The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-06-12


would join with those friends who
had already done so much towards
increasing the endowment of the col
le9c.
Dr. Schercr made announcement OF
greetings from the Lutheran Pastors
Association of Charleston.
Rev. j. A. Sigh, president of the
board of trustees, was the next to
speak in response to all the greet
ings. AS was said by President
Scherer in introducing Mr.. Sigh the
college has never had stauncher
friend. Mr.. Sigh said this was a
proud day for Newberry college.
This doubtless was the brightest and
happiest day the college had ever ex-
neuenced. For fifty years the col
lege had been meeting difficulty af-
ter difficulty and her friends could
not be blamed, for on this day the
cup of their JOY was running over.
1t was well to celebrate this day and
look back over the history of half
century. AS early as 1923 the Synod
of South Carolina realized that she
would have. to educate her own sons.
She resolved in 1882 to open a
theological institute in Lexington.
DR.. Bachman was the leading spirit
in this movement. Many men were
sent out from this institution whose
influence could not be calculated.
Not only men were trained for the
ministry, but many were sent forth
to take their places in other ranks
Of life. The work Of this institution
led in 1855 to the agitation for the
establishment of the college which
was charatered in 1856. In 1858
the preparatory department was
opened, and the college proper the
following year, IT'S students being
enrolled. The war came on and many
of the students answered the roll
call of their country. But with few
exceptions, through all the trials of
this time the doors we're kept open
until 1876. For this the college was
responsible more than to any one
eles to one whose self-sacriiices dur
ing these lrnublnus times had never
been surpassed. In middle life he
was pnt at the head of the college in
! 1861. Under these trying circum-
stances he kept the college open and
almost unaided he supported his
family. With his own hands he
baked bread and sold it to the people
of Newberry. Mr.. Sigh paid mag
nificent tribute to DR.. J. P. Smeltzer,
of whom he was speaking. DR.. Hol-
land, succeeding president, had
asked DR.. Smeltzer to prepare his
tory Of his life. In his modesty he
would not consent to do so, but Mr..
Sligh thanked God that there were
those here today who could tell of
his great work. His presidency ex-
tended from the beginning Of the
war up until 1877, a time during
which soldiers Of the South gave up
their all on the altar of their coun-
try and the Southern people passed
through as troublous times as were
ever passed by brave people in
their agony. During the eleven
years the college was in Walhalla
seven classes were graduated with
twenty-five young men. In 1877 the
college was returned to Newberry
Mr.. Sligh spoke of the present
splendid equipment of the college,
a property well worth upwards of
one hundred thousands dollars, and
compared it with the scanty equip
ment of a few broken black boards
and the remnant of library which
was practically the whole equipment
at one time during DR.. Smeltzer s
presidency. The future was grand
and glorious on this happy Semi
Centennial occasion and all the more
glorious by reason of the noble sac
rifices which had made it possible
Mr.. Sligh spoke of excellent work
accomplished during the presidency
of DR.. Geo. w. Holland, who was
one Of natures Models, and of the
successes which had been achieved
by the earnst efforts Of DR.. Geo. B.
Cromer. DR.. Scherer, he said, the
present president, was a worthy sue
cessor of Dir. Holland and DR.. Gro
mer. He could approach a crowned
throwned king in the interest of
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