The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-12-04

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good has resulted from their wise
generosity. Maryville College has
engaged the liberali.y OF some Of
the most hOn0red patrons Of learn
ing which America has produced.
What American merchant has
achieved a higher fame than Will
liam E. Dodge? For almost gem
eratiOI he sent hither the constant
stream of his beneficence. He APP
preciated the high aims and noble
efforts ofOur self-denying educators.
"Having been for the past fifteen
years. he wrote in 1881, "contribu-
ting to the annual expenses OF
Maryville College, and watched
with deep interest the self-denying
efforts and success of it's teachers,
etc. l hereby subscribe $4,000 ETC."
William Tbaw was a man not
less remarkable, broad. minded,
quiet, unassu,ning, but of noble tai
ents; and OF a character command
ing respect and admiratiOn in the
highest degree. / have met no
Christian philanthropist who i'm
pressed me more with the cOIvic-
lion Of simple greatness than he.
Mr.. Baldwin, Mr.. Smith and DIR.
Willard were scarcely inferior 10
these men.
Mrs. Willard, who has just sent
to us $1,000, is a woman of rare
Judgment, ability and elevation Of
character. 1t Is great occasion for
nksgiving that God has given
us such friends, that he has singled
US out, that he has distinguished
US with the partiality Of the "a e.
est and noblest Of Christian philan-
thropists. And this Partially is
permanent. It is no sudden ebuli-
ton of sentiment; no transient
impulse of popular favor, but an
enduring, Intelligent beneficence,
founded upon seventy years Of
achievement. Mr.. Thaw told me
he had known Maryville from 1887,
when, at the unhappy separation
of the Old and New School sections
of the American Presbyterian
church, East Tennessee and its
h0nored College went with that
branch which included Mr.. Thaw,
Mr.. Dodge, Mr.. Smith, DR.. Willard,
and their associates. It was from
the permanent, long.fixed cOnvic.
tion, that MaryviIle College was
pre-eminently Gods college, that
the partially of these choice men
arose.
Another thing for which we have
occasion to be especially and pro-
fOundly thankful to-day, In respect
to the past of Maryville, is found in
the numerous revivals which have
prevailed here in all these churches
and in the College, from their
foundation. 1t is said that there
was once a Presbyterian church
here of six or eight hundred men,
Ibers. This was the Jerusalem and
here the temple whittier the tribes
went up. 1t was the religious CEN
tire of the whole country. Here
preached in succession those mod.
ern BOanerges, sons Of thunder,
Gideon Blackburn and Isaac Ar
dersOn, men whose resistless logic
and overwhelming elOquence were
so famous, that the Legislature of
Tennessee 1t Il said, thought it
their duty to leave their discussions
for the mere enactment of civil
laws "Silent leges inter arma,"
and adjourned from the State.
House to the Presbyterian church
In order to hear these famous ora
tors of the church discuss a great
question, on the i'll advised sugges-
ton Ofthe removal Of the College To
Central Tennessee. In the end u
this famous contest it Is obvious
that DR.. Anderson held the ground,
and came home crowned with lau.
rels, for the College Is still here.
When numerous other Presby.
terrain churches were formed In
the country, of course the mother
church was deprived of many mem
bers who formed those churches
nearer their own homes. Revivals
of religion however have continued
to bless this field. We have grea,
reason to be thankful for reviva
and ingathering at the College, ant
for more or less of ingathering ir
all the churches, during the past
year.
We have however, not only II
the past, but in the present. Occa
sion for abundant thanksgiving, il
the union, harmony and zeal Of al
these churches; and for the gen
eral prosperity of all these schools
Of various grades which distinguish
our community. Maryville il
widely known as pleasant anC
attractive place for residence, ant
as genial health res lrt. Blu
more, it is known to the worlt
abroad chiefly, as connected will
those greatest of human interests
religion and education.
And now what shall its future be
We answer, 1t will be very mucl
what, we, with the blessing of God
make it. We who are here, build
ing upon the past, are largely t.
determine our own future. An(
how bright the prospect, how CRANE
the opportunity which lies befOr,
us! Why should not Maryville be
come one Of the most beautiful, al
well as most widely known ant
favored villages or cities of ou
country? We shall still need ait
from the financially more favored
portions of our country. But le
us show ourselves not unworthy o
the confidence and assistance o