User:SnowyCinema/P/History of Catawba College
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Copyright 1927 by the Trustees of Catawba College.
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DEDICATION
To the men and women whose high aspirations prompted the founding of Catawba College, and to those who built well the superstructure, this history is affectionately dedicated.
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{{ph|class=chapter|Preface}}
At the request of the President of Catawba College and of the Board of Trustees of the institution the author undertook to write this sketch for the seventy-fifth anniversary, the school having now been in existence three quarters of a century. The facts recorded in this book have been gathered from many sources. The author desires to make due acknowledgment of indebtedness to many people for valuable assistance in the preparation of this volume. It is impossible to give the names of all who so cheerfully responded to the request for help. Among those whose help has been outstanding are the following: Presidents George A. Snyder, John F. Buchheit, James D. Andrew, Abram D. Wolfinger, Elmer R. Hoke; Professors Russell Whitener, A. C. Sherrill; Mrs. Sue Lantz Foil. Many books and periodicals have been consulted and freely drawn upon for historical facts. The author desires to express his sincere gratitude to the many who have given generous assistance, and he hopes that this book may help some future historian to write the story of Catawba College fully.
J C. L. Lexington, North Carolina.
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/ch//Prior to the Founding of the College.
THE SEVERAL REFORMED CHURCHES now in existence in North Carolina owe the fact to the unselfish labors and sacrifices of a few consecrated Christian ministers of the early years. Their names are cherished among us today: Rev. Christian Theus, the Rev. Mr. Martin, the Rev. Mr. Dupert, the Rev. Mr. Schwum, Rev. Samuel Suther, Rev. John Wm. Pythan, the Rev. Mr. Schneider, Rev. Samuel Weyberg, Rev. John Jacob Larose, Rev. Jacob Christman. But Rev. Andrew Loretz was the outstanding man of these early ministers. With a zeal that shunned no labor or privation, he gave himself to the work of visiting and preserving the churches in this State and in South Carolina. He was an only son born in 1761 in the city of Chur (Coire), on the Rhine, in the Canton of Graubunden (Grisons) in Switzerland. Little is known of his early history. He received a liberal education at Kaufbeuren, in the Kingdom of Bavaria, where he was still in May, 1779. He completed a thorough theological course at the age of twenty-two. About this time he was solicited by Rev. John Jacob Kessler, Deputy to the Classis of Amsterdam, to come over to America and preach the Gospel. Accordingly in 1784 he set sail for America, and his passport is dated from
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Chur (where still reside those of his name), bearing the signature of the Burgermeister of that city. On the seventeenth of August, 1784, after a voyage of three months, accompanied by his father and also by Rev. Bernhard F. Willy and Rev. Paul Peter Pernisius, he landed in Baltimore, eager to extend the field of his holy calling in this new wilderness.
Rev. Mr. Kessler writes to Rev. Mr. Weyberg recommending especially Revs. Messrs. Loretz and Willy to the Reverend Coetus, "hoping that good charges may be furnished them; and if possible, we hope they will not be located far apart, so that, being in a strange land, they may have fellowship with one another. Furthermore, we wish for their safe arrival among you, by God's blessing, and for their extensive usefulness in the kingdom of Jesus Christ in Pennsylvania."
After remaining a little more than one year in Pennsylvania and Maryland, the greater part of which time was spent in ministering to churches in and near Meyerstown, Pennsylvania, he removed to North Carolina in 1786. He came not alone, for in Baltimore he had met and married a Mrs. Schaeffer of that place (formerly Miss Lehman, of Hagerstown, Maryland) who bravely consented to share his long journey through the wilderness, and who became a most devoted helpmeet through all his arduous labors. Why he wended his course hither is not known; perhaps the fame of this earthly paradise, that drew thither so many from Pennsylvania, may have seemed to open up an opportunity of doing good.
Rev. Mr. Loretz located his home four miles due northwest of Lincolnton, Lincoln County, on a large
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tract of land which he bought for fourteen pounds North Carolina Currency from Jacob Shuford on the third day of July, 1792. Upon this land, in sight of Daniel's Church, in 1793 he built a handsome house two stories in height, 28 by 36 feet, with solid brick walls 18 inches thick. The bricks on the surface show alternating colors: next to each red brick, laid lengthwise appears a blue brick, laid endwise. On the eastern gable near the top are the initials and figures A. L. 1793, formed of blue bricks, the mean length of the characters being about two feet. In addition to the initials and figures on the eastern end are two large hearts with a cross between. Near the top of the western end is a representation of the setting sun—a white plastered circle about 15 inches in diameter, with brick radiating around the circumference. When new this house must have been a beautiful structure. It does not betray its age even now after the lapse of more than one hundred and thirty years, and has every appearance of lasting for at least a century more. The eligible site, the substantial walls, the interior arrangement of this now historic structure indicate that Rev. Mr. Loretz was a man who possessed considerable taste and judgment for those pioneer days.
