Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-06-28
SEWANEE, TENN.
The University Of the South and the
Part Played by the RI. Rev.
Bishop Qulntard
In Planting 1t Upon a Foundation
Whence 1t is Sure to Grow In
Beauty and Strength
And Realize for the Episcopal Church at
Large the Dreams of its Pro
IectOrs.


SEwANRE, June 20. - The Rt. Rev.
Charles Todd Quintard, STD, LID,
MD, and Bishop of Tennessee, was born
December %, 1924, at Stamford, Conn, IN
the homestead founded in 1887 by bis
Hnguenot forefathers, who we're a part OF
the French colony that made a short stay
in Bristol, England, alter the revocation OF
the edict of Nantes. The family, origi-
nally of LusignRn, in Potion, found con-
geniality and religious liberty in the
French colony in America, the first mem
bers being baptized in the little church OF
Du Saint Esprit, where, in their native
tongue, the service has been rendered 2OO
years.
The father of our bishop, Isaac Qdin-
tard, had the homestead from his grand
father, and died at the age of ninety, in
the room in which he was born.
Inheriting qualities of mind and dispo-.
sition thst developed by pursuit would in
sure distinction in any calling, ii was OF
infinite advantage to him and the church
that unconscious OF his prediction he
should have made medicine his first
choice of profession.
At twenty-five, taking his degree of A.
NJ. from Columbia College, and his NJ. ID.
from the university of the same place,
where his enoTned preeeptor, Dr. Nalen-
tine Moot, presided, he was appointed
assistant physician of Bellevue Hospital.
A year after (lS47) he removed to the
South, practiced his profession in Georgia,
contributing to medical journals until
1851, when he vas called to the chair of
physiology and pathological anatomy in
the Memphis Medical College. Success
full in his calling, yet moved TO a sublimer
work by the Holy Ghost, he commenced
the study of theology under the direction
Of the Ri. Rev. j. II. 0tey, DID, LID,
first Bishop of Tennessee.
To Tennesseans who have lived in and
loved the State since their birth, the polit-
ical agitations of this time are familiar;
but as many now are numbered with the
bishops friends who know but little Of the
State and time, some brief account of them
will be interesting.
State sovereignty and free trade were
strongly advocated. The South, from lis
peculiarities and institutions, strongly be-
lieved that better national results would
follow States rights end developments
than by concentration anu 2hject depend
ence upon one stupendous, turbulent AID
despotic center OF commerce, art, manu-
facture, publication, silence, literature,
learning and government. Church men
born to the conditions and bred in such
belief, naturally embraced and maintained
them.
Doubtless from these discussions arose
the first impulse to fond and endow
Southern University. Conspicuous among
the clergy were the Bishop Of Georgia,
Stephen Elliot, who had spent a liberal
fortune in building a school for girls at
Montpelier; Bishop Polk (afterward Gen.
POLK, OF South Carolina; Bishop Green,
of Mississippi, and Bishop Otey, of Ten
nessee. The South was rich; felt her abil-
ity to sustain q university worthy of her
sons and save them from the rigors of
Northern climate or perilous sea voyages.
Little wonder that the project was
seized and instantly acted upon by the
| cultivated, patriotic men chosen 10 reple-
sent it. Apostolic environment aud
perpetuation were the basis of its founde-
| tons. Matter was circulated. The result of
conventions, money YVES subscribed will
| ingly, sites visited, and finally Sewanee Sc
| lected as the most suitable, from its Access
sibility and central location. Ten thou
sand acres of land were given Jointly by
| Gen. Tracy, of New York, and Mr.. Rat-
| ledge, of Tennessee. The trustees were
| the bishops of the ten States South of
| Virginia and Kentucky. They determined
| upon capital of 100000 before any &C
/ ton should be taken. This was soon OBJ
| tanned, and committees appointed to OBJ
! tain and study the peculiarities of the best
| European schools. They brought knowl-
| EEBt anu SuREG6NOl6- linus u NdEitJY OF
| subjects were incorporated, securing dis
tinctiveness otherwise unattainable. With
| great pomp, in the presence Of several
| thousand people from all paris of the
| Southern States, the cornerstone was laid.
| Subsequently q few wooden temporary
] buildings we're added. At this point war
was declared. Trustees could not meet
| The S500,00O was nearly all swept away.
