The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1895-10-19
OUR PRESIDENT.
A Sketch of the Life and Work of DIR. j.
l.. Goodnight.


1t gives us pleasure to bring be-
fore our readers IN this issue the
handsome and intelligent face of the
President of our University. At
their last annual meeting the Board
of Regents had before them the
names of several gentlemen of cul-
ture from whom to select to fill the
then vacant chair of President Of the
West Virginia University After
careful aud conscientious delibera-
tion DR. Goodnight was chosen for
this position.
The subject of this sketch was
born in Allen county, KY, and is
forty seven years of age He is a
member of family of eight child
rem, three brothers and sister of
which are still living. The family
is an old and highly respected one.
One of his brothers | II. Goodnight
has for three terms represented his
district in the Congress of the
United States, while another, I. NJ.
Goodnight is chief secretary Of the
Bureau of Education of the State of
Kentucky.
The early education of Dr. Good
knight was begun in log school
house in his native state and finish
ed at Cumberland University, Leba.
non, Tenn. He also completed the
course at the Union Theological
Seminary of New York City. -Four
and half years were spent in teach.
ing and preaching in southern Ken
lucky. 1t is rather remarkable that
though the farthest church was thir-
ty five miles from his home be was
never absent or tardy during this
period Later he took charge Of a
feeble church at Covington, Ohio,
which in a short time he had made
one the strongest in the denomina
ton. In 1884 he visited Ireland to
attend the Presbyterian Council
which met at Belfast that year.
Five years later be went as a dele
gate to the Worlds Sunday School
Convention held in London. He did
not return Immediately but spent
two years in England and on the
continent in study and travelling.
At the University of Edinburg,
Scotland, where he spent one term
he distinguished himself by taking
first honors in his class in Philoso.
ply which was composed of 1874
members. Following this he entered
the University at Jena, Germany,
for a school year. Here be studied
under Prof. Refine, the great peda
gogical leader of Southern Germany.
Prof. Haeckel the greatest living B-
ologist in Europe and Prof Liep
mann the famous young German
Psychologist were also among his
instructors at Jena.
Having completed his work there
he decided to make careful study
of the management and methods of
the great Universities of Europe
To do this he visited among others
the German Universities of Halle,
Leipsig, Berlin, Vienna, and Zurich
and Geneva in Switzerland Pre-
vlous to this he visited the English
universities of Oxford and Cam
bridge, also the leading Scotch uni
versities. At all these places his
work was the same, studying the
principles that lay at the founda-
tion OF these successful institutions
of learning.
Wearied with study and constant
work he decided to take a vacation
and spend it in travelling. On this
tour he saw Egypt, Syria, Turkey,
Greece, Sicily, Italy and all Of the
continental countries of Europe, ex
cept Russia.
Satisfied with his vacation he re
turned to England and in short
while sailed for the United States
which he reached July 1891.
While in Europe Dr. Goodnight
had been solicited to become pastor
of the Cumberland Presbyterian
church at Waynesburg, Pa lie later
accepted the profered pastorate and
entered upon his duties there III Oo-
tober 1891. During his nearly four
years stay at Waynesburg Dr.
Goodnight made host of friends.
Besides his church duties he was for
sometime a trustee and taught at
times at Waynesburg College. Here
it was that Dr. Goodnight was la
boring arduously in behalf of relig
ion and education when he received
the news of his appointment to the
Presidency of the West Virginia
University.
Personally the President is gen
ial and affable gentleman. His man
ner is sath as is sure to win him
hosts of friends among the students
of our University and among the
people of the State.
1t is impossible to say yet what
his career as 9 college president will
be. But considering how already |
greater numbers are ir5oEing to the
University and how a permanent in
terest in it is being awakened all
over the State we feel safe in pro-
phesying great things for this col
lege under the guidance and direc
tion of DR.. Goodnight and congrat-
ulate the Board upon its wisdom in
selecting him.