The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-05-11

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cational leader of our country. press
ing with unrivaled energy and success
the cause of higher, normal and in
dustrial education for both races and
all classes. In 1885 he was chosen u
be our minister at the Court of Spain,
and rep1 esented the interests of the
government with memorable ability.
fidelity and skill. In 1889 he returned
to his country and his post OF duty in
connection with the Peabody Fund,
fulfilling the requirements of that psi
ton until the year 1902, when III uC-
Gertook a second mission to the Count
of Spain.
An Author of Distinction.
He was likewise an author of dig
t!lo ton. the associate of famous
scholars and renowned men in many
lends and walks of life, until at last
OF the 18th of Feb. 1903 he passed
from cur sight full of years ard
hOnors and good works. Certainly this
was one of the most fortunate and sue
cessful Americans.
a Efe of such singular variety and
su7E uniform success would be posi-
bic IL no other country than our own.
So full Of initiative so crowded with
daring changes and stirring scenes, it
could have been lived in no other age
or nation Of the world. 1t could not
have been lived in our own age and
nation except by a man endowed with
extraordinary gifts and graces.
l have pronounced him a fortunate
and successful man, and his achieve
ments will amply justify that claim.
But there is another point of view from
which he might appear to be most
unfortunate man indeed. The age in
which he flourished was the saddest in
our annals. His career was at one
time wholly broken up being crossed
midway by one of the most tremendous
and bitter wars of recent
centuries. Truly it required
strong swimmer to breast the
waves that surged around him in
the stormy sixties and seventies.
Many another man bowed his head
beneath those pillows. Few actors
have been called to play their part in
a more wild and perilous generation.
Might Have Been President.
If the times had been more kindly;
If gentle peace had prevailed. his life
might have worn another aspect. In
1852 the nation called a son of Ala
bama to occupy the second office in
it's gift, and William r. King was adj
var ced to the dignity of Vice Presi-
dent. If the great and bloody cata-
clysm of war had not overtaken us, it
seems more than likely that this other
son of Alabama might in due season
have attained to presidential dignities.
That is mere speculation / concede,
hut 1t seems based upon a foundation
of fact. None of us are able to weigh
the disasters that accrued to this great
American from the terrible years of
war and the still more terrible years
of reconstruction. 1t may be objected
that this is a calculation in construc-
tive damages, but there is fair reason
to question whether l have estimated
them at an adequate figure. 1t is pos
sible that his misfortunes might have
been even greater than l have sug-
gested. In any event 1t must be con-
coded that he faced some of the most
trying conditions that ever fall to the
lot of man.
But he was admirably equipped to
meet the distressful issues that crowd
ed to his path. His physical endow-
ments were of the first order. When
ever he moved he was the observed of
all observers. His intellectual gifts
were of the same noble character, and
his social form belonged to royal
breeding.
Moreover the education that he had
obtained was greatly worth having.
1t is fashionable to descant on the pro-
gress that we have achieved in that
line. but sound education was some
times found in the olden days. The
training that he received at his home
in Alabama at the University of Geor-
gia and at the Harvard Law School
rendered him inestimable services all
the days of his life.
1t broke up for him that provincial
ism which is the blemish and weak
ness of many Americans. and has
sometimes proved a menace to our
country. He formed companionships
and comradeships at college which
possessed large educative force, and
he was more careful than most men
to keep his friendships in repair, and
to maintain the continuity of life. By
that means he was enabled to assume
the point of view of his friends and
to take a survey of different sides of
many subjects. This was a power
which helped him to swim in the
deluge that swept over his life and
stranded many other men.
His Public Career.
DR.. Whtsett then referred to DR..
Curry's public career first in the Leg
islG ture of Alabama, in the National
Congress and in the Congress of the
Confederate states, then in the Con-
federate army, after that his ordina-
tion to the ministry and his career as
an educator
Southern Baptists owe many things
to the men who have taught their
youth" said Dr. Whitsett 1T is these
who have commonly been their most
conservative forces, eschewing novel;
ties, sturdily standing by the Phila-
delphia confession and keeping the
faith once delivered to the saints. The
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
is now the chief bulwark of Southern
Baptist orthodoxy, and the best hope
OF our future.
We are proud to inscribe the name
of Curry in our guild of teachers. His
Incompatible powers rendered him
facile princeps in every other sphere
and he kept his old time rule and
likewise stood among the foremost
here. The qualities that brought him
success in this field are we'll worthy
of attention.
In the first place he possessed a mas
sive character. A great man is the
highest gift of God. A great man is
of more value in the professors chair
than a great scholar The moral ele-
ment is the most important of all 9TH
ers in the teachers art. In the lee
ture hall the man Curry lowered aloft
His form and presence, his history and
sentiments, his prospects and connec-
lions, filled the eyes and thrilled the
hearts of student youth. They glassed