Westfield College: Fighting for the soul

Abstract

The Church of the United Brethren in Christ developed quickly in the United
States in the nineteenth century. The denomination, against strong opposition at first,
became a great supporter of church-sponsored schools. Westfield College was the school
the denomination founded in Illinois. It, like the denomination's other schools, reflected
the beliefs held by the denomination. It generally allowed individual interpretation
regarding the applications of biblical teaching, particularly regarding baptism. The
schools, however, held their students and faculty to a tight moral code and tried to act
upon that code in the community by banning alcohol sales, supporting women's rights,
and opposing slavery.
Westfield College fits into the existing models regarding denominational schools
founded between 1860 and 1920. It was largely conservative and reactionary. The school
long opposed adopting courses and practices that reflected contemporary trends in
educational reform. Westfield College, like other United Brethren schools, did not
compete effectively against the larger, better funded, and less expensive state-sponsored
schools. This case study of Westfield College intends to illuminate the development of
United Brethren schools and the nature of both their evolution and their struggles with
competing against, and eventually losing to, state-sponsored institutions.

Date of Award	2011
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	Eastern Illinois University
Supervisor	Debra A. Reid (Supervisor)