His neighbor and associate in the ministry of Daniel's Lutheran Church at that time was Rev. Johann Gottfried Arndt. They were fast friends and were often seen walking together arm in arm and even arranged that whoever died first should be buried by the survivor. Rev. Arndt was the first to die, and was buried beneath the old "Dutch Meeting House" in Lincolnton.
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The Rev. Mr. Loretz became a typical Southerner of the patrician class; he owned slaves and fine horses. Until the end of his life he labored faithfully in the Holy Cause, seeming to have no object in view but to do his Master's bidding. Besides ministering to his own people, he made frequent visits to Rowan and Guilford Counties and to Lexington District, South Carolina, in three, four or six months as the exigencies of such a life determined, for the purpose of catechizing, preaching, baptizing the children, to administer the Lord's Supper and to perform all the offices that are included in a pastor's work. He was greatly beloved in all the churches and his visits were looked forward to with anticipations of great enjoyment. He was of the most genial disposition and abounded in pleasantries, so that he soon made himself at home wherever he went, and could enter into the wants and interests of the people to whose service he had devoted his life. For these almost Herculean labors he was providentially endowed with great powers of physical endurance.
He was an educated man of commanding genius, endowed with fine abilities, and used the German language with great fluency and power, while he was also an excellent French scholar and able to use the Latin freely. He was famous as an orator wherever he preached. On the death of Washington he delivered an address at Lincolnton suitable to the occasion; this oration was brilliant, pathetic, chaste and appropriate, and was highly commended by the press of the day as one of the greatest efforts ever made in that region. The address was published in pamphlet form. Mem-
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bers of his churches spoke in glowing terms of his fascinating eloquence, comparing him to a living fountain whence a torrent of words streamed forth almost spontaneously. He had gathered for that age and a new country quite a fine library of valuable theological works, which however after his death was sold in an unappreciative community for a trifle, scattered, and so lost. He is still remembered as having been a man of prayer. Those who knew him in the Loretz family circle and at the sick-bed, in the house of mourning, yet speak of his tenderness and of the unction of his prayers as most thrilling and comforting. It was his custom to have worship with the families with whom he visited on his out-lying trips, and those who remembered him testified that his equal in prayer they had not heard since that day.
Owing to the fact that his pastoral labors extended over a region of country two hundred and fifty miles in extent, and that too in an age when roads were often next to impassable, and traveling exceedingly difficult and even dangerous, all his long journeys, from Haw River in North Carolina to the Saluda in South Carolina, were made on horseback. He was an excellent horseman, and it is well known that he always kept two black saddle horses for use on his long and wearisome rides. He is known to have ridden often seventy-five miles to meet an appointment. He was deeply versed in Scripture. On one occasion there being no Bible in the church in which he was to preach he was at no loss for his text and references.
He showed a great fondness for dress, as his polished silver knee buckles, silk stockings and spotless linen
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bore witness. An anecdote is told of him, that in one of his congregations an economic old German once complained that the parson's salary was much too large, as it admitted of a display of dress which he deemed unnecessary in a minister, when the clergyman: quietly remarked that the money came not from his congregation but from South Carolina, showing that his tedious rides to that distant section were deemed well worthy of liberal compensation. The Rev. Andrew Loretz was noted for strict accuracy and method in keeping his church registers of baptisms, confirmations, etc.
His extensive labors and his frequent exposures cut off his grand life too soon for the churches, for he died at his home at the early age of fifty-one years. It was on a quiet Sunday evening, March 31, 1812, after having spent the morning in preaching to his congregation at St. Paul's, riding fifteen miles home to die that evening, as he had predicted he would. He left a wife and seven young children. Among his children were three sons whom he fondly hoped to rear and educate for the higher walks of life. One of these sons represented Lincoln County in the House of Commons for three successive terms. The Rev. Mr. Loretz's wife survived him twenty years. There being no other minister of the Reformed Church west of the Catawba River at that time, his funeral sermon was preached in Daniel's Church, Lincoln County, by Rev. Paul Henkel, a Lutheran minister. His grave is not far from the entrance of the graveyard, and is marked by a plain stone, with the record of his death and age, followed by the sublime words of Paul which
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are found in [[2d Timothy]] 4:7, 8, and closing with the following poetic verses:
/po//
"Here rests the Lord's apostle in the dust,
:Till time's last wheel shall turn, and stop, and break;
Then shall he rise and live among the just,
:And with his flock, the joys of heaven partake."
