Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-11-03
CONVERSE COLLEGE.
President 3. 3. Wilson's contributlon to Tho
News and Courler's Symposium.

President B. 2. Wilson's Contribution to Tho
News and courlsr's Symposium.
In reply to request from The News
and Courier for a statement about
Converse college, President B. F. VIII
son wrote that paper as follows:
Your note came today and appre-
ciate your courtesy. The News and
Courier has always been on the side Of
educational progress, and very gladly
send you the following facts, the form
of which you can change If you desire,
and append my name to 1T.
| Converse college was chartered III
1890, and during the first year Of it's
history enrolled 176 students. For six
years the buildings and property were
controlled by Mr.. Converse and myself.
In 1895 the college was rechartered by
the legislature of South Carolina, when
Mr.. Converse gave all that he had ad-
vanced to the institution, which
amounted to $4,000, and gave all that
had advanced, which amounted to
$4,000, and all Of the citizens Of Spar
tanburg, who had contributed to the
college, 153 in number, gave up all their
subscriptions, which amounted to
about $4,000, and the college was made
q permanent gift to the cause Of edu-
cation. Since that time Mr.. Converse
has given 100000. wS.ch was the be-
quest left in his will.
The improvements and the plant now
amount to about quarter Of million
dollars. The charter provides that q
majority Of the board Of trustees and q
majority Of the faculty shall never be-
long to one denomination, otherwise
the college forfeits all its gifts and
grants. The college now owns four
large buildings and six smaller build
|ings. It's auditorium for the department
Of music, finished year before last, con-
tains a hall that will accommodate
1000 people, a $1,000 pipe organ and "a
practice rooms. The musical faculty
consists Of seven members, all Of whom
are conservatory graduates, and the
enrolment in the department Of music
this year numbers 225. The college to
date has enrolled 376 students. This Is
about Is per cent. larger than any pre-
vious opening in the history of the coll
lege. OF this number 1913 are boarding
students. These, with the faculty, make
212 in the dormitory buildings, which
is all that the college can accommo-
date. During the first week Of opening
I had to refuse applications for admis-
sion to the college. The art depart
ment numbers % and the elocution de-
partment numbers rs. The students
represent II different states.
I am now arranging with an archi-
tect for the plan of fine science hall,
to be built on the college campus,
which will add very much to the value
of the college plant.
I think the interest in education in
South Carolina is very gratifying, and
we have reached that point now where
there should be no hurtful rivalry be-
tween Independent and state institu-
tions. He is the best citizen who lends
all Of his influence to the better educa-
tion Of the men and women Of our
state, and Converse college heartily
and gladly extends kindly greeting and
best wishes to every institution Of
learning.
The college two years ago abolished
the preparatory department and is do
ing strictly high-grade college work.