The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1889-05-23
WAKE FOREST CoLLEGE.
4 Short sketch Of Establishment,
Early Struggles aud Present
Prosperity.
WAxE FOREST. y. c.
May Goth, 1889. (
ON appliatics

Mr.. Editor-In 1882, Just forty
years after the origination of
the University In Chatham coun-
ty, the Baptist Of North Caro-
lima met in convention I'm the
same county at Reeves chapel
TO organize q school upon the
manual Labor Plan for the
benefit of the poor and iguorant
children Of their church and
others that might come. Thus
Chatham has the honor of being
the birth place of both, though
neither are situated In Its histo-
ry. The convention began 10
push the matter, and finally
purchased a piece OF land from
DR.. Calvin Jones containing 600
acres for $4,000, of which
amount 81 500 was paid during
that convention, and the balance
shortly afterwards. The matter
was dropped until November,
1888, when the convention met
at Dockcry's meeting house In
Richmond county, when again
they were reminded of an edu-
cational institution, and at once
forty trustees were appointed for
Wake Forest Manual Institute,
which name originated from the
beautiful oak grove and county
in which it was to be situated.
The convention of 1884, ap-
pointed William Hooper, Thos.
Meredith, John Armstrong and
Samuel Wait to meet in Raleigh
and select q master or teacher
as they might term it.
Samuel Wait was ele. ted to
fill that humble position as it
then appeared; but, on account
of no suitable buildings and
furniture he was compelled to
spend the first year In canvass
ing for students and means to
begin.
On the first Monday in Febru-
ary, 1884, the school opened
with thirty-four students and
only one instructor, and with no
necessary building except seven
log cabins used by DIR. Jones for
servants.
The morning and evening
prayers were held I'm a carriage
house 16X34 feet which f,rmer-
ly belonged to DR.. Jones. The
trustees applied to the Legisla-
ture Of 1888 and "a for a char
ter for Wake Forest Institute,
and after a good deal of debat-
ing was granted by a majority
Of one which was given by the
chairman as there was tie,
which allowed it to occupy only
$4,000 worth of property and
should not be exempt from tax
alton. The trustees appointed
Elder Armstrong to solicit aid
for erecting building, and in one
year he raised $4,000.
In 1886 Messrs. Hooper, Skin
ner and Dockery were appointed
to adopt means for raising
money to endow professorship.
They raised Sl6,667.67.
The first building was erected
in 1887 at a cost of $4,000;
which Was used for more than
forty years for dromitories, reci-
tation rooms and library. The
Legislature of 1887 changed the
charter to Wake Forest College
and in various other ways.
The college continued to in
crease very rapidly for some
time. William ID. Hooper re-
signed the. presidency in 1913
and w. III. Jordan was elected
in his place. At this time the
college had become somewhat
in debt, but in l849 the whole
amount was paid and again ii
assumed prosperous condition,
Since that time numbers of en-.
couraging gifts have been given
; as an endowment fund. The
. first amount .iven to it as an en-.
: dow;uent was by Mr.. Barclay
: Bower, of Warren county-th.
sum of Sl0,-gI adually GRADUAL
ly did that inc, ease until the
close of the war, when there was
S17,500, s.nce that time by the
benevolance of Mr.. j. A. Bos
| tick, OF >ew York, and number.
t of other friends it has reached
) s177,OO0
) The college now comprise
four handsome building situated
in a beautiful campus of twenty
/ two acres. More than four hun
, d,ed ministers have gone ou
from it's walls. Eight OF be
sous have occupied president
r ships OF colleges, and a goot
8 many mure professors chairs
5 Oar 1900 students have gon
: out from its walls, some to for
r eign lands as missionaries. From
q time to time it has had a goot
8 many draw backs but bravel.
: has its banner planted itself an'
: today it stands with as fai
r prospects an any institution il
;, the South. SENTRAM.