The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-09-13
THE COLLEGE, MEETING.
Enthusiastic Speeeles-Liberai Sub
scriptions 10 the Movement.
Suinter's Chances

last evening was not largely ATTENDED,
still the influence and effect Of the
stirring speeches that were there
made will be far reaching and VIII
exert a potent power towards ultl-
mate success of attaining the Presby.
terian college for Sumter. The en-
tire community is enthused with the
idea of having an institution Of h1gh-
er learning in our midst, and we can
not afford to be outdone by any other
city in the State.
The meeting was called to order by
Acting President Of the Chamber of
Commerce Neill O'Donnell.
Prof. S. H. Edmunds, one Of the
hardest and most consistent workers
on behalf of Sumter to obtain the coll
lege, read, to the great satisfaction of
those present, g. list of many hand
some subscriptions. Although many
of our citizens have contributed lib
orally in proportion to their means,
yet there remains to be subscribed
much more money in order to make
the college for Sumter certainty. A
man must indeed be narrow with no
thought Of the present and with no
hope or aspirations for the future,
who cannot see the benefits to be de-
rived from the location Of the college
here, and who is unwilling to give
some amount, no matter how small,
to aid in the attainment of an insti-
tuition whose powers for social, intel
lectual and material advancement will
be felt by generations yet unborn.
IT is source Of great regret that
every citizen Of Sumter did not hear
the glowing words Of Major Noise as
he plead earnestly and eloquently fol
the bringing Of the college to Sumter.
Sunter's silver-tongued orator was
at his best. He told of the intellect
ual benefits to be derived and pointed
out the fact that the progress of Sum-
ter along lines Of brain culture was
not in keeping with her wonderful
material advancement. He urged
the citizens to consider the rare priv
ilege that would be afforded them of
being able to send their children
from the Graded school to an institu-
ton that would turn them out, while
under their very eyes, college grad
yates. The Graded school alone
brought from eight to ten families
year to Sumter. The people Of Sum-
ter, he said, had invested $4,000 in
automobiles and more than a million
dollars in buildings within the last few
years, which would deterioate and de-
cay. On the contrary the college
| would constantly bring new life to
the town and would make re-
turns for an indefinite period to mer-
chant, farmer, lawyer and men Ell.
| gagged in all business and professions.
The Presbyterians cannot afford to
let the college decay; to have the col
lege here would be like planting
tree to let it be fed by the entire
Stare The college would improve
our citizenship, and by making sacri-
fees to obtain it, man would thus
serve his country as much as those
who have made sacrifices for her dur
ing times of war.
1t is a necessity to have higher ed
ucation It will be like bread cast up
on the waters; it will return one
thousand fold. An investment that Is
not waste, and is factor only for
good. No other city in the State is
in a position to offer as beautiful site
as good water, as pure air and level
country as is Sumter. The college
would bring to Sumter new thought
and new life. Sumter could afford to
spend $1,000 for Fall Festival which
cerved the purpose Of only advertising
the town; why not spend five or six
times that amount on a. permanent
Improvement? He closed his address
by making motion, which was
unanimously carried, that the COM
mittee continue its work energetically
until the 18th and then if sufficient
funds have not been raised, then for
the committee to ask for thirty addi-
tional days in which to collect addi-
tional funds.
Other speeches were made by the
following gentlemen in the ordes
named: S. H. Edmunds. L. I. Par
rott A. A. Manning. Rev. J. P. Inab-
met. Geo. D. Levy, Rev. James Nc
Dowell, Dr. II. T. Abbott, L. D. Jen-
nings. Hugh c. Haynsworth, E. L
Witherspoon, j. w. McKiever and
DR.. W. L. McCutchen.
\ committee consisting Of Messrs
Hugh c. Haynsworth, A. \ Man