The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-30
Educational Power OF Wasting
ton and Lee Cniver-
i sity.
FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT
Fundamentalism and Thorough
ness Are characteristics
I OF Institution.
BY G. WATSON JAMES. l.. l.. d.

to-day as one OF the corner-stones. If
not the corner-s.one of the American
Republic. Yet the thesis is absolute
~, argumentativeiy and historically
vtdefenslble. On the ruins of Liberty
fHall Academy is buildei an institu-
tion with nearly a million dollars
OF endowment carrying on work Of
modern education In classics. scirray
law but illustrating tradition. holding
J fast to that which was good and pres
sing forward TO the high mark OF
I forming Character. There is hardly
a prominent incident in the construc-
tive period OF the republic in which
the progenative of Warrington and
Lee does not nsure. She is Impressed
on tho baptismal sscredness OF the
nation Anything that is written about
her must necessarily be reminiscent,
We hear much about the Meoklen-
burg declaration OF Independence. The
Declaration. was the PincArtle De
Declaration was the Dtncartle Declar-
6tion. among the signers of when
were trustees of Liberty Hall Acade-
my In volatility Of contract as
constitutional question hanks back IL
=
lawyer TO the Dartmouth College case,
/ In which Daniel Webster made the
speech. which. above all others, gave
him name. fame and reputation. That
case was anticipated in the cause OF
the Trustees OF Liberty Hall Academy
against the Legislature Of Virginia.
In the protest OF Rev. Samuel Brow
of the Beard OF Liberty Hall Academy.
some twenty years Before the Dart
~ q g bo cr Is
lature Of Virginia undertook TO chance
the name of Liberty Hall Academy to
Washington College. and to appoint a
new board of trustees
DR.. Brown wrote paper setting
forth the principle Of the danger OF
abrogatins the conditions Of a con-
tract in which. specifically, the in
terests of Liberty Hall Academy were
involved, but, as a broader proposition.
the whole questi OF principle was
covered That protest caused the Leg
islature OF Virginia to reverse its act
ION and in arguing the Dartmouth
College case which evoked John Mar
shalfs celebrated decision, Mr. Web
ster followed a line of DR.. Brown
In the Convention that carried V!r-
Einia into the Union men who were
trustees OF Liberty Hall Academy held
the balance Of power AMI voted against
the instructions OF their constituents
otherwise the influence Of Patrick
Henry and DR. Graham would have
prevented Virginia from becoming
party 10 the compact The name of
Liberty Hall Academy was changed
ito Washington Academy by the act and
fresolution OF the board in nonor OF
! Washington and In recognition OF his
donation to the institution of stock
ian the old James River Compan ny.
iThere ls, however. a curious miscon-
lSn taN. ~
Washington in the gift. He has never
jbeen credited with the craftsmanship
! that was behind 1t. So far as his
iareligious views were concerned Wash
,fngton had 4 leaning TO the Episcopal
Church. But at the time he came into
possession OF the stock great wave
OF French intideiity-free thought. was
sweeping over Virginia and had in
J 1ected the youth OF the Land. Wash
tngton conceived that the best way TO
| breast it was to bulwark and develop,
sYnnt In religious sense, but in the
! political sense. the cast iron Scotch
irish Presbyteria nism represented in
Liberty Hall Academy. Hence the do
nation.
Washington and Lee has never de-
parted from traditions If there is
! such thing as attais.I In education
! hhe eXemplities Il. She is anumver-
I, city. But in heart and core she Is
"a college Atmospherically she is a
/ school. Back of her old line of Greek
! buildings are Science Hall, a new
4, Library Building. the Refractory. the
| Gymnasium. the Electric Power House.
/ but the classic columns of main bund-
! ing paradise" and the roost" frown
! ancient discipline.
| 1t is a curious fancy. but were 1t
| not for the suggestion of architectural
| anacronism. the old timer could wish
to see in the Abaci garagoylo of stern
! old Graham Junkin the uncomrrom-
! Using. Kirkpa trick, the tender. White.
par excellence the friend OF the boys
Campbell. the altogether lovablc. whose
character might have inspired tho
: lines
Not oft at home doth genius
brightly shine.
No more than doth the gem within
7 the mine"
/ monument of constitutional law. Nell
son, with his mathematical exactness.
and Harris who not only taught Latin
+, but everything else under the sun
! The direct question is asked, what
are the educational influences of this
! section of the South? The answer of
! Washington and Lee is in one word ;
! "Educatton." Fundamentalism is her
/, force. Throughness is her power. OF
I a student body of over six hundred
(, you hardly see dozen on the campus
! Why? They are working The moral
[ influence of Washington and Lee Is
her strongest asset. 1t is represented
In personal contact of the professor
I with his students That is never lost
sight a. Degrees have all the Univer-
sty direction; but the basic principle
is the college, The student. whether
i he desires or not to specialize. must
.be collegian. He must know or his
examinations VIII tell why. One most
important consideration. conducive to
the influence of Washington and Lee
University is absolute financial indie
pendence. She needs money to en-.
large the superstructure. She mas been
erecting for over century and a half
on her granitIc foundation that was
lc9plnned o. Eevgth. Rage.l