The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-05-16

the college.
Promptly at the noon hour, after the ap
plause which followed the song had suosided
Governor Tillman stepped TO the front OF TIT
stand and began to deliver his Introductory
address, IL took the Governor exactly three
quarters OF an hour to deliver his address
and throughout he was time and time agalr
interrupted py vocferous applause. Govern
or Tillman's speech seemed 10 make grea
i'm mpression upon his bearers. and the closing
portion OF II created considerable comment
among people OF all classes.
Governor TilIman's Address.
Ladies and Gentlemen: This is great and glo
r0us day for South Carolina 1t IL day of promise
and bright hope for York county, but the men and
women whose breasts should swell and thrOb with
deepest emotions Of gratulatlon and pride are The
men and women OF Rock Hill-those whose pluck
selfreliance, rsighted business instincts and pat
rOtism made them enter the race for the prize and
come ont winners II, as is always clearly apparent
the prize Is greater, more valuable one than they
themselves ever dreamed, then / know every one O
you who comes to celebrate the public installation OF
this grand institution will join 10 congratulations
the people Of this ambitious progressive little city
and your hearty sympathy is shown by this outpour.
ing Of people to witness her triumph.
We have met to celebrate with fitting ceremonies
the laying of the cornerstone Of this grand State in
sttution Of Learning 1t is 1t were, the public and
official birth Of the Womans College As chairman
Of the board of trustees the task has fallen to me
and perform IL willingly-to make few intrOductO
ry remarks. And first let me say that In casting
about in my mind for something fitting the occasion,
thought 1t would interest you to know something
about the ceremony ITSELF and went to work tO lOok
up the subject. soon found that had gotten into
very deep water-so deep In fact that have never
touched bOttom-for although have ransacked en-
cycopedias and Masonic dictionaries, can find moth
Ing very clear on the subject and absolutely nothing
to its origin. We read every day Of the laying Vi
ia stuna Of mi thnt d
church, and its always done by Free MasOns nut the
Masnns themselves, while they employ most impos-
ing ritual and use symbols that very impressive
are equally In the dark with ourselves as to when,
where, or by whom the ceremony was Instituted. In
tracing the matter up got as for back as the Book oi
Job-one Of the Oldest bucks in the world. he lived
more than fifteen hundred years before Christ accord-
Ing to the accepted chronology and In this awenspr-
ing query. proponnded by God himself to the Man
Of Many Sorrows where vast thou when laid
the foundations Of the earth declare II thou hast nn-
derstandlng? Who has laid the measures thereof, II
th0u knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon
II! WherenpOn are the foundations thereof fasten-
ed? or who laid the stone thereof, when the
morning stars sang together AID all the sons Of God
shouted for toy!"
Hore We find mention made Of the cornerstone Of
the earth as though 1t were an edifice built BY God
limself also Of the "ne which Masons for their
measuring. or course the Book Of Job was written
hy man and necessarily his similes had reference to
pre-exsting conditions and customs and the beau
IL,
excite in your hearts and minds sensations and
thoughts Of the most solemn and inspiring nature
The mind will dwell upon the idea OF great first
cause, sure foundation and wise adaptation or
means to ens while the heart will be ted In graf
itude for the blessings enjoy In this world and the
hope OF higher life In the next; and, then, the i'm.
agnat ion will picture brightest dreams and anticipa
tons for the future OF the institution which we pro-
pose to erect here and the boundess benefits that
to ncrue therefrom to our State and people.
Victor Hugo, In speaking OF the pyramids. descr6-
es them Us 80 old that they have forgotten the names
OF their founder, and while, as we have seen, there
is nothing in history tonching the origin Of the GER
smony Of laying the corner s.one the first begin:
nngs Of Masonry, the origin of the order, are equally
o mystery. 1t Is claimed by some that the Masonic
first became an organized or corporate body
at the building Of Solomon's Temple, which was ded-
icated nearly 2,9O0 years ago. Whether this be true
or false, there s absolute proof that the Masons are
the most ancient guild or order in the world and,
while Hngos apothegm is applicable 10 the fraternity,
II Is ertain that ceremony, similar possibly To the
one which you will witness to-day, performed at
the beginning Of the erection Of that magnificent
edhce, which Davids son erected to the Most High.
