The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-10-23
A USEFUL LIFE
Dr.. James Il. Carlisle Passes Away Sur
rounded by Loved Ones.
WAS TRULY A GOOD MAN

|
Educators Life and Hts Great
Work for the Young Men Of South
Carolina as President Of Wolsord
College.
| James Henry Carlisle was born in
Winnsoboro, Fairfield county, South
Carolina, May 4, 1925. His father,
DR.. WilliaA Carlisle, was native Of
Ireland and came to this country in
ISIS, settling at Winnsboro, where
he was practicing physician for
many years. Young James Henry
Carlisle received his primary school
ing in his native town. Later on his
parents moved to the historic town OF
Camden, where the young man was
prepared for college, being taught
by Professors McCandless, Hatfield
and Major Leland.
He entered the sophomore class
of the South Carolina College Feb
ruary l, 1912. During his course
at the college he was under DR..
Robert Henry, who had charge Of
the department of languages, and DR..
Leiber, who was in charge of de-
partment of economy and civil law.
DR.. Carlisle graduated in 1874; be-
ing the second honor man in the
class, the first honor man being Gen.
P. H. Nelson, who was killed in the
battle of the Crater
Being the second honor man it
fell to his lot to deliver the Eng
Iish grafton. His subject was "Shel-
ley" the poet. 1t is said that this
Grafton elected much favorable COM
ment and many predictions were
made of his future career, but his
achievements have surpassed the
most sanguine hopes of his most ar
dent friends.
The real teacher, like the poet, is
born, not made. Young Carlisle i'm
mediately passed from the school
room as student, to the school room
as teacher, being elected principal
of the Odd Fellows Institute IN Co
lumbia, which position he held for
four years. In 1884 he was elected
to position in the Columbia Male
Academy.
In December, 1850, Benjamin Wof-
ford died. He left by his will one
hundred thousand dollars for the
purpose of establishing and endow-
ing a college for literary, classical
and scientific education, to be located
in his native district, and to be un-
der the control and management OF
the conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church Of his native
State" A charter was duly secured
and the trutees held their first meet
ing to organize under it at New
berry, November "a, 1853.
Thus was established the institu-
ton which was destined to be the
centre of the intellectual life of South
'CaroIna Methodism, and which was
to be a potent influence in the pro-
duction Of the highest type of citi.
zenship for the State of South Caro-
lima. One Of the United States Sen
ators from this State, one of the
Supreme Court judges, several cir
cult judges and many other officials
of the State are graduates of Wof
ford College, while under the presi-
dency of Or. Carlisle.
Since 1854 the history of Wofford
College has been largely determined
by James H. Carlisle. In 1875 he
was elected president of the institu'
ton. AT different times he has
taught mathematics, astronomy, civ.
les, ethics, the English Bible. He was
more thoroughly conversant with
South Carolina history than any liv'
ing man. He is the author OF an eX'
cellent text book on astronomy, en-
TITLED, THE Young Astronomer.
Time and again tiatterng offers from
other institutions have been made
but to all of them he ever gave q
courteous refusal, prefering to serve
that institution of his church tC
which he consecrated his lofty char
acter and resplendent abilities.
The honors that have come to DR.
Carlisle have always been unsought
Being modst and unassuming, the
very idea of seeking personal hon
or seems utterly foreign to his noble
nature. He was elected a member
of the first general conference o.
his church of which laymen wert
members, and was elected to each
succeeding one as long as he fell
able to 60 He was delegate from
his church to several Ecumenica
conferences. He was member ol
the secession convention, signing the
famous ordinance. He was repre-
sentative in the late confederate leg
|islature, 1864. These were the
first and only political offices he held
though time and again he has beer
urged to accept positions OF honoi
and trust in State and nation.
Wofford's adored president ha:
ever been spiritual magnet, draw
ing out the highest and noblest ii