History of Randolph-Macon College, Virginia Part 18

The changes in the Faculty this year were the resignation of a.s.sistant Professor Samuel Lander, whose place was not filled, and the subst.i.tution of Charles W. Crawley, Princ.i.p.al of the Preparatory School for Thomas A. Gatch, resigned.

In June, 1857, Professor Charles B. Stuart resigned the Chair of Chemistry and Geology, and Professor N. T. Lupton succeeded him.

Professor O. H. P. Corprew at same time resigned the Chair of Ancient Languages, and Professor William B. Carr succeeded him.

The degrees conferred June, 1857, were--

A. B.

GEORGE W. ARMISTEAD, Va.

WILLIAM I. COWLES, Va.

RICHARD W. JONES, Va.

JOSEPH E. LEIGH, Va.

EDWIN G. MOORE, N. C.

WILBUR F. DAVIS, N. C.

JOHN B. WILLIAMS, N. C.

WILLIAM W. PENNY, Mo.

WILLIAM A. SHEPARD, Ma.s.s.

A. M.

WILLIAM G. CONNOR, Tenn.

L. O. RIVES, Tenn.

GARLAND B. HANES, Va.

THAD. L. H. YOUNG, Va.

JESSE P. BAGBY, N. C.

ADOLPHUS W. MANGUM, N. C.

SAMUEL MOORE, Va.

THOMAS C. ELDER, Va.

THOMAS C. THACKSTON, Va.

WILLIAM H. CHEEK, N. C.

Number of students during the session, 144, including those at the Preparatory School (34).

The worst blizzard ever known in Virginia occurred in January, 1857; thermometer ten degrees below zero. Some suffering in the College for want of fuel.

COLLEGE YEAR 1857-'58.

This year was reasonably prosperous. Some dissatisfaction was expressed in the president's annual report on account of salaries.

[Ill.u.s.tration: RICHARD W. JONES, A. M., LL. D., _Major C. S. A.; President Mississippi Industrial Inst.i.tute; Professor Mississippi University and Randolph-Macon College._]

In June, 1858, Prof. Lupton resigned the chair of Chemistry and Geology, which was subsequently supplied by the election of Prof. Bennett Puryear, of Richmond College.

Dr. W. A. Smith again tendered his resignation, for reasons personal to himself. At the urgent solicitation of the students, the Alumni Society, and the Board, he withdrew his resignation.

[Ill.u.s.tration: REV. RICHARD FERGUSON, _Virginia; Adjutant Eighteenth Va. Regiment._]

Degrees were conferred as follows:

A. B.

BENJAMIN H. THACKSTON, Va.

RICHARD FERGUSON, Va.

VICTOR M. BRANDON, Va.

RICHARD B. HOLSTEAD, Va.

ROBERT S. ISBELL, Va.

ALEX. MALLORY, Va.

ROBERT MOORE, Va.

CLAUDIUS G. PHILLIPS, Va.

PITTMAN R. VENABLE, Va.

RICHARD O. WYATT, Va.

B. L. AND S.

WALTER M. IRBY, Virginia.

A. M.

GEORGE E. BOOKER, Va.

PETER A. MOSES, Ark.

THOMAS A. GATCH, Va.

ROBERT N. SLEDD, Va.

JAMES C. HANES, Va.

Prof. JOHN C. WILLS (Honorary), Randolph-Macon College.

Students in College this session, 109; in Preparatory School, 16-total, 125.

THE ENDOWMENT RAISED TO $100,000.

At a called meeting of the Board December 27, 1858, the following action was taken:

"The Board, being satisfied, from an examination of the bonds and subscriptions obtained by the agent, that the endowment fund of the College, in bonds, cash, and valid subscriptions, has been raised to and above one hundred thousand dollars; therefore be it

"_Resolved_, That the following notice be given through the newspapers of the State, viz.: 'By order of the Board of Trustees of Randolph-Macon College, at a meeting held this day, notice is hereby given to those persons who have contributed by bonds and subscriptions to increase the endowment of the College that the said fund has been raised to the amount of one hundred thousand dollars in bonds, cash, and valid subscriptions, that their obligations have become absolute, and it is hoped that they will discharge them, in order that the money may be invested in permanent form as soon as practicable.'"

The herculean task of raising the largest endowment fund ever contributed to any college in Virginia or in the South up to this date by public subscription was thus confirmed. When it is considered that the larger part of this amount was contributed by individuals in sums ranging from five to one thousand dollars (the latter sum the largest contributed by one subscriber), the immense labor and difficulties of the undertaking may be, to some extent, estimated. But the large number of subscribers evidenced one gratifying fact, that after the subject of education had been ventilated in ma.s.s-meetings, the people had become interested in Christian education, and had given practical proof of that interest.

[Ill.u.s.tration: HENRY B. COWLES, _Virginia Conference; Agent Randolph-Macon College._]

The friends of the College were jubilant over this great event, which seemed to insure new life and energy to the College, the subject of so many hopes and prayers. The three great moving and active agents in consummating the work--President W. A. Smith, Dr. Leroy M. Lee, and Agent Rev. Henry B. Cowles--are worthy of all honor, and their names should be handed down to succeeding generations as the benefactors of their State and church.

At the commencement, June, 1859, there was a large re-union of the Alumni of Randolph-Macon to rejoice over the endowment secured and to consult together about the interests of the College. Prominent among those present were Rev. President John C. Blackwell, the oldest alumnus; Rev. Holland N. McTyeire, D. D., editor of the _Nashville Christian Advocate_; Rev. James A. Duncan, Hon. Thomas H. Campbell, etc. A banquet of the Society was held, which was attended by many of its members and invited guests. The Society of Alumni adopted the following preamble and resolutions:

"Whereas the Bible, as the word of G.o.d, contains the highest wisdom as well as the highest truth; and whereas it is the oldest as well as the best of books, and bears a vital relation to literature and civilization as well as to religion; and whereas a knowledge of its teachings and the history of those religious opinions and inst.i.tutions which have exercised a controlling influence upon the character and destiny of mankind is necessary to a broad, liberal and complete education; therefore,

"_Resolved_, 1. That the Bible, as a text-book, ought to occupy a central place in education, as it does in morals.