The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-10-25


she had nowhere to put them, nor to-
shelter a faculty. Storm-tossed and
weatherbeaten, she found a quiet hav-
en-, under the Blue Ridge, in the hos
pitable town of Walhalla.
But the sky was now overcast with
clouds that threatened disaster from
financial distress. The storm was
fierce. But Josiah Smeltzer was at
the helm, and no lightning fash, nor
thunder sound, nor roar of breaker,
would shake his grasp. Any one can
drift with the current, but to stand
I against such a tide one must believe
in himself as we'll as trust God. He
would not give up the ship. There are
those here who know that his elo-
quence as a preacher could have plac-
ed him where he would have escaped
drudgey. That's the word. The
drudging of Josiah Smeltzer presorv-
ed the college from 81 to IT. .Smelt-
ger baked bread for the public in New
berry and ran boarding house and
truck farm in Walhalla that Newber-
ry college might live,
"In 1878, Newberry college had
president, a professor of mathematics,
who also taught Latin and Greek, and
principal of the preparatory depart
ment. The pastor of st. Johns church
met classes in German, certain hours
t each week. The next year the board
sent us a professor of ancient Ian
guages-two professors and presi-
dent, that is the highest equipment
the college had from '65 to III.
"But, listen; those are the days, and
that is the equipment, that produced
+ the Houseals, S. T. Hallman, G. P.
Boozer, the Busbys, the Vineyards,
Rain, Hughes, J. B. O'Neall Holloway,
I 'Cromer, Efrd and some more. These
are a challenge to the enlarged equip
ment of today.
'In 1877, 16 years after the storm
burst upon the college in her happy
and prosperous home. in 81, two light
wagon loads carried her assets to the
Walhalla depot, on her return to New
berry. Here, friends had bought back
for her part of the land she had own
ed, and built On part of the still re-
naming granite foundation of her first
home what is now known as Smeltzs"; :;
hail.
"In the life of Newberry college a
potent factor has always been the
love and generosity oflNewberry's cit
fizens. l like to hear you say, "Our
'college.' The college now could say,
Home again!" The heart Of the
church was thrilled.
"Let no man think all was smooth
sailing from that day. She had a
home, but no money, and few students.
Interest in educating boys was not as
great then as now. Besides, the storm
that swept NeWberry's possessions
away, carried also the fortunes Of her
friends. Comparatively little had been
recovered by them, and none had come
yet to the college. But the college was
near the heart of those who had a
'clear vision of her future service, and
they never faltered
"The rank and file make up tbs
army, and they face the grape and cam
lister. But as brick and mortar without
an architect, so rank and file without
leader, serve little purpose.
"God gave us a leader-a man OF
culture and dignity, with capacity. to-
draw men to him for the Masters
service; one who could organize
forces, assimilate elements, and pro-
duce results without apparent effort.
George w. Holland was to Newberry
college the embodiment of the blessing
his latest words prayed God to send
upon her.
"I believe the greatest single line of
blessings to Newberry since '65 has
been in the five great men who have
succssively been her presidents.
when the work of rehabilitating
Newberry college began in 1877, the
South Carolina Synod reported 5,065
communicates. Last year, 1911, the
report shows 1O,599. Add the Georgia
Synod, and you have a constituency of
less than $4,000.
/ To-day, after 35 years, Newberry
college has assets in land, buildings,
.oo,;o,,,on+ ond oodou,oonf oooropaf-