The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-05
DR. DENNY SENDS CLASSIC LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE Becomes New President of the University of
 Alabama
OPPORTUNITY TO DO
 CONSTRUCTIVE WORK
Reason Is Given By ye. tor for Leaving Washingtc : d Lee University w2S He
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 | Montgomery, % 4-(Special)- Setting forth t graphic way the heart bangs whic,. ne feels at leaving Virginia, where he has served long and faithfully as an educator, Dr. George II. Denny. head of the Wash ington and Lee university, has written to Governor Emmet O'Neal. accepting the presidency of the University of Alabama to which, he was recently | unanimously elected by the board or | trustees of that institution. Oppor- tunity to render constructive service in a great commonwealth is given by Dr. Denny as the prevailing considera- | tion which has led him to accept the Alabama offer.
 1 The letter of Dr. Denny accepting the presidency of the state university Is carefully worded, and covers four full | typewriter pages. The call of duty as pr. Denny puts it, is accepted with an honest purpose and a large desire | for usefulness, uninfluenced by any sort of ambition save to render serv- | ice"
 l The educator states in his letter, however, that he will write later as | to when he expects to take up the | work. From other reports from Vir- ginia, however, the educator will come | to Alabama on January l.
 Letter of Acceptance pr. Denny's letter to Governor ONeai is as follows:
 My dear Governor ONeal: acknowl- edge with appreciation your letter or September 25, giving me official notifica- tion of my unanimous election to the presidency of the University of Alabama. More than six weeks ago committee or the trustees came to Virginia and asked me to accept the presidency of that m stitution. 1 agreed to give, to this call 8 patient consideration. provided I should be allowed sufficient time in which to reach a mature decision after the college year had fairly begun Since there were other great interests involved, could not undertake to hastily determine just what ought to do The recent unanimous action of the trustees in confirming tie invitation of the nominating committee
  I appreciate the courtesy of the trustees in allowing me this ample opportunity to search my heart to try to find if this was indeed the task to which I should devote my life. Following the call of duty, I am now writing to accept tho great opportunity and responsibility to which you have summoned me. 1 eX- press to you, therefore, my decision 10 go to Alabama, with an honest purpose and a large desire for usefulness, unin- fluenced by any sort of ambition save to render service. I shall write you later just when I shall be able to take up the work tiA
 ''It would be a task as impossible as it is unnecessary to describe to you the wrench that it costs me to leave Virginia, in whose service my life has been spent. l have been deeply touched by the ap- peals that have recently come to me from the trustees, alumni, members of the fac ulty and the student body of Washing ton and Lee. I have also appreciated the generous expressions of the public press and of leading citizens in every section of this commonwealth Yet. in the face of it all, I am hearlSening to your call. l feel that, in taking this great step, I shall have the sympathy and the CO., operation of. every patriotic man who IS today helping to fashion the higher .fe of Alabama.
 ''The prevailing consideration that has moved me to accept the presidency of the University of Alabama proceeds from the conviction that there Is a greater opportunity to any man serving in that position to render constructive service to the entire system of public education in a progressive commonwealth, rapidly growing In population and in power. It is not a mere question of transferring from one institution to another institu- tion of learning. If that were the sole question. I should remain at my present post of duty. To carry on the work con- secrated by the benefaction of George Washington and by the service and mem ory of Robert F.. Lee Is task amply adequate to satisfy the ambition of any man. Nor is it question of salary. The trustees of Washington and Lee have habitually sought to deal with me in a spirit of the utmost generousity.
 Hope of University Founders
 .It is solely question of service The founders planned to make the University of Alabama the supreme intellectual achievement of your commonwealth. It is the duty. as it will be the pleasure, of the people of Alabama to understand the institution and to deal with it, not as if they were doling out charity. but as if they were increasing their noblest in vestment. No American commonwealth will, in the long run. grow greater than it's moral and intellectual stature. if Alabama is to reap the richest reward of her remarkable industrial prosperity. there is supreme need of truly great center of spiritual and intellectual power whose influence will reach out until 1t is felt among all classes and conditions of men. It Is because I have faith In the integrity of the stock that is fash ioning your civilization that I offer my best services in the great task of train ing your youth in the august serenity of ideas and ideals. It is because I have faith in the future of the University of Alabama that am willing to leave my Virginia home and all the sacred asso- citations of lifetime to share in this work. I know something of the trials and the vicissitudes that have periodically entered into the history of that ancient seat of learning. Yet, I also know that 1t has weathered each historic danger that has hitherto marked it's progress forward, and I have the utmost conh- dence that, please God. it win continue to mount and ride the waves.
 Serves No Selfish Purpose
 "The University of Alabama only asks a fair opportunity to minister to the higher life of the people of the commonwealth. It serves no selfish purpose. It recognizes that 1t IS not an end in itself It recognizes that It exists, not merely for those who ad- minister and govern it, not merely for those who teach in it, and not merely to gratify the bride of those who have ----->>-- i,----~-@->->7-> -1----> ~