The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-07-17
Agricultural College President
Rev. James Chalmers, Elgin, ILL.,,
Now Head of South Dakota Institution.

4, university. His record for scholarship a
| the University at st. Andrews has beel
equaled but twice IN the history Of tina
venerable institution, now about 500 year
| old
DR.. Chalmers has been four tine
abroad for study. and his wife also wal
| educated in the best universities Of thh
country and Europe. 1t is said the docto.
is fond of golf, a circumstance esslh
! traceable to his Scotch-Ir.sh parentaeo
He is rated as a man of exceptionally
good executive ability, having the happy
faculty and good sense Of accom- lishtls
| great deal without any blowing q,
! trumpets.
When DR.. Chalmers went abroad Will
his family In the spring Of 1897 he lef,
an educational position paying 5000 6
year, and on returning two years later, NJ
educational field presenting itself, he ac
! cepted the passionate Of a little church tx
! Toledo, O., at a salary Of $500 From small
beginnings this church under his charge
grew to be the largest in that city. Th<
same phenomenal success has followed
him In his work at IIlsin, where the mem.
bershtp has more than doubled since b.
assumed charge, now numbering upward.
| Of 1,5O0 members
Though emnently successful as a NTH
lister, DR.. Chalmers has not been a prea CHI.
er from choice, his ambition rather load.
ing him into educational work Even III
the pulpit he ls teacher rather than q
preacher, and to his natural tact in keep
ing all his subordinates working togethr
er tremendously. his success both as q
teacher and a preacher is largely due Hi
salary at Elgin is $1,000 a year, and II
may be thought singular that he would
give up place for a position at the head
OF an educational institution paying onts
$1,000 year. True, it will be a sacrifios
financially, but DR.. Chalmers Is a ma
who does not estimate life and it's wera
wholly by the dollar-and cent standapd
besides, college or university pressdeuco
has been the ambition Of his life an,
therefore he does not feel that he is mails
ing sacrifice in this instance
AS indicating somewhat the estimattu
held for DR.. Chalmers by the Edinbur1
institution, the following verbatim COP,
Of the communication notifying him d
honors conferred is given:
university Of st. Andrews, March n
1S9S.-Dear Sir: I beg to inform you tt,s
the senatus academicus Of this universit
has unanimously resolved to confer upu,
you the post and title Of research fello7
in English literature and philosophy. Thu
honor has very rarely been conferred upos
any one by the four universities OF Scot
land. The honor Is as rare as it Is high
l beg to congratulate you on being TIN
first American to receive this honor from
the most ancient university in Scotland
And I have the honor to be, dear sir. YOU
most faithful servant,
IT. NJ. D. Meikeljohn.-
The regents of education believe tina
in securing the services OF DR.. Chalmer,
they have been peculiarly fortunate FL
Is broad-minded, highly cultured gen
tleman, and his excellent tact in meeting
mon will enable him to treat the special
lists along the several scientific lines a
that institution with that. respect am
courtesy essential to the best results a.
the college. Dr.. Chalmers did not saaa
the place, but was sought by the regenta
and was elected by unanimous vote Of tia
full board