The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-21
Christenberry's History of
 The Southern UniUersity

, contributors. were there ready to in- crease that offer If it should be neces- sary, to secure the institution.
 The names of some of these wealthy tBlack Belt planters who were willing to devote their means and resources to
 the cause of education. should be pre- served to. posterity. For instance |. Q. O. deYampert made a contribution
 of $12,500; John Nelson gave the same; John Erwin and John Walton each | gave $5.o00. All of these gentlemen increased their donations before the l college opened ita doors.
 The Southern University was char tered in 1858 and the history which nas been issued from the press was or- dered written in 1906. fifty years from that date. The cornerstone was laid in 1857, and its doors were opened for students in 1859. It Is notable fact | that Judge A. A. Coleman, a charter l member of the Board of Trustees, Is still active and vigorous, and still holds I the honorable position of judge of the circuit bench of Alabama. The vener- able Dr. A. H. Mitchell, who died a few years ago. was also member of the Board.
 The University in 1860 graudated It's | first classes. The following year the storm broke. From the disastrous ef- fects of the war, the University was a full twenty-five years in recovering. We of this day can hardly understand the financial and commercial cataclysm which was part and accompaniment of the war. It was all but disastrous to every institution of learning In Ala ! bama. Of this dark period, Professor Christenberry writes:
 The War Period.
 "Nothing less than revolution soc- cured. The University's history for the fifteen years that followed was the history of the commerce, the aKricult- ure and the education of the whole Southland, history of the struggle for existence.
 "The students and some members of the faculty. notably Professor Catch. after military drill had been mildly condemned by the trustees. left for the war. The large vacant rooms were hid- Ing places for owls, bats. refugees and deserters; of the latter, thrilling tales are told. At times no classes at the openings were formed. but there were few students every year. The trus- their positions though teaching in other schools and doing other work to sup piement their incomes. At times, the annual income of the college was hard ly S1.000. A productive endowment of $200,000 before the war. had all been swept away. lands. houses and notes which were given were as good as gold. And the Reconstruction period was al- most as hard as the war period" It would be well for all ministers of the Alabama and North Alabama Con- ferences to study and know fully the inspiring story of the colleges long, weary and hard struggle upward through the years to regain the strength and prosperity, that was lost through the war, but regained through sacrifice, labor and devotion. Assured ly tender feeling for the University would come of such knowledge and the devotion which characterized that struggle might we'll furnish an inspir. ation in ministerial labor
 Professor Christenberry tells the story strongly but simply.
 And telling 1t. he brings the college down to its more prosperous days of re- cent years. and to the present time. when Dr. s. M. Hosmer Is at it's head.
 But little Is said. perhaps because 1t might have been considered improper of the competition that a denomina- tfonal institution. not only without per manent endowment. but almost without resources, was compelled to ecounter from heavily endowed State insti- tutions. But this competition is to be appreciated when the history and SASWt tA St Sho ONNSttSbA ShAFOESlNy ID considered.
 To the men who iabored for 1t due credit is given and their many portraits are presented. The Southern University was estab- lished. so its charter declares, "for the promotion of literature. science and mo. rality." The high ideal represented in the latter two reasons for it's existence, has been kept steadily in view. The in- stitution has not swerved in it's course, to win advantage, temporary or perma- nent. Religion and morality are no less prominent in the labor of the Uni. versity than they were when the char ter was drawn. Nor has the Univer- sity drifted away from other education al ideals. which were perhaps held in higher esteem half a century ago, than they are today. Which means that the softer and gentler educational graces of literary polish, thoroughness in Eng fish and other languages and public speaking and Reclamation, are still hon ored. The University continues to stress as an important part of an edu- cation the ability to speak clearly. strongly and forcefully
 The forner students of the institu- tions will be pleased to know that the volume contains speaking likeness of Professor" Henry Peck of the Depart ment of Ashes. Goals and Broom.
 
 Jumf received n larwe shfnmnent of