USA > Florida > The History of Methodism in Georgia and Florida: From 1785 to 1865 > Part 34
USA > Georgia > The History of Methodism in Georgia and Florida: From 1785 to 1865 > Part 34
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1828 had urged the Church to steps in this direction. There was no Methodist college south of Maryland, so Randolph Macon College was established in Virginia, and not long afterward the La Grange College was es- tablished in Florence, Alabama. Each desired to secure the patronage of the Georgia Conference, and Wm. Mc Mahon, from Tennessee, and John Early, from Virginia, visited the Georgia Conference, which met in La Grange, in January, 1832, to represent their respective institu- tions. Dr. Olin had been elected president of Ran- dolph Macon, and this, perhaps, led the conference to decide upon Randolph Macon, and to resolve to raise $10,000 to endow a professorship in that institution. Dr. Few does not seem to have endorsed this plan, for he was even then firm in his belief that Georgian Meth- odism should have a college of its own; and through his influence the conference, while resolving to raise $10,000, appointed no agent to do it.
At this conference the village of Culloden, at which there was a school of high grade, made some advan- tageous offers to the conference, looking to the estab- lishment of a Church school there. The conference did not at once accede to its offer, but decided to let the matter lay over for twelve months. At the confer- ence in Washington the next year, the proposition took definite shape, urging the establishment of a manual labor school, and offering inducements for its location in Culloden. Dr. Few entered into the scheme with all ardor, and advocated it on the conference floor. Dr. Olin, still a member of the Georgia Conference, was present to urge the endowment of Randolph Macon, and to secure the conference influence, and opposed the ยท movement at that time. It was a brave fight these two
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giants made, and they both conquered, for the conference decided to appoint an agent for Randolph Macon and an agent for a manual labor school, to be established at some place not designated. Elijah Sinclair was to be agent for Randolph Macon, and John Howard for the Manual Labor School.
A committee was appointed, consisting of Saml. K. Hodges, James O. Andrew, Lovick Pierce, and Dr. Few, who were to decide upon the plan for the school. They met in Macon. Culloden made a tender of valuable lands and buildings. Covington sent Dr. A. Means and Rev. Allen Turner to represent the fitness of that village for the school. The committee decided upon locating it in Covington. Dr. Means was elected to take charge of it, and sent upon a tour through the North to get information with reference to such schools. Dr. Means kindly furnishes the rest of the story.
" I. did as requested, and on my return reported to the board the results of my interview with the venerable Dr. William Fisk, President of the Wesleyan University, at Middletown, Conn., Dr. Nathan Bangs, of New York, and many others, upon the various and interesting topics connected with this new enterprise.
"That accomplished classical scholar, excellent man, and popular preacher, Rev. G. W. Lane-son of the worthy Mr. Geo. Lane of New York, who was long connected with the 'Methodist Book Concern' in that city-was elected by the Board as his assistant teacher, and to whom was mainly committed the department of the languages. Rev. Geo. H. Round was subsequently employed to aid in the work."
For four years the Manual Labor School progressed with almost unprecedented popularity, such was the .
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public desire to connect a knowledge of agricultural pursuits with a course of literary and scientific instruc- tion in the education of the young of our sex. The Superintendent had application for admission from six surrounding States, and also from Florida, then a terri- tory, and such were the urgent appeals to admit students from abroad that the conference felt itself constrained to pass a resolution, interdicting the admission of pupils from other States, until the claims of their own people were first met. Indeed, the popular estimation of the system was such, that the superintendent reports that during the period mentioned, and up to the time of the establishment of Emory College, he was constrained, for want of sufficiently ample accommodation, and in con- formity with the conference " resolution," to reject prob- ably 500 applicants from abroad. It still continued for about two years afterwards in active operation under the superintendence of Rev. Geo. H. Round. The col- lege board then bought out the concern, assumed its debts, and the systemn was abandoned. It is true that among so large a number of students, promiscuously assembled and received from all classes of society, and during the prevalence of our "peculiar institution," there were many pupils who were reluctant to conform to the rules and duties of the farming department. Such annoyances were to be expected in working out this complex regime, so novel and untried in the South. But this was not regarded as the primary and funda- mental cause for abandoning the system. It was DEBT constantly accumulating, inexorable debt. To keep the complicated machinery in motion required the inevi- table incurrence of expenses which the utmost possible clear income from the farm proved insufficient to meet
.