//po/
In the month of January, 1905, Mrs. Caroline R. Cochran (née Motz), of Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Mass., a granddaughter of the Rev. Andrew Loretz, presented the congregation with a beautiful bronze tablet, 22 by 24 inches in size. It is secured to the wall with bronze screws, directly behind and above the pulpit. The following is the inscription:
{{bc|{{c|
In Memory of the Reverend Andrew Loretz, Born in Chur, Switzerland, 1761.
Died in Lincoln Co., North Carolina, March 31, 1812. Founder and Pastor of this Church from 1786 until 1812.
}}}}
/po//
I have fought a good fight,
I have finished my course,
I have kept the faith.
//po/
At the bottom of the tablet is a beautiful design of intertwined leaves of the palm and olive.
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/ch//The Founding of the New Institution; Its Charter
EDUCATION has always been a subject fraught with interest to the Reformed people in North Carolina. The Classis has given to this subject consideration equal to the attention given to the great subject of missions. As early as the fourth annual meeting at Grace Reformed Church, Catawba County, in 1834, a movement was inaugurated to foster education, particularly the education of young men for the Gospel ministry. We give herewith the record in the minute book of Classis:
"Classis again met at half past one o'clock P. M. and formed itself into an interlocutory meeting for thirty minutes. The subject of forming an Education Society was taken into consideration, when on motion the following resolution was adopted: Resolved, That the members of this Classis form an Education Society and auxiliaries within its bounds. On motion the following persons were appointed a committee to draft a Constitution to be presented for adoption, viz., Rev. John H. Crawford, Rev. Wm. C. Bennet, Mr. John C. Barnhardt and Mr. John Coulter . . . The Committee on Education reported the outlines of a Constitution for an Education Society. The Classis was again resolved into an interlocutory meeting, when said Constitution was examined article by article and adopted and is as follows:
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I. This Society shall be called the Education Society of the North Carolina Classis of the German Reformed Church; the object of which shall be to aid in the education of indigent and pious young men within the bounds of this Classis for the Gospel: ministry.
II. The officers of this Society shall be a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and five Managers, who shall be elected annually, and who shall constitute a Board of Education to carry its objects into effect.
III. It shall be the duty of the President to preside, to keep order and to give the casting vote; and in case of his absence, the senior vice president, or in case of the absence of both, the junior vice president, shall occupy the chair.
IV. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep a faithful record of all the proceedings, and to conduct all the correspendence of the Society.
V. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer safely to keep all the funds of the Society; and to make no remittances without an order from the Board of Education. He shall also give bond, with approved security, for all the Society's money in his hands.
VI. Any person paying two dollars annually shall be a member of this Society. Any person paying twenty dollars at one time shall be a member for life.
VII. Local Societies within the bounds of this Classis may become auxiliary by transmitting their funds to the Treasurer of this Society annually; unless they shall themselves individually be able to support at least one Beneficiary; they shall in that case only be required to report to the Secretary without paying anything into the treasury, and shall have power to
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appropriate their funds to the benefit of their own beneficiaries as they may deem most advisable.
VIII. The Board of Education shall from time to time, as they shall deem most practicable, select poor and pious young men, belonging to the churches within the bounds of this Classis, who feel themselves called to and are desirous of entering the Christian ministry, and aid them in receiving an education preparatory to this sacred office.
IX. The Beneficiaries of the Society shall be under the complete direction and guardianship of the Board of Education, who shall make all contracts for their support, and in no case shall the young men receive money into their own hands to be disposed of at their own discretion.
X. No Beneficiary shall receive pecuniary aid from the Society as an exclusive gift; but on the contrary it shall be considered as a loan with provisions as follows: 1. He shall pledge himself to enter the ministry in the German Reformed Church. 2. He shall give approved bonds for all the money applied to his use by the Board of Education. 3. He shall refund all the money expended for his benefit, with interest from the date of its expenditure, if he at any time during his studies shall change his mind and turn his attention to some other profession or pursuit or attach himself to some other church. 4. If he shall enter the ministry of the German Reformed Church he shall, if able, refund all the money applied to his use by the Board without interest within the term of four years from the date of his licensure. 5. If any part or the whole of the money shall remain unpaid at the expira-
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tion of the term of four years, he shall from that time be required to pay interest. 6. If through the providence of God he shall be prevented from entering the ministry by disease or death, or if in the course of the same providence he shall always remain poor after entering the ministry, he or friends shall never be called upon either for the principal or interest.
XI. Five members of the Board of Education shall constitute a quorum to transact business at any of the meetings of the Society, or of the Board regularly called.
XII. The annual meetings of the Society shall be held on Saturday previous to the second Sabbath in May at the place where Classis meets, when a sermon appropriate to the occasion shall be preached.
