The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1899-07-12
THE A. AND VI. COLLEGE.
Historical sketch-Its PROGRESSED su
cessful Commeucement

cessfui commencement
1t was the privilege of this writer to
attend the closing exercises of the Ag-
ricultural and Mechanical college, near
Starkville; and as some notes of the
occasion may interest the public, they
are here submitted:
The college was established by act APP
proved Feb. IS, 1878. The cornerstone
of its chapel was laid Sept. -, 1879, and
the college was opened, with $50 stu
dents, Oct. 6, 1850. 1t owes its origin
to an act of congress, 1862, ito encour-
age the establishment of industrial col
leges in the States to benefit agricul-
ture and mechanic arts" The land
scrip allotted to Mississippi represented
207 800 acres, which was sold by Gov.
Alcorn at 90 cents per acre, realizing
Slss, 29s. This, by good management,
was increased to s227, $50, which was
invested in State bonds, placed to the
credit of Alcorn and A. and NJ. colleges.
The sum of $4,000 of the amount to
the credit of the A. and NJ. was used in
the purchase of lands. The interest at
per cent yields an annual income of
S5,914.50.
The general scope of the college is
expressed in the act of congress donat-
ing the lands, and in the act of the
legislature accepting the scrip: The
establishment and maintenance of a
first-class institution, at which the
youth of the State may acquire a com
mon school education and scientific
and practical knowledge of agriculture,
horticulture and the mechanic arts; also
the proper growth and care of stock,
without, however, excluding other
scientific and classical studies, includ-
ing military tactics"
In the selection of a faculty General
Stephen ID. Lee was chosen president,
and he continued as such to May 1,
1899, when he resigned for another, but
not more exalted sphere of usefulness.
He kept the college within the sphere
of its creation, and it is recognized as
among the very best of its class in the
United States. All that is needed to
complete its equipment is a textile
school, which it is hoped the next legis-
lature will establish. The mechanical
department has been substantially de-
veloped within the last few years, and
with a textile school added its gradu-
ates will not only be able to give in
struction in scientific and practical
agriculture and horticulture, and the
mechanic arts, but many will be quail
En1 TO ha of
manufacturing plants to be hereafter
established in our State.
The session just closed, considering
the interruptions of last fall, was very
prosperous. The enrolment was 27l,
of whom IS graduated in the agricul-
tural course and in the mechanical
course.
The commencement exercises were
very interesting throughout, and there
was an unusually large attendance of
visitors, and from all sections of the
State
The commencement sermon was
preached by Bishop Thomas f. Gailor,
of Memphis. He measured fully up to
the high expectations that his reputa-
ton had created. His text, Matthew
% II, And he saith unto him, Friend.
how earnest thou in hither not having
a wedding garment? And he was
speechless," furnished him with a
theme for discourse that delighted all
who heard it. This was not my privi
lege; but l heard him Sunday night,
when he preached for the Y. NJ. c. A.
from Isaiah, 6:S: also | heard the
voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall l
send, and who will 60 for us? Then
said |, Here am l send me-" After a
responsive exercise, and splendid music,
the bishop clucidated his text in dis
course of thirty minutes. He spoke
without notes, and with such rapidity
that no stenographer could possibly
keep pace with him. He is an original
profound thinker, but before you can
grasp one grand thought he gives you
others in such rapid succession, you
hardly know, when he gets through,
where you are. He is man of com
handing presence-a born bishop.
l had a special personal interest in see
born in jacksonville son of Frank NJ.
Gailor, who was a printer and publisher
in Jackson from 1858 to the war period,
when he enlisted in the Confederate
service and was killed at the battle of
Perryville. Frank Gailor was foreman
of the True Witness" in the spring of
1855, and it was in response to an invi-
tation from him that left New Orleans
and accepted cases under him. His
wife was Charlotte Moffatt. On the
death of her husband she removed to
Memphis and educated her son for the
ministry. They are pleasantly remem-
bered by some of the older citizens of
that time.
The regular program of commence
ment exercises began Monday morning
at / o'clock. The chapel could not ac-
commodate more than one-half the Wis
itors, and the students simply entered
one door and passed out through an
other. Except those who took part in
the debates, essays and orations, the
students were unable to witness any of
the exercises, or to hear either of the
sermons. The necessity for larger
and better arranged building is very
apparent.
The sophomores occupied the plat
form. Their orations were original,
and all were well acclaimed, and in
tensely practical. The speakers and
subjects were: II. l.. Winston, Ma
lures Gifts to MANI e. G.. Whitehead
Farming and Prosperity" T. C. Han
nah, Farming to Supply the Wants of
Man," Miss r. NJ. Miller, THE Science
of Education ]. d. Guyton, Farm
Labor, Industrial and Scientific" E. Q.
Ford, Our Southern Forests" j. E.
Rogers, THE Relation of Agriculture
to Government" l.. ellis, Progressive
Industry in the South"
The Magruder medal for best de-
claimer of an original essay was won
by Mr.. E. G. Whitehead, Of Winona.