Newton Theological Institution
Newton Center, Massachusetts
1825-1965
E-Travel
Numerous annual catalogues are available through Internet Archive and HathiTrust. The 1866 Newton Theological Seminary: A Sketch of its History and the 1903 Newtonian are also available. The Boston Globe and Boston Evening Transcript covered school events. The seal is from the 1943 catalogue.
​
History
Newton Theological Institution was founded in 1825 by the Northern Baptist Association of Boston. Its plan was a three-year course of “Biblical Literature, Ecclesiastical History, Biblical Theology, Pastoral Duties, and, in short, the various studies and exercises appropriate to a Theological Institution designed to assist those who would understand the Bible clearly, and, as faithful ministers of Christ, inculcate its lessons the most usefully.”
Classes began on November 28,1825 with Professor Irah Chase and three students. N.T.I continued as a relatively small school of 60 or so students yearly, taught by seven professors. The Globe notes 1900 graduates by 1925. Admission standards began with “evidence of genuine piety,” and included a “completed regular college course.” Students were advised to “come prepared in Greek,” and to have the elements of Hebrew. They were warned that all Old and New Testament analyses were to be done in their original languages.
The Newtonian did a profile of the students. At that time the average age was 29. 36% of students were from New England, but 14% came from west of the Mississippi. Brown (RI) and Acadia (NS) Universities were the leading suppliers of students. 20% of students were not members of a Baptist church. Over half of the students admitted that the ministry was not their first choice for a career.
From 1931 to 1965 N.T.I. shared its campus with Andover Theological Seminary, a Congregationalist school with a similar educational program and focus. Then in 1965 the two schools merged to form Andover Newton Theological School. In 2017 A.N.T.S. merged with Yale Divinity School.
Colby Hall. Image by John Phelan - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15180947
Bricks and Mortar
Newton was an ideal location for the seminary. Located on a rail line, eight miles from downtown Boston, it allowed students quick access to libraries and churches in the city. The 85-acre campus crowned the highest point in Newton. Farwell Hall was completed in 1829. The three-story Brick structure measured 85 x 49 feet, containing 36 rooms. After a fourth floor with a Mansard roof was added in 1857, Farwell Hall became a dormitory, housing 46 students.
Colby Hall and Chapel were added in 1866. This 74 x 42 feet, three-story brick structure had a Mansard roof and a distinctive four-story tower. In addition to library materials, it contained the lecture and recitation rooms.
Sturdevant Hall (1873) housed 36 students, also containing the kitchen/dining hall for the student boarding club. All library stacks, originally found in Farwell or Colby, were moved to Hill Library in 1895.
In 2015 the campus was sold. Colby Hall is now home to the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. Farwell Hall houses an assisted care facility. Campus buildings are now part of the Newton Theological Institution Historic District, designated in 1986.
Sports.
An article in the initial Newtonian expressed concerns that however well the school prepared its students intellectually and spiritually, it was doing little to prepare them physically for a life of ministry. So, it is doubtful that N.T.I. supported a regular sports program. The Newtonian lists a manager and a captain of the baseball team, but I was unable to find a record of any games played. College Football Data Warehouse shows one game in 1900—a 6-0 loss to Bates College.
However, N.T.I. attracted at least two highly decorated athletes. W. W. “Billy” Bustard (Brown, 1895; N.T.I.,1895-98) was captain and first baseman for a Brown team that defeated Harvard three times and played against the Boston Nationals in 1894. While a seminary student, he played baseball with Newton Athletic Club, continuing his mastery over Harvard. Tom Bruce (Bates, 1898; N.T.I. 1898-1901) playing guard on two undefeated Bates football teams in 1897-98. In the 1898 Bates Field Day, he won three events and placed in the top three in four other events. He captained and played guard on the 1900 N.T.I football team that played against Bates. Ordained in Boston in 1901, he served as a school principal in North Carolina and Virginia until his death in 1913.
Thomas Bruce as a senior at Bates College. Image courtesy of Maine State Museum.
Note—Images are used in accordance with their terms of use as I understand those terms. Recopying or reproducing these images may be restricted or forbidden.