XIII. This Constitution can only be altered at an annual meeting by a majority of two-thirds of the members present.
Rev. John G. Fritchey, President; Rev. John H. Crawford, Senior Vice President; Rev. Wm. C. Bennet, Junior Vice President; Rev. Wm. C. Rankin, Secretary; Daniel Conrad, Treasurer; Maj. Jacob Berrier, Jacob Leonard, Col. John Hoke, John C. Barnhardt, Col. Daniel Clapp, Managers."
The Education Society had an eventful history of several years and accomplished a great deal of good. It never had at its command any very large sums of money. More money was raised in the "Centenary Year," 1841, and the three succeeding years than during any other period. The churches in the western section of Classis decided to raise a "Loretz Beneficiaryship" of $5000, and the churches in the central
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section a "Boger Beneficiaryship" of $1500. The full amounts were not attained, but several hundred dollars were raised and with the money quite a number of young men were materially assisted in securing their training in college and seminary. The "Education Society" lacked only a little of being a board of education for a college, though there was then no college in existence.
Student John Lantz, of Lincoln county, was the first young man under the care of the "Education Society." He was ordained to the Gospel ministry August 5, 1838.
Rev. Andrew Loretz had so endeared himself to the churches in North and South Carolina by his Herculean labors, eloquent preaching, pastoral care, missionary zeal, personal magnetism and sympathy for the afflicted, that when the Reformed Church in the United States celebrated the centennial of her founding in this country, in 1841, a generation after his death, these churches raised a fund for beneficiary education, and called it the "Loretz Beneficiary Fund." Aided by the interest on this fund, a number of young men were educated for the ministry at our institutions at York and Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. This was before the days of railroads, and the young men traveled by private conveyance. This was tedious, tiresome and expensive. While the managers of this fund were discussing these difficulties of travel at St. Matthew's camp ground in 1849, in the presence of the late Judge M. L. McCorkle, then a young attorney fresh from Davidson College, a young and struggling institution of the Presbyterian Church in North Carolina, he
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/img//St. Matthew's Arbor.{{dhr}}Where the first suggestion was made for the founding of the college.
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suggested: "Why not found a college of our own in our midst?" This was the germ from which Catawba College sprang. The idea was inspiring. It took shape at once, and in the fall of 1851 Catawba College was opened in the "Old Academy Building" in Newton, North Carolina. Further details of the story are related below.
The Classis of North Carolina had been faithful and devoted to the Synodical Schools of the Reformed Church, and had sent her young men North to be educated. In 1843 the Classis went on record as attributing her success in securing a supply of preachers to these schools of the Church. But Mercersburg was too far away to be reached by the scores of young men in the Reformed Church in North Carolina who wished to secure the blessing of a liberal education. Practically every minister in the Classis was a schoolteacher. This was a necessity from the scarcity of teachers in those days. A select company of young men crowded around these ministers to be taught English, Greek and Latin. These ministers also conducted small theological seminaries; the Classis assigned students for the Gospel ministry to certain ministers for guidance and instruction in their theological studies.
The people, ministers and laymen, discussed privately the propriety of establishing a high school at some point within the bounds of Classis, accessible to all the territory occupied by the Church. When in the year 1849 the Classis met in Grace Reformed Church (the White Church) in the town of Newton, the capital of the newly-formed Catawba County, the
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sentiment for such a school became so strong that on the last day of the meeting, April 30th, it was crystallized into the following resolution: "Resolved, That a committee be appointed to report at the next meeting of the Classis on the propriety of establishing a school of high order within the bounds of this Classis and under its control." The committee appointed for this purpose consisted of Rev. G. W. Welker, Rev. Jeremiah Ingold and Elder Henry Sechler. In 1850 the Classis met at Mt. Zion Church, Rowan County. The committee reported progress and was continued. The Classis was called to meet November 19th of that same year at Mt. Zion Church to hear the final report of the committee on the high school. The report was as follows: "1. The Classis is not now prepared to locate the school; but a committee should be appointed to report on the most eligible situation for such a school at the next regular meeting of Classis. 2. It is not possible immediately to procure a competent teacher and the organization of the school should be postponed for the present, but a committee should be appointed to correspond on the subject and suggest a person or persons by the next annual meeting of Classis, suitable for a teacher, together with the salary required. 3. That the young men now ready to engage in study be so apportioned among the several ministers of Classis as shall suit their convenience and the time and care of the ministers. 4. That the interests of this contemplated school be recommended to the attention of each minister and member of Classis." The first com nittee called for consisted of John Coulter, Henry Sechler and Rev. John Lantz;
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/ix3//
//Rev. Dr. G. W. Welker.
//Rev. John Lantz.
