The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1910-05-21
HISTORY or WHITWORTH
Paper Of Mrs. {. D. Byrd. Class Of 81
Read At the AIamnae Anniversary.

lQuested to give on this, our Golden
Anniversary. a brief history of
[our Alma Mater and it's admins
! tration during the past half CEN
tury. AS memory wanders back
ward through the shadowy vista Of
departed years. the mile stones of
fifty years stand behind me in d
long and solemn procession, mute
witnesses of the flight Of time and
| the marvellous changes wrought in
that eventful period.
Fifty years ago Brookhaven was
Ia growing little city of fifteen
hundred inhabitants and where
commerce now hourishes the state
Iy pine stood sentinel, as though
ignoring the inevitable march Of
progress. Then, as now, The
College was our pride and glory
and though in comparative infancy,
with eighty pupils the highest en-
rollment, her influence for good
was felt and acknowledged at home
and abroad. regardless Of sect or
creed. Dating back to 1860, Rev.
Jno. P. Lee was then our FIRST Pres
ident and in the same year the first
Idiploma was presented by him to
| MolIie Noble, Of Smith county.
Meantime the political situation
grew graver day by day and the
clouds of grim visaged war;
darker and more threatening until
the presidential contest, then pend
ing, eliminated in the election Of
Abraham Lincoln, the Republican
nominee. In less than a month
South Carolina had seeded from
the Union. One by one. the other
Southern States severed their al
legiance until Tennessee. on June
the 9Th, completed the Famous
Eleven" constituting the Confed-
eracy. Thus Commencement in 1861
faced the most tragic crisis in our
National History. But obIivious
of party lines and factional bitter
ness. DR.. Lee remained at his post
of duty, closing a successful and
harmonious session. Four Seniors
received diplomas and by a strange
dispensation of Providence, both
President and graduates are left
survivors on the shores of Time"
as living witnesses Of his last ad.
ministration. Naturally the
Flower and ChivaIry of the South
had promptly responded to the
call for arms and left for the
seat of war, thinning our manhood
Ito middle age or the frosted locks
of three score years and ten
and leaving countless women and
children to face the unknown fu-
ture overshadowed by uncertainty
and trial. Of course business Lam
guished under a stress of circum.
stances so adverse in every way.
but the Rev. M. ]. WhitWorth,
Founder and Promoter IF the Coll
lege, and jealous factor in her
interests sought to open the session
of '62 with an attendance sufficient
for its maintenance and success and
placed the Rev. Mr.. Crosby. a
scholarly and capable educator in
charge for. the time beng, his in
cumbency ending Gas / dinly re-
member) in few months, from
declining health and subsequent
death. Even then. when the din
and conflict Of contending arms
shook the nation elsewhere. we lit
tie dreamed that Whitworth's cIas-
sic halls in time would be converts
Led into hospital for our sick and
wounded soldiers who found a
haven of rest and peace synonymous
with the Home, Sweet Home So
far away. When peace was declar-
ed and the war ended Whitworth
was among the first to open her
doors and in '65 Rev. G. f. Thomp-
son was chosen President. his adj
lministration extending two years
| Owing to the unsettled conditions
prevailing there were no seniors
either term. but from meager in
| formation gathered, learn that he
prepared several pupils for grad
Iuation the term following, our
own home girls being Misses Laura
| Decell. Matte Hudson and Ella
Hooker In September, 67. Dr..
lH. T. johnson assumed the Presi-
Edency and for twenty years gave
the best wealth Of his life to the
lnpbuilding and permanent success
lof his chosen work. A man Of
magnetic personality. Of strong
and decisive character, he drew
all men unto him and from the
| first day Of entrance infused new
life and inspiration among both
| faculty and students by his own
dominant spirit and courage.
AS the attendance increased, the
/ demand for more commodious
buildings became imperative and
Fin $50. Galisthenics Hall was
planned and completed, thus facil-
itating the work and progress of
teacher and pupil. Az time passed
the Brown House, Margaret
j Hall. and the Institute Build.
ling crowned his life work. and
as long AZ one Sfnnp IL left T4ran