MERCER UNIVERSITY, Macon, Ga., is an institution having its genesis at a meeting of the Baptist Associations of Georgia, at Powelton, 27 June 1822, held to discuss, among other matters, the question of ministerial edu cation. In 1827. at a similar meeting, held in Washington, Ga., the project was further dis cussed, and in 1829 Josiah Penfield, of Savan nah, bequeathed $2,500 as a fund for education, on condition that the Baptists should raise an equal amount. This was promptly done, and two years later it was resolved to establish as Classical and Theological School . . open only for those preparing for the ministry.' It was soon seen, however, that the school could not be so restricted, and in 1832 this bar was removed. Mercer Institute was established on a site of 450 acres, at Penfield, in January 1833, with 39 students,—"Penfield' in memory of Josiah Penfield, and '
Prof. J. F. Sellers of the department of chem istry of Mercer University was appointed acting president for one year. June 1914 the board of trustees elected Dr. W. L. Pickard president.
The registration of Mercer University is now over 400; the departments are col lege of arts and sciences, law, pharmacy, edu cation and a pre-medical course. The uni versity gives the degrees of bachelor of sci ence, bachelor of arts, master of arts, bachelor of law, pharmaceutical chemist and graduate of pharmacy, accredited certificates in educa tion, receives and gives credit on the pre-medi cal course for a medical degree, and a B.S. degree. The university has the same require ments for entrance and graduation as all the State universities of the South. The campus has in it about 60 acres and nine large build ings, besides a number of cottages. The work ing plant is valued at $250,000, and the endow ment in round numbers is about one million dol lars. The work done in Mercer University is fully accredited at such institutions as the Uni versity of Michigan, Columbia University, New York, and leading institutions in America and Europe.. it is justly regarded as one of r:c most potent factors in the educational life c Georgia and the South, and is increasing in number of students and material equipmc from year to year. The faculty in 1918 aim tiered 23.