The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-10-14
DFENORIES or MOUNT ZION.


The principal Of Mount Zion has re-
ccivcd tho following letter from u na.
tive OF Winnsboro, a former student OF
Mount Zion, and a gentleman highl,
esteemed throughout The State. 1t is
q private letter, but it. is so full Of
interest, breath cs such n spirit of pa
triotism aud offers such admirable suy-
gcstions, that we take the liberty OF
publishing it, as well as the letter
which it accompanied. Mount Zion
was Incorporated in 1873, and has al
ready passed. her centennial. The So
cicty is in active existence, and it
should heed Col. Aikcn's suggestions
III cooperating with the principal TO
gather all the traditions OF the college
and school and all events OF interest
connected with it. The suggestion of
n Lyccum should not pass unlcclcd.
Plenty Of ability can be found il,
Winnsboro to make it success. We
commend tho letter the careful con-
sidcration ofall the members Of the
society. It's as follows:
CHARLESTON, S. c., Oct. 8, 1850.
AR. II. Means D0riS, piIucipaI MI.
ItoH, WfnHS6Or0, =. e.:
For many years I have been I'M
pressed with the vast importance o!
rcscuinS from utter Oblivion the very
interesting but unwrittcn history OF
Mount Zion. the venerable institution
over whose dcstinics You now SO ac-
ccptally preside; and have listened
with ilial reverence to any recital
OF facts Or memorabilia from it's
alumni or friends for years back.
but have failed to preserve them. a
few weeks back accident threw nc into
the company ora venerable and intel
ligcnt matron Of this city who spoke
kindly and familiarity of my .ii,;t,
mater, and thought that little triilcs
SO full Of interest to nc would no
doubt equally interest hundreds of
others, and in proper hands could be
made valuable material in illustrating
tho history and honoring the memory
of one Of the oldest and most distiu-
guishcd literary institutions in the
state. Mount Zion is now approach
ing her Centennial. Who can csti.
mate the influence OF her labors for
the past hundred years in the pulpit
at the forum, on the bench, in tic son
ate Of the United States! Many still
living look back with satisfaction to
tho teachings Of 4 Stafford, an Ed
monds, a Hudson, and time will
doubtless record the virtues and crudi-
"a a &c
sors. 1t IT, wise or patriotic or CRATE
iul in The present generation to ignore
all that has been done for them, and
let the dead past bury the dead, or
should the living present cndcavor to
keep abreast with the intellectual pro-
grcss Of the time? Why has has there
not been ilourisiiiny under The shade O.
Mount Zion for years I.yccum like
that in Cheraw, where the cultured
mind of the town has given audience
10 the brightcstintcllccts Of the State?
These thoughts, SO hurricdly thrown
together, SO clunsily expressed, have
been the result Of Il rainy day and the
receipt Of the enclosed. / confess that
| had already decided that the time, the
man and the duty had conspircd TO
ma kc this appeal to you to commence
and carry ont this loving work. You
would find many living who could aid
YOU by furnishing facts, who in few
years more will have passed to that
bourne whence no traveller returns. All
this must furnish my apology for this
communication which trust and be-
lievc will receive your respectful con-
sidcrUtiOn.
Believe me, my dear sir,
Your obcdicnt servant,
j. ID. AIKEN.
The following letter will recall the
fact, not generally remembered, that al
the beginning Of its history, Noun,
Zion was a regularly chartered college
that il gave diplomas OF graduation
and was attended largely by students
from the low-country. Indeed, among
the incorporators OF the Society wcr,
tho leading men Of the day in tho
State, and at least half Of the member.
lived in Charleston and on the coast
We would be mnch pleased to receive
the personal incidents alluded to il
the letter. 1t is as follows:
lion. Joseph d. dihen:
DEAR SIR--Agrccablv to your re-
cent request, ! now chccriully furnisl
you such notes in connection will
Mount Zion College, Winnsboro. Fair
field county, $. G., as my ability en-
nblcs me TO do. My father. Col
William Cotcsworth Pinckncv, was ,
graduate Of that Institution, either i,
the year a. ID. 1890 or 1891. M,
memory docs not recall with ccrtaint,
the exact datc--whcthcr in the autumn
of go or spring of'91-and most un
fortunately my papers relating to hi
collegiate course, including his "Valc
dictory Address," were lost among
other literary treasures during In,
late so-callcd civil wnr. According tt
my impression. Judge Charles Jonc
Co!cock, his lifelong friend as we'll a.
relative, was member of his class
The president Of tho College st tha
period was -------- Mccall, OF who's
character and attainmcnts my fathc
often spoke in terms Of warmest com
Imcndation, regarding him az a mai
cnincntltsiiitcd for the position h