The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1889-02-13

Military Academy at West Point, and
entered upon the duties of my chair with
the zeal, II net the judgment, of Pro
fessor, who wished to bring his classes up
to the standard OF the West Point Msth-
ematical course. My Junior class was to
begin the study of the D ferential Calcu-
lus. l soon discovered that it was not
prepared for it, and that it would he ne
cessary tor me to review them over the
elementary Mathematics of the Freshma
class, and so informed the class. The
class held a meeting, and sent commit
tee to demonstrate with me for the at
tempt to degrade them from Juniors to
Freshmen. I pointed out to them their
error-that this was not my purpose
but that it would be impossible for me to
teach them the Calculus until had re-
viewed them on those preliminary branch
es which they must use every day In the
Calculus, that l was willing to labor for
them and with them, by day and by
night, and that if they would cordially
second my efforts, the review would be
profitable to them, and the Calculus
course would then be readily mastered
by them. They took my advice, and
their examination in June before large
crowd of spectators, besides the Trustees,
gave evidence that their time had been
we'll spent, and they were very proud of
the distinctions awarded to them. The
class was an unusually good one. re-
call the names of VIM. @. Darlington and
his cousin Charles Judge Frank D Irv-
ing, the Rev. DIR. VIM. T Richardson and
DIR. Spencer. And 1 have always cher
ished, with afectionate interest, every
member of my first Junior class at Hamp-
den Sidney.
The Rev. DR.. M. D. Hoge joined this
class in the senior year. Hon. Thomas
Bocock was also senior, and both gave
evidence, at that early day, of the dis
tinctions which they attained, ore as an
eminent divine, the other as lawyer
and statesman.
The college gave small salaries to pro.
fessors. And in 1888 an earnest appeal
was made by them to the Trustees for
some increase. The habit was to enter.
tain the Trustees, during their sessions,
at the homes of the professors 1t fell to
Prof Branch to have the venerable VIM.
Berkeley as his guest when the Trustees
were considering the question OF salaries,
After partaking of a good dinner, Mr.
Berkeley said, "Well, Professor, do not
see the necessity for increasing your sal
aries, for, l assure you, l have not eaten
so good dinner for years as you have
given me to day" Mrs Branch replied,
6 But, Mr.. Berkeley, you must know that
we have been starving ourselves for six
months to give you this dinner" The
argument was to the point, for $500
year gave a small income to family at
Hampden Sidney in those days.
My interest in Hampden Sidney
prompted me to suggest the preparation
of an Historical Register of its Alumni.
[ was made chairman of the committee
appointed for this purpose. The material
was small, nothing beyond the old ma
circulation books. Little aid could be
obtained from Trustees or the old stu
dents; and I was forced to call in old
Billy Evans, the college bell ringer. Billy
had been an important factor in college
life for many years. He knew every stu
dent, and had his opinion of each Seat
ed in my study at II o'clock every day,
| would run over the names found in the
naturalization book, and it was curious to
hear his comments upon EACH We'll,
Billy, what do you Say Of this man?"
"What county was he from, Professor?'
Buckingham. "Oh I remember him
well. He was torn-down fellow. He
never got his degree" Or, when came
to a man that met his favor, he would
say, "Ohl he was a good student. He
stood high in his classes" A d thus, by
the aid of the old college bell.ringer the
roll Of the Alumni was in part deter
mined.
Union Theological Seminary is at Hamp.
den Sidney. 1t is distinct institution
from the college, being governed by a
Board of Trustees appointed by the Syn
DDS of Virginia and North Carolina The
institutions are separated by street, and
their buildings are imposing structures,
running parallel to each other. Though
distinct, they have always exercised
marked influence, one upon the other,
and Hampden Sidney has always been
feeder to the Seminary.
Ny relations to the seminary professors
were intimate, and most pleasant The
seminary faculty was presided over at
that time by the venerable George A
Baxter, whom l always regarded as one
of the clear est and most profound think
ers l ever knew. Unfortunately he left
no sermon or other writings to mark mis-
position in the Church as one Of it's most
distinguished theologians His pupils
honored and loved him. The conprepa-