come down to us. The first schedule of expenses was as follows:
Tuition fee for session of ten months, . . . . $30 00
Board (meals only), . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 00
Bedding and washing, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 00
Fuel,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 00
Lights,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 00
Deposit fee, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 00
Total, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$120 00
The first meeting of the Board of Trustees after the opening was held
February 5, 1833.
At this meeting the following communication from the Georgia Conference
Was received:
"LAGRANGE, Ga.
"We feel a deep interest in the success of Randolph-Macon College. We
have full confidence in its moral and literary character and prospects,
and we will recommend it to the patronage of all who may be disposed to
send their sons or wards beyond the limits of the State to be educated.
"We will appoint four Trustees agreeable to the proposal made by Brother
Early, the Agent of the College, who visited us. Whereupon the
Conference nominated the Rev. Ignatius Few and Rev. Lovick Pierce,
members of the Conference, and Seaborn Jones and John C. Poythress,
Esquires, for that purpose.
"_Resolved_, That the Trustees of Randolph-Macon College be invited
through their representative, the Rev. John Early, to send an agent,
whenever they may judge it most suitable, to obtain donations within the
Conference in aid of the institution; and that Brother Early be, and he
is hereby, invited to take up contributions.
"(Signed) JNO. HOWARD,
"_Sec'y Georgia Conference_."
The nominees named above were elected Trustees of the College.
Rev. I. A. Few and Rev. L. Pierce were, by resolution of the Board,
requested to act as agents for the College in the Boards of the Georgia
Conference for securing funds for the College.
Rev. Robert G. Loving, A. B., was elected assistant teacher in the
Preparatory School.
Rev. John Early was appointed Agent for the College in the place of Rev.
H. G. Leigh, resigned, and Rev. W. A. Smith was appointed Assistant
Agent in place of Rev. William Hammett who had signified his intention
to resign.
The salary of President Olin was fixed at $1,500.
The first report of the Faculty, made through its Secretary, Prof.
Garland, gave the following points of interest:
Though the session opened under many difficulties and embarrassments,
with buildings not entirely completed, still great satisfaction was
expressed at the success attained, and at the spirit and character of
the students who attended the first term. A number of these were from
the States of North and South Carolina and Georgia. The progress made
in the College course had been marked and satisfactory. The main
drawback had been in some cases a want of preparation for the course.
The Faculty made a strong appeal for apparatus for the Natural Science
Department and for a library. In response to this appeal, the Board made
an appropriation of $2,600 to the former and $1,000 to the latter.
The first session closed July 4, 1833. At the close Rev. William M.
Wightman, one of the trustees from South Carolina, delivered the first
literary address before the students and the public, at the request of
the Washington Literary Society. This Society had been organized
February, 1833. As it has been one of the main features of the College,
along with its sister society, the Franklin, it will be interesting to
give the names of its officers and members from the original records:
_President_, ROBERT T. MARSHALL, Virginia.
_Vice-President_, THOMAS ADAMS, Virginia.
_Secretary_, JOHN G. PARKS, Virginia.
_Treasurer_, ADDISON LEA, North Carolina.
_Collector_, ISAAC C. CROFT, South Carolina.
_Censor_, J. G. BANKS, Virginia.
_Members_.
ADAMS, R. E. G., . . . . Va.
BAIRD, CHARLES W., . . . Va.
BLACKWELL, THOMAS, . . . Va.
COLEMAN, J. J., . . . . Va.
GOODE, ROBERT S., . . . Va.
HAMLIN, JOHN F., . . . . Va.
INGRAM, ROBT. M., . . . N. C.
ISBELL, THOMAS M., . . . Va.
JONES, JAMES R., . . . . Va.
JONES, ROBERT T., . . . Va.
PRICE, NATHANIEL S., . . Va.
SOMERVILLE, R. B., . . . N. C.
SMITH, WILLIAM B., . . . Va.
TUCKER, JOHN E., . . . . Va.
WATKINS, J. W.,. . . . . Va.
WILLIAMSON, JAMES J.,. . Va.
WILLIAMS, JAMES M.,. . . Va.
WINFIELD, JOHN O., . . . Va.
WINFIELD, W. S., . . . . Va.
Immediately after the organization the following were introduced and
made members:
BLAIN, GEO. W.,. . . . . Va.
BURNEY, JAMES, . . . . . N. C.
