The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-02-10
HAMPDEN SIDNEY COLLEGE.

While this venerable institution has never
been richly endowed, or attended by great
numbers of students, it has contributed
largely to theintellectual and spiritual wealth
of Virginia and the South. 1t has sent
forth an unusual proportion of ministers OF
the Gospel, now occupying positions of In
huence and usefulness in our Southern
Church. This has been owing in part to
the character of its Presidents and Profess
sors from its foundation to the present time,
and in part to its proximity to the Union
Theological Seminary.
The Presidents of the College have been
successfully as follows: Samuel Stanhope
Smith, Drury Lacy, (pro. tem,,) Archibald
Alexander, Moses Hoge, j. L. Gushing, D..
L. Carroll, P J. Sparrow, William Maxwell,
and J. NJ P. Atkinson. Among its teachers
were Conrad Specie and John H. Rice.
The influence of such men upon the youth
committed to their care needs no comment.
1t has pleased God to favor this College with
repeated revivals of religion. Scarcely a
session has passed for years without aces
sions to the Church from its students. Dur
inc one term it was believed that every stu
dent in the College was personally interested
on the subject of religion, and large ma
icy made profession of their faith.
The intercourse of the pious youth of the
College with the students and Professors of
the Theological Seminary has had the effect
of calling the attention Of all of them, with
more or less earnestness, to the cOnsidera-
ton of the question of becoming candidates
for the Gospel ministry and ever since its
foundation, the Seminary has been recruited
from year to year with graduates from the
College. This is what renders Uampden
Sidney so important to the Presbyterian
cause in the South. Our noble University
with it's four and FIVE hundred students a
year, does not give. us one-tenth as many
candidates for the ministry as Hampden Sid
ney with less than hundred students.
The College is now admirably differed and
managed, and contains as dihgent and or
derby company of students as it ever had.
Its usefulness would be far greater if it could
recover the losses it sustained during the
war. Its President and Professors make
their work almost labor of love, so made
quate are their salaries. Attempts are now
making to increase the permanent endow-
ment, and the College has now in the field
perhaps the very best agent who could have
been selected-Rev. Richard McIlwaine, of
Farmville, Prince Edward
Mr.. McIlwaine's zeal, piety, and pulpit
efficiency, have made him deservedly dear to
his Church, and his labors are appreciated
by the whole community in which he resides.
But his people give him up for time that
he may aid in building up the fortunes of
the College which for so many years has
been the feeder of the Seminary; and he
parts from his family, home, and the ministe-
rial work to which he is devoted, that he may
render service to the College which is one of
the strong pillars of our Church.
We understand he has been invited to
visit New York, with the assurance that
he will find there those who love to aid the
Presbyterian cause in the South, and who
know that one of the most effectual means of
so doing is to aid in completing the endow
ment of the College.
We would bespeak for Mr.. McIlwaine
hearty welcome wherever he goes, did We
not know that he will readily win the kind
regards of all who make his acquaintance,
and that the cause he advocates has the
strongest intrinsic claims upon the consider
alton of all who care for the prosperity of our
Southern Zion.