The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1891-08-18
THE NEW EDUCATION.
CLEMSON coLLEGe-lTs ORIGIN AND
OBJECTS.

CLEMSON coLlEGe-lTs ORIGIN ANC
OBJECTS.
An Address Delivered by President Strnds
Before the State Agricultural and Me-
chanicaI Society at It's Summer Meeting
in Orangeburg
When received from your secretary
the honor of the invitation TO address
you might very well have asked to be
excused in view of the engrossing nature
OF the great work at Fort Hill, the daily
superintendence of which Is my duty
But as did not then beg to be excused
in my great desire to meet you l must
now prOffer as an excuse for The study
and care that is lacking iti my paper, and
which should be due this body in any
matter presented for its consideration,
that the work there is so full of perpleX-
tiles aud responsibilities that only mo.
ments OF snatched opportunities could
be used for this service, and these mo-
ments have been all too rare for the prop
er preparation of a paper or this occa-
sion.
Too fresh In the minds OF all are the
events which led to The founding of Glenn
son College to need now q minute histo-
ny of its beginning. Thomas G.. Glenn
son, the son-iu-law of John g.. Calhoun,
died in April, 1883, leaving by his will
Sl4 acres of land, with Fort Hill, the
old home of John G.. Calhoun, and about
$780, in money aud interest bearing
stock as bequest to the safe Tor the
founding of an agricultural college. if
certain conditions were accepted by the
Legislature.
THE REVENUES OF THE COLLEGE.
Finally the bequest was formally
accepted, and, in sympathy with the
feeling OF many in the State, the Iegis-
lature furthermore granted certain funds
coming from the General Government,
aud the proceeds of q certain small tax
evled On those interested in fertilizers,
as an annual income to sustain the Col
lege. These combined sources Of rev.
enue were found to yield between
sevent9 and ndsventy-live thousand dollars
annually, and to place the College at
once on footing OF equality with
the richest institutions of learning in the
South. The matter of a building fund
was not at once arranged, as the ample
annual revenue, part of which might be
legally used for buildings, was thought
sufficient to provide against immediate
embarrassment.
TIIEBOARD OF TRUSTEES.
The boa d of trustees, composed of
seven gentlemen appointed by MIR. Glenn
son as selfperpetuating body, and of
slx others elected by the Legislature for
terms of four years each, met. organized
a, fnnly hnir rnon1ncihlii,,
One OF their first acts was tie election
the board in the intervals between their
frequent with the board composed of
gentlemen living in widely separated
parts of the State. The next act was
the election Of president OF the College
to be representative of the executive
committee for all current business which
hud to be transacted in the two weeks
intervals, which finally became the set
periods between the meetings of the COM
mittec. Thus the plans of the College
along ali its lines OF growth and pro-
gress represent by the organization the
work of the members of the full board,
who have given their time and devotion
to the great task. Provided for by the
iar-scclng mind Of Mr.. Clemson against
the dangers of sudden changes in the
board of trustees, the College has been
from the beginning under the influence
of steady policy which has had as its
ruling princible the toundi, of one of
the greatest institutions of lis character
in the SoIth.
A GOOD FOUNDATION.
AS the representative OF the executive
committee, which in its turn represents
the fuller management. L am by your
courtesy here today TO tell you what
words of hope and promise they wish to
90 out through you TO the eXpectant
youth OF the state; TO tell you by what
methods they expect that the sentiments
of honor, the spirit OF thoroughness, and
the cultivation OF a pure ambition may
be made to blend in an educational sys-
tenn with that training OF the hand, the
eye and the brain that is to :orm the new
education. AS all must recognize that
no institution IN the South can aspire to
the first rank that ignores as the basic
element of Southern manhood Il love of
truth and honor, perhaps it is needless
to assure you that this will be n founda-
ton stone in Clemson College. Along
with this more chivarous element will
90 hand in hand in the character build
ing attempted there the forming of those
habits ofprOmptness, accuracy, thorOug.
ness and reliability in regard to all re-
spOnsibilities that make ,he successful
man. The cultivation of the esprit de
corps will be looked to as the safeguard
of the College. lis graduates will go
forth with that tic still attaching them
the alma mater that will teach them
to point with honorable pride to the
source OF the instruction that moulded
them for usefulness; and on her 20 them
as her most precious children destined
to bring honorable reputation for her
a!Lhtul work.
THE MILITARY FEATURE.
Iu the military system, which becomes
part of the College in connection with
the Federal grant, will be planted the
discipline Of the institution. There
will be no loss here to the student boy
whose farm exercises will grow into
manlY shape in the exercises Of the daily
routine, whist the mind of Southern
youth will naturally turn to thoughts OF
that past o. his country's history that
Yields much to stir the blood aud to tend
To the enriching Of their nobler impulses.
They will not be taught 10 be the unthink-
ing machines 10 prop the supports Of fu-
ture tyranny, whilst they draw their In.
enlratiOn from tho rppnrI nj that pittzan