REV. J. N. ROACH, President,
       And Professor of Moral and Mental Science.

REV. B. W. McDONNALD, Professor of Mathematics.

REV. E. C. TRIMBLE, Professor of Languages.

REV. A. J. HAYES, Tutor.

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There is a regularly organized "Preparatory Department," connected with the College, in which are taught Orthography, Reading, Penmanship, English, Latin, and Greek Grammars, Arithmetic, Modern Geography, Elementary Works in Latin and Greek, Virgil, and Greek Testament; upon all which branches, the student will have to stand an approved examination, before he can enter, as a regular candidate for graduation, a higher class.

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The above course of study, the Board feel confident, will compare well with that of any other college in our country. And in sending it out to the world, they desire it not to be regarded as mere form, but that students and patrons may know, that all who desire the honors of this institution will have to be scholars. Students who do not wish to take a regular course, may pursue such branches as they or their parent or guardian may select. And regular students, who study the French, Spanish, or German language, will be permitted to graduate upon a shorter course in Greek, if they desire it.

The collegiate year is divided into two sessions, of five months each. The first commences on the third Thursday in September, and closes on the Thursday before the third Monday in February. The second session commences on the third Monday in February, and closes on the Thursday before the third Monday in July. It is very desirable that pupils should be ready to enter college on the first day of the session; but when this is not convenient, they can enter at any time in the session, and after the first two weeks there will be a proportional deduction in the tuition fees. At the close of each session there will be an examination of all the classes, to continue from day to day, as long as the Faculty may direct. In these examinations, the object will be, to test the diligence and progress of each student; and to secure this end, the patrons of the institution, and the public generally, will always be invited to attend, and scrutinize the proceedings with every class. This course, the Board feel, is the only one which will prevent the examinations in our colleges, and other schools, from becoming mere shows, where the superficialness of the student is to be polished over, or covered up, by the deception of the teacher.

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This, the Board feel assured, is all that could be desired. As to the health of our village, and the surrounding country, there can be no question. It is in a high, pleasant, and fertile section, which has ever been free from disease or epidemics of any kind. The society is good; perhaps no inland village can boast of more in this respect than McLemoresville. The inhabitants are all engaged in business of some kind, and have neither time, inclination, nor opportunity, for dissipation. No community can boast of a better state of morals; it is proverbial in this respect. If students go into vice here, they will have to break over the precept and example of the entire community, and go abroad to find the facilities for such purposes, for they are not here.

Upon this subject, the Board feel proud of the high distinction which the President has acquired in this branch of his duties and with every confidence can recommend this institution to all parents and guardians, who expect their sons and wards to be controlled. Many of our most promising youths have been ruined by a few sessions at a college, simply because they were not governed as they should have been. It will not be so at Bethel College. Students who come here must expect to conform to the regulations of the institution. Our laws and regulations are not oppressive. They have been framed alone for the good of the pupil; and every student who obeys them, will ever have the commendation of his teachers, the approbation of his own conscience, and the esteem of the community. But he who will not obey, will be directed to return home. No efforts will be spared to reclaim all offenders, and to bring them to duty; but if this cannot be done by proper measures, the parent or guardian will be expected to take the student home. Thus far, our college is almost without a parallel, [page 11] in regard to the deportment of its students. They have called forth the praise of all who know them, for their manly deportment, and their studious habits. Our discipline is mild, but firm, and grounded upon the same principles which prevail in a well-regulated and affectionate family.

Upon this subject, the Board would remark; that, neither the usage of the community, nor the advantage of the student, demands that expenses should be great. The necessary expenses are as follows, viz.:--

The above are the expenses of a student, each session of five months. A parent or guardian will see how much money he should give to the student, when he leaves home. The tuition fees, in whichever department the student may enter, have to be paid before he can recite. This regulation has been found to be the only one on which the trustees can depend. The board may or may not be paid in advance; it is not required till the end of the session. And the trustees do most earnestly urge upon parents or guardians not to let their sons or wards be allowed to contract accounts, without some written permission. If the student has the money to pay for the articles, as he gets them, he can then get them at any house in the village where he can do best; and he can always do better than if he were to buy upon credit. Books and medicine will be sold to any student, as he may need them, by our merchants, upon credit, if necessary. The Board of Trustees [page 12] assure the public, that no regulation which they can make, will insure the economy of the student so well as the proper course of direction from home. If students desire to dress extravagantly, to spend much money, and seek their glory in this way, they had better go elsewhere; we do not want them here.

All persons, of whatever denomination, who are preparing for the work of the ministry, are admitted free of tuition fees. Of this class, about twenty have been taught during the last year. They have been members of the different denominations; and it affords the Board the highest pleasure to bear such unequivocal testimony to the purity, zeal, and promise of those young men. They must and will be ornaments to their respective churches. Beside the regular collegiate studies, the President delivers to these young men bi-weekly lectures, upon the great subjects connected with their arduous duties; and from all of them he requires, at these lectures, a sermon upon a text previously assigned. Although we have no endowment, by which the tuition of these young men can be paid, yet we open our arms, and solicit all who desire to prepare for the ministry, to come to Bethel College. And to all such we will say, that they will find here warm hearts and willing hands. We hope that presbyteries will take pains to send their young brethren to school. The world, the Church, and God, will all approbate such a step. To such, then, as desire to labor for God, we say, that all we can do to aid you on, shall be done.