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To supply so large a body of inexperienced workers, for only three hours in the afternoon of each day, it be- came necessary to stock the farm with two or three times as many horses or mules, plows and gears, hoes, and axes, etc., etc., as any thrifty farmer would require, who could employ his hands in cultivation during the whole day, Saturday included, but which, by long stand- ing usage in other schools-the students claimed. From this triple supply of farming implements there was necessarily a greater loss by breakage, waste, black- smiths' bills, etc., to which may be superadded the large annual amount paid to the students for every hour's work, and the interest on the money invested without corresponding returns from the farm. It proved to be, therefore, an onerous, unprofitable, and losing enterprise, and prudence required its abandonment. And the same fruitful sources of financial disaster have caused the failure of almost every other similar establishment in the North and West. Perhaps, however, an institu- tion supplied with a large " sinking fund" or a liberal endowment might be warranted in reinaugurating the system, and thus securing the benefits which the com- bination of labor with study promises to bestow.
But a school, however high its grade, and however useful as an adjunct, was not a college, and Dr. Few and some of his progressive friends felt the need of a higher institution, and they resolved there should be one. The times were prosperous. The Baptist Manual Labor School was to be transformed into a Baptist col- lege. Virginia was too remote, the La Grange College out of reach, and there was no other college west of the Savannah.
At the conference in Columbus, in Dec., 1836, Sam-
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uel J. Bryan and Thomas C. Benning were appointed agents to collect funds to erect buildings for Emory College, now decided upon. The Legislature was in session, and in January, 1837, the college was incorpo- rated.
It was decided to establish it in Newton County, not far from the Manual Labor School. There was a tract of land almost entirely in the woods, of fourteen hun- dred acres, which was purchased for fourteen thousand dollars, and here, one bright spring-day, the foundation stone of the college was laid. Dr. Means, and Lovick Pierce, John Howard, Dr. Few, Samuel J. Bryan, and inany others were present ; but of the conference, none now remain save Dr. Means and Lovick Pierce. Dr. Means thus describes the scene :
" The spot selected for the erection of the first build- ing was on virgin soil, in the midst of a widespread and luxuriant forest of native oaks-one and a half miles from the town of Covington, and within the cor- porate limits of Oxford, which received its classical ap- pellation at the suggestion and urgent solicitation of Dr. I. A. Few, in honor of the seat of the old English University of the same name. All was silence around. No sound disturbed the air. The very song-birds in their native grove hushed their warbling in the vicinity, as if loth to disturb the hallowed exercises of the honr. It was a lovely day. The sun shone in splendor from above, and the earth beneath was robed in its garniture of green. Both heaven and earth seemed to shine pro- pitiously upon the interesting ceremonies about to trans- pire, as the prelude and pledge of the future comple- tion and success of a great educational establishment, under the auspices of Southern Methodism. Quite a
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number of preachers and laymen were present to do honor to the occasion, and among them several of the theological magnates of the Church. Many have since been called to their reward, while a few still survive. Uniting in the solemn services of that day, were Dr. Lovick Pierce, Rev. Samuel J. Bryan, Rev. Charles H. Sanders, and Dr. A. Means, and many other worthy brethren and friends whose names at this late day can- not be recalled; who, standing under the open sky, and protected only by the overshadowing foliage of the grove, sang with uncovered brow an appropriate hymn to the Most High, and then knelt in devout prayer, in which their prospective institution, Emory College, was humbly dedicated to God-to the interests of her Church, and to the great work of Christian civilization, for all time to come. Who shall say that the pious services of that day did not meet the Divine recognition, and the prayers . then offered have not already been significantly answer- ed in its past history of thirty-eight years, when it is re- inembered that it has, within that period, given to the Church and the world about 580 young men, honored with her diploma, and, as nearly as can be now estima- ted, 125 of whom have officiated at her altars as Minis- ters of the Gospel, in this and in foreign lands ?"
