USA > North Carolina > Sketches of North Carolina, historical and biographical : illustrative of the principles of a portion of her early settlers > Part 50
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" The ladies of the adjoining county of Rowan have desired the plan of a similar association to be drawn up and prepared for signature."
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SKETCHES OF NORTH CAROLINA.
CHAPTER XXXV.
EFFORTS TO PROMOTE EDUCATION.
" MANY a day have I worked with these hands to help Charley C- through college," said old Mrs. Skillington exultingly, and somewhat mournfully, while her brother was running his career in Philadelphia, before his removal to Kentucky to commence his labors as pioneer of medical schools in the West, as his father had been in the settlement of Cabarrus county, North Carolina ; "many a day have I worked for Charley when we lived there," pointing to a log framed house, the shell of which now stands defying the wind and storm, and wasting of desertion, about a rifle-shot west of Poplar Tent meeting-house ; "and I don't mind the work, for we all liked Charley."
The old lady unconsciously revealed the sentiments of hundreds of mothers and sisters of the Scotch-Irish and Scotch settlers in Virginia and the Carolinas. An education,-knowledge of things human and divine, they prized beyond all price in their leaders and teachers ; and craved its possession for their husbands, and bro- thers, and sons. The Spartan mothers gloried in the bravery of their husbands and fathers, and demanded it in their sons. "Bring me this, or be brought back upon it," said one, as she gave her son a shield to go out to battle. These Presbyterian mothers gloried in the enterprise, and religion, and knowledge, and purity of their husbands and children, and would forego comforts and endure toil that their sons might be well instructed, enterprising men.
When we look over the beautiful farms and plantations these early settlers bequeathed to their children, it might seem as if large possessions were the inviting cause and principal object of the emigrants to this wilderness. Undoubtedly the desire of posses- sion of property had its influence with all ; and why should not honest, energetic poor people desire a place to enjoy their labor, not as tenants at will, but as fee-simple owners of the soil by the best of rights ? and it is probable it was the ruling feeling of some, who could not get above the craving desire of human nature, and knew nothing better than wealth. But with many, and they the influential men and women, the desire of knowledge was cherished
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before a competence was obtained, or the labors of a first settle- ment overcome. Almost invariably as soon as a neighborhood was settled, preparations were made for the preaching of the gos- pel by a regular stated pastor ; and wherever a pastor was lo- cated, in that congregation there was a classical school,-as in Sugar Creek, Poplar Tent, Centre, Bethany, Buffalo, Thyatira, Grove, Wilmington, and the churches occupied by Pattillo in Orange and Granville.
Of all these, the one in the bounds of Sugar Creek appears to have been the oldest. The time of its commencement is not cer- tainly known ; but it appears to have been in successful operation under Mr. Joseph Alexander, who for a time supplied the congre- gation after the death of Mr. Craighead in 1766, an eminent teacher and preacher, whose labors for a short time in North Carolina, and for a long period in South Carolina, entitled him to a kind remembrance by the churches. Vigorous efforts were made to elevate this school to the rank and usefulness of a college ; and about the year 1770, a charter was obtained from the Colonial Legislature, conferring the title and privileges, without any endow- ment from the Province, under the name of Queen's Museum. This charter was set aside by the king and council, and amended, and a second time granted by the Colonial Legislature in 1771, and a second time repealed by the king, by proclamation. "And," says a writer in the Magazine of the University of North Carolina, " why was this ? An easy answer is found in the third section of the act for incroporating the school at Newbern, and afterwards engrafted upon the act incorporating the Edenton Academy (which were the only two schools incorporated before Queen's College), compared with the character of the leading men of Mecklenburg, and the fact that several of the trustees of the New College were Presbyterian ministers. No compliments to his queen could render whigs in politics, and Presbyterians in religion, acceptable to George III. A college, under such auspices, was too well calculated to ensure the growth of the numerous demo- cracy."
The section referred to in the charter of the Newbern school, is in these words-" Provided always, that no person shall be per- mitted to be master of said school, but who is of the Established Church of England, and who, at the recommendation of the trus- tees or directors, or the majority of them, shall be duly licensed by the governor or commander-in-chief for the time being."
