Chapel Series Features Teaching of Founding President posted 1/13/09
College celebrates sesquicentennial this year

ADRIAN, Mich. - The weekly Wednesday Noon Chapel Series at Adrian College will feature the teaching of founding president, Asa Mahan. Mahan was a noted pastor, philosopher, teacher, and Christian speaker of his day, and the winter/spring worship services will draw from his writings on the meaning of faith.

This year the College will be celebrating its sesquicentennial. Adrian College evolved from a theological institute founded by the Wesleyan Methodist denomination at Leoni, Mich., a small town east of Jackson, in 1845. In 1855 this institute united with the Leoni Seminary, a Methodist Protestant institution, to establish Michigan Union College.

Legend states that members of the College became concerned about the environment at Leoni, which was nicknamed "Whiskey Town.” In 1859, this concern and other circumstances made it advisable to relocate or close. In the same year, Dr. Asa Mahan, pastor of the Plymouth Congregational Church in Adrian and a well-known educator, was encouraged by citizens of the community to establish a college.

Dr. Mahan and his colleagues invited the officials and supporters of the closing Michigan Union College to join in establishing the new college at Adrian. After the invitation was accepted, the story says, the library holdings were loaded on an ox-cart in March 1859, and transported 60 miles to the new campus site on the west side of Adrian.

On March 28, 1859, Adrian College was chartered by the Michigan legislature as a degree-granting institution with Dr. Mahan as its first president. Through a series of consolidations and denomination unifications, the College has maintained its relationship with The United Methodist Church.

The winter Chapel services kick-off this Wednesday, Jan. 14 at noon. The services are about 45 minutes long and include song, prayer, Scripture reading, and a brief/relevant message. All are invited to attend. For more information, please call Adrian College Chaplain, Dr. Chris Momany, at 517-265-5161 ext. 4211.