The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-10-12

iir etttItS PAA Iva Ia Wy AaiN PVpptN
of Virginia from the earliest days Of
the colony to the present time to i'm
prove their educational faculties and
build up their institutions of learning
constitute theme for the brightest
pages OF the States history.
Faithful work, with no little self
sacrifice upon the part of the people
has resulted in the present high stand
ard of excellence in both the public
and private schools aad colleges of the
State
Among these institutions which have
developed from small beginnings t1
magnificent proportions. with fields OF
usefulness hardly hoped for by their
founders, is Richmond college. the
formal opening of which. at its new
site ar westhampton on Tuesday last,
was one of the features of the week.
Among the addresses delivered on
that occasion was one by Hon. j.
Taylor Ellyson. chairman of the new
college building committee, In which
address Lieutenant Governor Ellyson
gave most interesting history OF the
college from its inception. recounting
its achievements during the past
eighty-five years. He spoke as fol-
lows:
Governor Ellyson's address. giving
an interesting account of the growth
OF the college the past eighty five
years. was as follows:
A Great Day i'm College History.
This lis q great day. in the history
OF Richmond College. and / am here
to share its pleasures with you. We
witness the completion of great
undertaking and the realizatio of a
long-cherished hope for the estah-
lishment of Greater Richmond Col
lege. Higher education in Virginia
has been fortunate in having among
the Baptists of the Commonwealth
men OF broad vision, men with brave
hearts and courageous purpose, who
laid wide and deep the foundations
for the better training of the young
men and women of their beloved
State
1T may seem to us today that a
small beginning in higher education
was made when the Virginia Baptist
Education society was organized in
the early morning Of May 80, 1880.
but 1t will not SO appear when we
stop to consider the marvellous de-
velopment that has followed.
The Virginia Baptist Education
society was organized in the city of
Richmond on May 80. 1880.
The primary aim OF this nrgani-
cation was to furnish Baptist students
for the ministry opportunity for bet
ter preparation for their work. Rev.
Edward Baptist was chosen the first
instructor. The students attended his
school at Bethel, in Powhatan county.
Mir. Baptise furnished for the ten
months session lodging, food, fuel,
lights. etc. for $40 per year, and
charged $a5 for tuition.
in 1882 a farm called Spring farm.
located near the Hermitage road. in
Henrico county. was purchased by the
society for $4,000 The institution
was named the Virginia Baptist semi
nary Robert Ryland was elected
superintendent of the school, and at
All annual meeting of the society in
June, 1894, 1t was decided to purchase
the property OF Mrs. Haxall. within
two miles west of the city, known as
Columbia The quantity of land in
Guided in the purchase was seven and
three-fourths acres. and the price at
which II was bought was $4,000. SUBJ
seQuentiy. additional land at a cost
OF $4,000 was added. In more recent
years other land was bought and the
sixe of the campus enlarged to its
present proportions.
House Still Standing.
The house known as Columbia is
still standing and is now, and has
been for several years. occupied as
q residence by DR.. J. G.. Metcalf. In
1888 DR.. Adam Empie, president of
William and Mary college, wrote a
letter in regard to the removal OF the
seminary from Columbia to Williams
burg. but the trustees Of the semi