Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-06-05
CENTURY MARK.
Hundredth Anniversary of WASH
ington College.
A Tennessee Institution That Has Done
Much for the Higher Educa-
tiOn of Our Youth.
Correspondence Chattanooga Times.

fore had caught the mountain blossoms
in their white clutch and some of them
were limp and faded. The early train
from johnson City started at 7 o'clock,
and the ride to Telford's Station was
thirteen miles. The journey from Tel.
ford's to the college was three miles
over rough country road with many
mud holes in it. Barley and wheat
with pendant heads, nodded welcome
as we drove on. A bare foot boy, evi.
IDENTITY on lis way to the same spot we
were attempting to reach, had stopped
to wade one of the several streams
which crossed the road; and his little
sister, dressed Red Riding Hood fash
ion, made a bright spot in the dark
green bushes on the bank while wait
ing for him to get through. Arriving
at the college grounds, the distant
mountains for the first time pushed
their peaks into view. On the one side
was the great Appalachian range; on
the other, the Cumberland uplift. Two
and half miles away the fretting
Nolachucky of John Sewer ran its
course. The nearest building to the
college property is the old Salem
church, brick building that looked
substantial when approaching it, but
on closer inspection evidently had been
abandoned. The driver told us, the
walls had sprung outward and the
building had been condemned. Above
the church lay a little graveyard. The
low, white tombstones, summer and
winter, had preached-were preaching
will preach sermon to every passer-
by. A broad road separated the church
and the graveyard from the college
campus-some twenty acres of land
which ran still higher up on the slop-
ing hillside. A cluster of magnificent
oaks, some four feet through, were
grouped about the church. Under one
of these trees, DR.. Samuel Doak, ia
years before. preached from horseback,
his first sermon to large audience,
hungry for Presbyterian preaching
Since the first sermon, a new heaven
and new earth, intellectually and me,
chanically, at least, have been created,
but this man and his work still live.
So, great personality projects itself
into the centuries.
A college chapel and halls; a girls
dormitory; and industrial building four
stories high for boys; a new, elegant
church; with cottages dotted over the
grounds, represent the present build
ings.
But little grassy mound outside the
grounds, and another mound within
the grounds, are richer than these in
historic memory. The first named was
the site of Martin academy, the first in
stitution of learning west of the Allie
ghanies. After twelve years, Martin
academy blossomed into Washington
College. The mound on the campus
was the second college building, used
thirty two years, until the brick build
ing beside it made the third home for
this pioneer college of the southwest
had the good fortune to fall into
the hands of J. o. Wallace, of Dills-
boro, N. c., who took me to the grave
of DR.. Samuel Doak, broken limestone
slab lying fiat on the ground in the
Salem church yard. What a monu-
ment for such man. With pebble
I rubbed off the moss to read the lame,
then took off my shoes, manfully, to
the dust underneath. A century had
the great soul in its arms. DR.. A. S. N.
Dobson, President of the Board of Trus.
tees, directed me into the old church
under the oaks, and to the grassy
mounds, which have mentioned, then,
with East Tennessee hospitality, invited
me to lunch.
E. S. Mathes, also of the board, ex-
planned to me clearly the general topo.
graphy of the country. Together we
went into the chapel to hear DR.. Viii.
loughby's address. My gray haired
friend, gallantly kept the hat and the
place for young man, beside "his
best girl, while the aforesaid young
man performed part in the choruses.
The music was excellent. President
Cooters opening prayer was short, sol.
emn and appropriate. His remarks in
opening the programe, was in the same
high key. He simply said, This is
centennial day, and represents hun
dred years of quiet work. 1t is well
worth our while to renew our acquaint.
ence with the past, but the great thing
is to do our work." then sat down. A
better speech no man could make. A
beautiful song, sung by four voices,
swept the audience forward to DR.. Will.
loughby's address. The speaker said
THE human race began in Eden. but
moral gardens had been planted, also
one of these plantations was Washing.
ton College. 1t had sent forth streams
of influence. The history of the college
for a hundred years had been one Of
struggle and toll, then he added with
emphasis-"May it ever be so." An
audible "amen ought to have reached
so fine sentiment. He held up in hi.
hand to the audience, an old book,
without any back, sixteen of the front
pages gone. 1t was an original copy
of the acts of the Legislature that gave
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