There are already four elegant recitation rooms, well furnished, and we have laid the corner-stone of another college edifice, to be one hundred and twelve feet long, thirty wide, to contain two [page 13] additional recitation rooms, two apparatus rooms, and dormitories to accommodate about fifty students; and also a splendid dome, arranged so as to be used for an observatory. This edifice will be completed about the first of February. The Board feel proud to say, that no college in this country can afford more conveniences from buildings than Bethel College. It is our purpose to enlarge, and add to our building yearly, until we have all which taste or necessity may suggest. The means to rear these buildings have all been contributed by our citizens, and the Trustees contract no debts, until they first procure the means to meet those debts. They will not embarrass the College by debts.

We have already a tolerably good assortment of apparatus, but not such as we desire. To secure all that we need in this branch, we have appointed the President of the College our agent, to raise means for this purpose. He has raised, in our own community, about $1,000; and we wish to increase the amount of $3,000, or more, during this summer. The President will make a tour during the vacation, and call upon a liberal public to aid in the praiseworthy enterprise; and we commend him to the liberality of the friends of sound learning, wherever he may go. It is impossible to teach the natural sciences properly, without suitable apparatus; and the Board entertain no doubts but the public will respond to this call, in keeping with the importance of the subject. The President of the College is now corresponding with the manufacturers of telescopes in the east, and he will procure a better one than is west of the mountains, if he should have to go even to Europe for it. We are desirous to get the apparatus early this fall, and then it is our purpose to elect a Professor of Physical Science, who will give his whole time to lectures on these very essential branches. To our friends and the public we appeal--Shall we not have the means to accomplish our object, so desirable and so honorable? We have no fears about the success of this enterprise.

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On this subject we cannot but congratulate all the friends of the institution. It will be seen, by reference to the catalogue of students, that we have matriculated, during the year, over one hundred and fifty pupils; and the collegiate year closed with a much larger number than were ever in the College, at one time, before. Our friends abroad have given us repeated assurances of the increasing popularity of the College, in various quarters. It is with pleasure that we hail the approach of a day, when the desires of the founders and friends of Bethel College will be realized, in seeing it take rank amongst the foremost in our country.

The Board of Trustees believe that they cannot conclude this catalogue with information more satisfactory to the public than will be found in the following report of the President of the College to them. This report presents the true condition of the institution, in all its departments:

Bethel College, July 17, 1851.
President of the Board of Trustees:--

SIR-In submitting this, my first annual report of the state and condition of Bethel College, to the Trustees, I must be permitted to congratulate the Board upon the great prosperity of the institution. This prosperity does not only relate to the increase of patronage, but is also manifest in the high standing which our students have all secured, as young men of genius and moral worth. The ardor and industry with which our students have carried on the various branches of literature assigned to them, give evidence of their purpose to master, and not barely to skim over the surface.

From the report of the other members of the Faculty made to me, which are herewith filed, it will be seen that there are a large [page 15] number of our students who are engaged in the higher branches of your course of study, which I regard as evidence of the ability of the respective professors, in their various duties. And nothing gives me more gratification, than to have this opportunity of bearing my unequivocal testimony to the faithfulness and zeal of all my colleagues. Too much praise cannot be given to our Tutor, for the fidelity and success with which he has discharged the very important duties of the preparatory department. From his labors, doubtless, many young minds have received an impulse, which will prompt them to press on to greater heights in literature and knowledge. Of the Professors of Mathematics and Languages, I am also cheerful in saying to the Board, that their duties have been discharged with an ability and promptness which will ever commend them to the friends of solid learning, everywhere, and secure for them the esteem of all who have reaped the benefit of their labors. In the discipline of the institution we have had no difficulties. Our students have shown a regard for authority, and a desire for progress, that cannot be surpassed anywhere. To speak of individual cases, worthy of the commendation of the Board, would be wrong, unless I were to mention every name upon our catalogue. All have won my esteem, and bear with them my highest wishes for their ultimate honor and usefulness. Hoping that the Board will accept of my gratitude for the kindness which they have shown to me, and for the efficient aid and counsel they have given, in conducting this collegiate year to so happy a close and with my prayers for the continued prosperity of the College, I have the honor to subscribe myself,
Very respectfully,
J. N. ROACH, PRESIDENT.

The following is an extract from the report of the Board of Visitors, to the Synod:--

"They were present at the examination of the students, and availed themselves of such other means as were in their power, to learn the present condition, and future prospects, of the institution. [page 16] It has a very efficient Board of Trustees, and a learned and zealous Faculty. The good order which prevailed, the courtliness manifested, the prompt cheerfulness with which every call and command were obeyed, show that the Faculty have not been inattentive to the interests and welfare of both patrons and students, and the grand essential of good government. The students sustained themselves admirably, in the examination upon the several branches of literature and science which they had been pursuing, and showed a proficiency which does credit to themselves and honor to their Professors; and, indeed, the examination would have done credit to any of our oldest colleges.

"Your Board of Visitors have high hopes for the prosperity and usefulness of this College; and while they invoke upon it the blessings of Heaven, they most cheerfully recommend it to the continued patronage of the Synod, and of the Church. Its location is pleasant and healthy; surrounded by a fertile, prosperous, and growing country, and in the midst of a moral and intelligent community. Thus situated, it cannot be prosper, and eventually become one of the best and most useful colleges in the West."