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

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move to the Columbia building on this
campus In 1884. The original out
lay here was $4,000. BY 1856 an en-
ldowment had gradually been gathered
amounting to $4,000. In that year
tia central building was commenced
by the erection of the north wing.
known as Ryland Hall, at a cost OF
$25.500. At this time 161 students
were enrolled. The next move toward
The campaign then began netted about
$4,000. Soon two brick colleges,
costing 5000, were built, one ct which
was a gift from Judge De Land, OF
New York In 1872 the college cele-
brated it's fiftieth anniversary. The
General Association met in Staunton.
Mr.. James Thomas again came to the
rescue and inspired the attempts to
! raise 100000 for endowment. About
one-half Of that amount was received
from the campaign. In 1873 the CEN
trial part of the main building was
erected at cost of $4,000. In 1877
land on the east side of the campus
was purchased for $4,000. In 1880.
after the death of DIR. J. B. letter. a
movement to erect a memorial hall in
his honor was launched. Mr.. James
Thomas encouraged this movement by
r. gift OF $4,000 to start 1t. About $685.
4 .
under the leadership or DR.. A. E.
Dickinson. The new ad iition. COM
iprising the south wing of the central
building. together with other improve
ments. was completed in 1884 at a cost
of $4,000. In 1889 at a cost of s35,-
900 four residences for professors, to-
gether with a refectory. gymnasium
and students hall were erected. In
1899 the Science Hall, fronting on
Franklin Street. and the Memorial
Hall for students, facing on Broad
Street. were erected at a cost OF $45,-
900. Thus from 1855 to 1899, a
period Of thirty-four years, the trus-
tees provided and paid out $274,500
for additional buildings and equip
ment on this campus. The depart
ment OF law was made permanent by
the gift Of $27.500 by the family Of
Mr.. Williams, for the r c. Williams
professorship of law
Larger Fields.
I It Is well to recall that the field. oc-
cupied today by the corporation of
Richmond College in the educational
world in conducting the two institu-
tons at Northampton. is a direct re-
suit OF and was madA possible by. the
small beginnings. the splendid growth
and the high ideals which came about
on the campus marked by this memo
rial gateway. And IL permitted to
name two persons who, more than
any other are responsible for the
splendid career of Richmond College
for the last quarter of a century l
would unhesitatingly name DIR. Chas.
II. Ryland and DR.. F.. w. Boatwright.
1t was here that the seminary became
a college; 1t was here that the student
body grew from 25 to 325. and the
faculty from three to twenty; here the
building increased in value from few
hundred dollars to s274.500, and the
number of buildings from one to ten
and the endowment from nothing to
less than $1,000 900; 1t was here that
in spite of the then general indifYer-
Ience to education. in spite of war and
disaster and buildings laii waste and
blighted hopes, faithful men succeed
ed. because, having put their hands
to the plow. they never once turned
back; 1t was on these grounds that the
name Richmond College became the
dearest words in the life of Virginia
Baptists. and by keeping abreast of
educational advancement was recoe-
nized the world around as an educa-
tional institution of the first rank: it
was here. through these very gates
and into the loved institution which
stood yonder, that in eighty-four years
an unframed army of over 5000 young
men marched and sat at the feet of
men than whom nobler souls never
lived. and having drunk deep at this
fountain this army of men has march
ed out and away to every corner Of the
earth. where they have become rev
sources of light and higher lffe--men
In every walk of life have gone forth.
While the seminary was started to
educate ministers. 1t was soon enlarg
ed and students for the law have
graduated here in excess of students
for the ministry, Many thousands are
the sons which rise in every nation to
call her blessed; 1t was on this campus
a building was erected in three sec
tons. but making a complete whole.
which was an ornament to this city.
the pride OF many hearts. and pro-
nounced by many the most beautiful,
pile of architecture in this State or IN
the South; 1t was here that thirteen
acres OF ground. the exact size OF TIE
base OF the great pyramid OF EEypt
on which forty centuries looked down.
became too small for the habitation
of throbbing and thriving institution