The buildings were burned and the cor
ner-stone Clipped into mementoes and
carried away. Nothing remained to the
| Church but the magnificent idea, char
ter and lO, GOO acres OF wild mountain land.
DR.. Quintard was admitted to the order
OF deacon in January, 1855, in 1856 was
ordained priest, accepting the rectorship
| Of Calvary church, Memphis. Leaving
! Memphis, he became rector of the Church
of the Advent, Nashville, where under
his ministTation $50 persons we're admitted
to communion rites.
AS chaplain of the Rock City Guards,
First Tennessee Regiment, we next find
him in sweet converse with DR.. Crosse
(since ordained to the priesthood). a de-
scription by that gentleman, written at the
time, is worth repeating: "One day on
our march into Kentucky, as l was riding
along in the rear of our brigade, sing
ing a hymn to drown the unseemly
language that wounded my cans, a gentle
man in deep blue overcOat, with military
boots encasing his pantsiOons, came up
and accosted me in very agreeable voice.
His eyes were as black as sloes, his hair.
beard, and moustache dark as the rTven's
plumsge. His complexion and features
were manifestly Gaelic. No one could
have mistaken him for other than French
man. had heard him called doctor, "
and thought he was a surgeon" etc. He
| found him IN ba phanltti7 and friend q
fayorite with officers and men. He served
unseltishly and skilfully until the close OF
the struggle. An autograph letter from
Gen. Bragg, most afectionate in tone, in
which he commends for their usefulness
two works issued during that time, finds g
place on the wall Of the bishops study
The books were entitled, ManVdl of DaiLy
DeUOtion, and Balm for the Wearied and
HOunded IN Hospital. With how much
interest could peruse the canvas-covered
brass-clasped diaries shown me, precious
relic Of substituting times
4 With the country Frustrated and impov-
| erished, law and order overthrown, Bishop
Elliot dead, having first lost his father
and also laid the young hero, Stephen
Elliot, gently and reYeiently upon the
bosom of the State he loved, Gen. Bishop,
Polk also lest in battle, and the venerable
Bishop Otey called to his fathers, unani
I Nous Gail 10 Nlt It9Ns ASuHIlES l.. NyulQLAfN
to fill the Episcopal chair was accepted
and he was conseerated in St. Luke's
Philadelphia, October II, 1865. Upon him
the restoration of the university scheme
deyolved. Posterity could easily have ex
cused him had he made no effort unde
such circumstances to re1lstate the under
taking It will honor, while its infu
ence is telt, the man who has by patient
persistent, painstaking endeevar PLACED
it where it stands to-day.
In March, 1866, with the purpose o
dedicating the site anew. the bishop anC
three other persons sought cat in th'
, wilderness the spot where six years befor,
a 1 sTch copeouTse OF peopls had assembled
Having planted rude cross, thy united
| in Te Deum Lords prayer and few ap
!, propriste collects, when, after bene
3 diction, the bishops life work began.
Soon after, with the concurrence OF tn
] Board of Trustees, and by help of fund
sole ted for the purpose, hall for tn
. | Junior department was erected, and SOM
: rough buildings for the accommodation 0
e teachers and pupils. The next year an ap
g peal was made to England which resulte'
t in liberal contributions both from clerg
g and laity, the Archbishops of York AM
r Canterbury making the offering worthy 0
/. the object and substantial expression G
!: sympathy and brotherhood.
J. In 1858 the junior department was pa
:. in order; only nine students entered il
1879, 107; this year nearly 300 are on tn
). roll. Each successive year has found ne'
l. buildings, new designs, and additional il
sArest. a steady increase, much waiting
l. unwearied patience. show their certai
rich reward in the surroundings Of ID
IS university and the qualifications an
e training her graduates eisFlaY.
In 1873 expenses had ovefrun the Il
|. coma. necessity for action was apparen
The bishop was requested to visit Englau
and solicit assistance. de sailed Jul
# llh, was cordially received by clergy ar
6 nobility, eonspicuoEsly presented and il
II I dorsed, &c vel ior kig own ability. i
Il Gnite grace and tact as the nobility Of {.
al cause be represented. The services We
A. everywhere characterised by interest al
he liberality. Forty thousand dollars was Il
ts result, which gave reyiving impetus
the work In this year the professor
numbering among them the gifted n
g. Cfsdx sodly Wilmer and gallant Kirl