Queen's Museum flourished without a charter. Its hall was
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SKETCHES OF NORTH CAROLINA.
the place of meeting of literary societies, and political clubs, in the times preceding the Revolution. The king's fears, that the college would be a fountain of republicanism, were realized in the institution, and probably his rejection of the charter much hasten- ed, and increased, the dreaded evil. The debates, preceding the Mecklenburg Declaration, were held in the hall; and every reader can judge of the merits of that famous document.
That the students were busily engaged in literary pursuits appears from the following document, the original of which is in the hands of the Rev. Mr. Adams of Third Creek.
" THE MODERATOR AND MEMBERS OF UNION SOCIETY in Queen's Museum, Charlotte, to all whom these presents may come, with
Peace and Safety.
BE IT HEREBY CERTIFIED THAT WE HAVE BESTOWED UPON JAMES MCEWEN THIS DIPLOMA in testimony of his having been a member of our society, and of his having through the whole time of our connection together deported himself in such manner as to merit our full approbation, both as a faithful assistant in school, and a regular, useful member of society.
" Of the above let our names underwritten be a witness. " Given in Union Society, at the ) stated meeting in the Hall of Jno. Kerr, Moderator. Handy Harris, Clerk. Queen's Museum, Charlotte, on Friday, 27th of Septem- ber, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six."
Wm. Humphrey, Thos. Henderson, Memb's. Fr'cis. Cummins,
After the Revolution had commenced, the Legislature of North Carolina granted a charter to this institution under the name of Liberty Hall Academy. The preamble of an act for incorporating the president and trustees, which was passed April, 1777, is as follows : " Whereas the proper education of youth in this infant country is highly necessary, and would answer the most valuable and beneficial purposes to this State and the good people thereof ; and whereas a very promising experiment hath been made at a seminary in the county of Mecklenburg, and a number of youths there taught have made great advancements in the knowledge of the learned languages, and in the rudiments of the arts and sciences, in the course of a regular and finished education, which they have since completed at various colleges in different parts of
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EFFORTS TO PROMOTE EDUCATION.
America ; and whereas the seminary aforesaid, and the several teachers who have successfully taught and presided therein, have hitherto been almost wholly supported by private subscriptions ; in order therefore that said subscriptions and other gratuities may be legally possessed and duly applied, and the said seminary by the name of Liberty Hall may become more extensively and generally useful for the encouragement of liberal knowledge in languages, arts, and sciences, and for diffusing the great advanta- ges of education upon more liberal, easy, and general terms ;" therefore, &c.
The following persons were named trustees, viz. :- Isaac Alex- ander, M.D., president, Thomas Polk, Thomas Neal, Abraham Alexander, Waightstill Avery, Ephraim Brevard, M.D., John Simpson, Adlai Osborne, John McKnitt Alexander, and the Rev. Messrs. David Caldwell, James Edmonds, Thomas Reese, Samuel E. McCorkle, Thomas Harris McCaule, and James Hall.
The academy received no funds from the State, and no further patronage than this charter. It was entirely under the direction of Presbyterians, and under the supervision of Orange Presbytery. At the time the charter was obtained the institution was under the care of Dr. Isaac V. Alexander, who continued to preside over it till some time in the year 1778.
From a manuscript in the University of North Carolina, drawn up by Adlai Osborne, one of the trustees, it appears the first meet- ing of the trustees was held in Charlotte, January 3d, 1778. At this meeting, Isaac Alexander, M.D., Ephraim Brevard, M.D., and Rev. Thomas Harris McCaule were appointed a committee to frame a system of laws for the government of the academy ; and also to purchase the lots and improvements belonging to Colonel Thomas Polk, for which they were to pay him £920; and prepa- rations were made to build an additional frame-house. The salary of the president was fixed at £195, to be occasionally increased, according to the prices of provisions, which were then greatly fluctuating, owing to the war.
In the month of April, 1778, the system of laws drawn up by the committee was adopted without any material alteration. The course of study marked out was similar to that prescribed for the University of North Carolina, though somewhat more limited. Overtures were made to Rev. Alexander McWhorter, of New Jersey, so favorably known to the churches, by his visit in 1764 and '5, with the Rev. Elihu Spencer, and also by a more recent visit made to the Southern country, to encourage the inhabitants
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SKETCHES OF NORTH CAROLINA.
in the cause of Independence, to succeed Dr. Alexander in the presidency.
