Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-11-17
FORTY YEARS OF 1T
DR.. John |. Mccain Has Seen Long
Service at EFSkllG.
he HAS TAUGHT MANY MINISTERS
Rises at o'clock in the Morning and
Devotes Two Hours to Study
Smokes While on Vacation But at no
Other Time.
(From the Greenville News,)

The world will make beaten path
to the door of the one who can perform
some task better than can others is the
substance of. a poem that has been
handed down through the passing
years and which is still considered TO
be true. .
No better illustration of that truth is
needed than in the life of DR.. John l.
Mccain, for forty years rlember OF
the faculty of Erskine college and who
during that time has taught virtually
every minister of the Associate Re-
formed Presbyterian church in the
United States, who is now under 90
years of age.
There may be some minister Of the
denomination here and there between
the Atlantic and the Pacific under 55
years of age who is not listed among
the students of Dr. Mccain, but this is
doubtful.
Dr. r. C. Grier, president of Erskfne
college and himself former student Of
DIR. Mccain, described the situation
when he said: "The ministers of the
Associate Reformed Presbyterian
church, which has its membership
largely in the southeastern states, are
college men. Until recently Erskine
was the only college for men of this
denomination. If there is any minister
preaching in an A. r. p. church today
who is under 55 years of age that has
not been a, student of DR.. Mccain
do not know it"
In addition to the above distinction.
DR.. Mccain has also taught every
member of the present faculty of Frs
kline college with the exception of
Prof. J. l.. Sandige and Prof. j. L.
Pressly. ..
DR.. John T. Mccain was born in Tip
ton county, Tennessee, April 5, 1857,
and therefore is IS years of age. He
was educated in the rural schools Of
his county and from books obtained
from his fathers library. He was al
ways interested in, preaching and
sought all good books that were within
his reach.
Is Erskine Aumnus.
After attending school for time in
the communities about his home,
young McCain-was sent to Due West,
first to preparatory school and later
entering Erskine College. AS there
were no high schools near his fathers
home it became necessary for him to
leave home much earlier than would
have been the case Could he have been
prepared for college at home.
Finishing the preparatory school, he
entered Erskine college and graduated
with the class of 1879. One of his
class mates as we'll as lifelong friend
was the late Joseph T. johnson, con-
gressman from the fourth South Caro-
lima district and at the time Of his
death a United States judge.
The two not only were the best OF
friends but in their senior year were
rivals for the medal offered to the best
Greek scholar. All other students were
outdistanced, leaving the contest to
DR.. Mccain from admitting that he
won the medal but he instantly added:
But Joe sure gave me hard fight"
Praises Late Congressman.
Continuing to refer to his class mate
who later so distinguished himself in
public life, DIR. Mccain said, Joseph
T. Johnson was the soul of honor, and
one of the hest students that ever
passed through the doors of this in
stitution.".
Following his graduation, DR.. Nc
Cain taught for three years in the
public schools of Alabama. He then
returned to Erskine college in 1882, as
teacher of Greek and German, and
since that time has been connected
with the college without interruption.
Started English Department.
1t was at the suggestion Of DR.. Nc
Cain. sometime after his return here,
that the department of English was
added to Erskine college. Until that
time Erskine, along with most other
colleges, had no department Of English.
although teaching foreign languages.
DR.. Mccain suggested the advisability
of such a MOVE to the president, the
late DR.. Moffatt, and the result was
that Dr. Mccain began the new depart
ment as a side issue"
At the outset English was taught
only to the senior class, classes meet
ing but every other day. AS the years
passed the Importance Of English came
to be recognized throughout the nation
and this study became compulsory for
those who attended Erskine college.
When DR.. Mccain became connected
with the college as a member of the
faculty there were but 80 to rs stu
dents while the present number is
about $50. In many other ways. the
growth of the institution has been even
greater.
Many Brilliant Students.
Among the men of mark who have
studied English at the feet OF Dr. Nc
Cain are DR. Thomas Baldwin, of the