Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1846-11-19

a .lursn- has resi- OF ia loSton, did not til
,ba len Il ., TRANCE his people ffonIhim. Bat
lin Norsmbcr lSlT,r -ike invitaiion from
| 'Trapsvlvania was unanimously Tcnewed.
and with so mich authority, and ProHise,
aud rlauSibifity, that he WIS iudOCedto lis
len 10 the proposition, and TO undertake a
tourney IhiIher. On reaching Lexington,
he was welcomed with demonstrations OF Joy
by all. From in correspondence ii appears
that he was invited to preach in their sever
al puipiaS BY the Rev. MessTs. Nandeman,
(Baptist.) Wards (Epistopal,) McChord,
(PreShy lerian,) and also by the ministers OF
the Methodist and Associate Reformed
churches In one Of his letters he says:
This morning hreakfasted atsSIr, Clay's,
vhoIives a nils and 4 halfir from town. He
arrived here only threeossss before me. Ash
lana is very pleasant place, handsomer than
anticipated The grounds are beautiful, the
lawns and walks extensive ,the shrlIbbery lux
urient. and the garden we'll supplied The
native forest of ash in the rear adds charming
effect to the whole. After breakfast Mr.. Clay
;ode in with me, and we vert with the trustees
Of appointment, to the college, to visit the
professors and students. They were all col
lected in the largest hall to receive US. Imade
short address, which was received in kind
manner. was then conducted to the library,
the apparatus, and the recitation rooms. The
library is small and the apparatus smaller,
There is no regular division of students into
clrSses as in other colleges. and but few laws
Everything is to be done, and so much the bet
ter, as nothing is to be reformed, Almost the
whole is proposed to be left to me to arrange
am now making all necessary inquiries, and
meeting of the trustees is 10 be called next
week.
After remaining in the vicinity for several
weeks, informing himself of the state offeel-
ing which existed among the people, as we'll
as of the prospects of the institution, he, ON
the 18th of April, 1918, signifed his accep.
lance Of the invitation. He seems to have
regarded the new field before him with all
his wonted enthusiasm. In letter to Mrs.
Holley, after revertng to the love which he
bore to Hollis street Church, and his deter
mination to leave it, he adds, II shall
make sacrifice in many things, but l shall
do my duty, and if meet with success l.
will be glorious. | am not about to bury
| myself, or my talents, humble as they are,
| from an active and conspicuous sphere.
This whole western country is TO feed my
seminary, which will send out lawyers, ply
sicians clergymen, statesmen, poets, orators.
and SaranS, who will make the nation feel
them. 1t is great opening, and should
be pusalanimouS to shrink from il, on &C,
of the sacrifice / shall make in the refine
mentS of society, and the breaking up OF
connexions, however dear to my heart. The
course am pursuing is high and honora-
BILE one. entirely above the region Of clouds
and storms of sects, and in clear and pure
day. l breathe an atmosphere more agree
BILE to me in the large view that take, than
have breathed be fore"
Ii now only remained to break up his
connection in Boston. He Immediately in
formed his church and society of his decis-
ion, and returned home to make the ne
cessary preparations for removing his fam
lily 10 Kentucky. His farewell discourse,
which was a masterpiece of eloquence, drew
together an immense crowd Of listeners.
The large church, which had been erected
and consecrated for him, was not only filled,
but the entrance, the steps, and even part
ofthe street, were crowded with people--and
thousands were moved TO tears by the pathos
and POWER Of his eloquence.
In the autumn of 1915, Dr. Holley re-
moved to Lexington with his family, with
stipulated salary of $4,000 per annum, and
was indicted into Office on the 18TH Of De
cember of the same year. This act, as had
been anticipated, proved life-spring to the
institution. 1t was like the sun 10 vegeta-
ton, after the lapse of a dreary winter. Pu.
pills came in from every quarter, until in
numbers the institution was, in a few
months, highly respectable. But it will be
useless to follow DIR. Holley through the
nine years of his Presidency of TranSylva.
mia. Suffice it to say, that the institution
which, in 1918, was but little more than
grammar school, with but single class and
that of Insignificant numbers, grew and
fourished under his care, until, in 1924 and
'25 it numbered 400 students, divided into
the four college classes -with an elevated
standard of study, and high and growing
reputation. But subsequently to this period
the spirit of scctarianism set itself to work
against the University and its distinguish
ed head; in consequence of which DR..
Holley, feeling that his prospects of exten
ded usefulness were in a degree curtailed,
signiiied to The Trustees, in the spring of
1926, his intention to resign the Presidency
of the institution.
This step was regarded with deep regret
by the citizens Of Lexington and by the
friends of the University generally. Not
a few who had been hostile 10 him, express
ed readiness to unitein general request. |
that he would retain his station, declaring
that he should in future have their cordial
support. But their repentance came too late
Although. some months after writing it,
DR. Holley was induced to recall his letter |
to the Board, he carried his intended resig-
nation into effect in the spring of 1927.
On the 9th Of March, 1897, he left Lex
inglon, accompanied for considerable
distance by procession Of pupils, citizens,
and friends. On his arrival at New Or
leans he was waited upon by several dis
tinguished and wealthy citizens, with pro-
posal to establish for him College near
that city As soon as it was ascertained that
he regarded the plan with favor, subScrip-
ton was started for the object, which in
three or four weeks amounted to about ,hir-
ty Thousand dollars But the hot season
had now arrived. and DR.. Holley found his
health rapidly failing him. He, therefore,
resolved upon visit to his friends at the
North. and accordingly took passage, with
Mrs H) on board the ship Louisiana,
for New York. The remainder of our