There is still extant a certificate of scholarship granted by the Board, as the right of granting degrees had not been given them, preserved by John H. Graham, at Vesuvius Furnace, in Lincoln county, the residence of General Graham.
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, Mecklenburg county. S.
" This is to certify that, Mr. JOHN GRAHAM hath been a student in the Academy of LIBERTY HALL in the State and county above mentioned, the space of four years preceding the date hereof, that his whole deportment during his residence there was perfectly regular ; that he prosecuted his studies with diligence, and made such acquisitions both in the languages and scientific learning as gave entire satisfaction to his teacher-And he is hereby recom- mended to the friendly notice and regard of all lovers of Religion and Literature wherever he comes. IN TESTIMONY of which this is given at LIBERTY HALL, this 22d of November, 1778, and signed by
ISAAC V. ALEXANDER, President. EPHRAIM BREVARD, ABRAHAM ALEXANDER, Trustees.
Dr. M'Whorter having, on account of the deranged state of his affairs, declined accepting the Presidency, Mr. Robert Brownfield was appointed, and agreed to accept for one year. The next year the invitation to Dr. M'Whorter was renewed, and a committee consisting of Rev. Samuel E. M'Corkle and Dr. Brevard was sent to New Jersey to wait upon him ; and in the event of his still de- clining, to consult Dr. Witherspoon and Professor Houston, of Princeton College, respecting some other fit person for the office, to whom the Presidency should be offered. In compliance with this second invitation Dr. M'Whorter removed to Charlotte. But, owing to the invasion of the Carolinas, 1780, the operations of the Academy were suspended and not resumed during the war. After a short stay in Carolina, Dr. M'Whorter returned to New Jersey.
During the occupation of Charlotte by the forces of Cornwallis, Liberty Hall, which stood upon the ground now occupied by the dwelling house of Mr. Julius Alexander, was used as a hospital, and greatly defaced and injured. The numerous graves in the rear of the Academy, upon the departure of the British army, was one evidence of their great loss in this hostile county.
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EFFORTS TO PROMOTE EDUCATION.
After the peace, Mr. Thomas Henderson, who had been edu- cated at the Academy, set up a High School, which he carried on with great reputation for a number of years. And from that day to this Charlotte has been favored with academies and female seminaries. But the pre-eminence of Liberty Hall, as supplying the place of a college, for the South, was transferred to Mount Zion College, in Winnsborough, South Carolina, over which the Rev. Thomas H. McCaule, the pastor of Centre congregation for some years, and trustee of Liberty Hall, presided. This was owing to the liberality and activity of some pious persons by the name of Winn, who gave liberally in the cause of literature and religion, and exerted themselves for a college, while the friends of literature, and science, and religion, in North Carolina, relaxed their efforts for a college in their own State.
Mount Zion college, in Winnsborough, over which the popular McCaule presided, being near, and the college in Princeton, New Jersey, with which Professor Houston from North Carolina was connected, under the Presidents Witherspoon and Smith, had so attracted public attention, the Presbyterians of North Carolina made no effort for a college under their own care and patronage, for many years. In this they miscalculated more than in any other matter of importance in which they were called to act. Whatever was the motive, the event shows the mistake.
Classical schools of a high order were numerous after the Re- volutionary war, under the direction of Presbyterian clergymen. The high school in Charlotte has been continued, in some form, till the present time. Dr. Caldwell continued his in Guilford, with an interruption during the war, till his death. Dr. McCorkle had a flourishing school in Rowan, which was continued in Salisbury. Poplar Tent has been favored with one from the time of the Revo- lution till near the close of Dr. Robinson's life, with some inter- mission. Rocky River had a famous one under Dr. Wilson ; and Bethany under Dr. Hall. Sugar Creek enjoyed one for some time under Caldwell. There was a flourishing one in Chatham under the Rev. William Bingham, and one in Burke. Providence has been particularly favored, as also Fayetteville, and the Grove, in Duplin county, in all which there have been a succession of classical teachers. In these, classical instruction of a high order was imported, both before and since the establishment of the Uni- versity.