CALDWELL, JOHN H., . . . N. C.
CUTLER, ROBERT E., . . . Va.
DORRELL, AUGUSTUS, . . . S. C.
DRINKARD, W. R., . . . . Va.
DU PRE, WARREN,. . . . . S. C.
GAYLE, ALEX. T., . . . . Va.
GUNN, ALLEN M.,. . . . . N. C.
JENNINGS, JONA. B.,. . . S. C.
LYNCH, MONTGOMERY, . . . Va.
OWEN, WASHINGTON A., . . Va.
PERKINS, J. Q. A., . . . N. C.
STEWART, THEO.,. . . . . Ga.
STRATTON, R. B., . . . . Va.
To this Society was assigned the northeast room on the fourth floor of
the centre building. One of the first acts of the Society was the
formation of a library, which rapidly increased, and in ten years
numbered two thousand volumes.
Not only did the society rapidly accumulate a library, but the hall was
fitted up with a beautiful rostrum, president's chair, etc. A full
length portrait of Washington was purchased, which to this day is the
chief ornament of the hall.
Professor Warren Du Pre, class of 1836, one of the original members, who
was a member when this portrait was bought, wrote an account of the
inauguration of it to the author, which is worthy of preservation.
"MARTHA WASHINGTON COLLEGE,
"ABINGDON, VA., _May 30 1877_.
"MY DEAR OLD COLLEGE FRIEND: I have forgotten the name of the artist, a
rising young man in New York, who copied it from a painting belonging to
a wealthy gentleman of that city. Dr. Olin was on a visit to New York,
and we put the matter in his hands. The artist was very highly
recommended to him by good judges. His price was $600, but when
informed by Dr. Olin that it was for a college literary society, he
agreed to deduct one half. The frame, I think, cost $60, and freight
about $20, making a total of $380.
"Dr. Olin scolded us for our extravagance, but when the portrait was
finished, moderated his wrath. The amount was raised by subscription,
altogether, among the members of the society--we numbered then over
sixty members, as well as I can recollect. I. C. Croft and myself were
on the committee, with one other, probably, J. O. Wingfield.
"When the portrait arrived and was placed in the hall, old John
Blackwell, with his _horse-collar_ legs (as Croft called them) was
appointed to unveil it and make a speech. This he did in his peculiar
style; and I think Old George was pleased with the eulogy delivered on
him.
"Yours truly,
"WARREN DU PRE."
Rev. John Early, who had been appointed to visit the Baltimore Annual
Conference of the M. E. Church, reported to the Board that the
Conference had declined to cooperate in the College enterprise, with
kind expressions of interest in it. Dickinson College had recently been
made a Methodist College, and the Conference preferred to patronize
that, it being more accessible to their people.
The charter of the College having been amended, so that a president of
the Board could be elected by that body, Rev. John Early was elected
President.
The following resolution was unanimously adopted by the Board:
"The Board take great pleasure in giving a cordial expression of their
thanks to the Faculty of this institution for the very able and faithful
manner in which they have discharged the duties of their several
stations. We consider them as having acted on the great principles on
which the College was founded, and upon the continuance of which its
prosperity in the future depends; and we have full confidence in their
ability and disposition to support these principles in their future
administration, and they are therefore worthy of the same confidence
from the numerous friends and patrons of the College and the warm
affection of the young gentlemen who may be placed under their care.
"It is the pleasure of the Board that these resolutions be read to the
students of the College."
The second session of the College opened September 4, 1833, under
favorable circumstances. A laboratory and library had been purchased,
and the latter had been increased by donations. Bishop J. O. Andrew had
donated forty-three volumes, and Judge A. B. Longstreet thirty.
A few days after the session opened another literary society was formed.
It was first styled the Union Literary Society, but on the 7th of
September, at the next meeting, the name was changed to Franklin. At the
organization George Stewart, of Georgia, presided, and William C.
Knight, of Virginia, acted as secretary. The following constituted its
first regular organization:
_President_, JAMES L. BROWN, Virginia.
_Vice-President_, JOHN A. TALLEY, Virginia.
_Secretary_, GEORGE STEWART, Georgia.
_Treasurer_, THOMAS S. JACOCKS, North Carolina.
_Collector_, JOSEPH B. PANNILL, Virginia.
_Censor_, FRANCIS W. BOYD, Virginia.
_Members_.
