommon, and many gifts made to Christian were the product of strict self-denial.
