1852: An Acadia Tragedy Unfolds (Part 4, Jun 3/25)

College exams in June 1852, part 2

Anxious to put the disagreeable past behind them, President Cramp and Professor Chipman tailored a report to the Maritime Baptist community that encouraged support. Both men were highly skilled at crafting a positive message. For the Christian Visitor, they wrote of the Anniversary of Acadia College,

The examination of the several classes into which these have been arranged, was conducted by the officers on Wednesday and Thursday, the 2nd and 3rd inst., before a number of friends, and was highly satisfactory. It was particularly interesting to witness the freedom from all confusion and embarrassment on the part of the students, and the readiness with which all recitations were given. (11 June 1852, 162)

On June 4, the second day of examinations, the students were tested in Latin (junior class), Evidences of Christianity, Hebrew, Nautical Astronomy, and Greek (senior class). (Acadia College Anniversary, June 4, 1852, Christian Messenger, 11 June 1852, 186) The Minutes of the Baptist Convention for 1852 reported on the year’s studies and the classes’ specifics. The Junior Latin class read Sallust’s Cataline and parts of the Odes of Horace. For Evidences of Christianity, the class was required to complete Moral Philosophy (offered in the fall term) before taking lectures and studying from the Religious Tract Society’s edition of Dr. Paley’s book of the same title as the course. The Hebrew class studied Genesius’ Grammar and then translated parts of the Book of Genesis. Nautical Astronomy was taught in conjunction with mathematics using Hackley’s Treatise in Navigation, Nautical Astronomy. The senior Greek class read Medea, a portion of the Odyssey, and sections of the Orations of Demosthenes. (Acadia College Report, 19) None of these original textbooks were found in the collections at the Library.

After two days of examinations, the Christian Messenger reported that the results were “entirely satisfactory.” As for the students, they “acquitted themselves well; the classical passages placed in their hands were read with ease and propriety, and the Mathematical problems were readily and speedily solved.” Several Governors presided over the examination process. (Acadia College Anniversary Exercises, June 4, 1852, 11 June 1852, 186)

Assuring Acadia’s resiliency became evident in the Maritime Baptist newspapers. In hindsight, the message proved crucial to the College’s survival. In those early days of June 1852, before the tragic accident, the Governors made bold and deliberate wording choices for their articles. Here are two examples.

Appearing in the Christian Visitor for 11 June 1852 under the title Anniversary of Acadia College, is this carefully worded article that was crafted before the accident on 7 June:

We were repeatedly assured by students with whom we have since had private conversation, that from the beginning of the year to its close the utmost harmony has prevailed, all have been happy, each student affectionately attached to his fellow students, and everyone cherishing a most tender and affectionate regard towards their Teachers. This was quite evident in their bearing and in the cheerful aspect which every one wore through all the public exercises of the week. (162)

After the accident, another article about the College anniversary appeared in the Christian Visitor for 25 June 1852 in the Committee of Education, Literary and Theological section under the title Acadia College.

The proficiency of the pupils, as indicated by the half-year examination, has been gratifying and satisfactory. Your Committee ask for this institution the more extensive patronage of the denomination at large. They also express their opinion that the number of instructors might be advantageously increased, in order to render the Academy more generally attractive.

With reference to the College, your committee have examined the Report of the studies of the past year, and the account of the recent Anniversary, published in the Christian Messenger, and they are happy in being able to state that the Institution appears to have been well managed.

It is presumed that the above article was written before the accident on 7 June, but did not appear in the newspaper until much later because of it.

Throwing open the College doors and allowing the public to peek inside might have been a calculated risk, but it paid off. By the third day of the anniversary exercises, when the public exhibition was held in Academy Hall, the community came to celebrate the College’s success days before it came together to mark a tragedy.

In tomorrow’s post, we learn about the public exhibition in June 1852.