Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-11-03
OCONEE'S SEAT OF LEARNING.
Facts About the Religious Side OF
Clemson Agricultural College.

Editor Keowee Courier: 1t is a
strange thing to me that our people
CT OcOnee seem to care so little for
and almost utterly fail to appreciate
cational institution within the bord-
erS OF our county.
1t gives me great pleasure to say
a few words in regard to Clemson
College and its work for Oconee. 1t
goes without contradiction that Glenn
son Agricultural College Is great
factor in the development OF all of
the resources of Oconee county in
particular and the whole State in
general. Speaking to me recently of
this great institution, its honored
president, DR.. p. II. Nell, made q
revelation to me of the religious side
Of Clemson College. He said:
1T has been source Of astonish-
ment to me. since | have been con-
nected with the college, that the citi-
Zens Of OcOnee have not taken a
more universal interest in the insti-
tuition by sending their sons to its
halls. We do not get as many boys
from that county as it seems to me
we are entitled to. | cannot tive a
reason for this. The college Is ex-
tending it's energies towards the de-
velopment OF the mind, the heart,
the physical being and all OF the at
tributes Of the boy, so as to make
him a far better citizen than he
was before he entered the institution,
and the boys of Oconee county ought
to fully realize this important fact.
''As far as the religious side Of the
college Is concerned, the following
facts are pertinent:
81. We have a chapel service every
morning during the week, excepting
Saturday, at which time all the boys
and the faculty Of the institution
gather together and a minister Of the
gospel reads chapter in the Bible
and offers up prayer. This Is the be-
ginning OF the days work. At night,
in the barracks, the boys hold Bible
classes, and there are something over
forty OF these classes. They spend a
short time in the study of the Word
Of God, under the direction Of a
leader. This work is entirely in the
hands of the boys, developed by
themselves, and under no influence
outside OF their own inclination and
control
-. About one-half of the boys Of
the college are now active members
OF the Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation, and when | say active mem
bcrS intend the use Of that word in
its strongest sense. They hold their
prayer meetings, at which time the
boys themselves engage in PRAYER
and song and cXhOrtation. At stated
n N hn
Nitc strong speakers to deliver, on
Sunday nights, addresses upon live
religious questions, and great good
is being accomplished by this plan.
1T is gratifying to me to say that
the international committee of the
Young Mems Christian Association
located in New York, has published a
pamphlet in which Clemson College
is mentioned as standing sixth among
all the colleges of the United States
and Canada in the absolute number
OF boys engaged in Bible study work
When You compare the total number
OF matriculateS in Clemson with the
colleges Of America and Canada,
Clemson stands first in this RELIGIOUS
work.
-. Every Sunday morning a min
lister OF one of the evangelical de-
nominations holds Il religious service
in the chapel, when preliminary eX-
crciscs are conducted and sermon
is delivered to the student body and
the people on the hill. For the pres
ent the four local ministers of the
Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist and
Episcopal churches have charge of
these services"
4 recent visit | made to Clemson
convinced me that Clemson's secular
work Is OF as high order as is that
on the religious side. Oconee ought
to be proud OF this grand institution,
and | know our citizens are. But it
is strange thing that, knowing and
realizing the land opportunities
that Clemson virtually lays at orr
feet we are so slow to stopp and pick
them up. Oconee ought to be the
county to send to Clemson the larg-
est delegation OF students each year,
and Yet the reverse is true. why?
NJ. II. S.
Or. j. NJ. Elliott the former
TrOup county. Georgia. physician.
convicted OF the murder in 1908 Of
G.. l.. Rivers, near LaGrange, will be
hanged ON Friday OF this week, No.
Ncmbcr 9Th.