Common schools were numerous. Public opinion in the Pres- byterian settlements demanded that all children should be taught
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SKETCHES OF NORTH CAROLINA.
to read ; and, as Dr. McRee tells us, not to be able to repeat the Shorter Catechism of the Westminster Assembly was a mark of vulgarity among the people who claimed a natural equality. From the great efforts made by Presbyterian pastors and missionaries in establishing schools and promoting education among the people at large, and from the deep conviction of the importance of some de- gree of education impressed upon the hearts of Presbyterian families, it came to be the fact, that in the bounds of the original Presbyterian settlements in North Carolina, very few persons grew up unable to read intelligibly. By the change wrought in the population of some sections by emigration to the west and south, and the immigration of other families differently disposed on the subject of religion and education, a greater proportion are now unable to read than in the commencement of this century. This is believed to be the fact, though there are no certain statistics that will completely establish it, from want of returns duly made by authority the latter part of last century. Many a parent that felt the necessity of his child's being able to repeat the Catechism when young, would make efforts for his being taught to read he never would have thought of making but for that necessity. The religious feeling is the most friendly to education in all cir- cumstances, and most diffusive of its benefits.
Since the establishment of the university of the State, the pre- ponderance of classical schools has not been so entirely in the Presbyterian church ; though they are undoubtedly far ahead in the religious and patriotic work of training the youth of the coun- try to a high degree of science and literature.
Besides the numerous classical schools in different parts of the church, the Presbyterians took up the matter with renewed vigor a few years ago, and each of the three Presbyteries, into which the State is divided, made successful efforts to establish literary institutions of a high order. Each of these demands some particu- lar notice.
First, the CALDWELL INSTITUTE. In the spring of 1833, Orange Presbytery appointed the Rev. Messrs. A. Wilson, Harding, Russell, Goodrich, Graham ; and elders, Messrs. D. Atkinson and Sneed, " a committee to inquire into the expediency of altering, and if expedi- ent, what alterations are necessary in the mode of preparing young men for the gospel ministry, during their literary course of study." In the fall of the same year, Rev. Joseph Caldwell, D.D., President of the University of North Carolina, and Mr. Morrow, were added to the committee.
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EFFORTS TO PROMOTE EDUCATION.
The report of this committee, as amended and adopted, was, “ It is recommended to the Presbytery to proceed without delay to make such provision as shall be necessary, for imparting education agree- ably to their own views of the subject, in its essential merits and great and important ends." The Presbytery then resolved, " 1st. That it is expedient to establish a literary institution, within the bounds of Orange Presbytery, on principles such as to secure a strictly Christian Education.
" 2d. That the site of the institution shall be in or near Greens- borough, in the county of Guilford, North Carolina."
The institution went into operation on the 1st of January, 1836, under the instruction of the Rev. Alexander Wilson, a member of Orange Presbytery, from the north of Ireland, for some years pastor of Grassy Creek and Nutbush, and Mr. Silas C. Lindsay. The number of students so increased in a year or two, that a third profes- sor, Mr. Gretter, was chosen. In less than six years from its com- mencement the number of students was about one hundred in regular attendance, and these from all parts of the State.
Article 4th, section 1st, in the plan of the institution, provides, " The Principal of the Institution shall be considered as sustaining the pastoral relations to all the students, and shall be required to perform towards them the duties appertaining to the office. It shall be the duty of the professors to afford such religious instruction as they shall deem necessary, but it shall be considered indispensable that portions of the Bible or the Evidences of Christianity, together with the Westminster Catechism, be studied by all the classes on the Sabbath."
Section 2d provides, "The Greek and Latin classics, upon an enlarged plan, shall be considered as forming a necessary part of the course of study." The Trustees, in their plan of education, say, " When studied in connection with the pure and mixed mathema- tics, the classics constitute, it is believed, not only the basis of solid learning and correct taste, but furnish also to young men emulous of distinction, the very best means of mental discipline." Again they say, " Indeed the grand design of the Presbytery in attempting the establishment of Caldwell Institute is, to furnish our denomina- tion, and the friends of learning generally, with a truly Christian education, in which the Bible will occupy its proper place, and the paramount claims of Christian education be duly and fully recog- nized."
