Charles Lewis Cocke Part 8

_Trustees_

Two of the original Trustees of Hollins stand out particularly as notable for long service and devotion.

[Ill.u.s.tration: JOHN HOLLINS]

_Mr. William A. Miller_

This venerable and delightful gentleman was born in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, in March, 1824, and is now in his ninety-seventh year. This summer of 1920, he is in fair health, and goes daily to his place of business in Lynchburg, where most of his life has been spent. His whole career has been one of stainless virtue and lofty Christian character.

His first meeting with the Trustees of Hollins was on July 5th, 1855; his last was in February, 1900, making a term of forty-five years. He was always high in the esteem of Mr. c.o.c.ke. He recently explained in humorous way, that his long term of life was due to long teaching in Baptist Sunday Schools. This got into the papers, and he has received letters from all over the country, and some from people in other countries, asking his methods of teaching the lessons. A halo of honor is on his head, and thousands of friends wish him long life.

_Colonel George P. Tayloe_

On the 18th of April, 1897, this splendid citizen of Roanoke, Virginia, this strong and invaluable friend of Hollins Inst.i.tute, pa.s.sed away, in the ninety-third year of his age. He was the first-named Trustee on the Board of the Valley Union Seminary, in 1842. That position he held until the school took the name of Hollins Inst.i.tute. In 1857 he became President of the Board of Trustees, and as long as he lived, he held this office with distinction. In 1896 some members thought it expedient to elect another President, owing to Colonel Tayloe's frequent, enforced absence on account of sickness. Mr. c.o.c.ke objected, however, and the grand old man was re-elected. Before the next annual meeting he was no more.

Mr. William A. Miller has this to say of his comrade: "Colonel Tayloe was a gentleman in every sense of the word, and was often consulted by Mr. c.o.c.ke. He seemed to feel himself a part of Hollins and was almost like the right arm of the President."

Mr. c.o.c.ke himself, in giving a brief history of the Inst.i.tution, in 1896, said, "I cannot close this sketch without a tribute to one who well deserves to be mentioned on this occasion. The Hon. George P.

Tayloe, of this County, a gentleman of wealth and exalted social station, was the administrator of the estate which held possession of the property at the time the purchase was made for educational purposes.

He not only heartily approved of the establishment of the school and gave liberally to its funds, but he gave his personal influence and more than all, he indulged the Trustees in the payments due the estate, to the utmost limits of the law, refusing to accept offers made by others, until he finally secured the property to its present owners, thus enabling the school to continue its high mission. For nearly the entire period of fifty years, he has held the Presidency of the Board of Trustees, and seldom has he been absent. When at any time during the history of the school, money had to be raised for any emergency, he was the first to subscribe and prompt to pay. His influence has contributed largely to its successful career."

The Inst.i.tution never had a more loyal friend, or a more generous and intelligent Trustee. Hollins and its community ought to wipe the opprobrious name of "Tinker" off the beautiful mountain, and replace it with the honorable and cherished name of "Tayloe."

_Mr. and Mrs. John Hollins_

Mr. and Mrs. Hollins lived at Lynchburg, Virginia, prosperous, highly respected and influential. Mr. Hollins was a man of superior worth and always responsive to the generous impulses of his intelligent wife. Her ancestors, the Halseys, came from England in 1623. One of these kinsmen was a member of the English Parliament, and another went to the United States Congress from New Jersey. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lynchburg, but her husband, on account of self-distrust, never joined. Mr. Hollins' gift of $5,000 in 1855 was by her inspiration. Her own later gifts, amounting to $12,500, a.s.sured the life of the Inst.i.tution. But for the Civil War, which destroyed most of her wealth, she would have given much more. They had no children. Mr.

Hollins was born February 11th, 1786, and died April 7th, 1859. Mrs.

Hollins was born in 1792 and died July 3rd, 1864. Both were buried in Spring Hill cemetery, at Lynchburg.

CHAPTER XI

HIS MONUMENT

The perpetual, unsatisfied longings of the Founder of Hollins projected plans and schemes whose completion had to be left to other hands. In his wise view, an Inst.i.tution completed was an Inst.i.tution already on the downward grade. The large, expansive life of the age requires continuous modifications and enlargements to meet the ever-springing exigencies of society. In his eighty-first year, amid the desolations of a triple bereavement, the aged hero sounded this note: "I will devote my energies to putting the Inst.i.tution on a permanent, broad basis, with facilities of all kinds to meet the advancing demands for such schools; for education of every kind throughout the South is on rising grade, and Virginia, like New England, may yet have a reputation for school facilities with scholarly men and women equal to those of any section of this broad and progressive land." This is the same clarion voice so familiar through two generations. Thus came from his lips the general program, committed to his successors for the following thirty years.

With no consciousness of the fact, he was providing his own monument which lives in the n.o.ble Hollins College of today.

When the Inst.i.tution pa.s.sed from the Trustees to Mr. c.o.c.ke, it became the charge of a Board of Governors, selected from the members of his own family. From that day, they have regarded as their precious inheritance the plans of his mind and the wishes of his heart. His principle of progress has been the guiding light of the Board of Governors and not for a moment have they forgotten that the pa.s.sionate desire of the Founder of the College was to make Hollins, in an ever increasing degree, a leader in the cause of the education of women.

What has been done during the nineteen years of the Board's control? It is impossible to visit Hollins without feeling that the memory of Mr.

c.o.c.ke and his influence equally abide. He, being dead, yet speaketh. At his death the Presidency of the college went to his daughter, Matty L.

c.o.c.ke, and the Chairmans.h.i.+p of the Board of Governors to his son, Lucian H. c.o.c.ke. The business affairs, so long and heroically managed by Charles Henry c.o.c.ke, are now entrusted to two of the Founder's grandsons: Marion Estes c.o.c.ke as Secretary and Treasurer, and Joseph Augustine Turner as General Manager.

[Ill.u.s.tration: HOLLINS COLLEGE]

The improvements on the grounds and buildings, and on the farm, have been many. A beautiful Library building, made possible by the Alumnae, was erected in 1908, as a memorial to Mr. c.o.c.ke. The Susanna Infirmary was built in 1911, as a memorial to Mrs. c.o.c.ke. In 1914, the Science Hall was built. Meanwhile important changes were being made in the courses of study. The curriculum was gradually enlarged, and eight years after the Founder's death, the inst.i.tution was standardized on the basis of a four years college course. When this change was recognized in a new charter from the legislature of Virginia, the name "Hollins Inst.i.tute"

gave place to that of "Hollins College."

The realization of the Founder's dream is an endless process, and the motto will ever be, "Forward and Upward." In the very atmosphere of the place, the sensitive soul feels a brooding presence. The trees on the campus, nearly all of which he planted, seem to whisper the revered name. His Ideal lives, and his Spirit interfuses all. His monument is building still. Let it go s.h.i.+ning down the centuries!