The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-06-25
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE HEAD.
James Chalmers, Phi. o., IL. o., Of
EleIn, III, Elected by Board of Re-
oents to Succeed Or. Heston.

EIaIn, ~, Elected by Board Of Re-
oents to Succeed Or. Heston.
The state board of regents Of educa-
tion have elected James Chalmers, Phi.
D., LII. D., OF Elgin, ILL.,, president of
the state agricultural college at Brook
ings to succeed John w. Heston.
Dr. Chalmers has attained to emf
ueuce both in this country and in Eu.
rope, as an educator and as a clergy
man. He Is of Scotch descent and
was born In Canada in 1859, being q
relative of the great DR.. Thomas Chal.
mers, who left an impress upon Edin-
burgh greater than that of any other
man except John Knox. Though of
Canadian birth, his early life was
largely passed in Michigan, where he
took an active part in educational
work. He is an author and editor OF
numerous standard works in literature
and education, among which are edi-
lions of the English classics. He took
the degrees of A. B. and Phi. d. at
Eureka college, Illinois, passed to the
degree of NJ. A. with honors at st. An
drews university, Scotland-the Ok
ford of that country-and received the
honorary degree of LII. d. from West.
ern Michigan college. Wheaton col
lege of Illinois has since conferred
upon him the degree of d. d.
Since receiving his doctors degree
in 1889, DR.. Chalmers has for the most
part been engaged in educational work,
though at present he is pastor Of the
First Congregational church of Elgin,
H., which enjoys the distinction of be-
ing the largest Congregational church
In point of membership in the United
States outside of Brooklyn.
His Record at st. Andrews.
For five years DR.. Chalmers was e.:
the head Of the department of English
literature at the Ohio state university
at Columbus. While at this institution
he became personally acquainted with
President Mckinley, with whom he
established close relations Of personal
friendship and esteem. For three
years he was president Of the Wlscon-
sin state normal school at Plattville.
He was also for two years fellow of the
University of st. Andrews, Scotland,
an honor never before conferred upon
an American by any British univer-
sity. His record for scholarship at the
University of st. Andrews has been
equaled but twice in the history of
that venerable institution, now about
500 years old.
DR.. Chalmers has been four times
abroad for study, and his wife also was
educated In the best universities Of
this country and Europe. 1t is said
the doctor Is fond of golf, circum-
stance easily traceable to his Scotch
Irish parentage. He is rated as a man
Of exceptionally good executive abil-
ity having the happy faculty and good
sense of accomplishing a great deal
without any blowing of trumpets.
When DR.. Chalmers went abroad
with his family in the spring of 1897
he left an educational position paying
$4,000 a year, and on returning two
years later, no educational field pre-
senting itself, he accepted the pastor
ate of little church in Toledo, Ohio,
at a salary of $500. From small be-
ginnings this church under his charge
grew to be the largest in that city.
The same phenomenal success has fol-
lowed him in his work at Elgin, where
the membership has more than uou-
bled since he assumed charge, now
numbering upwards of 1900 members.
Teaching His Choice.
Though eminently successful as
minister, DR.. Chalmers has not been
a preacher from choice, his ambition
rather% Heading him into educational
work, Even in the pulpit he is a
teacher rather than a preacher. and to
his natural tact in keeping all his
subordinates working together harmo-
niously, his success both as a teacher
and a preacher is largely due. His
salary at Elgin is $1,000 year, and 1t
may be thought singular that he would
give up such place for position at
the head of an educational institution
paying only $4,000 a year. True, 1t
will be sacrifice financially, but DR..
Chalmers is a man who does not esti-
mate life and its work wholly by the
dollar-and-cent standard; besides,
college or university presidency has
been the ambition of his life, and there
fore he does not feel that he is making
a sacrifice in this instance.
AS indicating somewhat the estima-
ton held for DR.. Chalmers by the Edin-
burg institution, the following YER
batim copy of the communication noti-
flying him Of honors conferred is
given:
University of st. Andrews, March
"a. 1S9S.-Dear Sir: / beg to inform
you that the senatus academicus of
this university has unanimously re-
solved to confer upon you the post and
title Of research fellow in English
literature and philosophy. This honor
has very rarely been conferred upon
any one by the four universities OF
Scotland. The honor is as rare as 1t
Is high. beg to congratulate you on
being the first American to receive
this honor from the most ancient uni.
Versity In Scotland. And l have the
honor to be, dear sir, your most faith
M n