South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1870-12-02
South Branch 9ntelligeurer.
RoMNEY, yRIpAY MoRNINe. DEC. ?. SO
Hampden Sidney College.

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ans of Virginia, occupied large place be.
fore the Synod of Virginia during its late
meeting at Fredericksburg, and was, by re-
solution of that body, warmly commended
to the notice and support of our people.
During the intervals between the sessions
of Synod several meetings Of the friends Of
the College were held at which the past, glo.
rious history, the preseu crippled condition,
audit her sons continue to neglect her as
they now seem to do-the gloomy future
prospects of this child of the Presbyterian
church, were all brought out in light that
should arrest the attention, and evoke the
efforts of every true Presbyterian and lover
of sound education in its behalf
Despite the historic fact that it was foun-
ded by Presbyterians, in days when men
realized the great truth that sound educa-
ton and scriptural picty, with their whole
some effects upon society, must ever 60
hand in MISUNDERSTANDING its bright
record of usefulness for nearly three fourth's
of century, as it has trained Virginia's
sons for the places they have so nobly filed
in every walk of life specially at the bar
and in the pulpit-despite the still more
glorious record of the oft, repeated vista
tions of the Holy Spirit upon the youth
gathered beneath It's walls, so that rarely
has class been graduated 10 which ma
jori:y were not hopeful and consistent pro-
fessors Of eligion-notwithstaudi her a
bic faculty, equal to any in the land, who
from deep love for old principles, aud the
church which founded that college to cher
ish those principles, with amazing selfde.
NAL still remain faithfully at their posts
upon salaries pitifully small, although often
solicited by other institutions, who know
and appreciate their ability, with tempting
offers OF larger salaries and wider fields of
usefulness-despit all this the humiliating
confession must be made that the Presby-
terrain Church in Virginia with a strange
lnfaiuation is now, in its hour of trial and
need, almost wholly Degecting it, and her
own highest interests as involved IN sus-
tanning it. Aud now unless something is
done, and that quickly, to correct this con-
difion of things, the Influence Of this col.
lege for good in the State and especially in
the Church must be lost L was we'll said
by one of our abcst men that in looking at
the cause of Presbyterian education in our
State aud country, we have ground to fear
we are on the verge Of a great gulf, and must
soon plunge into it, unless our people open
their eyes to their danger, and manfully
strive to avert it, This was not the note
Of an alarmist For if we suffer this col
lege to GO down, with it goes down the last
and only college in the State to which our
people can send their sous and know that
they arc under distinct, decided Presbytc-
rian influences We do not say this to in
stitute comparison with Washington Col
legc, once the sister Of Hampden Sidney,
but now developed into the crander proper.
tions Of University and doing her larger
work Dobly for The church aud The State :;
nor to bring Hampton Sidney into jealous
rivalry with our noble University at Char
lolcesville. NotatalI We love them and
would do all we can to sustain them in the
larger sphere 10 which they move and labor.
We need them. The age demands them.
But IL is 0s iujrovfies at which the stu
dent, we'll grounded in the lower schools.
may push his adventurous steps yet farther
into the realms Of knowledge Yet, mono
the less DO we need, and must have If we
would derive tho fullest benefit from these
Universities, the old.fasbioucd Colleges
with their regular progressive course Of
studies
No more fatal error curses the cducation-
al sytems Of our day than that Of rushing
mere lads TO these Universities with minds
too immature and uncuItivated TO grasp
with intelligence either the subjects taught
or the method Of teaching Think Of a boy
Of fifteen listening to Dr. McGuFFEYs
Lectures on "HgmjHon's PhilosopLy Of the
Conditioned" or Prof VENABLEs lectures
on DBercuhoi Calculus !' As we'll talk
70 an alb boy about the syntax Of one Of
Millions sublimcst periods
If We would have symmetrical well de-
vcloped scholars, we must retain the college
in It's place And to us as Presbyterians
Hampden Sidney is our last aud only hope
Let us then as PyesbyterianS support it.