The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-06-05


to note a marked Improvement in this
particular, however.
Educate man and let him feel con-
fdenee in his gospel and in himself,
if you want a positive force in the pull
pit. Give us an enlightened preacher on
fire, if you want to hear thoughts that
bristle and words that burn May the
Lord save us from an emasculated Cos
pei that emanates from a negative minis
try.
Another stumbling block to the pro-
cess of our higher life is the fact that
our rich men have not acquired the
habit of giving or leaving their money
to institutions of learning. There are,
however conspicuous exceptions to this
statement. We have in mind the muni-
ficent gifts of General Carr to Trinity
when Trinity sadly needed not only
money but friends. There are other
names that stand out in bright relief
against this cloud of Indifference on the
part of our monied men to the needs
of our colleges: the Alspaughs, Odells,
Cuninggims. Jurneys, Bases, Wattses,
Harnesses, Grays and others have done
we'll in proportion to their means. It
remained for the Dukes, however, to
exceed in benevolence the amount ever
contributed to any one cause, or to any
causes, so far as l am informed, in North
Carolina. 1t means the dawning of a
brighter day in our State when one family
gives to Trinity college more than five
hundred thousand dollars.
THE last and most unreasonable class
that | will notice who oppose our edu-
cational progress consists of those who
know it is their duty to educate their
children, but claim that they are too poor
to do so. These same people who imagine
themselves too poverty stricken to spend
fifty dollars for the education of their
children, go forth with unblushing coun-
tenances and pay a hundred dollars for
the newest thing in trap, or buy at an
even higher figure the latest agony ia
the shape of a moving machine. | make
no quarrel with the man who is really
poor. / have no hard words for him who
really thinks he is right and does the
best he can.
Every institution of learning that is
great enough to become a history max
ing factor in its day, generally evolves
a type Of manhood easily recognized as
the product of its policy.
Now what of the Trinity man?
"He is everywhere, in every trade and
profession. As a farmer, he is a mortal
terror to grass and defies the weather.
when he tackles electricity he makes the
sparks fly. AS a lawyer, he is a bowling
success; he makes a good judge; We know
this, because we have had many opportu-
mites of trying him; he is a first-class
legislator in his own State, and feels per-
fectly at home as a Congressman or Uni
ted States Senator; he is a model lieu
tenant governor, and would make great
governor if necessary. So, you see every
walk of life claims it's Trinity man-and
wherever you find him he has always a
wonderful habit of making things happen.
I'm the making of Trinity College many
men have wrought and suffered ]:
would be too tedious for me to attempt
to name all these honored workmen who
builded strong and well. Suffice it to
say, we all know who they are and le-
joice to do them honor. | ccl only touch
upon three of the presidents who have
really made history, because the Trinity
we now see would have been imposslnl2
if these three men had net lived and love d
and suffered.
"Braxton Craven was no ordinary man.
1t is doubtful if the State ever produced
his equal in pure mental powe and
versatility of accomplishments. If ability
to work and power to endure ar ndicHs
Of greatness, he was truly great. To
evolve a college from an ordinary country
school requires genius that is truly Gre
ative. To do great things with p"ac-
tically no material resources will test
supremely the ability of den. These
things were done by this man, and few
for
good has been more widely felt and so
little recognized. 1t may be practically
said that his policies as to general man
agement and curricula were carried out by
his successors until the advent of John
Franklin Crowell Pennsylvania, who
brought to North Carolina a new idea of
a college. During his administration, all
the departments of the college were re-
organized and enlarged College athletics
were given an impetus hitherto unknown
here. He literally stumped the State for
higher learning, and filled the PEOPLE with
his own enthusiasm for the high things Of
the mind.
Il, for one have always maintained
that his stay here was great benedic =
tion to the State, and North Carolina has
never paid and never can pay the debt it
owes TO him for his devoted md unself5l
work and for the inspiration he left us,
which abides with us still. lie came 20
us rich in this worlds goods. with youth
and health and hope and the divine UNI
dersong in his SOUL poor in possessions,
broken in health, and we'll nigh crushed
in spirit he left us, but never VOID of
murmuring or COMPLAINT have we heard
him utter and if he ever returns to pay
us visit, l hope we can open or hearts
and homes to him, and bid him thrice vel
come
1.-THE task that DR.. Kilgo found await
ing him was enough to discourage the
stoutest heart The old faculty wa8
scattered, and new men had taken their
places. The college was in debt, and
the income was too small by several
thousand dollars per year to meet actual
running expenses. The benefactoTs of the
college openly avowed their determination
never to put another dollar into it. Surely
these were cherries sources Of inspira-
tion for a stranger. | have seen the
countenances of the most rescuta men
turn ashy pale under less gloomy circum-
stances, but never in my life have /
heard DIR. Kilgo utter a word that was
not sent bounding forward by the most
bouyant hope. Under his administration
the value of the college buildings, equip