Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-07-10
SOUTHWESTERN UNIV.
HAS HAD LONG CAREER
Presbyterian School That May
Be Moved To Memphis,
Incorporated in 1875

NASHVILLE, July 1O-Although
Southwestern University, at Clark
vile, the removal of which to
Memphis has been under consider
alton in the Supreme Court, was
Incorporated in 1875, it is neces-
sary to return to ante-bellum days
in order to trace the full history
of the property that now forms
part of its equipment.
In 1848, the Masonic fraternity
of Montgomery county, in accor-
dance with plans. ,formed by the
Grand Lodge of the State of Ten
nessee, erected the building now
known as 1.-THE CASTLE" naming
the institution Montgomery Mas
onic College. The support of the
Lodge having been withdrawn
early, the institution was conduct
ed solely by the Masons of Mont
gomery county.
Financial embarrassment in
1855 caused the trustees to trans
fer the college to the Presbyter-
ian Synod of Nashville. Professor
W. M. Stewart, a promoter of the
Masonic institution, was made
president and the name changed to
Stewart College. Three years later
President Stewart resigned and
was succeeded by Rev. R. B. Nc
Mullen.
The need of a dormitory was
soon felt and 1860, Robb Hall was
erected. The edath of Mr.. Nc
Mullen caused Professor Stewart
to again assume the presidency,
but 1870, he was succeeded by DR..
}. B. Shearer, under whose admin
istrasion occurred the incotpora-
ton Of the present institution.
Soon after the close of the Civil
war, a movement was started for
the founding of a university under
the patronage Of the Southern
Presbyterian church. AS it later
became evident that it was not
feasible for the the entire church
to cooperate in this plan, the
church in the southwest determin-
ed to undertake this enterprise. Ac
cordingly, the Synods. of Alabama.
Texas, Mississippi, Memphis and
Nashville in 1873, appointed com
mlssloners to meet in Memphis
adopt plan of union for the pro-
ject. The college was located in
GAINESVILLE and the property of
Stewart College transferred to the
board of directors. The Campus
was enlarged and the city added an
endowment of 100000 to the in
stitution. E& tus
Shortly before Chancellor JIM,
Waddell assumed his duties Ia in
1879, the Stewart building was
erected. The synods of Texas and
Arkansas withdrew from the group
Of controlling bodies after the
founding of separate Presbyter-
ian college within the bounds of
these states. The University now
is under the control ow the Synods
OF Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi
and Tennessee.
In 1885, the School of Divinity
was added to the other depart
ments of the university, but ow-
ing to the Increased cost of main
tenance, the' Theological Dep:trt-
ment of the institution was indef-
lnitely suspended in June, 1917.
Charles E. Diehl, the present head
of the institution, was elected in
1916.
The last of the buildings, the
handsome Commons, was built in
1918 with funds contributed bv
the citizens of GAINESVILLE. The
largest individual gifts received
by the institution have been the
donation of 100000 by j. ]. Nc
Comb, of New York, formerly of
New Orleans, and the gift of $50
600 by E. S. billiard, of Arkansas
DR.. Joseph E. Wilson, father of
former member of the faculty of
forme rmember of the faculty of
the institution.