Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-13

NuttalI, James Nyche. John I. Harm
son. Grenvlle Penn. Walker Timber
lake. John G.. Claiborne. Howell Tay-
Tor, James Smith, Joel Blackwell, John
w. Mason, James Garland Richard G..
Morris, John W. Lewis. William o.
Goode. and Nathaniel Alexander. OF
these only one is now living, Rev. John
Gregory Claiborne, of Brunswick coun-
ty, in his eiehty-eighth year. Another,
Judge James Garland, died a few
weeks ago.
The institution was called Randolph
Macon in honor OF the two celebrated
men then living representing Virginia
and North Carolina. 1t was located at
BoydtOn, the county-seat Of Mecklen-
burg county, as near the State line d.
yiding Virginia and North Carolina as
could be conveniently done. In Octo-
Der. 1881, the Board of Trustees elect
ed the first Board Of Instruction-viz ::
Rev. John Emory, ID. D., Of New
York, President and Professor Of Moral
Science; Rev. Martin =. Parks, Pro-
fessor Of Mathematics Landon c.
Garland, Professor of Natural Science,
and Robert Emory, Of New York. Pro-
fessor of Languages.
The first and last declined the posi-
tons to which they were elected the
other two accepted. One Of these. Rev.
NJ. p. Parks, was a graduate OF West
Point Academy. Professor Garland
was a graduate of lIampden-Sidney
College. and at the time of this election
a professor in Washington College, Viz
gina.
Rev. Stephen Olin, at that time
professor in Franklin College, Georgia,
was then elected president, and Edward
Dromgoole Sims, graduate Of the
University Of North Carolina, was
elected professor of languages.
This faculty was able and efficient.
One Of the most distinguished members
Of the Richmond bar, once a student at
this college, said their talents made an
impression on him beyond any that has
ever been made by other great men.
Dir. Garland survives, now in his
eightieth year, full Of honors as Of
years, filling the Office Of chancellor of
Vanderbilt University, Tennessee. He
has literally and wonderfully gratiiied
lardable ambition referred to in his
letter of acceptance. lie wrote " The
only ambition Of my life has been to
devote all my time and talents to the
promotion of the welfare and happi.
ness Of our common country; and that
situation which would enlble me to do
this most t6icieRily have ever esteem
ed most eligible"
In October, 1892, the buildings sor
college purposes having been partially
the doors were opened for
the reception Of students, and regular
work commenced. At this time large
of the students came from
Georgia and South and North Carolina.
This continued for a number of years,
the young men coming by slow stages
for hundreds of miles, until the Me-
thodist Conferences in these States
established colleges Of their own.
Very soon after the Inauguration of |
the college 1t was determined by the |
Board Of Trustees to make the study |
OF English more prominent than it had |
been IN this or in the colleges gene
rally. To accomplish this end Profess
scr Edward Dromgoole Sims was au-
thorized 10 spend several years in the |
universities Of Europe, making spe-
rialty of the Anglo-Saxon and Gothic
languages aud perlecting his acquire.
nentS in other languages, classical and |
On his return in 1889 he commenced
his course Of English instruction. but
having found no suitable textbooks
n Anglo-Saxon for his classes. he
aught them by lessons on the black
,oard, ct the same time using the
lassics of the English language for
exits. lie was engaged in preparing a
ocular course Of English instruction
'hen his valuable life was cut short by
cath.
During Professor Sims's absence in
Europe Rev. W. NJ. Wightman, of
outh Carolina, filed the chair of An
lent Languages. He was afterwards
resident of the Southern University.
reensboro', Ala, and then was made
ishop of the Southern Methodist
hurch.
The first degree was conferred on A
'aduate in June, 1885. The recipient
as John c. Blackwell, OF Lunenburg
unity, va. He was type Of a large
lmber Of alumni who succeeded him.
'r over forty years, till time and age {
ecked his ardent zeal, he presided
er male and female schools. Over
teen hundred young persons came
der his tuition and influence, and q
Ddreds were led by him to become !
.Eistisns-- mostly young women. d