//Rev. Jeremiah Ingold.
//ix3/
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the second committee consisted of Revs. T. Butler, J. H. Crawford, G. W. Welker and J. Ingold. The next annual meeting was held at Beck's Church, April, 1851. In the meantime the last-named committee had appointed Rev. J. H. Crawford as the agent to collect funds. He reported that the scholarship plan had been adopted, and that he had secured twenty-eight scholarships at $200 each and twenty-four half scholarships at $100 each; also $125 for a building and contingent fund. He had visited all the charges but had not solicited all persons likely to take scholarships, and had made no effort to procure any funds for building. The committee on the location of the school reported three desirable places, Salisbury, Sandy Ridge and Newton, but mentioned Newton as their preference. Newton was accordingly chosen by the Classis for the location of the school. The people in various sections of the Church had taken a lively interest in this enterprise. The citizens of the young and vigorous town of Newton were anxious to secure the prize for their community. M. L. McCorkle, Esq., a prominent lawyer of that town and a member of the Reformed Church, had already proposed, in a conversation with friends of the movement at St. Matthew's camp ground in 1849, that the school be located at Newton. And he took the lead in bringing this about. He went to Beck's Church to attend the meeting of Classis, though not an elder, and was accorded all the privileges of the floor except that of voting. Further action in the interest of the school was taken as follows: "Whereas, it will not be safe to establish the
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contemplated high school unless $10,000 can be secured in the way of scholarships and $5,000 as a building fund, and, Whereas, that sum is not yet secured, Resolved, That Classis continue the effort to collect funds and secure scholarships until the adjourned meeting provided for in the next resolution. 2. That Classis hold an adjourned meeting in Newton, Catawba County, North Carolina, on Friday before the second Sunday in June, 1851, at 10 o'clock A. M. 3. That if it shall appear at this adjourned meeting that the required sum is secured, the Classis go forward to establish the school immediately. 4. That Classis appoint one or more persons in each charge as agents to secure funds." The following appointments were made: M. L. McCorkle, Esq., and Dr. Q. A. Shuford, for the Newton Charge; John Coulter, Esq., Catawba Charge; Rev. David Crooks and Mr. Daniel Finger, Lincoln Charge; Rev. Thornton Butler, Mr. John Swing and Mr. Jacob Berrier, Davidson Charge; Rev. G. W. Welker, and Mr. J. C. Clapp, Guilford Charge; Mr. Levi Correll, West Rowan Charge; Rev. John Lantz and Col. George Barnhart, East Rowan Charge.
The Classis met again at Newton June 6, 1851. The soliciting committee had succeeded in securing $10,000 in scholarships and $675 for the building and contingent fund. Final action for the establishment of the high school was postponed to a special meeting of Classis to be held at Mt. Zion Church, August 12, 1851. A committee of seven was appointed, consisting of M. L. McCorkle, Esq., Dr. Q. A. Shuford, D. B. Gaither, F. D. Reinhardt, Esq., Dr. J. W. Gunter.
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/img//The Hon. M. L. McCorkle.
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John Wilfong and Jos. A. Reinhardt, to secure in the meantime $5,000 for the building and contingent fund. When Classis met at Mt. Zion it was ascertained that the whole sum of $5,000 had not been secured, whereupon Rev. G. W. Welker, John Coulter and H. F. Ramsour were appointed to propose to the people of Newton and vicinity that when they should convey to the treasurer of Classis ten acres of ground as a proper location for the school, and erect thereon a residence of specified dimensions, and also a brick building for the school in accordance with a plan submitted, then the Classis would pay $1,000 to the people of Newton and vicinity (this amount to be collected east of the Catawba River), and would establish the school with a professor or professors to meet its needs. So certain was it that these conditions would be met that Classis proceeded to elect a principal for the school in the person of Rev. Jacob Chapman, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Mr. Chapman, however, declined the position. Action was also taken to raise a fund of $1,000 (including the $1,000 mentioned above), and to increase the scholarship fund to $15,000. When the Classis met at Grace Church, Catawba County, October 11, 1851, it was reported that the citizens of Newton and vicinity had met the requirements of Classis. Rev. J. H. Crawford, Rev. David Crooks, F. D. Reinhardt, Esq., M. L. McCorkle, Esq., and Jno. Wilfong, Esq., were accordingly directed to take charge of the opening of the school, to secure a teacher for the time being and to watch over all the interests of the school until the next annual meeting of Classis. Rev. G. W. Welker was at
