Southern telegraph., 1838-04-17

fearful that it was premature, and II "Ouiu
probably have been abandoned ns nope.
less enterprise. Mt least for tho present, mao
il not met with the able and Jealous sup.
por, of the present Secretary OF the BOARD
Of Trustees. His exerions and his 'nIi
encc, aided by the greater experience ana
the no less perseyerlng cndeavors OF INC
highly respected President oi this ins''tu-
ton. iriumphed over the doubts OF The lrres-
olutc and timid, and secured favorab'e
result. A resolution was passed INA. an
effort should be made to establish an insli-
tuition of learning; and committees were
appointed to solicit funds, to seiec' loca''ohS'
to draft laws, and present The whole matter |
to the next meeting cf the Prcsbytery.
This was held ut pisgah, Pike county, hprii
9th. 1890. when the whole matter was deii-
nitely acted upon and adopted; laws were
passed, the present location WIS ixen, aha
IL Board of Trustees was ch 'scn, CONSISTING
of twelve members. AT the same time, me
Rev. JEREMIAH CHAMBERLAIN, -. -. was
appointed President, with power to seiccl
his assistant.
Thus, in about year from the PERIOD
when the subject was first proposed, the
foundation Of this Institution was laid II
was considered as II bold and doubtful un-
dertaking; the past afforded no encourage
ment-tho future nothing bat uncertainty.
The work Of Christian philanthropy, It
made no lofty and cxtravagant pretentlons,
but relied upon the iberality Of It's friends,
and the Judgment Of an impartial public, to
sustain il. 1t was now 10 take its stand as
an Institution of learning. Its friends were
few, and its means were far from being ann
pie; yet they hoped, by patient and un-
wcaried exertion, by prudent and Discreet
management, and bv atf,rding the best OPP
portuniiies of instruction in their power, TO
render it worthy of public confidence and
patronage. Its objects, see laws. ;.
| The first session closed on the 18th OF
September, 1880, with twenty-five s'ndents,
| most Of whom were engaged il the minor
branches of education. About this time, a
liberal donation of go acres Of land was
made bv the late Robert Cochran, and mea-
sures were taken to erect suitable buildings
upon it. On the 10th of November, of the
same year. the Board Of Trustees applied
to the Legislature of the State for charter,
which wis obtained on the Bird Of December
following, with the name of an Institution
of Learning, under the care of the Missis-
sippi Prcsbytery, with power to change the
name; and, accordingly, on the 4th OF Feb
r,,ary, 1892. it was changed to that Of
Oakland College" Hitherto, the means
which had been literally contributed by a
few individuals, had been appropriated to
The erection Of buildings for the purposes OF
instruction and the accommodation of the
students anj it now became an object of
great Importance, not only to increase the
amount of the building fund, but also to Gre
ate permanent fund which should give
stability . the Institution, and enlarge Its
means of usefulness. In March, 1881
therefore, subscription was opened at
Natbhez,and $4,000 were obtained, (which,
with sum previously subscribed by the
ministers Of Presbytery, amounted to about
! S25 900. In less than five years the a
mount subscribed to the permanent fund ex-
ceeded S5O,OOO, which was intended AS
the minimum endowment. Since then, il
has been gradually increased, and at this
time may be computed at about SS0,Ou0.
And here | may be permitted to remark,
that such unexampled liberality on the
of the friends of education aud the pub
lie generally, while it affords crafty
ing evidence Of increasing confidence and
interest IN the Institution, has awaken
ed "a feeling Of high responsibility ir the
minds of the Trustees and Faculty They
feel conscious of the great trust which has
been committed to their hands, and that
they owe solemn accountability for faith
full performance of their duties, not to the
public only, but to future generations: and
not to them only, but to Him who is the
fountain Of all wisdom and the Parent of
all.
During few succeeding years, nothing
worthy of particular remark occurred in
the progress Of our Institution. New build
,nss were every year erected to meet It's
| wants; almost every session closed with an
augmented number Of students; and its
friends felt encouraged to engage with in
creased ardor and energy in its support
| The first public commencement was held in
| August, 1888, and JAMES Nj. SMy1LE, who
was the first graduate of the College, re-
ceived the Degree of Bachelor of Arts.
Since that period, nine other young gentle
men have received the same degree, VIZ: :
four in '35, three in '35, and two in '37;
to which may be added five more, who. it
Is expected, will receive the degree at the
approaching commencement These &C.
cisions have usually attracted numerous
attendance of persons interested in the
cause OF education; and the exercises have
L.. A. e.