The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-06-15
>REY. ]. A. SLIGH'S
ELOQUENT ADDRESS
FOR THIRTY YEARS PRESI-
DENT BOARD TRUSTEES. ,..a.
Full Text OF His Address at Cele-
brasion on Monday.-Pays &
Deserved Tribute to DR..
J. p. Smeltaer. ."

Rev. J. A. Sigh in full. He has
been, president Of the board for
thirty years, and forty-one years
pastor of st. Paul's church, this
county, which has probably sent
more students to Newberry college
than any other one church: $3.50.
"Mr. Chairman, Gov. Hayward and
the representatives Of the various
colleges Of the State, and ladies and
gentlemen:
1t is a fact we'll known to you all,
but nevertheless, should be repeat
ed here with emphasis, that this is a
proud day for Newberry college. This
institution has passed through some
dark and depressing days, but this
is not one Of them. Light and sun
shine, joy and gladness break in up
on us from every side today. This
doubtless is the brightest and hap
piest day the college has ever exper-
fenced. We are glad indeed on this
the 5Oth year of our existence as n
college, to be hailed by such a hearty
welcome, and such brotherly and
soul-stirring greetings from you gen.
tlemen, in your representative capac-
ity. This welcome and these greetings
spoken by a few, but voiced and
made unanimous by this vast audi
ence and thousands of others not
present, come to us; it is true when
our sun has risen high in the heavens,
when every cloud seems to have pass
ed away--when the battle has been
fought and gloriously won, but never
theless they make that sun shine but
the brighter on this glorious day,
and render our joy and happiness
more full and complete, and thus dis
persing more effectively any and
every cloud that might threaten to
obscure our future prospects and
this welcome and these greetings and
the Happy scents that now meet our
eyes, increase a hundred fold OUR
joy over the great achievements
we have made in the past.
That which enhances the triumphs
and victories of soldier and
makes his heart leap and
burn with joy and gratitude is the
remembrance of the hardship and
privations endured by him and the
fierce and terrible conflicts and bat
ties fought and won by the gallant
army of which he was part. And
me thinks, my friends, if you will ex-
cuse me, that feelings akin 10 this
are possessed by the soldier of the
cross of Christ, rs he stands ON the
everlasting hills OF heavenly felicity
and looks back and remembers the
conflicts and tribulations through
which he passed to reach the eternal
city, where he has washed his robes
and made them white in the blood
of the Lamb. A similar feeling comes
to the friends of Newberry college
today, and especially to those who
so we'll remember the trials and tri-
bulations through which this institu-
ton has passed. For so years we
have been meeting difficulty after
difficulty, we have watched and
prayed and labored for the success
and growth of the college, and now
on this bright and propitious day
you must not blame us if the cup Of
our joy should run over.
"Gentlemen, we from our hearts
can say to you that we are very
glad to have you with us today, and
that your presence and the kind and
cheering words spoken by you are
not only encouraging to us, but that
they bring us all nearer together in
that glorious work: the education Of
the people, all the people-both male
and female-of the State of South
Carolina; whether that education
tends to the beautifying and adorn-
ment Of our homes, or to the cultiva-
ton of our fields, to the gospel or
to the law, to the body or to the soul,
to the well-being Of man on earth,
or to his well-being in the great
hereafter. We all, as I understand
it, aim at the bettement and uplift-
ing Of our fellow man.
"Newberry college has history
extending over 80 years. 1t is we'll
to celebrate this day and look back
over this half century. During these
years we have had to climb hills and
scale mountains Of difficulties. Let
me for the sake Of history and to
keep the record correct, briefly give