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the same time instructed to recommend a suitable person at the next meeting for principal of the school. The committee having the school in charge reported at a special meeting of Classis at St. Paul's, Rowan County, February 25, 1852, that they had opened the school December 3, 1851, with Rev. C. H. Albert as principal and Mr. H. H. Smith, assistant, for the first session, and that there were then thirty-two pupils in the school. The Classis decided not to elect a principal at that time, and placed the school in charge of Rev. John H. Crawford, Rev. C. H. Albert, John Wilfong, M. L. McCorkle, F. D. Reinhardt, D. B. Gaither and Joseph Reinhardt for the next session. When Classis met in annual session at the Brick Church, May 14, 1852, these commissioners reported that they had elected Rev. C. H. Albert, Principal of the school and Professor of Belles Lettres and the Latin and Greek Languages, and Mr. H. H. Smith, Professor of Mathematics, Natural Science and Modern Languages. One glowing sentence in the report reads: The committee only yet have to add that the prospects of the school are so far very encouraging, and that, with the favor of the members of the Church in the shape of dollars and cents and the blessing of God, the institution will beyond all doubt become one of the best literary institutions in the State. Let our people open their hearts and their purses and certain and glorious success will follow." It was also decided at that meeting that after the close of the next term the conduct and control of the school should be vested in a Board of Trustees, consisting of eighteen members, six of whom should be elected annually by the Classis of
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/img//The "Professor's House" or "Matron's Hall"
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North Carolina. The following were elected the first members of this board: John Coulter, Jonas Ramsour, Esq., G. P. Shuford, Jos. Reinhardt, F. D. Reinhardt, Esq and Col Philip Hedrick, one year; John Wilfong, E. R. Shuford, George Setzer, T. W. Bradburn, Jacob Ramsour and Joshua Clapp, two years; Rev. J. H. Crawford, M. L. McCorkle, Esq., Jonas Bost, Dr. Q. A. Shuford, Col. Geo. Barnhardt and Levi Correll, three years. These were all faithful, and attended meetings' of the Trustees when possible, though some had to go long distances. Most of them were large farmers and probably all owned slaves. In this their wealth was more apparent than real, for the board, clothing and doctor bills in most cases hardly compensated them for any profit desired from their services, and these men had little money to give the College. Rev. J. H. Crawford was appointed agent for the school to collect an endowment fund of $10,000 in addition to the scholarships already secured. Provision was made to secure a charter from the State of North Carolina. The name of Catawba College was adopted for the school.
In 1842, after an exciting and bitter campaign, an election was held to decide whether the large county of Lincoln should be divided. The result was a division: the eastern portion was cut off. The county was named Catawba from the fact that the Catawba river formed the eastern and northern boundaries of the new county. The name Catawba is said to be an Indian term which means "Catfish River." The river and the name are so old and their history extends so far back that it is not now known whether the tribe
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of Catawba Indians/r//According to the anonymous author of the article on the Catawba printed in [[1911 Encyclopædia Britannica|the eleventh edition of the Encyclopedia {{SIC|Britannia|Britannica}}]], their name is derived from a Choctaw word meaning "divided."//r/ that dwelt along the banks gave the name to the river, or whether they were themselves called Catawba on account of the river. When it was decided to locate the college at Newton, the name Catawba was naturally selected. Probably no other name was even considered.
It is an interesting fact that in this early period more schools and colleges were founded than a wealthy and populous community would ultimately te able to maintain. Thus, the Lutherans founded Lenoir College at Hickory and Concordia Colleze at Conover, while the Reformed people founded Claremont College (for girls) at Hickory and Catawba College at Newton. Here were four colleges set up by the same group of people within a distance of ten miles. Out of this mistaken policy grew some of the troubles and heartaches of later years. The Reformed and Lutheran people also set up still other schools in parts of the state not far distant. They could not, of course, foresee the day of great free modern high schools and great state and endowed institutions of higher learning. Probably all of the colleges and universities of the state in 1860 put together would not make much mcre than one institution such as the Salisbury high school of today.
When the legislature remanded back the prohibition amendment for popular vote in Newton township, Rev.
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/img//President Smith.
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John Lantz undertook personally to see every doubtful voter and explain. The vote carried. The feeling was bitter and was directed against the Rev. Mr. Lantz to such an extent that his enemies employed a lady to teach a subscription school in the old academy building, asking all who had children to subscribe except the Rev. Mr. Lantz. As a result his children had to be taught at home for a year or two until enmity to him had passed away. These men and their children, however, continued to find fault with the college, and were always ready to criticize faculty and trustees and to take sides violently with insubordinate students.
Rev. John Lantz, as pastor of the local church, was intimately related with the early life of the institution. He had preached for fifteen years at Lower Stone Church in Rowan County and was on the original committee for locating the college. Probably he was the one who worked for the Salisbury location. He did not, however, greatly object to Newton because his parents lived in Catawba County. He simply moved to Newton. While he was one of those appointed to raise money, his work was chiefly canvassing for students. Most of the boarding students were from Cabarrus and Rowan Counties, and were secured through the influence of Rev. John Lantz and Rev. Jeremiah Ingold.
