History of Randolph-Macon College, Virginia Part 14

"There were many traditions in my day of giants who had been at old Randolph-Macon. They told how Dr. Olin, the first President, a man of great head and heart, would send for an idle or offending student, place his feet on the chair where the delinquent sat so as to hold him, a close prisoner, and talk to him faithfully, yet tenderly, until with burning cheeks and floods of tears the youth promised never again to offend. It was a memorable event when the great man preached; solid thought in vast ma.s.ses was driven to the mark with resistless power.

There was a story of an eloquent and mighty sermon from Dr. Lovick Pierce, of Georgia, from a text which astonished every listener: 'Let him that stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.' There were glowing reports of the wonderful pathos and power of Russell, of Georgia; how he melted the cold, stone hearts of the Faculty, who were bent on sending him home, but they had all their resolves converted into admiration and sympathy for the youth who pleaded eloquently his own cause; how often he electrified his society.

It was my good fortune to see and hear him in the pulpit and on the platform, when he visited the College as Commencement orator."

During the session of 1847-'48, a man of more than ordinary distinction and talent became connected as Professor with the College, Rev. Charles Force Deems. He was a native of New Jersey, and a graduate of d.i.c.kinson College. In very early manhood he came to North Carolina to represent the American Bible Society in that State. He was there only a short time before he was elected to a chair at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. When Dr. Smith was elected President in November, 1846, he was elected Professor of Latin and Belles Lettres. He did not accept the chair at that time. In December, 1847, he did accept another, and the January following entered upon his duties as Professor of Chemistry. He remained that year and then returned to North Carolina, and entered on the regular work of an itinerant minister. It is not known why he so soon severed his connection with the College, for which he always to his latest day expressed an attachment, evidenced by more than one or two acts of interest and generosity. It is probable that there was little kindly feeling from some cause not known, or congeniality between him and the President of the College. This doubtless was the root of the bitter feud between him and Dr. Smith in after time, culminating in the alienation of many friends from each other and the North Carolina Conference from the College.

The portraits of the two now hang near together on the wall of the Trustees' room in the library, and it is hoped that all "bitterness and wrath" having been laid aside they together share the blessedness of heaven.

COLLEGE YEAR 1848-'49.

The report of the President and Faculty gives the following items for the year 1848-'49:

Students in College proper, 61; in Preparatory Schools, viz.: at the College, 51; Ridgway, N. C., 20; Garysburg, 40; Lowell, N. C., 21; Richlands, N. C., 20; in all, 213.

"The schools in North Carolina from the last quarterly returns are in a prosperous condition, and promise in reasonable time to operate as valuable auxiliaries."

Professor Deems resigned the chair about December, 1848. The vacancy was filled, or arranged to be filled, by Charles B. Stuart, of the cla.s.s of 1845, with the privilege extended to him to spend about a year at Yale College, where Agricultural and a.n.a.lytical Chemistry were made specialties. This arrangement was carried out.

At the meeting of the Board, June, 1849, a department of Agricultural Chemistry was provided for, to be in charge of Professor Stuart.

[Ill.u.s.tration: RICHARD W. LEIGH, _Major C. S. A.; killed at Murfreesboro, Tenn._]

The following degrees were conferred:

A. B.

JAMES A. DUNCAN, Va.

WILLIAM G. FOOTE, Miss.

JAMES W. JACKSON, Va.

RICHARD W. LEIGH, Va.

LEWIS MILLER, N. C.

R.S.F. PEETE, Va.

B. CRAVEN (Honorary), N. C.

A. M.

LUCIEN H. LOMAX, S. C.

EDWARD T. HARDY, Va.

O.H.P. CORPREW, Va.

FRANCIS X. FOSTER, S. C.

COLLEGE YEAR 1849-'50.

The attendance this year at the Home Schools was 134 (College, 62; Preparatory, 72). Improvement reported in general morals and habits of students.

Great financial embarra.s.sment reported, and urgent appeals for active measures to secure needed relief.

[Ill.u.s.tration: EDWIN E. PARHAM, A. M., _President of Warrenton, Petersburg, and Hampton Female Colleges._]

Early in the session of 1849-'50, Professor E. A. Blanch resigned the Chair of Mathematics on account of continued bad health. Professor John C. Wills, a distinguished graduate of the Virginia Military Inst.i.tute, was elected to fill the vacancy, and entered on his duties. He was a local minister in the Methodist Church, and a man of fine character and an accomplished teacher. The College was fortunate in securing such a man.

The Faculty now consisted of the following; Dr. Smith, President; Professors Duncan, Stuart, Wills, Corprew (Tutor), and Williams T. Davis at the Preparatory School near the College.

In June, 1850, they reported the Preparatory School as having done well, and the reception from it of twenty students for the next session, and four from the Ridgway Preparatory School. The school at Garysburg, N.

C., had been discontinued. The schools at Lowell, N. C., and Richlands, N. C., in successful operation and accomplis.h.i.+ng much good.

From the above it will be seen that the establishment of academies as feeders to the College was a fact accomplished before the late effort in 1889. They were all in North Carolina, and the subsequent alienation carried them away from the College with whatever patronage they were bringing to it.

Degrees were conferred as follows, June, 1850:

A. B.

EDWIN A. THOMPSON, N. C.

EDWIN E. PARHAM, Va.

EDWARD A. ADAMS, Va.

JOHN F. DANCE, Va.

WILLIAM A. BRAME, N. C.

ROBERT H. WINFIELD, Va.

BENJAMIN C. DREW, Va.

THOMAS F. FITZGERALD, Va.

A. M.

REV. N. F. REID (Hon'y), N. C.

BENNETT PURYEAR, Va.

COLLEGE YEAR 1850-'51.

Number of students reported this year: In College, 91; in Preparatory School, 62--total, 153.

The schools in North Carolina, except Ridgeway, prosperous.

The year was not satisfactory in the deportment of students generally, nor in finances.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PROF. WILLIAM T. DAVIS, _Princ.i.p.al Preparatory School._]

In June, 1851, the following degrees were conferred:

A. B.

WILLIAM H. CHRISTIAN, Va.

HUGH D. BRACEY, Va.

WILLIAM M. CRENSHAW, Va.

HENRY F. DRAKE, N. C.

ARMSTREAT E. FOWLKES, Va.

JOHN H. GUY, Va.

HEZEKIAH G. LEIGH, Jr., Va.

JOHN S. LONG, N. C.

JAMES O'HANLON, N. C.

JACOB M. PALMER, Va.