The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-04-25

since, besides his smaller contribu
ITEMS, aud in addition :to efficient ser
vices on the board for eighteen years
he has been continuously upon the
Prudential Committee, and its Finance
Committee, giving the College the ben
eft of his good sound sense, and Q
large and careful business experience
Mr.. Reynolds was one Of the origi
nal few who voted TO establish an ''in'
stitution Of learning" which is now
represented by Hillsdale College. Iu
an early day, byhnd with the consent oI
his eldest son, whose il was TO have
been upon reaching his majority. he
gave beautiful farm Of eighty acres,
the proceeds OF which were applied to
the erection Of the buildings, and which
bore we'll their part in giving the Col
lege a character that made il worth
while to move tito its present home; and
his early devotion so welded him to
this interest that he has never lacked
zeal in service, nor in giving in accord
with propriety that he has been one OF
the most constant patrons OF the school,
having sent the writer to Spring Arbor
from 1916 to 1S49, and also some OF the
elder children till the time OF removal;
and then we find two whose names are
recorded at the opening of the first
term at this place, until a family OF
nine children have received their edu-
cation within its walls-varying in time
from few terms or years to the com.
pletion of classical course.
Father Philbrick was for years a
prompt and regular attendant upon the
annual meetings Of the Board, incnr.
ring travelling expenses from his dis
tant home in Chester, o., and always
leaving some sure testimony OF his lib
erality. His words were always listened
to with the profoundsst respect aud at.
tention. Upon the sale OF "Geauga
Seminary" the matter was largely
committed to him, and he was author
ized to use the net proceeds to aid in
the endowment OF Hillsdals College.
His good management brought the
sum of 81, 200 from this source. Then,
in 1866, he executed his own will. in
advance, by putting 81, 900 into the
hands of the College treasurer. An
incident worthy OF note occurred in
tuc Oiu Cuhpci tuc uc1t my NJ tue Cloeo
of the exercises OF the graduating class.
As President Fairfield, upon that de-
cade commencement, was recounting
the reasons for encouragement, he re-
ferred to the fact that "only yesterday
a good and worthy man, who is now
seated in this audience, laid upon the
treasurer's table the largest gift ever
yet made to the College. Upon open
ing the package, to our surprise, we
found the sum OF two thousand dollars
in United States bonds; and were it
not for the extreme modesty OF the
donor, / would ask him to stand up
that you might all look upon him. +"
Just then the ready thought OF Judge
Mills served good purpose. as he
arose aud said, "Mr. President, i sug-
gest the propriety OF having the audi
ence arise in grateful acknowledgement
of such gift. Happy suggestion
and happily executed; as, upon the
Presidents request. every man, woman
and child arose to see the Hon. Samuel
B. Philbrick sitting alone upon the
platform, humbly receiving the ac-
knowledgements OF all present, and
the expression made emphatic by en-
thusiastic and prolonged applause.
The very next year he brought up
the promise OF another thousand dol
lars in the form of life insurance
policy made payable to the trustees Of
Hillsdale College on the 18th day of
June, A. D., 1876. This policy was
taken out upon the life Of one Robert
Downey, and the annual premiums
met by Bro. Philbrick, so that by its
terms the sum OF 81 900 comes to the
College during this centennial year.
Our books show that he has given in
smaller sums to the amount Of $500.
Also that he has raised and forwarded
without compensation, number OF
hundreds Of dollars from others, so
that altogether, from himself aud
through his instrumentality, the amt
received has been not less than 81, 900,
of which (when the 81 200 to come
from the insurance referred to shall be
paid SO, 800 will have come from his
personal contributions. Aud these
sums were paid into the treasury SO
long ago that the interest which has
been received and used in maintaining
the teaching department, has amount
ed to not less than 5000 more. His
generous giving and his wise counsels
commanded the profoundest regard,
and il was not until his request, be-
cause OF the infirmity OF his age, that
the Board consented to see his place
filed by another. At the last session,
however, simply because his attend
ance could not be reasonably expected,
the Hon. Ezra l.. K0on, OF this city,
was elected 10 fll the vacancy, and we
are happy to add that he already gives
signs that he will honor his predeces-
.sor.
DIR. Bates, he il sail 10 his credit,
has attended every annual session since
his election. He, too, mas incurred no
small annual expense IN making the
tour from his distant home in Marion,
Ohio, and has increased the endow-
ment by personal contribution OF sew
eral hundreds Of dollars. His large
experience in conducting n kindred
college, as we'll as upon this Board,
has made him so efficient that, though
his time expires in June next and he
has strongly knitted at his purpose TO
decline serving longer, he will doubt
less find himself reelected, and that
the Board will insist upon at least An
other term.
Brother Parks, because OF his old
age, was upon the Board only five years.
He caught a glimpse, however, of what
might be done with a single thousand
dollars, and left that sum in his will to
come to the College; electing that the
same should be invested, aud the inter-
est thereof perpetually expended for
the purchase of books for theologi-
cal library. Upon his decsase, this
sum came. aud is denominated "The
Parks Theological Library Fund.-" In
vested at ten per cent. as il is, in ten
years the sum OF 81 900 will be realized
for the end designated. In a single
century, which is but brief period in
the life Of csllege, il will have earned
$4,000; aud with judicious outlay will
have husbanded the choicest religious
literature from year to year, until a
grand connected library shall stand as
witness Of the wisdom that conceived
IL. Not ouly shall il stand thus TO the
honor of the giyer, but during all the
years intervening il shall inocnlate the
minds OF young men searching for
truth as related ~ the gospel, until its
influence shall be untold, and its power
unmeasured; yea, more, this thousand
dollars shall continue doing its work
on through succeeding ages. and still
be left in full force. Indeed, no COM
putation except such an one as could
fsthom the utmost limit of time would
approximate its possibilities; and as