Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-06-23

-'To those who know thee not, no
words can paint!
And those who know thee, know all
words are faint"
James Henry Carlisle, South Car
olin'a greatest citizen and most dis
tinguished educator. was born in
Winnsboro, Fairfield county, South
Carolina, May 4. 1925. His father,
DR.. William Carlisle, was a native Of
Ireland, and came to this country in
1918, settling at Winnsboro, where
he was a practicing physician for
many years.
Young James Henry Carlisle re-
ceived his primary schooling in his
Dative town. Later on his parents
moved to the historic town Of Cam
den, where the young man was pre-
pared for college, being taught by
Profs. McCandless, Hatfield and Ma
jor Leland. He entered the sopho-
more class Of the South Carolina Col
lege February 1, 1912. During his
SouicS ot the toiiS6S hV "oo "h"Si
DR.. Robert Henry, who had charge
of the department of language, and
DR.. Lieber, who was in charge of the
department of economy and civil
was then a young man and just en-
tering upon that illustrious career
which greatly Influenced the Church,
the State, and the College, was chap
lain. This was a great trio-Lieber,
Henry and Thornwell-and they left
a deep impression upon young Car
Isle. But as Saul of Tarsus became
greater than Gamaiel, so the match
less Carlisle has surpassed either of
his illustrious preceptors. Dr. Car
Isle graduated in 1914; being the
second honor man in the class. the
first honor man being Gen. p. FL.
Nelson, who was killed in the battle
OF the "Crater." Being the second
honor man, it fell to his lot to de-
liver the English Grafton. His sub
iect was Shelley" the poet. 1t is
said that this Grafton elected much
favorable comment and many pre-
dictions were made of his future
career, but his achievements have
surpassed the most sanguine hopes
of his most ardent friends.
rhe 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 lS4S he was elected
to position in the Columbia Male
Academy. In December, 1850, Ben
jamin Wofford died. He left by his
will one hundred thousand dollars
"for the purpose of establishing and
endOwing a college for literary, class
ical and scientific education, to be
located in his native district, and to
be under the control and manage
ment of the Conference of the Meth
odist EpisC opal Church of his native
State" A charter was duly secured
and the trustees held their first meet
ing to organize under it at Newberry.
November pa, 1853. The trustees at
this meeting elected the following
faculty: The Rev. w. NJ. Wight
man, ID. D., president; the Rev. AL
bert NJ. Shipp, A. NJ, professor Of
Enplich litpro ofura. david n,pncn
A. NJ, professor OF ancient langu-
ages; James II. Carlisle, A. NJ, pro-
fessor Of mathematics, and Warren
DuPre, A. NJ, professor OF natural
science.
His Work for W0nOrd.
Thus was established the institu-
ton which was destined to be the
centre Of the intellectual life of
South Carolina Methodism, and
which was to be n potent influence
in the production of the highest type
of citizenship for the Palmetto Com
monweaith.
Since 1854 the history Of Wofford
College has been largely determined
by James II. Carlisle. In 1875 he
was elected president Of the institu-
ton. At different times he has taught
mathematics, astronomy, ethics,
civics and the English Bible He is
more thoroughly conyersant 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"