BATTE, W. C.,. . . . . . Va.
BETTS, WILLIAM S., . . . Va.
BLAKE, CHARLES H., . . . Va.
BLAND, WILLIAM R., . . . Va.
BLUNT, WALTER F.,. . . . Va.
BOISSEAU, GEORGE F., . . Va.
CARROLL, JAMES . . . . . Va.
CLAIBORNE, FIELD,. . . . Va.
CLEGG, BAXTER, . . . . . N. C.
CLEMMONS, JUNIUS L., . . N. C.
DAVIS, ARTHUR, . . . . . Va.
DORTCH, ISAAC F.,. . . . N. C.
DRINKARD, WILLIAM R.,. . Va.
EVANS, AUGUSTUS C.,. . . N. C.
HICKS, BENJAMIN L.,. . . Va.
HITE, BENJAMIN W., . . . Va.
JEFFRESS, LUTHER C., . . Va.
JONES, ALBERT C.,. . . . Va.
JONES, AMOS W.,. . . . . N. C.
JONES, JOHN J.,. . . . . N. C.
JONES, JOSEPH S.,. . . . N. C.
KNIGHT, WILLIAM C.,. . . Va.
MULLEN, FRANCES N.,. . . N. C.
OLDS, LEWIS P.,. . . . . N. C.
PERKINS, NATHAN, . . . . N. C.
ROSE, GARLAND, . . . . . Va.
STEDMAN, EDWARD, . . . . N. C.
STOCKWELL, JOHN M.,. . . Va.
TILLETT, JOHN, . . . . . N. C.
WILLIAMS, SOLOMON P.,. . N. C.
[Illustration: [Uncaptioned portrait of William C. Knight, inscribed
"Yours truly, W.C. Knight."]]
The Franklin Hall was immediately under the Washington, on the third
story. The rivalry between these societies was from the first strong,
but regulated by conventional rules. The membership took in every
student in the College at the beginning and for many years afterwards.
There was only one from Georgia for many years a member of the
Washington Society, and no one from South Carolina was ever a member of
the Franklin. Students from the other States were divided about
equally. Robert E. Cutler, of Virginia, gave tone to the oratorical
style of the Washington, and William F. Samford, of Georgia, to the
Franklin. The difference was thought to be observable for thirty years,
until the year the societies were temporarily disbanded.
No catalogue of students was published in the early years of the
College. The only publication made was "_The Charter and Laws of
Randolph-Macon College, with the Names of the Trustees and Faculty, and
the Course of Studies_. Richmond: Printed by Nesbitt & Walker. 1833."
This prescribed four courses in the College, viz., Languages (Latin and
Greek), Mathematics, Natural Science, and Ethics. Upon the completion of
these four courses the degree of _Bachelor of Arts_ was conferred by the
Trustees, on the recommendation of the Faculty. No A. M. degree course
was prescribed, but all A. B. men could claim A. M. degrees who could
show that they had continued their studies or pursued courses of
professional study for three years.
Dr. Stephen Olin, president-elect, gave up his place at Franklin
College, Georgia, December, 1833, and made his preparations to take the
presidency at Randolph-Macon. Of this move he wrote Bishop I. O. Andrew:
"Upon the whole, I trust the hand of God is in these indications, and
that our church will see and obey it. My vocation may have given a wrong
bias to my views, but I must regard the subject of education as the
highest after the living ministry; nor do I believe it possible for our
church to maintain its ground, to say nothing of its fulfilling its high
obligation to Christ and the world, without a great and immediate
reformation. I was never so convinced that we must educate our own youth
in our own schools, and there is no work to which I so desire to
consecrate myself." On his way to Virginia he visited the South Carolina
Conference at Charleston. Here he ably advocated the College and
secured a pledge from the Conference to endow a professorship, the first
we hear of endowment. The whole journey was made in his private
carriage, his wife accompanying him. To her he dictated his "Inaugural
Address," which she wrote out. Reaching the College after a long and
tedious journey, he delivered the address in the College chapel. This
address produced a profound impression on those who heard and on those
who read it. It was published in the journals of the day, and was highly
praised. Governor Tazewell said he had "never heard or read any similar
address of equal ability so well suited to such an occasion." It is well
worthy of republication in this history, but space will not permit. To
show its chief point, the following extracts are given:
"In proportion as virtue is more valuable than knowledge, pure and
enlightened morality will be regarded by every considerate father the
highest recommendation of a literary institution. The youth is withdrawn
from the salutary restraints of parental influence and authority and
committed to other guardians at a time of life most decisive of his
prospects and destinies. The period devoted to education usually
impresses its own character upon all his future history. Vigilant
supervision, employment and seclusion from all facilities and
temptations to vice are the ordinary and essential securities which
every institution of learning is bound to provide for the sacred
interests which are committed to its charge. But safeguards and negative
