Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1869-12-11
U%NIVEasITT o. TnB soUTH.

~ 4e GAAABy eAA AaANy " tue
DiOceses Of North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, FlOri-
do, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas,
Tennessee, and in Arkansas
DEAR BRETHREN: At the an
nual meeting Of the Trustees Of
the University Of the South in
August last, the undersigned we're
appointed a committee to address
you on the subject ofthe Offering
on the Sd Sunday in Advent, and,
to urge its collection in every Par
ish and Congregation in the
South.
You may remember that the
plan Of an annual offering was
adopted by the Trustees at the
meeting oflast year, and soon af-
ter commended to you by the ten
Bishops, who are ex.olicio Trus-
:. tees), in a Pastoral Letter. For
various reasons but few Parishes
responded, and very little was
given. The hope is earnestly
cherished, that this may not be the
case again.
A brief statement Of the wants,
condition and claims of the Uni
versity must suffice for our pre-
sent purpose. The Junior De-
partment was opened in Septem-
Der, 1868. The close of the first
year found the number Of slut
dents (nearly one hundred), too
large for the accommodations pro-
vided. In view of this state OF
things--a measure Of success un-
exampled in any similar undertake
ing-Ihe Board, at its last meet
ing appointed a special agent, the
Rev. 0. P. Thackara, Of Florida,
to raise, by personal effort in our
Parishes, at least twenty-five thou
sand dollars for the erection Of adj
ditional boarding houses and q
building for the Grammar School,
to be ready il possible, by the
opening of the Lent Term, in
February next. Mr.. Thackara has
consented, though at much sacri-
fee, to undertake the work. He
lie eminently fitted for it, and earn
estly commended to you in its
prosecution. The object of his
mission, however, is entirely dis
tinct from the "annual University
Offering" which is 10 continue
from year TO year, TO assist in the
gradual development Of this cen.
trail educational School Of the
Church in our midst. Through
this, the channel of our parochiaI
offerings in every place, 1t is de.
signed 10 give all our people an
opportunity for systematic con
tribution to an object which ought
to be dear to their hearts and il
this way, as well as by information
thus annually impaired, to interest
them the more in its progress.
A self. supporting point hal
been reached rs to the salaries o
the Professors. Beyond this tn,
receipts from tuition can scarcely
be expected to go. To provide
for permanent College buildings
the necessary apparatus in every
department CONSTRUCTION, and tn
purchase OF books for the Librar,
(now numbering over 1000 vol
umes,) funds must be raised from
other sources. Muni6cent en-
dowments and requests by indi
viduals will doubtless come in thu
course of time to the aid of thu
University" But upon thes,
We can not rely to meet the press
ing necessities Of its early growtl
which have been mentioned. l
is rather 10 u steady stream o
contribution from the members
and friends ofthe Church through
out our borders that we must loci
and on this we hopefully u d con
filently rely. To this end tn,
plan Of the advent Offering
was proposed and adopted
Whether large or small in an,
place, it will nevertheless help Il
swell the general amount which
is now, and will continue t
be, so much needed. OF tn
original subscription of abou
four hundred thousand do
lars, but little we fear, can now b
collected. No State endowmen
can come to our aid. Our breth
rem in other portions of the Ian,
have their own work to encouI
age and support. We must there
fore Of necessity rely to 4 greo
extent upon our people, thei
common obligation in this i'm
portant behalf will be met in al
nually increasing measure.
The general plan of the Univel
sity, as embodied in the COnstitl
ton and Statuets, was intended t
combine the best features Of thos
great Schools of Learning in tn
old world which have so Ion
aourished, as well as of the be-
in our own country. And in il
religious aspect at least, as it
developed with time and amp
endowments, it will doubles mar
q new era in the history Of AmeI
lean University education. Thong
now 10 its infancy, the Faculty