In Ang., 1839, the college was opened for the recep- tion of students. Ignatius A. Few was its first presi- dent, and Alex. Means and George W. Lane professors.
The agents had met with wonderful success on paper. Dr. Few reported that $100,000 had been secured ; alas! it was not secured, though, much of it, promised. The college had just incurred its heaviest liabilities when came the fearful crash of 1837, followed by five years of financial depression, and through this she had
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to struggle. Dr. Few resigned his presidency. Nei- ther his health nor his inclinations suited the lecture- room, and Judge A. B. Longstreet was chosen to take his place. His history we have already glanced at. He was admirably suited for the position to which he was now called. A stern sense of duty led him to re- linqnish the most lucrative practice of the law and enter the college halls ; even from them he was called to his last fee of $10,000. He was a fine scholar, of exquisite taste and highest accomplishment, had an American fame, was gentle, amiable, and courageous. He was possessed of striking common sense and fine business sagacity. He found the college deeply in debt-a portion of its assets consisting in worthless notes, and the buildings insufficient. Assisted by an able faculty, he drew to it a large patronage from all sections, and with great skill managed to extricate it . from its embarrassments. In 1849 he resigned, and Dr. George F. Pierce took his place. He was not only to be president, but agent, and he labored untiringly for its benefit until 1854, when he was placed, by the vote of the general conference, in the episcopal chair. Dr. Means was then elected to the vacant chair, but other duties required his attention, and after a few years as president he resigned, and Dr. Thomas was his successor. The college was now very prosperous. Although there were two Methodist colleges in southern Alabama, one each in Louisiana and Texas, which drew from its western patronage, and although Wafford Col- lege, in South Carolina, had begun its career, yet the patronage of Emory was large, and a bright future seemed before it, when the war came. The students of the college went to the battle-field ; the college build- 22
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ings were taken for hospitals, and when the war was over and the country fearfully impoverished, the college found itself with its buildings gone to decay, and its endowment lost in the crash of the banks. Dr. Thomas remained a few years as president, and then left Geor- gia to take the presidency of the Pacific College. Dr. Luther M. Smith was now elected president. He had an eminently successful career as a president, and the college has since gone forward. Dr. Osborn L. Smith followed him, and on his resignation, Dr. Haygood was elected to the vacant chair.
The first buildings were very plain. A steward's hall, four dormitories, and a plain wooden chapel were all. The experiment of boarding the students in the hall was not satisfactory and was abandoned, and the hall was thenceforth used only for recitation rooms. . There was no large chapel, and the village church was by no means sufficient for Commencement occasions. New facilities were demanded for teaching, and the old hall was demolished, and while Bishop Pierce was Pres- ident, and largely through his exertions, a very hand- some building was erected. It was designed to furnish all the rooms needful for each professor, for the labo- ratory, library, and a most commodious chapel. The building was with some little exception most admirably suited for the purpose for which it was designed ; but, alas! it was badly constructed, and began to show early evidences of weakness. It was abandoned just after the war and torn to the ground. The dormitory system was now given up, and through the earnest efforts of Bishop Pierce, where the buildings stood new ones were erected for teaching-rooms. A new chapel and an elegant build- ing for the library and laboratory were finished, and now
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the college has every facility for effective work. There are in addition to the buildings of the college proper, two very neat Society Halls. Another building, a hand- some chapel, is projected, and in good time will be erect- ed. The college early began to take steps towards en. dowment. Its plan was to take endowment notes and collect the interest. This plan always fails, and it failed with this institution. It, however, collected and invest,
ed what funds it could secure, and at the beginning of the war had in bank-stocks, railway stocks, and personal securities, a considerable endowment. When the war ended, the banks were all insolvent and the stock was worthless, and its State and Confederate bonds were alike valueless. The sacrifices demanded of the faculty were great, and rendered more so because of the long free list among the students. All ministers' sons, all can- didates for the ministry unable to pay tuition, were taught without charge, and all poor young men who were unable to pay tuition on entering were granted indulgence, yet the college held on its way.