A charter was obtained in 1837, by which the right of appoint- ing Trustees is vested in Orange Presbytery. The number of Trus-
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SKETCHES OF NORTH CAROLINA.
tees is at present 18, one-third of which go out each year, but may be re-elected. The attention of the Faculty and Trustees is not so much turned to obtaining students, as to preventing the admission of incorrigible and dissolute boys. They utterly decline having the institution considered as a place to which rude boys may be sent " to be broke in." They decline in all cases receiving such. They design the institution for the education of youth of good habits, without exposing them to the contamination of dissipated youth, and immoral young men.
In the year 1845, dissatisfaction having arisen with the location, the institute was removed to Hillsborough, the academy in that place, much enlarged, being appropriated to its use. In its new location its prospects are no less encouraging than at Greens- borough.
Every day the students attend prayers in the public hall. On Sabbath the students attend public worship in the appointed place ; and in the afternoon are engaged in Bible Class and Catechetical Recitations. All, without exception, are required to recite parts of the Westminster Shorter Catechism each Sabbath. The greatest number required of the most advanced, at one time, is ten; of the younger students, and those who have not previously studied the catechism, a less number is expected. The number of chapters in the Bible, for recitation, varies according to their length, and sub- jects, and other circumstances.
The Institute bears the name of the first president of the univer- sity of North Carolina-Caldwell, its firm friend, from its inception, during his life. He strongly urged upon his brethren a return to the old-fashioned discipline and studies of Presbyterian classical schools, the course somewhat enlarged. He declared that it was not sectarian for denominations to have denominational schools ; that religion must be taught by somebody, and in classical acade- mies, but one denomination could be engaged in a single school to advantage. In these sentiments of Dr. Caldwell the community now generally agree.
The success of the Institute in making scholars, has been equal to the anticipations of its friends. The students take an honorable and becoming stand in the university ; are in high repute as pre- ceptors of academies, and teachers in primary schools. The thorough drilling they are called to undergo, fits them for a profes- sional course, and a pleasant pursuit of literary studies in after life.
Upon the removal of the institute from Greensborough, the friends of education in and around that village continued the classical
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EFFORTS TO PROMOTE EDUCATION.
school in the buildings vacated, under the tuition of the Rev. Eli W. Caruthers, the successor of Dr. David Caldwell, and author of his memoirs ; and Mr. Lindsey, who had been an instructor in the Institute from the first. This school has flourished, and has fair prospects of success. Its discipline and course of studies are formed upon the model and experience of the school that preceded it ; and Greensborough still holds out strong inducements for the patronage of the public, for the education of boys.
THE DONALDSON ACADEMY was founded by Fayetteville Presbytery, about the same time with the Caldwell Institute, and located in Fayetteville. Its object was the same, and the discipline and course of studies very similar. It received its name from a liberal patron in New York. It was commenced on the manual labor plan; as was also the design of the Caldwell Institute at first. Its success under the tuition of the Rev. Simeon Colton, was flattering both as to the numbers and progress of the students. But the manual labor system was found unprofitable and inexpedient, and was abandoned in a few years. Some unpropitious circumstances led the trustees to dispose of the academy buildings, and the preceptor, Mr. Colton, has since carried on a flourishing classical school in Fayetteville on his own responsibility, until in the present year (1846), his accept- ance of the presidency of a college brought his school to a close.
DAVIDSON COLLEGE was founded by Concord and Bethel Presby- teries ; the first embracing the upper part of North Carolina, and the other an adjoining section in South Carolina. In the year 1835, the Concord Presbytery, at their regular spring meeting held at Prospect Church, formerly a part of Centre, took steps for the endowment of a college, to be located somewhere in the beautiful region occupied by the Presbyterian population in the upper part of the State. In the fall of the same year, vigorous measures were taken for putting up suitable buildings. The site was chosen in the northern part of Mecklenburg county, near to Iredell, Rowan, and Cabarrus, about two miles from Centre Meeting-house.
Its name was given in honor of General Davidson, who fell at Cowan's Ford, whose numerous relatives were generous patrons of the College. Operations were commenced the first Monday of March, 1837, under Rev. R. H. Morrison, D.D., pastor of Sugar Creek, president ; and Rev. P. J. Sparrow of Salisbury, professor. By these gentlemen, with the assistance of a tutor, Mr. Johnson, the regular classes were formed, and carried through a regular college course.
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