Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-06-18
GAINESVILLE TENN.
southwestern Presbyterfan Uni-
VersAty. f
New YORK Mercantile Review.

Southwestern Presbyterfan Uni
Versaty.
New York Mercantile Review
The following is taken from tn,
special correspondent of the New
York Mercantile Review. We glad
| ly-reproduee it in the columns of Tho
CHRONICLE:
One of the most hopeful signs oi
| the advance t,f education is that the
courses of study in different parts oi
the country are not precisely the
same. The writer has passed over
! institutions in the state of Kentucky
| from the University at Lexington
down, and noted differences. in the
structural character of their curri-
culm. This evidently, not from a
pedantic desire to be original, but
with the view to educate thorough
ly and effectively. The colleges OF
Kentucky passed through trying
vicissitudeS during the civil war,
while kindred institutions in Ten
nesSee were much more severely
tried. In many cases the buildings
were endowed and the endowments
swept away. 1t is only within a
short period that these reverses
have begun to be overcome. Cheer
ing progress is now being made and
with ordinary favoring fortune Ten
nessee will not be long in being dis
tinguished for its high class educa-
tional institutions. The city of
Clarksville, Montgomery county, is
ono Of tho orlnooffOpol oou fos-. nf fbo
state. It is the seat of the South
western Presbyterian University.
This institution was originally eS-
/ -tablishcd in 1850 by the Freema-
sons, and carried on by that body
until 1865. 1t was then transferred
to the Synod:of Nashville of the Old
School Presbyterians, under the
name of Stewart college. During
the war the buildings were almost
totally destroyed, and the institu-
ton was suspended for time. In
1870 it was reopened, and it was re-
organizedin 1879 untler its present
title. The board of directors is
made up of representatives of the
synods of Alabama, Arkansas,
Memphis, Mississippi, with Louis
iana) Nashville and Texas. The
curricuIm was arranged by them.
The Chancellor of the university is
John N. Waddell, ID. ID. LII. ID.
He is also professor in the school of
philosophy. The.remainder of the
faculty are as follows: professor in
the school of English literature, his
tory and rhetoric, j. B. Shearer, ID.
d. A. NJ, of w. Va; professor in
the school of moderen languages, 5.
j. Cotfman \. NJ. professor in the
school of natural sciences, John w.
Caldwell, A. M. NJ. D.. professor in
the school of ancient languages, 9.
r. Hemphill, A. M.
The course of study is divided in
to coordinate schools as follows:
That of ancient languages, mathe-
maticS, natural sciences, philosophy,
modern languages, history, English
and rhetoric, Biblical in
and commercial science.
There are elementary classes in Lat
in, Greek, higher arithmetic, .alge-
bra and geometry. Diplomas are
granted in each of the schools at the
close of the scholastic year to stu
dents who have undergone the me-
cessary tests. There are five elect
tive courses, namely, the masters
course, the bachelors course, the |
course, the science |
course and the commercial course. |
for degrees, in addition
to proficiency in the schools requir-
ed, must pass review examination
on the entire course and also furnish |
such proofs of mastery of the En-
glish language and such tests of lit
erary skill and taste as the faculty
may deem necessary, either in the
form of thesis essays or oratiOns.
Proficiency in the Bible courses
proper is imperative to every de-
gree. AS is characteristic Of south
9rn universities, each student is
lealt with individually. The Uni
verstiy is well supplied with cabin
cts, library and apparatus, so essen
ial to an intelligent pursuit of
studies. There are two literary so
,ietieS, one of them named in honor
If Prof. w. M. Stewart and the 9TH
,r the Washington Irving Society.
The college buildings are extensive,
capable of furnishing room for the
eaching of several hundred students
Boarding arrangements are superior
md on economic terms. Tuition is
rec to all candidates for the min
stry and all sons of Presbyterian
minister's. The Southwestern Pres
Dyterian University is a mOderniz-
d and liberal institution and must
ONE to do an increasingly valuable
work.