Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-06-09
I'll. Nj. DOAK'S
Mastery Address Upon the Educational
Problem of the Southern People,
Before the Alumni OF
The Southwestern Presbyterian UniTer-
sity-Address by the Hon. Henry
Craft, of Memphis.


gala day Tor the Southwestern Presby terra n
University, at this place. The stage was
handsomely decorated, and upon 1t sal dig
Hitaries from a half-dozen States. 4 large
and intelligent audience, comprising age and
learning, youth and beauty, greeted the grad
yates, and listened with profound attention
to mastery discourse from the Hon. II. NJ.
Doak, editor of the Nashville Bonner. i
cannot give outline of this address here.
1t presented the educational problem of the
Southern people, needing to be solved Just
now, so as TO fit her for the changed career,
upon the entrance of which she stands to-
day. 1t was admirable indeed, and ought
TO be given to the public, for il is worthy of
study.
THE HON. HENRY CRAFT, OF MEMPHIS,
addressed the literary societies last night
giving to them and the audience one of those
gems which (Memphis people are aware) it
is witkin his power to present. His aim was
TO impress each young man with a sense OF
his individual responsibility, of the grand
possibilities offered to him SHOULD he run a
good career and to point out to him how, in
the fear of God, that great end may be gained.
The two sermons of the occasion, preached
last Sabbath morning and night, by the Rev.
DIR. Markham, of New Orleans, and the Rev.
Jerry WithersPoon, of Jackson, Tenn, were
also, both OF them, sermons of great ability,
and sure to leave a lasting impress for good.
The degree OF doctor of divinity was con-
ferred by the university upon the Rev. Eu-
gene Daniel, of Memphis, and the Rev.
Robert E. Anderson, of Morganton, n. C.
The degree OF master of arts " as conferred,
after full examinations, upon Mr.. w. p.
Chapman, of Memphis, ]. NJ. Dortch and J.
r. Howerton, of Ciarksville; the degree
of bachelor of arts upon NJ. H. Hunt, of
Memphis, and S. L. Grigsby, of Trenton.
G. Mason, jr., Of Memphis, took diploma
in the Latin school, II. Craft, IT,, in sthe
rhetoric school, and Mr.. L. II. Richardson
took diplomas in the schools OF Latin and
rhetoric; Mr.. Il. Hayley in Latin, ethics,
mathematics and natural philosophy.
Messrs. SchoolGeld and II. Hayley, junior
students took distinction in their classes.
The grade of the institution is high. In it
the Bible is taught as a textbook, covering
a three years course of three recitations per
week--the Bible as a whole, from beginning
to end, with all of its history, its precepts,
it's institutions, its prophecies, its promises.
This course is taken by every student of the
institution, and young man graduating here
has a knowledge of that book like unto that
which Shakespeare and Milton had OF it,
but such as is rarely had by the rushing
masses of the world. Let it be noted here
that young men who thus carefully study
that book through will not be found among
the infdels or skeptics of coming time. To
know the book as it is, is a sufficient guar
antee against the attacks which are made
upon it.
THE UNIVERSITY
has ample buildings, beautiful grounds, an
endowment fund OF over S10S, 600, rendering
an income of about $1,000, besides tuition
fees, and owes not dollar. 1t had quite an
impetus given to it this week, 10y the offer of
a liberal Southern man, whose business leads
him to reside near New York. TO give to tine
institution the sum of $500, the interest on
$4,000 at five per cent; this sum to be paid
annually for several years to come, with the
probability of making over to the institution,
at the end of few years, the whole cum of
$50, 900, with which to endow a chair. Upon
the strength of this gift the board proceeded
to elect sixth professor, viz: the Rev. DIR.
Thomas r WEIGH, of Little Rock, Ark and
assigned him to the chair of history, litera-
ture, etc. DIR. Welch was at the same time
elected to fill the office of vice chancellor,
and the board and faculty are full of hope,
and will vigorously press the request that DR..
WEIGH shall go 10 the university with all the
vigor and influence he can bring to bear.
The chair of ancient Languages and litera-
ture, made vacant by the renoval of Prof.
Hemphill TO South Carolina, was filled by
the election of Mr.. Geo. +. Nicholassen, of
Baltimore, a master OF arts of the University
of Virginia, and doctor of philosophy of
J Johns Hopkins University.
THE FACULTY
now consists of that celebrated educator DR..
John n. Waddell, chancellor, and six pro-
fessors of the highest character, and every
body who has been here this week goes
away with the full assurance that the uni
versity has made this year a big bound, and
that it stands now, in assurance of sue
cess, where for several years it has stood in
respect to its high standard, abreast with the
best institutions of the country.
Some apprehension was felt few months
ago as to the health of the chancellor, but
we are glad to find him on full duty, with
the hope of being able to carry on his great
work for years to come. / can now only add
that since / wrote the above have had the
pleasure of sitting with fifty or sixty
gentlemen at the dinner-table of the
Alumni, where there was everything
for the palate, and capital speeches by
Ex-U nited States Senator james E. Bailey,
by the Hon. FL. NJ. Doak, the Rev. DIR. Mark
ham, the Rev. Mr.. Collins, invited guest
from the Methodist Female College, and
others. According to anecdote of Mr..
Doak, we entered this dining hall unlike
Daniel when he entered the lions den-he
was sure there would be no speech after din
ner. We went expecting some fine speeches,
and we had them. Long live the university.