provisions are not sufficient. The tendencies of our nature are
retrograde, and they call for the interposition of positive remedial
influences. The most perfect human society speedily degenerates if the
active agencies which were employed in its elevation are once withdrawn
or suspended. What, then, can be expected of inexperienced youth sent
forth from the atmosphere of domestic piety and left to the single
support of its own untested and unsettled principles in the midst of
circumstances which often prove fatal to the most practiced virtue! I
frankly confess that I see no safety but in the preaching of the cross
and in a clear and unfaltering exhibition of the doctrines and sanctions
of Christianity.... Christianity is our birthright. It is the richest
inheritance bequeathed us by our noble fathers. Are the guardians of
public education alone 'halting between two opinions'? Do they think
that, in fact and for practical purposes, the truth of Christianity is
still a debatable question? Is it still a question whether the
generations yet to rise up and occupy the wide domain of this great
empire, to be representatives of our name, our freedom, and our glory
before the nations of the earth, shall be a Christian or infidel people?
Can wise and practical men, who are engaged in rearing up a temple of
learning to form the character and destinies of their posterity, for a
moment hesitate to make 'Jesus Christ the chief corner-stone'?"
When President Olin took charge of the College he found the system of
departments somewhat elective. This was changed on his recommendation,
to a curriculum of four classes, by the unanimous vote of the Faculty.
At the annual meeting of the Board, June, 1834, an additional college
building was ordered to be built, a four story brick one, to contain
thirty-two dormitories, adjacent to the main building. This was to
supply rooms for the increased number of students.
The salaries of full professors was fixed at $1,000. The following
resolution was adopted:
"That whereas the South Carolina and Georgia Conferences have manifested
a deep interest in the permanent establishment of Randolph-Macon College
by each agreeing to raise a sum sufficient to endow a professorship, and
in consideration of which professorships they ask the privilege of
sending, perpetually, the former Conference five and the latter seven
students, to be educated free of tuition fees; and whereas we highly
appreciate the generous spirit of said Conferences, therefore we hereby
agree to receive ten from each of these Conferences free of tuition
fees."
As further evidence of the interest felt by these Conferences, it was
noted that Rev. W. M. Wightman, of South Carolina, and Dr. Lovick Pierce
and Mr. E. Sinclair, of Georgia, attended the meeting of the Board at
this session.
At the annual meeting held June, 1835, Professor E. D. Sims was granted
leave to visit Europe to prosecute the study of Modern Languages, and
particularly Anglo-Saxon and Gothic, preparatory to the more thorough
teaching of the English language. This, so far as we know, was the first
move made by any college in America, and marks an epoch in that
department. Prof. J. B. Henneman, in the _Sewanee Review_, in a sketch
of the teaching of English, in American colleges, gives the credit of
inaugurating the English course to Randolph-Macon College.
A distinct and special effort was made at this meeting of the Board to
endow a professorship, and the President of the Board made a
subscription towards it of two hundred dollars. This was to be called
the Virginia Conference Scholarship.
To fill the vacancy caused by Prof. Sims' absence in Europe, Rev. George
F. Pierce, of Georgia, was elected Professor of Languages.
[Illustration: JOHN C. BLACKWELL, D. D., (A. B. 1835).]
At this commencement the first degree of A. B. was conferred. The
recipient was John C. Blackwell, of Lunenburg county. He was a typical
alumnus, the leader of a great host that followed him, who lived to
bless the world by their example and teaching. Beginning his active life
after graduation as a tutor in Randolph-Macon College, he continued to
teach until he became enfeebled by age. He founded the "Hinton Hill
Academy" in his native county, and taught there for nine years. He was
then, in 1848, elected President of the "Buckingham Female Institute," a
school for girls, founded by the Virginia Annual Conference, one of the
best, as it was the first, built by the church, in the State. He was,
after this school was broken up by the war, made President of the
Petersburg Female College. This, too, was broken up by the war. After
the war he was elected Professor of Chemistry in Randolph-Macon College,
just prior to the removal of the College to Ashland. He closed a long
and useful life as President of the "Danville School for Young Ladies."