Some of the prominent men of Newton at the time the college was opened were the following: Jonas Bost, a hotel man; Adam Gross, hotel man; David Gaither, a merchant, whose wife was Reformed while he himself was a Presbyterian and joined the church
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of that denomination which was organized years later. He was a merchant and during the Civil War kept the post office in his little store. There was not much to sell. George Setzer was a merchant and landowner, a member of the Lutheran church and the father of John Setzer and the late Mrs. Virginia Shipp. Reuben Setzer, Reformed, landowner gave the site of the first college building and "professor's house." He was a good man, a great friend of the college, and one of the trustees. John Wilfong, Reformed, was a merchant and landowner. He was a quiet man and a great Bible reader. There was a young lawyer, the only one in the county, Matthew L. McCorkle. There were two physicians, Dr. Turner Abernathy and Dr. Ogborne Campbell whose wife was Katherine, daughter of Jonas Bost and Reformed. Their son, James Campbell, became a distinguished physician. His sister, Alda Campbell, became the wife of Abel Shuford at Hickory. Abel Shuford was a great friend of the college. He gave a great deal of time and money, and intended to give more, but died suddenly before he got that arrangement made. There was a tailor in Newton, Hiram Whitener, who made the suits for Newton men. There was a general store kept by Andy Fullenwider. He sold liquor and corrupted young men, teaching them to gamble. There was a grocer named Israel Hildebrand who also sold liquors and confectioneries. Near Newton lived Daniel Rowe (Rauch) with a large family. He was Reformed and educated his sons at Catawba College to which the family was always loyal and devoted. About 1873 Hiram A. Forney moved to Newton from Lincoln County to educate his family.
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He was called Col. Forney from having been an officer in the state militia. He educated his sons, John, Edward, and Sidney in the college. Col. Forney was a remarkable man, a trustee of the college, and kept the minutes for the meetings while he lived. Joseph Rowe and Peter Rowe, grandfather of Rev. Walter Rowe, were also friends of the college.
{{c|{{sc|The Charter of Catawba College.}}}}
The Act of Incorporation follows. The Amendments to the original charter are also given.
{{c|{{sc|An Act To Incorporate Catawba College.}}}}
Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same: That Joshua Clapp, Philip Hedrick, Geo. Barnhardt, Levi Correll, Jonas Ramsour, Sen., John Coulter, Jacob Ramsour (of M. W.), G. P. Shuford, F. D. Reinhardt, Joseph A. Reinhardt, E. R. Shuford, Jonas Bost, Q. A. Shuford, John Wilfong, T. W. Bradburn, George Setzer, M. L. McCorkle and J. H. Crawford and their successors be and they are hereby created a corporation and body politic, to be known and distinguished by the name of "The Trustees of Catawba College," and by that name shall have a common seal, and be capable to sue and be sued, to plead and be impleaded, in law or equity, and of taking by purchase, device or donation, real and personal estate, and of holding and conveying the same, and shall have all the powers and privileges, and be subject to all the liabilities contained in Chapter 26th Revised Statutes.
n
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Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That the trustees above named shall allot themselves into three classes; the place of those of the first class to be vacated at the expiration of the first year; of the second class at the expiration of the second year, and of the third class at the expiration of the third year, reckoning from the first day of April, 1852, so that one third of their number may be chosen every year, such choice to be made by the North Carolina Classis of the German Reformed Church.
/img/
Sec. 3. Be it further enacted. That said trustees and their successors, or two-thirds of their number shall have the power of appointing a president and such professors and tutors as to them shall appear necessary and proper for said College, whom they may at any time remove for misbehavior, inability or neglect of duty, and a majority of them may, from time to time, make such by-laws and rules for their own government and that of the College, and for the preservation of order and good morals therein, as to them may appear expedient.
n
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Sec. 4. Be it further enacted. That the faculty of said college, consisting of President, professors and tutors, in connection with the trustees, shall have the power of conferring degrees or marks of literary distinction as are usually conferred in colleges and seminaries of learning.
Sec. 5. Be it further enacted. That this act shall take effect and be in force from and after the ratification thereof.
(Read three times and ratified in General Assembly this 17th day of December, A. D. 1852.)
{{c|{{uc|Amendment I.}}}}
An act to amend an act to incorporate "Catawba College."
Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same. That an act, entitled "an act to incorporate Catawba College," passed at the General Assembly of 1852–3, be so amended as to prohibit the sale or barter of spirituous liquors within two miles of Catawba College, in the county of Catawba, and any person so offending shall be subject to the same penalties, and collected in the same manner as hereinafter provided.
