The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1885-04-29
For the Central Presbyterian.
Letter from Hampden Sidney
College.

HAMPDEN SIDNEY, VA, April 25, '85.
MeS8r8 E'ditorS,-The appreciative no.
tice of the college lately taken in your
columns reminds me that your readers
will perhaps wish to know more in detail
of the state of things he eabouts. The
present session has passed along thus far
very auspiciously, the number of students
having increased ffty-four il two years
and thirty-nine over last session. The
character of our young men too, whether
viewed from scholastic or moral stand
point, is perhaps as high as has ever been
reached here or elsewhere. Indeed I do
not see how the conduct of most of them
could be more conformed to right, reason
and duty. AS q consequence the moral
influence of the Institution is powerfully
felt by all connected with it, Over three
fourths of the students are consistent
members of the church, and many of
those who are not professors of religion,
order their lives on the highest prin-
ciples of rectitude. There are twenty
five avowed candidates for the ministry
and perhaps as many more are intel
ligently seeking to know the path of
duty. There are twenty three sons of
ministers among them, twenty.one of
whom are members of the church. Not
one of them gives the slightest ground
for the ancient msconception that the
sons of ministers are worse than the sons
of other people" The catalogue of Union
Theological Seminary Just now received,
shows that fifteen of their forty eight
students are from Hampden Sidney. To
IL Il III
whose preliminary training was conducted
here, and among them very distinguish.
ed graduate of our College, so that our
proper number is eighteen which is over
thirty eight per cent. of the whole.
Hampden Sidney sends three 6fths of all
those educated at Virginia Colleges and
Universities. Do not these facts speak
volumes to the Synod and the Church at
large? Can our people afford to let the
College suffer for want of the increased
and improved appliances necessary for
the development Of her full influence ?
The prospect Of greater number of
students next session is encouraging. We
are hoping to be filed to our utmost
capacity. Unfortunately that is not far
to reach. We Immediately need the
enlarged facilities proposed in the cree
ton of the Memorial Hall recommended
by Synod last fall, and hope liberal
friends will ere long be found to furnish
the means to obtain it. If any of your
readers have large or small sums they
wish to bestow on this object 1 will be
pleased to hear from them. A few gen
erous subscriptions have been obtained
and the ladies of this community and in
Farmville and Lynchburg have been
working earnestly and successfully in its
behalf. If the ladies throughout the
Synod will organize they will accomplish
much, and if our alumni and friends will
take hold Of the matter, it will ere long
be accomplished This building is essen
tial if the usefulness Of the College is to
be extended much beyond its present
limits
In connection with this subject, I would
suggest that the time has come when a
Hampden Sidney Alumnus Association
ought to be organized in Richmond. II
your senior editor will take the matter
in hand I am sure our graduates and old
students will cooperate in efecting a
strong organization. Two Of our oldest
} living alumni. DR.. G. W. Harris and Col
Sherwin McRae, are residents Of the
, metropolis and would doubtless join their
3 younger brethren in doing honor to their
t alma mater. COL McBae graduated in