In the days Of Old, 1t Is true that the Mason
the man who hewrd the stone, fitted 1t to its place.
tried 1t with bis level measured 1t with bis square
fixed its perpendicular by his plummet and placed 1t
in position basis and starting point Of the edce
But while the stone cutter Of to-day may be Free
Mason, the Free Mason Is no longer necessarily
worker with the hammer and chIsel. The history Of
the speculative, mysterious phanthroplst and doeI
of charitable works might interest you, but must
hasten on, and you will doubtless be more than will
ing to have your minds brought back from this ex-
cursiOn into the dim past with It's unknowable mys-
teries and Its Inspirations to the present with its du
ties and high purposes.
The history of higher education In South Carolina
for men IS one OF which our people may we'll be proud
The S0ath Carolina College, at Columbia was founded
In lS0 nlnetythree years ago, and 1t has always de-
served md received a handsome support from the
State The Citadel, another school ior boys was es
tahlished fifty.one Yeas ago.
Until within the last eight years these two colleges
which were promptly reopened as soon as the white
people regaine8 possession Of the government In
south Carolina In 1875, were considered ample by
those who had control To supply all the needs OF our
people for higher education by the State.
But the wheels Of progress were moving. even In
South Carolina, and, after somewhat protracted and
bitter struggle, another school for boys-Clemson
College-was established in 1889 10y act or the Gen.
era Assembly, and opened Its doors TO students last
July.
This school is q new departure. The three fnnds.
mental ideas which have actuated those who plead
fnr 1t, and who have opened 1t successfully, are
chenpness the dignity Of labor and the application
applied science To practical affairs 1t Is "bread and
hutter school In every sense Of the word seeking to
tit men for the occupations they intend to follow.
while giving good practical drill in the English
branches.
1t MAS contended by those who opposed its being
founded, that the should be educated first and
leave him to acquire technical or special trimming af
terwards. The fundamental idea Of the Clemson cur
rculum Is that the two shall 60 together; that while
the mind Is being drilled to correctly and the
brain cultivated by the acquisition of knowledge, the
hand ind eye shall also be trained and that, instead
at wasting time In physical culture In the gymna-
stun, or on the bnse ball ground or In the tennis
court, the boy shall receive oil necessary muscular
development by performing labor which is educa-
tinnal on the farm and In the workshop.
That this college has met long felt.want and that
our people have faith and hope for the system Of
education, you have Occuar demonstration In the
splendid cjrps of Cadets numbering $50, who have
give an earnest Of the pleasure they feel in adding
ecat to the occasion which has brought us together
Consider that ten months ago every one OF these
erect, manly looking Youngsters was gawSy,
slochy country 0ut city dude while half Of them
have only been at Clemson since February, and you
will give due credit to those In charge OF 1t for the
transformation which has been wrought have rea.
son to know that the transformation going on their
minds is equally marked.
They are being taught that God helps hose who help
themselves; that success in life requires sef.reance
and labor that work is honorable that work Is nee
essary and that South Carolina will never achieve
greatness except through the efforts Of her own chill
drcn; that knowledge Of books is good but not the
only knowledge that is necessary; that knowledge oi
things is better and tnat ski energy and persever'
ance with diversified pursuits will alone make South
Carolina great and prosperous.
We find, when come tD recapitulate, that the
South Carolina College, hOary with age and rendered
ilus;rious by the famous men 1t has educated stanGs
strong and sturdy among its clustering elms, In our
Capital City.
The Citadel equally honored by its alumni is doing
Its special work In Charleston.
I.I- Il H.,