During all his active life he was a local minister of the Methodist
Episcopal church, and preached as he had opportunity. He received the
degree of Doctor of Divinity from his Alma Mater. The number of young
people brought into the church through his instruinentality have been
counted by the hundred. The first to receive a degree, he was the first
alumnus to have a son and a grandson to receive the same. He died
February 1, 1885. He was elected tutor in the College June, 1835.
Changes had occurred during the year. Fisher A. Foster had been elected
Principal of the Preparatory School in place of Lorenzo Lea. Rev. Jno.
A. Miller and Rev. John Kerr had been elected assistant agents in place
of Rev. W. A. Smith and Rev. Thos. Crowder. The Treasurer, John W.
Lewis, had died during the year: Beverly Sydnor was elected in his
place. Bishop J. O. Andrew was elected a Trustee in place of Major
Speer, of South Carolina: Hugh A. Harland in place of J. W. Lewis,
deceased, and M. M. Dance in place of Green Penn, resigned.
COLLEGE YEAR 1835-1836
This year was successful under the guidance of President Olin, who was
still in feeble health.
[Illustration: REV. ALFRED T. MANN, A. B., D. D. _An Effective Minister
in the Georgia Conference Sixty Years Ago._]
Prof. M. P. Parks resigned at the close of the session; Prof. Garland
was transferred from the chair of Natural Science to fill the vacancy
thus made. Robert Tolfree, of New York, took Prof. Garland's chair. Rev.
Mr. Tomlinson was elected to the chair of English Literature.
The degree of A. B. was conferred June, 1836, on the following
graduates: John O. Winfield, Virginia; Addison Lea, North Carolina;
Robert S. Goode, Virginia; Charles W. Baird, Virginia; Alfred T. Mann,
Georgia; Thomas M. Isbell, Virginia.
So feeble had the health of Dr. Olin become that he asked, in June,
1836, leave of absence to visit Europe, which was granted with great
reluctance by the Board.
The following quotation from the _Life and Letters of President Olin_ is
given as a closing reference to his presidency. He saw the College for
the last time March, 1837:
"The last Commencement at which Dr. Olin presided during his connection
with Randolph-Macon College was in June, 1836....
"The conviction grew upon him, from many unmistakable indications, that
his health must rapidly break up, unless a year or two of retirement
from intellectual labor and all kinds of mental excitement, and devoted
to foreign travel, should, under the blessing of God, restore him. The
return of cool weather in the autumn and approaching winter failed to
recruit his shattered nerves or restore his health. His course was then
at once decided on. After making several ineffectual efforts to have his
place supplied, he consented, at the earnest wish of the Board of
Trustees, to retain at least a formal connection with the College while
in Europe, leaving the future, then so uncertain, open to the
indications of Providence. To supply the vacancy in the Faculty, an
additional officer was elected, and Professor Garland was appointed
chairman of the Faculty and president _pro tempore_....
"The day of his departure came. His last interview with the Faculty was
very touching. He was too feeble to sit up, but, reclining on a couch,
he spent some half-hour in conversation respecting the affairs of the
College. He felt satisfied, from the lengthened experiment he had made,
that there was little or no hope of his being able to do efficient labor
in a Southern climate, even though his health might be improved somewhat
by his contemplated voyage. Although the Board of Trustees had declined
to accept his resignation, and had given him as long a furlough as the
exigencies of his health might require, yet he was persuaded that the
time of his final departure from Randolph-Macon had come. It was very
doubtful whether he should ever again see the face of any of his
colleagues. His parting words had all the tenderness and dignity of a
Christian who bowed with uncomplaining submission to the will of God--of
a philosopher who looked calmly at the future, whatever its developments
might be, whether bright or dark--of a friend who was about to carry
with him the warm attachments of a heart alive to every generous
sentiment and affectionate impulse. At the close of the interview his
brother officers, with moistened eyes, knelt around his couch, and
Professor Wightman, at his request, offered up a fervent prayer to the
throne of the heavenly mercy, that God would graciously preserve in his
holy keeping the life of their brother and friend, restore his health,
and bring him back to his native land, prepared for greater usefulness
than ever to the church and cause of Christ.