The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-07-12
PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE
REMOVAL.
DIR. McPheeters Writes Another Let
ter TO Rev. MIR. Cartledge on the
Subject.

DR.. Mepheeters Writes Another Let
ter TO Rev. Mr.. Cartiedge on tho
Subject.
Rev. W. M. McPheeters Of Colum-
bia, chairman of the committee hav-
ing in charge the matter OF the re-
moval of the Presby terian College
from it's present Location in the town
of Clinton, has written another open
letter to Rev. S. J. CARTRIDGE of this
city on the subject. 1t is "a follows;
The Rev. S. J. Cartledge, Anderson,
S. G.
Since my previous letter to you /
have received communication from
MIR. H. Frank Wilson, master for
Sumter county, making the follow
ing very pertinent inquiries: First,
what endowment, if any. has the
Presbyterian cole ge? Second, what
property, if any, will follow the
change of location? Third, the
number of students in attendance up
on the college last year? Fourth,
the number of trustees and now
elected?" AS these, or similar q9es-
tions have come from other quarters,
I shall defer for the present some
other matters that had intended to
lay before you, and, through you, be-
fore the Presbyterians of, the entiel,
State, and address myself at once
the answer to Mr.. Wilson, % in
uuiries. His order is not material
and therefore in my reply l shall fol
low an order of my own.
1st, Number of Trustees and How
Chosen-The total number of trus-
tees is q. Of these three are chos-
en- by each of the six presbyteries
composing the synod of South Caro-
lima, and the remaining three by the
alumni association. Persons desirous
of fuller information on this point
may be referred to the charter of
the college. a copy of which will be
found in the last catalogue of the
institution. Catalogues can be had
on application to Prof. A. E.. Spen-
Ger, Clinton S. G.
End. Material Property of the Col
lege, as at the Present Located-At
present the college has no endow:
ment. 1t has, however, material
property of which the fair estimated
value is from $4,000 to S25, 900.
This includes grounds, buildings,
and furnishings of all sorts. 1t is
not necessary think, that I should
go into details. 1t is important, how
ever that I should say very clearly
and distinctly that, of the total sum
named, the trustees of the college
hold a fee simple title to but about
| 81 900 or $4,000 worth of the prop.
erty, including furnishings, and,
further, that against this there is q
mortgage of $2,50O. Hence it will be
seen that the movable values of the
college amount to only about $4,000
to $4,000. This, think, answers
the first and second of Mr.. Wilson's
questions. 1t is understood, of
course, that I give these figures, all
of them, only according to the best
of my knowledge and belief. feel
rea sonably sure though that they are
not far wrong, one way or the other
3. Number of Students Last Ses-
sion.-The number of students last
session was seventy-two (72). 1t
ought to be added, however, that
this summer q year ego was The first
opportunity that the college has had
for some years to ma, a canvass for
students. Though this canvass was
but an imperfect one, 1t resulted in
an increase of abouts 40 per cent, In
the attendance. II give these figures
with cut the catalogue for 1904 at
hand. But I am sure, that they are
approximately correct). 1t should
also be borne in mind that the col
lege has only in the last Is months
passed into the unreserved and un-
trammelled ownership and control of
the presDyteries. Finally, it should
be remembered that, in addition to-
the Presbyterian youth of college
age who are at present attending no
college whatever, there are by actual
count, not less than 900 Presbyteri-
an youth of college age who are now
attending other colleges in this State.
1t is practically certain that as soon
as the Presbyterians of South Caro-
lima have a college of their own that
is adequately equipped, q consider
able part of these 800 will be found
there.
4. Valuable Assets of Another
Kind. Il have tried to answer Mr..
Wilson's questions as fairly and
frankly as / know how. But were L
to stop here, 1 should leave the
main point of his inquiry really un-
answered. Nay, I should have even
suggested wrong answer to it. lie
evidently wants TO know the present
assets of the college that have a pc
cuniary value. Of these l have yet
to mention these that, in my judg-
ment, are by far the ost important.
l refer then to the fact that the col
lege has at this present time: First,
a president recognized as one of the
whom no man in the synod perhaps,
leading men in this synod, man than
has o stronger hold upon the con-
fidence and the esteem of the Pres.
byterians of this State, ministers and
laymen. those who live in the cities,
the villages, and the country alike;
man of force, of prudence and OF
energy; a man worthy to lead 8
movement like this, and capable OF
leading tito success. Second, fac
ulty, not at present large in mum:
bers, but of tried men, men who
have approved themselves by the
hold that they have gained upon the
confidence and goodwill of the stu
dents that have been under them.
Third, a board of trustees who be-
lieve in their president, in their fac
ulty, in their college, and in their
constituency-the Presbyterians OF
this entire State; men who, with no
personal axes to grind have set their
hands to the work of making the