The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-01-19
ALUMNI LOAN FUND OF THE
l,I,EnoiIl OF SOtIh CAROLINA

is the only STATE NV Sly III liAI
South that mas no endowment. Tn4s
institution, til, ,lelu.e, Is entirely oe-
pendent on annual legislative appro~
priations for maintenance and future
oevelopment. mere Is never any OIL
hcultv about ordinary maintenance
Dut development is necessarily SLOW.
as Souta Carolina is not a wealthy
sac AID as the demalts upon tn1
legislature are numerous and insis-
.eas. S3th IN institution as ours,
therefore, must be partly dependent
upon it's alumni if We are to keep
pace with the rapid strides Of modern
higher education
There are FIVE ordinary ways by
which our alumni can contribute 10
the development of their Alma Mater:
CD By the establishment of an en-
dowment fund; ca BY the erection
individually or collectively of an
alumni building on the campus; 60
Bv special donations for the embel-
lishment of the grounds and build
ings; a. BY supporting, in part, ath-
letics; (5) By gifts to the Alumni
Loan Fund.
1t is of the last that We shall speak
in this article reserving comment on
the others in subsequent contrlbu-
tions to your journal.
The Alumni Loan Fund was Great
ed February 1904 to meet the needs
of poor but worthy students of the
University. During the eleven years
of it's activity Q9O4-1915) 100000 have
been lent to students. The active
part of the fund has been paid out
four times and recollected three
times" as we learn from the bulletin
prepared by the very competent ad-
ministrator, Professor F. w. Brad
ley. There are about fifty regular
annual contributors. A Few others
have contributed sporadicafly. The
largest total contribution was 81
602 25 Tin 1910) the smallest $3.50
Tin 1922. AS there are about 5000
living alumni it will be seen that the
number of contributors is exceeding
ly small. If the alumni averaged
$500 apiece annually the contribu-
tons to this fund would amount to
$4,000 a year. AS only $100 is ever
loaned to any one applicant, this
would mean that $50 young men and
women would be enabled annually to
complete their education in addition
to those who had already secured
loans from the permanent fund. When
these young people graduate they
naturally become the warmest friends
of the institution and the most gen.
erous contributors to the fund to
which they owe their high education
al training. But better far the State
is enriched by an increasingly large
number Of highly educated citizens
to aid in guiding her future career.
1t is said that Alexander Stephens,
the Vice-President of the Confeder-
acy, educated out Of his private funds
sixty young men most of whom rem
dered valuable service in after Ne
to the great commonwealth of Geor-
gia. Surely there is no benefaction
that reaps larger returns than one
that helps to ft men for career OF
usefulness and distinction in life. The
interest on such a fund is not to be
measured in dollars and cents but
in souls and social service, the value
of which is beyond compute.
Personally 1 feel keeply the impor-
tance of timely aid to the struggler
after the higher things of the intel
lect. My own father could not have
graduated in 1882 at the University OF
South Carolina had it not been for
the generosity Of wealthy gentle
man in Southern South Carolina and
an opportune loan from the Aid Fund
of Washington and Lee University
enabled the writer to complete his
college course. feel it keenly, there
fore, when young man is compel
led to forego altogether the advan-
tages Of college training because OF
lack Of funds or for the same reason
has to leave the University before he
graduates. There are pathetic cases
Of this kind every year, not to speak
of the larger number who suffer in
silence from the unfuldlled desire for
a higher education.
In spite of these facts benefactors
continue to build memorials and con-
tribute funds for the advancement Of
various educational interests-all ad-
mirable objects of munifcence III
themselves; but comparatively few
have realized the importance Of max
ing men of character and education
always the finest assets Of any COM
monwealth By means of the Alumni
Loan Fund which has been in exist
ence only twelve years, seven minis
ters, 49 teachers, IA lawyers. six leg
islators, "a business men. four mag
istrates, two doctors and three coun-
ty superintendent of education have
beer enabled to complete their co.,
lege careers. Two hundred and
thirteen have been aided alto?