The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-03


was 30 far advanced, that with certain he
quests which will be referred to more specific
ally further on i'm this SIX etch, and the uneX.
amplcd reduction of values of lands and
their products, out Of Which the great ma
jorily of the, friends Of the College had to
raise the money to pay for their tuition GER
tifcates, it was thought wise to suspend fur
ther effort on the endowment II had then
reached the sum Of about SS0, 900.
DEATH OF DIR. JAMES p. PKEssLY.
The funds being in hand, and carefully in
vested; students coming in from all the
Southern States; her influence and useful
ness flowing on in encouraging volumes, the
sky seemed all bright with promise. when
Death again spread his raven wing over the
College. 1t was sign that madeanXiOus eye
meet eye, when in the latter part OF March,
1877, the bell rang the regular hours, and Dr.
James i. PrcSSiy was not ;it hiS posi- OF ;duly.
a fter q short illness, on the alth OF March,
.S7T, this devoted Christian and nblc instrur
tor, known in all the church, and so highly
esteemed by all that knew him.-so long The
oracle of the HOmcric and Ciceronian classics,
was called to his rest, after acOnnection with
the College Of nearly forty years. lie was
succeeded In the Fall OF that year by his for
mer pupil, and master Of the same tongues.
Rev. i. L. Patton, d. d., LII. d.
OTHER CHANGES IN THE FACULTY.
Since DIR. Prcssly's death. four times have
there been changes in the Faculty; but lap
PLY for us, death has not been the occasion OF
these changes In the Fall of IS 0 Rev. J. N.
Young resigned his chair. Like DIR. Pressly,
this faithful servant OF the college, SO patent
with his pupils, SO amiable in his life, So
even in temper, so tireless In the performance
OF College duties, had been professor for for
ty or more years. l am sure that IN the pres
ence of these alumni whose diplomas benr
his name, can record no tribute TO his
worth that they will not endorse-and each
still wish to add line OF his own, with ten
derness that no other could write for him.
Mr.. J. H. Miller, of Selma, Ala, was elected
I.,,A 10 nfnnn
studies he wished to pursue for time at
Johns II Hopklns University, he requested that
no change be made until the next Fall, when
he would enter upon the active duties OF hls
position. Agreeably to this understanding,
Professor Miller took control OF this depart
ment at the opening Of the exercises In Octo-
ber, 1881 r..
II was not long until another change was
made. In 1882 the Faculty Of the South Car
olina University was re-organized, and Ers-
kline College was called upon to surrender
member OF her Faculty to complete the re-
organization Of the Faculty Of that = gniversi, ST.
Greek and Latin In the State University. TO
fill the vacancy thus created, Professor j. l.
Mccain, az, bonored graduate OF Ersklne,
aud assA years snSeeSsluI snd n teae Se.
tober, 1882, the College rcjoiced at>Haas Ietprn
as q co-laborer Of her Faculty
During the next year, viz, 1883, Professor
Lowry desired to be relieved OF the onerons
OF Trustees to name his successor. AS This
superior scholar and most excellent gentle
man has now passed into the upper decades
of life, and retired rom actlve puonC 1,n,r IuSa
himself again to be called, 1t will not be re-
gardcd as transcending the prophecies OF this
narrative to say that, although ne was pro
fessor In the College only aboutthlrteen years,
he was known to fame for many years pre-
viously as an eminent teacher In Louisville,
Ga. His academy for many years pelore the
war was one Of the most regular feeders Oh the
College. Himself son OF minister OF the
Gospel, he gave both OF his own sons TO the
cause or the Redeemer, together with q BROTH
er Rev. James A. Lowry, OF Alabama. SO
much his junior that he was TO MIN orotner
and son ut the Same time. One OF them, Dr.
Joseph w. Lowry, of fragrant memory TO
many present to-day, has years ago laid down
the cross and taken up the crown-the other
two still live to love and honor the guardian
and guide Of their youth. Always so courte'
ous always so cheerful, always so hopeful,
did he ever see human nature suffer and he
did not syInpathize? or In distress, ana ne
did not weep, or In prosperity ana ne ala not
rejoice? May his last glass wait long to tnrn,
and may its sands run slowly, and smoothly,
so tha! when he must leave us, we Will won
der how and when the angels bore him hence
At meeting called for the purpose, Rev. }.
