The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-07
re- Was Developed

sion In things spiritual when we recall
that whereas the Son Of God came to
see the light Of day from a manager,
even 30 were the earliest chapel SER
vices conducted and the first lessons
were taught the eager students in class
rooms which were located In an "un-
slightly barn" on the Spring Farm"
English, Latin, Greek and mathe-
matics were the subjects taught In
these modest surroundings.
Worthy of record are the names Of
those who were teachers in those days.
Before the charter was secured,
changing the seminary to college. we
And as teachers Robert Ryland. ELI
Ball, Caleb Burnley. wm F. Nelson.
Richard A. Claybrook,~F w. Berry
man. Elias Dodson. ]. @. Baker. J. s.
Walthall and James C. Clopton.
I The list OF teachers up to the time
of the Civil War contained suc.l other
names as c. L. Cooke. Samuel G. Chop
ton, e. Ansman, Robert b. Smith.
Isidore Guillot, John NJ. Murray. j.
Odenhal, George Frederick Holmes.
Stephen e. Brownell. T. B. Robertson,
N H. Massie, A. B. Cabaniss. r. r..
Owens. Heath Jones Christian. Thomas
l. Snead. John Lawson. Arthur Freize,
IP. H. Montague. Robert Hall. J. c.
1SoHS, II. W. IhciIiudIt, .. n. oWeuSv
VIM. s. Strange, A. II. Slocumb. e. Adj
kins, w. p. Southern, Chas. s. var
borough, c. H. Toy, Lewis Turner,
George E. Dabney, Bennett Puryear.
VIM. g. Chase. The last five named,
together with Robert Ryland. compos-
FED the faculty when the war came on.
No State or community suffered
proportionately more in material loss
by the war than did Richmond Col
lege. Her students were scattered.
her teachers displaced. her halls dis
mantled and doors torn from the
hinges, her library destroyed. and her
meager endowment practically wiped
out. All was gone but her high ideals
and her faith in God In 1855 when
the General Association met In Rich
mond the outlook was little less
gloomy than It was in 1880 when the
Education Society was organized on
faith. OF the twelve men who spoke
IN behalf OF the reopening Of the COL
lege none remains today. Mr.. James
Thomas, Jr., the ever faithful friend
of the institution, gave hope to the
lfainting souls by pledging $4,000 to
start a campaign for funds and agree
ing further to pay the salary OF enc
professor. That in the reorganization
thus set on foot the former high ideals
were not lost are determined by the
fact that H. II. Harris. b. Puryear. E.
3. Smith. Edmund Harrison and
Tfberius Gracious Jones comprised
the new faculty. To these later on
were added such names as J. L. NJ.
Curry. W. d. Thomas, John Pollard.
G. II. Winston, A. B. Brown and Rodes
Massie. Evidence of the high educa-
,tional ideals which were fostered here
Is contained in the fact that while the
cs1rrtr,,1,,n, nf I9{Shn,nrd In
the early 40's shows that its work
would compare favorably with the
course in several institutions which
are today comforting degrees, yet IL
was not until 1S4s that Richmond Con-
iege conferred its first degree: this be-
ing nine years after 1t was authorized
by its charter to exercise that priv
ilege. This as due In no small meas
ure TO the fact that the president was
graduate Of Columbian University
and was immensely more interested in
honesty in educational standards than
in advertising any particular institu-
+ ton. Be is said to the glory Of Rich
mond College that the high ideal, thus
early fostered, has to this good hour
never been departed from. In another
respect the president of those early
days set high standard for colleges.
To Mr. Ryland college was in no
sense Z reformatory. nor place for a
student who is habitually incident
! His declaration OF this principle found
expression IN the following words: mo
college has a right to retain pupil
who II not receiving a fair equivalent
for his money" Much as money was
needed when the fees from the small
number OF pay students was the only
source of revenue. the high-souled
F, president was willing to accept money
/ only when 1t was for value received
Those familiar with the history of our
loved institution realize that this high
ideal. once established. has not given
way to the power OF money or social
standing OF persons involved.
Because of these high educational
and moral ideals. early esta blished and
faithfully adhered to. Richmond Col
lege came long ago to have unQues-
toned rating In the highest institu-
tons Of learning In this and other
countries. BY declining to grant de-
grees until the course of study was
adequate. and by raising the standards
as the years have gone by. keeping
abreast with the best educational
! ideals, Richmond College. while or
these grounds won the right to have
her diplomas accepted throughout the
world as representing real work. faith
fully performed.
splendid Growth.
The first material asset OF the vir-
ginia Baptist Education Society wal
the Spring Farm. purchased for 81.
900. This farm IL now known as the
Bloomingdale Farm. and IL located on
~ oh ~ h~A sv.~t1 As