I was googling something and came across a list that Miami U had of all their presidents with biographies. So I looked at it with an eye towards what it shows about when our country declined.
I suppose there’s an argument to be made that Presbyterianism was crucial to America since it was the only intellectually respectful Christian alternative to Catholicism. Thus it was “safe” for colleges to embrace in our Protestant country, both on religious and intellectual grounds, but when it fell out of favor it really signaled the downfall of all the denominations. We often say, “so goes California, so goes the country” but perhaps it’s more accurate to say, “So goes the universities, so goes the country.” The leading indicator of decline is probably colleges.
The illustrious list of Miami presidents included ordained minister after ordained minister. From 1824 to 1885 they were all ordained and most were pastors. After the Civil War Miami fell on hard times and had to close down for awhile. But when they opened back up tradition was continued: from 1891 to 1911 more minsters in Miami’s top spot.
Raymond Hughes was the last president with a public religious affiliation. While not a minister, he was director at Presbyterian Theological Seminary after his Miami presidency. He was president at Miami from ’29 to ’42.
This all tracks well with the decline of America.
A timeline sampling of ten different early Miami presidents going from more recent to oldest:
Ordained Deacon in 1899 by Bishop Fitzgerald, Columbus, Kansas
Was ordained Presbyterian minister.
Graduated from the Western Theological Seminary and ordained by the Presbytery of Fort Dodge, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Home Missionary and Pastor, Odebolt, Iowa.
Graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary, ordained to the Presbyterian ministry.
Studied theology, Lane Seminary and ordained by Presbytery of Mississippi, Pastor, Presbyterian Church, Blue Ridge, Mississippi, Pastor, Presbyterian Church, Woodville, Mississippi. Pastor, Presbyterian Church, New Orleans, La.
Studied theology with Dr. Gideon Blackburn and was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of West Tennessee, Evangelist in West Tennessee, Pastor, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Pastor, Dayton Ohio.
Licensed by the Presbytery of Washington, Pennsylvania, Missionary in North Carolina, Pastor of Presbyterian Church, Pigeon Creek, Pennsylvania, Pastor, Dayton Ohio.
Licensed by the Reformed Presbytery of New York, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church, Ballston, New York.
Ordained by Presbytery of Philadelphia, Pastor of the Associated Reformed Church, Milton, Pennsylvania, Continued as Pastor at Milton, Pennsylvania.
Doctor of Divinity, University of Edinburgh, Pastor of Associated Reformed Presbyterian Churches at Ebenezer and New Providence, Kentucky.
The “sweet spot” when America was a decent nation was when her middle west was strong. A book claims that ‘Peak Midwest’ (meaning greatest political influence and economic success within the U.S.) seems to be roughly from 1865 to 1917, which coincided (coincidentally or not) with peak midwestern values in America, i.e. thrift, work ethic, religious sensibilities. The 1920s and beyond brought Hollywood values and the east and west coasts became more powerful relative to the midwest.
So in we have Miami a strong and proud Christian school, at least as represented by her presidents, from 1824 till 1911. Perhaps part of the disconnection with her Christian past occurred around the subject of evolution, which pit religion against science and was certainly a hot topic by 1921 when former congressman and ex-Sec of State William Jennings Bryan became a leader in the anti-evolution movement. There’s also World War I, which discredited Christianity in many minds due to a devastating world war started by Christian countries. American author Gertrude Stein coined the phrase ‘the lost generation’ to reference “those who came of age during World War I, as the war produced disillusionment and experimentation with drugs and immorality for many young men and women.”
Miami now has a string of 80 years of secular rule and surely we’re the poorer for it.
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