At the present time the promise for the favorite insti- tution of Georgia Methodists was never brighter. Al- though its endowment is less than $30,000, it is increas- ing, and a faculty of great ability draw patronage from all sections.
The village in which the college is located is a most charming one; the society excellent; no gambling sa- loons or bar-rooms near by. Home influences surround all the students. The religions interest is always great and the larger proportion of the students become active Christians. The faculty now consists of A. G. Haygood, D.D., President ; George W. Stone, D.D., Mathemat- ics ; O. L. Smith, D.D., Latin ; II. A. Scomp, Ph. D.,
-
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A. M., Greek ; M. Callaway, D.D., English Literature ; J. B. Bonnell, A.M., Natural Science ; R. W. Smith, A.M., Rector, Preparatory School. While some atten- tion had been given to Church schools for young men, nothing had been done up to 1836, in this direction, for young women.
There were but few female schools of high grade in the State, and not a female college in the world.
A young lawyer, Chandler by name, had made an address at the Commencement at Athens, in which he declared his belief in the mental equality of the sexes, and advocated collegiate education for young ladies. The address excited much attention, and when the young city of Macon, then in the high tide of prosperity, proposed to establish a female high school, Elijah Sin- clair, then living there, proposed that it should be a regular college. The proposition pleased the people, and a liberal subscription was at once secured. There ' was a demand for a new bank in Macon, and the appli- cants for the charter promised to give $25,000 towards the institution, if the charter was granted. In the win- ter of 1836 it was secured, the subscription was paid, and the building begun. The houses for the college work were projected on a large scale, and went rapidly forward. Elijah Sinclair was agent and had great suc- cess. The main building was beautiful in design, 160 feet long, sixty feet wide, and four stories in height. The lot secured was on a beautiful hill, commanding a view of the most charming nature. So rapidly was the work pressed forward, by Jannary 12, 1839, the build- ing was ready for use; before this the original corpora- tors decided that while the college should not be secta- rian, that it should be placed under the patronage of
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the Georgia Conference. A president was to be selected, and all eyes were turned to Geo. F. Pierce, then Presid- ing Elder of the Angusta District. No work could have been so pleasant to him as that in which he was engaged, and he had little relish for the school-room, but he yielded to the solicitations of his friends, and being in full sym- pathy with the object aimed at, he began his work. An able faculty was elected, large salaries were promised, and soon a considerable patronage was secured. The first financial exhibit showed about $80,000 in assets, and $50.000 indebtedness ; but this was on paper. The crash had come, the Macon banks were insolvent. Many of the best friends of the college had failed, and when cool business men examined the financial condi- tion, they found the assets worthless, and the debts $40,000. The buildings were not quite finished, and were mortgaged. The friends of the college were bankrupts, and the greatest commercial depression was over all the land; impatient creditors sued for their claims. The college was put up for sale. Bishop Pierce borrowed the money in his own name, and bought it in. The plan of paying the faculty stated sal- aries had to be abandoned, and Dr. Ellison took the in- stitution on its merits. No money could be raised, interest was growing, and it seemed that the Georgia Female College must be abandoned. Bishop Pierce, whose active agency had kept it alive, returned to the regular work, and Samuel Anthony took his place. The oldest mortgage was foreclosed. He persuaded ten men in Macon to buy in the buildings. They did so, paying $10,000 for them. Ile then secured from James Everett, of Houston County, an offer to the trustees to take up the mortgage, and transfer the property to the
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Georgia Conference, advancing $8,000 for the purpose, on condition that four girls, to be nominated by himself or his executors, should be boarded and educated in the school in perpetuo. This was consented to, and the college was made the property of the Georgia Confer- ence with the name it now bears, the Wesleyan Female College. Its after-history is well known, and we have hot the space here to give it. *
Dr. Ellison, Dr. Myers, Dr. O. L. Smith, Dr. Bonnell and Dr. Bass have in turn filled the chair of President, and some of the most eminent men in Georgia have been in the school as professors. It has been a school of high grade, and has been especially a religious one. Its influence has extended all over the Southern States, and it occupies to-day a place higher than it ever held.
