The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-09-14
SOUTH CAROLINA COLLEGE.
Centennial Celebration, January
10, 1905 History Before the
War.

the South Carolina: College will be
celebrated on the 10th day of January.
1905. The centennial of the charter
ing Of the college was celebrated De-
cemher I9, 1901, in Charleston, during
The Exposition. The chief object Of
shis celebration, as emphasized at
the time, was TO lead mp to a worthy
celebration of the true centennial Of
the life Of the college in January.
1905, when it is expected that hun
dreds Of alumni from all parts OF the
county viii be present In Columbia to
signalize one Of the most notable
events in the history of the State.
The establishment of a State, Col
lage, conceived by John Rutledge, was
recommended to the Legislature by
Gov. John Drayton, in November,
1901, and was carried successfully
shrougk that body by II. ". DeSaus-
sure, afterwards Chancellor, and until
his death, in 1889, a bulwark Of
strength to the South Carolina Col
lege. The Governor, in his message.
referred TO the advantage of an insti-
tutioR supported by public f1nds !:
s the means could not be wanting OF
inviting and providing for learned aad
resDectable professors in the various
branches ofscience, y and the need of a
common center Of education in the
State: . The friendships of young men
WoIld thence be promoted and
strengthened throug ghout the State. and
onS political union be much advanced
thereby. The charter of. the Col
lege, ratified December 10, 1901, bears
5he simple title, An Act TO Esta blish
u College at Columhia, aud is sign
ed. John Ward, President Of the
Senate, y Theodore Gailiard, Speak
er OF the Heuse OF Repessn sntatives.'
The object was thus set forth in the
preamble Whereas, the proper edu
scasion of youth contributes TO the pros
-perity OF society, and, ought always TO
ss,s an opject OF legislative attention !:
md whereas, the establishment of a
college IN central part of the State
where al It's youth may be educated,
viii highly promote the instruction.
the good order and the harmony Of the
whole community. The chief pro-
Visions Of th Act were the following:
That his Excellency the Governor,
hSs Honor the ieutenaEt-G Governor
ne honorable, the President of the
Senate, and the Speaker Of the House
Of Representatives, the honorable the
associate Judges of the Court Of Equ-
isy. shall be, sx-ofhcio, together with
Gen. Charles G. Pinckney, 81. W.
DeSaussure. Thomas Taylor, the Rev.
I'd. q Dunlap, the Rev. Mr. John
sBrown. OF Lancaster, Wa6s Hampton,
yohn Chestnut, James B. Richardson.
sDr Isaac Alexander, Henry Dana
Ward, the Rev. Samuel W. Tongue,
William Falconer, and Bartlee
Smyssl, > g The Trustees of the South
Carolina College, y and shall draw
ssout Of the treasury Of this State the
sam Of fifty Thousand dollars, to be
appropriated to the purpose Of erecting
4 building of brick or stone, and COW
eTed with tile or slate, suitable to the
accommodation of the students Of the
said College, and suitable for fully
carrying cut the education of the said
students, aad for the erection of such
ether buildings as may be- necessary
Ear the pse Of the said College. " The
Comptroller is authorized ''to pay
-oVsr to said trustees the sum of six
thousand dollars, yearly and every
year, TO be appropriated TO the pur-
pose Of peying the salaries of the fac
nifty Of the said College, and for the
fureher support of the same. y That
Ele said trustees, with the concurrence
6f the commissioners of Columbia,
shall be empowered to make choice of
my square Or squares. yet unsold, IN
The town of Columbia, for the pur
pose OF erecting said college, and the
buildings attached thereto. having
strict reference to every advantage and
conyenience necessary fer such iGsti-
EuGion. 2 With tbs small beginnings
bEs exalted aims the College was
opened January 10. 1895, with the
PRESIDENT and one other professor two
more professors being secured dur
Ing The session J, aud with few stu
denis. numbering In six months twen-
s5-nine. The frst student enrolled
vas William Harper, afterwards the
distinguished Chancellor, and the FIRST
EadusJed lin 1So6l was anderson
GgenshaG, of NewbeEry County, aft
ssWards the distinguished Chancellor
M Alabama. The President, from 1904
80 his death, in 1920, was Jonathan
Maxcy, a native of Massachusetts,,
ssho, at "a, was President Of Brown
University, and later succeeded Jona-
than Edwards as President of Union
College, filing EACH presidency with
brilliant success, and still ranked by
each Institution as one of its greatest
presidents. He was Baptist precher,
and already at the North be was re-
garded as unrivaled in the pulpit. "His
students, Peetigru snd O'Neall, in
after years, pronounced him the great
sst Of orators. The monumnt stand
ing in the center of the College camp
rs was erected GO his memory by the
Clariosophic Society.
Up to the War the history of the
College and the history of the State
we're one; during that brilliant half
century almost all the distinguished
men of the State and many of the
lsaders Of the Southwest were gradu.
aSes OF the South Carolina College,
Congressmen, Senators, judges. Gov
srn0rs. When the War came, students
and alumni rushed to the defense OF
saseir State, and whether from South