The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1907-03-08

Fifty years ago next July the Uni.
versity of the South, or Sewanee uni
versity as it is best known, was or
ganized, and in recognition of that be-
ginning a celebration is to be held
this year on the beautiful grounds OF
the institution on the high plateau OF
Lockout mountain to which will come
the uuion.
IN the clan of Sewanee are such
men as President Roosevelt and j.
Pierpont Morgan, both of whom have
promised to climb the mountain and
join in the festivities. Neither the
president nor the millionaire-finan-
cier are graduates of Sewanee, but
because of the help they have given
the university they are counted as
members of the clan.
President Roosevelt was particular
ly attracted to Sewanee because of
its attitude in the negro problem. He
believes that the university will play
a conspicuous part in years to come
in solving the question. The presi-
dent Is intimately acquainted with
the vice chancellor of the university,
Prof. B. l.. Virgins, and has protested
the greatest confidence in Sewanee' S
work. -
Sewanee teaches its students that
the perpleXing race problem is to be
solved only by appealing to the moral
side of the negro. Intellectual devel-
opment of the colored man, Sewanee
believes, cannot alone accomplish the
work. The working out of this prob
lem is only part of Sewanee's am
bition. The university, broad in prin-
ciple upon every question, aims to
turn out men who are able to grasp
the hardest questions of life, guided
by the spirit of altruism.
That was the spirit that inspired
the founders of the University of the
South when, in 1857, the corner stone
for the institution was laid on Look
out mountain. Sewanee has turned
out thousands of graduates, and to-
day there are lawyers, doctors and
business men of great prominence
throughout the country who will say
that it was the influence of Sewanee
that was in a great measure response
BILE for their success.
J. Pierpont Morgan became inter-
ested in Sewanee five years ago, when
he attended a convention of the Epis-
copal church, in Minneapolis. The
university, although run under the
auspices of the Episcopal church, is
non-sectarian in character. Bishop
Dudley, of Kentucky, told the con-
vention of Sewanee's work, and Nor
gan became deeply impressed.
When the convention was over Mr..
Morgan told Bishop Dudley that he
would like to help such university
as he had described. A few weeks
later the millionaire sent the univer-
sity $4,000 in railroad bonds and fol-
lowed it up with a cash donation of
$4,000 Lately he has promised an
other donation.
There are over 500 New Workers
who were graduated from Sewanee.
They have organized an alumni so
ciety with DR.. John H. P. Hodgson,
of Washington Square, as president.
DR.. Hodgson's father, Rev. DR.. Tel
fair Hodgson, was SO fond of the uni
yersity that for Is years he gave his
services gratis as its vice chancellor.
At his death, some years ago, Mrs.
Hodgson, his widow, erected me-
mortal chapel costing $4,000 on the
Nd ~ Lodi
son, during his service as vice chan
cellor, presented the university with
a medical infirmary.
Sewanee has romantic history.
Bishop Folk, of Louisiana, was its
founder A son of the bishop, DR..
William M. Folk, is prominent prac-
titioner in this city. Bishop Polk
enlisted interest among southerners
and got a donation of 10000 acres of
forest land on a high plateau on Look
out mountain. Besides this, he was
promised endowments aggregadng
$3.000,000.
The day the corner stone was laid
"a bleak afternoon in Octo5er-5,0 900
men and women made their way to
the mountain top. In the town of
Sewanee, at the foot of the mountain,
there were not nearly enough houses
to shelter them for the night. Tents
were pitched in the forest, and there
The visitors rested. There wa.s an i'm
melse barbecue, and the occasion was
one long to be remembered.
Ieveral wooden structures were put
up for the workmen, and the work OF
building the University Of the South
was soon begun. Then came the civil
war. The Seventh Illinois troons ona