The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-10-27
A USEFUL LIFE
DR.. James H. Carlisle Passes Away Sur.
rounded by Loved Ones.
WAS TRULY A GOOD MAN

Brief Sketch of the Distinguished
Educators Life and fits Great
Work for the Young Men of South
Carolina as President of WOlpord
College.
James Henry Carlisle was born IN
Winnsoboro, Fairfield county, South
Carolina, May 4, 1925. His father,
DR.. William Carlisle, was a native OF
Ireland and came to this country In
1878, settling at Winnsboro, where
he was a 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 1, 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
fish grafton. His subject was "Shel-
ley" the poet. 1t is said that this
Grafton elected much favorable COM
ment and many predictions were
| .na'!e 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 lie was elected
to a 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 I'M
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
Carolina M%ethodism, and which was
to be a potent influence in the pro-
duction Of the highest type of citi-
zcnship 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 Wot'
ford College. while under the presl'
dency of DR.. Carlisle.
Since 1854 the history of Wofford
College has been largely determined
by James II. Carlisle. In 1876 he
was elected president of the iustitu'
ton. At different times he has
taught mathematics. astronomy, CIV
les. ethics, the English Bible. He was
more thoroughly convcrsant Will
South Carolina history than any llv'
ing man. He is the author o! an ex'
cellent text book on astronomy, en-
titled, The Young Astronomer
Time and again f1atterng offers from
other institutions have been made
but to all Of them he ever gave
courteous refusal, prefering to serve
that institution of his church II
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, TIT
very idea OF seeking a 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 were
members, and was elected to eacl
succeeding n as long as he fel
able to go. He was a delegate from
his church to several Ecumenlca
conferences. He vas a member o
the secession convention. signing tn
famous ordinance. He was a repre-
sentative in the late confederate leg
islature, 1854. These were tn
first and only political offices he held
t though time and again he has beef
urged to accept positions Of homo
} and trust in State and nation.
Wotford's adored president ha
ever been a spiritual magnet, draw
t Ing out the highest and noblest II
! the young men who have come unde
. his influence. His stately form. hi
! graceful movement. his loving ye
firm voice, and his benign face, hav