tation, but owing to the many similar institutions near us, and the great improvement in our common schools throughout this and neighboring counties, it has not been so prosperous as regards numbers since 1854; the average attendance has been about se venty. There are at present three teachers engaged." "Clark Seminary offers both sexes good advantages in the various English branches, languages, music and ornamentals. It has superior stone buildings, and fifteen experienced teachers." The main building is 125 feet long by 40 feet wide, and five stories high; the rear building is 70 feet long by 45 feet wide, and four stories high. They are built of stone, and are fire-proof. There are three "graduating courses-a classicaal, scientific, and a commercial, together with preparatory, normal and musical departments. The classical occupies four years; and in Latin includes Virgil, and in Greek the Anabasis and the Greek testament. The commercial course includes telegraphing and phonography. The normal class sends forth annually from forty to sixty teachers of the public schools. The average attendance of pupils per year, for eight years, has been 309, from ten to twelve states being represented. "Clark Seminary owes its existence to the ideas and persistent efforts of Rev. John Clark, a Methodist clergyman, of Rock River Conference, but it was not till after his death that his great design was accomplished. After a long and severe conflict (such as is not unusual in the early history of academic and literary institutions), between insufficient subscriptions and a burden of debt, the seminary passed into the hands of the Rock River Conference by its purchasing it of the creditors, on their proposal, for the sum of $25,000, about one-third of its cost. Although the seminary was so long perpetually embarrassed in its general finances, these embarrassments did not very materially interfere with the progress and prosperity of the school." STATISTICAL SUMMARY. Years occupied in regular course of study.. Number of pupils in preparatory department... Number of pupils graduating during the year.... Whole number of graduates since organization of institution.. Number of professors and instructors.... Value of buildings, furniture and grounds.. Value of libraries..... Value of apparatus and cabinet. Charge per annum for tuition in regular course... Average of total annual expenses, per student... Date of annual commencement. 54 177 93 12 103 13 $80,000 357 $1,500 36 200 .Third Tuesday in June. HEDDING SEMINARY AND CENTRAL ILLINOIS FEMALE COLLEGE. [Abingdon, Knox County. Founded 1855.] D. T. WILSON, Secretary of Faculty. This institution is under the patronage and general direction of the "Central Illinois Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church." Males and females are admitted. There are two courses of study for each: for young ladies the scientific and commercial, for young gentlemen the scientific and classical. Normal, musical and ornamental departments are added. The secretary writes: "When young gentlemen complete. either of these courses, they are prepared to complete the course usually prescribed in American colleges in three years. During the past year there have been added to the facilities of the institution a full set of chemical apparatus, and several astronomical and philosophical instruments; also a complete set of Illinois rocks from the State Cabinet." The building for this school was erected by an association of the citizens of Mount Zion, Macon county, in 1853. The original building was destroyed by fire about a year after. A second building of brick was immediately erected by the stockholders. In 1864 the stockholders transferred the institution to the Decatur Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, under whose auspices it was regularly chartered by the State Legislature. An endowment of $10,000 on the scholarship plan was raised, but afterward abandoned, and the scholarships withdrawn. A donation endowment of $3,000 has since been received. The yearly average of students entered has been 150. The seminary has a library of 200 volumes. MENDOTA WESLEYAN SEMINARY. [Mendota, LaSalle County. Founded 1856.] Rev. S. N. GRIFFITH, A. M., Principal till August 11, 1868. The sketch furnished sets forth the "history and organization, the workings and termination," of this seminary; but as there is probability that it will be continued under some other patronage, the principal facts are here given. This institution was projected by the Rev. J. S. Henderson, who took charge of the Presbyterian Church of Mendota in the autumn of 1855. A building was erected on land donated by T. B. Blackburn, Esq., being completed in 1858. Mr. Henderson died in 1861, and Rev. Robert C. Colmery succeeded to the pastorate of the Presbyterian church and the charge of the school. With the exception of a short period while the building was refitting, the seminary continued under the charge of Mr. Colmery until the fall of 1867, he having purchased the property meanwhile. Up to this time the attendance had averaged 100 students per term. In the fall of 1867 the the property was sold to Rev. F. A. Harding, of the Methodist Episcopal church of Mendota, who designed to have the institution incorporated and brought under the patronage of that church. Trustees were elected under the general law; and the building was rented to Mr. Griffith, who aimed to make the seminary a connecting link between the district school and the higher institutions of learning in the State. The enterprise had been undertaken with the expectation that there would be a division of the Rock River Conference, and that the institution could be put under the patronage of the new conference. As the division was not made, the originators of the enterprise decided to dispose of the property at the first opportunity; and the principal resigned. Negotiations between them and some other denominations are now pending. The building will accommodate some thirty to forty boarders, and the chapel and recitation rooms are sufficient for 150 pupils. STATISTICAL SUMMARY. Years occupied in regular course of study..... Number of pupi s pursu ng a p rtial course.... Number of pup 1s in preparatory department. ...... .... Whole number of graduates since organization of institution.. Value of buildings, furniture and grounds. 3 1 14 77 25 6 .$15,000 175 $350 20 30 163 180 .Fourth Wednesday in June. BLACKBURN SEMINARY. [Carlinville, Macoupin County. Founded 1857.] Rev. JOHN W. BAILEY, A. M., Theological Professor. Dr. Gideon Blackburn, who had a remarkably far-reaching and comprehensive mind, in 1835-6 conceived and carried into operation a plan by which he was enabled (in 1837) to deed to trustees Vol. II-91 16,656 acres of land. The proceeds of this land were to be applied, as stated in the deed of trust, "to the founding and upbuilding of an institution of learning, the object of which shall be to promote the general interests of education, and to qualify young men for the gospel ministry." The citizens of Carlinville, the residence of Dr. Blackburn, and now a pleasant, accessible and flourishing young city, in order to secure the location of the sem nary in that place, supplied him with funds to purchase eighty acres of land near the town. This piece of land was included in the deed of trust, and specified as the site of the institution. The lands were situated in ten different counties, but principally in Macoupin. Previous to 1857, from two to three thousand acres had been sold, at small figures, to pay taxes. Since that year, all the property of the institution has, by the provisions of its charter, been exempt from taxation. While it is the design and expectation of the trustees to realize at an early day the object of its founder, it is seen by the c talogue of the institution that it is still in its incipient stages, and that the work of the seminary is mainly as yet in the academic department. It does not appear that regular classes have been organized; but the scheme shows that, besides the ordinary academic course, there are two other courses of study established, one of which is designed especially for young men who wish to prepare for the christian ministry. One is called the "collegiate," and the other the "collegiate and theological.” Each of these extends through five years. An additional building, large and commodious, and of a unique and attractive style of architecture, has just been completed, and the institution is rapidly gathering about it all the means and appliances necessary to a seat of liberal learning of high char Amount of endowment, exclusive of buildings, etc.... 100,000 Number of volumes in libraries includ ng about 100 old and rare wo ks 800 Value of apparatus $500 |