Female education, after this, was very popular in Georgia, and a number of female colleges were estab- lished. One in Madison had a career of prosperity until it was burned ; one in Cassville met with the same fate. The Andrew Female College, in Cuthbert, had a more fortunate history, and still exists, and is a prosperous and valuable school, belonging to the La Grange Con- ference.
In 1855 the La Grange Female College, one of the oldest in the State, and at that time in most prosperous condition, was purchased by the Georgia Conference for $40,000, the city of La Grange paying $20,000 of the amount. It began well, and for several years occupied very high place as a Church school. Then the chapel building was burned. An effort was made to re-build, and the building was near completion when the war came on and the work stopped. It was about to be sold, when, through the exertions of Rev. W. J. Scott
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and the trustees, it was saved from sale, but was still unfinished. Then, after many of the friends of the col- lege had lost all hope of completing the building, the Rev. James R. Mayson was selected as president and agent, and with great energy, aided chiefly by La Grange, renewed the work on the buildings, and they are now almost completed, sufficiently so for all needful work. They consist of a chapel, with a commodious audience- room, and four rooms for the professors underneath, and two music-rooms in the upper part of the building. There is a roomy and comfortable boarding-house on the same lot. The buildings are located in the heart of the city, on a most beautiful elevation, commanding a charming prospect.
The enterprising city of Dalton gave $10,000 to the Methodists of that city to erect a female college, which was deeded to the Quarterly Conference of the station ; and it is now under the presidency of Rev. W. A. Rogers, and in successful operation. The Church is represented in the State University, and in institutions, male and female, not distinctively Methodist.
Among the early and constant friends of church education in Georgia, have been and still are a large number of leading laymen.
We have already mentioned Col. James M. Chambers, long president of the board of trustees in Oxford. Everard Hamilton, one of the projectors of the Wes- leyan Female College, and James Everett and Josiah Flournoy, who founded a manual labor school.
Among the earliest and most energetic friends of church education, one who not only gave his coun- sel and his money, but his services, was Major John Park. He was a graduate of Franklin College and a
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teacher himself. He was one of the first trustees of Emory College, and when the corner-stone was laid, he offered the first prayer. He lost a large estate by en- dorsement for others, and removing to La Grange, established a Methodist Female Seminary, from which the La Grange Female College afterwards sprang. He was elected to the presidency of the Everett Manual Labor School, and was there associated with the lamented Dr. Myers. He afterwards had a high school in Greenville, and Dr. J. M. Bonnell, then a young Peun- sylvanian, was his assistant. He was an eloquent, ear- nest man, a devoted temperance man, and the first Grand Worthy Chief of the Grand Lodge of Sons of Temper- ance in Georgia. His home was a Methodist preacher's home, and he was always a fast friend of the Church. He lived a life of great usefulness, and left behind him a family nearly all of whom are earnest active members of the M. E. Church South.
Closely connected with the subject in hand is that of the religious instruction of children in the Sunday- schools.
The Church has always recognized to some degree' the importance of the early conversion of children, and of their early religious instruction. Mr. Wesley, in Savannah, established as early as 1735 a catechetical school for the children of the parish, after the plan of the early Church. When Robert Raikes years after- wards established his Sunday-school to teach the simplest branches of English, in connection with religious truth, Mr. Wesley's societies in England gave him their hearty support, and Mr. Asbury established one in Virginia. The main design of these schools was to teach the igno- rant, who had no time to attend school on the week-day,
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on Sunday, how to read and write. The injunction to the helpers and preachers was to talk specially to the children, and pray for them and gather them into classes when as many as ten could be gathered together. This was the custom of the old preachers. The work in Georgia was generally circuit work up to 1812. Augusta, Savannah and Milledgeville were the only stations, and on the circuits the preacher in charge had but little to do with his people pastorally.
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