McC. Todd was elected by the Board OF Tros'
tees as professor of the Latin and French lam
euages, and entered Immediately on the dis
charge OF his professional duties. For num-
ber or years Mr.. Todd had been the accepta-
BILE pastor Of the Winnsboro congregation,
but had resigned his charge, and was living
in Due West Mt the time Of his election, and
was one OF the editors OF the associate Re
formed Presbyterian.
During the succeeding five years the Facul-
ty was unchanged. but at the close of the Col
lesiate Year of 1883. Professor Miller, aiter
period OF seven years service. in his Alma
Mater, resigned to begin the practice OF law,
i'm Alabama, his native State. One of his for
mer pupils, Professor Paul l.. Grier, with the
experience rs n teacher in Tennessee, az tu-
tor in the Preparatory Department OF tnls Coi-
lege and as principal OF q flourishing orancn
of the public schools of Washington City,
d. c., was unanimously elected as Professor
MIller's successor. This being the lust change,
the present Faculty lsas follows:
Wm Hood, Professor since lS6S.
VIM. Nj. Grier, President since 1871.
j. l. Mccain, Professor since lSS2.
j. McC. Todd, Professor since lSSj.
Z. L. Grier, Professor since lSSS
TUTORS DEPARTMENT.
From the beginning of the College. there
had been connected with IL what was called
tho Preparatory Department. The objects IL
had I'm view were, first, to prepare young men
who might wish TO avail themselves OF the
opportunities it offered for admission into the
first College class second, TO give addltlonai
instruction to students who might come from
q distance TO the College with the expectation
of entering the first class, but found lhemsei'
YES lndiTerently prepared for fuIi proiitaDle
work therein without addltlonal study I'D
distributed among the members OF the Fac
ulty but, az they already had full employ
ment in their several legitimate departments
in the College, the instruction had TO pc CIV
en- ut such hours and fragments OF time rs
each ono could devote TO 1t. The results were,
therefore. never very satisfactory.
The better results of q separate organization
are due 10 the present administration. The
a. t.1ln It,t tl,tc
sented to Synod in 1881. upon which she au.
thOriZed the board of trustees TO arranGc
course of study covering two years, ana 10
employ tutor who shouIu give e. ms Wipe .1,e
tuition fees we're not sufficient to pay the sal,
ary Of the incumbent and were supplemented
from the College treasury. Later tne Luitioii
charges were increased to $50 since which
lime It has been sci-supporting. It's success,
though nc; yet rs satisfactory as it Is beleVeu II
cum be made, abundanty vindicated the Wis
dom OF It's organization. without entering
into details, let it suffice to say mat the gen
tIemen who have had It under their care
have all been men of learning and aolllty ana
have given it the benefit OF the very pest IN
struction, and managed ii with marked sue
cess. The gentlemen who have had IL ID
charge mt different times, and for longer or
shorter periods, named in the order Ot tnclr
periods arc. Messrs Luther Z. Kennedy, Iaui
j.. Grlcr, ii. II. Robinson and Capt j. NJ.
Cochranc, the incumbent.
LEGAcIEs TO TIE COLLEGE.
1t may be interesting to recall the fact hat
two Of the largest legacies the College has
ever received were given during this admins
trution. DR.. j. w. Hearst, of this State and
county, provided by will that, on the death OF
his widow, the College should become heir To
twO-thirIs ofhis estate rs II would then stand
After his death in 1872, Mrs. Hearst, witha
wisdom and generosity that did honor 10
herself. and the memory of Il husband. Hiln
whom to know duty, was tn do it, requested
the Trustees to have the estate assessed ana
divided agreeable to thc will, and NJ once TO
take pOsScsSion OF their share, paying her
during life Il very small per cent of interest
nn Aullni Iln Iyill nrnXiunl shunll be lcrS dur