Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1907-03-26

|
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 celebration is to be held
this year on the beautiful grounds of
the institution on the high plateau of
Lookout mountain to which will come
the Sewanee clans from all parts of
the union.
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
it's attitude in the negro problem. He
believes that the university will play
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 professed
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 great measure RESPONSE
BILE for their success.
]. PieY3ont 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 a 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 II. p Hodgson,
of Washington Square, as president.
DR.. Hodgson's father, Rev DR.. Tel
fair Hodgson, was so fond of the uni
versity that for Is years he gave his
services gratis as its vice chancellor.
At his death, some years ago, Mrs.
Hodgson. his widow, erected a me-
mortal chapel costing $4,000 on the
university grounds Rev. Mr. Hodg-
son, during his service as vice chan
cellor, presented the university with
medical infirmary.
Sewanee has a romantic history.
Bishop Folk, of Louisiana, was it's
founder. A son of the bishop. DR..
William NJ. Folk, is a prominent prac- |
titioner in this city. Bishop Polk |
enlisted interest among southerners |
and got a donation of 10000 acres of |
forest land on high plateau on Look |
out mountain. Besides this, he was |
promised endowments aggregating |
$4,000, 900.
The day the corner stone was laid |
--a bleak afternoon in October-5 900 |
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 was an i'm
mense barbecue, and the occasion was
one long to be remembered.
Several 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 troops one