The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-06-21
TEE SOUTH CAROLINA UN1HERs1TE.
some Remarkable Changes In the
Faculty-A Reverend Ku-KIux Star
ns q Professor of Mathematics.

The Columbia CarolintRn reports that at
recent meeting Of the board of trustees Of the
State University, the chair of Professor Hart
was vacated and DR.. Cummings put In his
place as professor of mathematics, and that
DR.. Woodrow was also removed from the pro.
fessorship of fchemlstry and DR.. Roberts ap-
pointed instead. These changes in the facnl-
ty of an Institution which once ranked so
high among the universities of the country
will be noted by many OF our readers with as
tonishment and regret. The brief paragraph
which conveys the Intelligence contains no
lntimation of the causes which, In the wisdom
of the new trustees of the institution, have
led to these removals aud appointments, but
In the case of one of them at least the opinion
ls very freely expressed that the appointment
must have been made more as a reward for
jealous partisan services In the Radical ranks
than on account Of any fitness whatever OF
the new appolntee for the responsible POSI-
tion in which he has been placed.
The Rev. Dr. Cummings Is o clergyman
Of not particularly good standing In
the Methodist Episcopal Church. The first
occasion on which his name appears to have
been brought prominently before the public
was when, few years ago, he was In charge
of the Female College In Ashvllle, N. c., and
had, by virtue of his position as president OF
the college, the control of the funds raised by
charity for the support of the Institution.
Here, it Is said, his love for the exact sciences
which has now received such fitting recogni-
tlon by his appointment to the chair of mathe-
matics, led him to series Of ingenious but dis
credltable experiments with the figures OF
the college account books with view Of de-
fraudlnc the Institution of It's funds. Charges
to this effect being formally brought against
him, he was tried by the Holston Conference,
composed of brother ministers, who found
him guilty OF the charges, and sentenced him
10 a suspension of one year. After this occur
renee the climate of Ashevllle did not seem to
agree with the Rev. DR.. Cummings, and he was
next heard of at Spartanburg, where
charges eimllar to those upon which he
was convicted In Asheville were made against
him, but were not proven. His most recent
public exploit was lecture, which he deliver
ed last spring in fremont Temple, Boston,
upon the subject of Ku-Kluxism. Like most
of the Radicals in the upper counties, he knew
all about this subject, far more, probably, than
ever existed, and far more, certainly, than
any of the Democrats, who have been charged
by wholesale and as party with Ku.Kluxlsm,
ever knew or dreamed of. He lmprovised a
ghaslly looking gown, with mask and horns,
which he termed genuine, original Ku-Klux
disguise, and wore 1t during his lecture. The
lecture Itself was series OF sensational mis-.
statements, which, If delivered In south Caro-
lima, would have been recognized by every
body as the grossesL absurdllies; built appear.
ed 10 tickle the palates of the gentle Boston
ese, and no doubt did Its share toward keeping
current the horrible stories Of the condition ol
affairs in this State, which have been 80 indus
trIously circulated at the North. After this lee.
ture DR.. Cummings projected sort of starring
tour as Ku-Klux lecturer, and advertised 10
"play on shares" In churches and school
rooms throughout New England. The lecture
Itself, and the proposition to Introduce lhls
sort of sensational thealricals into the churches
and Sunday. schools, however, provoked con-
siderable indignation In certain OF the reli-
glous Journals, and 1t does not appear that The
reverend Ku.Klux star succeeded very well la
the show business after his arst appearance In
Bostou. 1t remains to be seen with what
ability he will fill his present posti but If his
preylous achievements in the mathematical
line. as mentioned above, have been correctly
stated, the prospect does not appear to be en-