The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-04-29
tf,om,,,,,n.cated.l
m ,be Ed;tors of The Dispatch !:

al, the friends of the College, but TO Yir-
oinia and the South. The College Of VIII
ham and Mary cannot Hive where she now
IL unless she could I've upon her lame ana
tho memories OF Washington, Madison. ana
Marshall. That fame and those memories
constitute glory for which man may wei
die. but they viii not feed their living
ho6ics. that fame and those memories VIII
NOT even preserve the liberty OF the Repun-
liz which Is row In, fear. the hna' stIus-
ole between free republic and military
desnotism. in which / trust IN oou 'ii.i' .no
Republic may triumph. as col'ese II, .ne
University CT the South the CoileSe VI w
liam and Mary will rise, ike ANUS, WIN
All her ancient yigor restored, ana con,
fribute TO the honor and Improvement OF
the down-trodden but patrlotc eouen'
which is faithful always to the truth.
JAMES Lyons, Rector.
UNIVERSITY or THE SoUTH,l
SEwAxEE, Tenn, April II, 1879.
10 the Board of Visitors Of the College Of
William and Mary, Virginia:
Gentlemen, The legal points involved in
the proposition which our committee OF
conference from tie University OF the South
had the honor OF making to you last month
the writers OF this letter would not presume
IN discuss, On these we can only express
the hope that your wisdom NAV devise some
method OF transferring the College OF Will
liam and Mary to the University OF the
South In SOME way that may satisfy the re-
olllre,nen.s ii tie law, promote the inter-
ests OF the College, and subserve the pur-
poses OF its founders. The manifest de-
sion OF founding the College OF William
and Mary can he better furthered, our COM
mittee believes, by removing the scene OF
its Iabors to Scwanee, Tenn, than IN any
other way. That the Episcopal ChuIch has
claim on the College none can DOUBT.
This claim was fully recognized Tor Tue hrst
one hundred and fifty years OF It's existence
About 1921 the effort was made TO estan-
lish theological profcsSorship IN Nllliam
and Many, and the Rev. DR.. hcith was sent
10 Williamsburg for that purpose. lie re-
manned at the College for more than year
wi;hnut receiving a single student in the
olopy. CSee Bishop Mcade's Old Churches
and Families in Virginia." We quote from
memory ,.
The work OF raising an educational insti-
t,,tion more under The auspices OF the Dio-
cesc OF Virginia was transferred from Will
liarsburg to the vicinity OF Alexandra.
Bishop Meade was always avc">e 10 the sur
roundines of William and Mary, its discir-
line, its social tendencies, its location, DC.
As Il Church. therefore. the bearing OF The
Diocese Of Virginia towards William and
Mary seems at least TO have been indifferent.
Tn lS49 another effort was made TO bring
this college under the influence Of tue Do
ccse OF Virginia. This movement origi-
mated in Williamsburg. Bishop Johns was
induced TO t!y the experiment OF soliciting
the patronage of the Church, and remained
for about five years at its head. With what
amount OF success this experiment met the
records OF the College during his admins
tra,ion will abundantly show. As a move
mcnt on behalf OF the Church in the Diocese
OF Virginia it was Il failure.
4 fatality las ever attended this move
mcnt in other later days. Eminent profess
sors have in the present century taught in
these college walls. But so far as securing
general patronage, whether Episcopal or
not, was concerned. the general result
has been the same. The building OF
the High School and Of the Theological
Seminary in Fairfax county. FirSinia;
the rise OF the University OF Virginia, OF
the Military Institute at Lexington, Va,
and other causes, decided the fate OF W IL
liam and Mary. The prejudice against the
low country OF Virginia, ground!ess as 1t
is, has been all-powerfu! in its effects to dis
suade general attendance OF students. few
patrons, whose ancestors were educated at
william and Mary, have clung to it through
evil report aud through good report; but
the mass OF people in Virginia have long
since lost all interest in the College, and the
Diocese OF Virginia has deliberately aban-
doncd its claim to direct its destiny. Mo-
rally, therefore, the College belongs TO its
few patrons and friends who have been
faithful to if, and they. we believe, possess
the right to rescue it from impending obi
won.
The plan proposed BY our committee to
vour honorable body, we believe, will effect
the preservation OF this ancient institution
and carry out the Church views OF lis
founders-i G., making it an Episcopal in
stitutlon.
You are respectfully referred 10 the
scheme submitted by our University through
its committee somc time since rs tcsllmo-
nv to the correctness of this assertion.
The University OF The South is represent
cd by all Of the southern States except Ken
lucky and Firgnia; and the DioccSes III
these two States may become partners IN
our institution whenever they may see Il!
to do 40. They will ultimately do so, no
doubt
rIOul tue ltiDISSC Va hNiikuSha w 49, y
already received assurances 10 that effect.
The adhesion Of the Virginia dioccscs, we
believe, viii! only be 4 matter or time.
Nowhere in the South, except ut Sewanee,
does Church institution, in the proper
sense OF the word. exist. The cIrcunl-
stance Of its representing so many diocese S
! is an assurance OF success, and security
against its running into any excess in
| Guardianship, or into sectariani>m. or
| into any form OF narroWnesS or intolerance.
! 1t is eminently catholic in the best and
| highest and trueSt sense Of that term.
Your College, gentlemen, represents an
important idrl-one which has 10 great
| following in Virginia ut the present time,
when new things (as is the tendency
TIN oughout our country are in vogue.
That idea is science and religion in harmo-
ny, and in 4 state OF freedom and activity.
These, which constitute true conservatism,
are foStcreu with most conscientious care 1T
the University OF the South, and it would
be her proud privilege TO preserve the same
to the renowned College, which she hopes
and prays that she may some day welcome
to the Cumberland plateau at Sewanee.
We call, therefore, upon all the friends
Of true constitutional freedom and sound
churchmans.iip-al who are not unwil-
ling that the Church shall be properly
aggressive and not ablectly apologctic-:li
who admire the old gentility and statesman
| ship OF southern gentlemen-all who love
free thought and free research-to come to
our aid against numbers, against danger
Gus enterprises in Church and State. against
disorganlza;lon, against lrreligion. We
believe that could we preserve only the
charter, the name. and the ancient renown
OF William and Mary, with the permission