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted. That any person or persons violating the provisions of this act shall, for every offense, forfeit and pay twenty dollars to be recovered by warrant before a Justice of the Peace in the name of the trustees of Catawba College, one half to the use of the informer and the other half to the use of the institution.
n
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Sec. 3. Be it further enacted. That an election shall be ordered at any time before the first Monday in May next, ten days notice thereof previously given, to be held by the sheriff of said county, under the same rules and regulations that other elections are held, and all persons within the corporate limits of the town of Newton, who are qualified to vote for members of the legislature, shall be entitled to vote in said election, and if a majority of the qualified voters within the said corporate limits vote "yea" then this act shall be in full force and effect, and if a majority of them "no" then this act shall be null and void.
(Ratified the {{bar|4}} day of February, 1859.)
{{c|{{uc|Amendment II.}}}}
The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:
Sec. 1. That section one of chapter eighty-four, private laws of one thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight and one thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine be amended to read as follows: That an act entitled "an act to incorporate Catawba College," passed by the General Assembly of one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two and one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three be amended so as to prohibit the barter or sale, directly or indirectly or the keeping on deposit for the use of another of any intoxicating liquors within two miles of said college: Provided, That the commissioners of the town of Newton, under such rules and regulations as they may prescribe, not inconsistent with the provisions of this act, may allow the sale of liquor for medical purposes by one licensed druggist
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in said town upon the prescription of regularly licensed and practising physicians; but no liquors sold by such druggist shall be used on the premises occupied by him; and any such licensed druggist allowing such use of liquors sold by him, or who shall, in any way, contribute to the sale of liquors in said town except for bona-fide medicinal purposes and upon prescription of the physician written by him on the day application for sale is made, or who shall sell any intoxicating liquors to any minor without physician's prescription and without written permission of parents, or to any student without physician's prescription and written permission of his teacher, shall by the commissioners at once be deprived of the license to sell liquors and be subject to the pains and penalties prescribed in section two of this act; and any physician who shall directly or indirectly contribute to a violation of the spirit of this act, or letter thereof, shall be liable to the pains and penalties: Provided further, That any person who shall, without the prescription and permission above contemplated, convey to any minor or studerit any intoxicating liquors, or in any way contribute to his securing the same, shall be liable to the same pains and penalties: Provided further, That the provisions of this act shall not be construed to prohibit the sale of pure wines for sacramental purposes.
Sec. 2. That section two of said chapter eighty-four be amended to read as follows: That any person who shall violate the provision of this act shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on convic-
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tion thereof, shall be fined not more than fifty dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days.
Sec. 3. That this act shall be in force from and after its ratification.
Read in the General Assembly three times, and ratified this the 19th day of February, A. D. 1881.
{{c|{{uc|Amendment III.}}}}
{{c|{{sc|Certificate of Amendment of the Chapter of Catawba College.}}}}
{{sc|This is to Certify}}, that at a meeting, held in the City of Salisbury, North Carolina, on the 19th day of May, 1925, the Board of Trustees of Catawba College, an educational corporation not under the patronage or control of the State and organized under the laws of the General Assembly of North Carolina, did pass a resolution declaring that the amendment to its charter hereinafter set forth is advisable and did call a meeting of the Trustees to take action thereon and thereafter on the 7th day of June, 1926, the Board of Trustees of said Catawba College, at a meeting duly and regularly held, and after due and proper notice thereof, did pass the following resolution unanimously, two-thirds of the Trustees of the said corporation voting in favor of the said amendment, the said resolution providing for said amendment being as follows, to-wit:
{{c|{{uc|Resolution.}}}}
"Whereas it is advisable, in the opinion of the Board of Trustees, to increase the number of Trustees from eighteen to twenty-four, in order to extend the in-
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fluence of the institution and to better provide for its control and management.
"Therefore Be it Resolved, that it is advisable to amend the charter providing for the creation of Catawba College by striking out Section Two thereof and substituting the following:
"'Section Two: Be it Further Enacted, that on and after January 1, 1926, and as soon thereafter as their election can be provided for, the "Trustees of Catawba College" shall consist of twenty-four members, allotted into three classes; the place of those of the first class to be vacated at the expiration of the first year; of the second class at the expiration of the second year; and of the third class at the expiration of the third year, reckoning from the first day of April, 1852, so that one-third of their number may be chosen every year, such choice to be made by the Classis of North Carolina, of the Reformed Church in the United States.'"
This is to Further Certify, that attached hereto is the written assent to said amendment of more than two-thirds of the Trustees of the said Catawba College.
This was properly signed and executed by the Trustees, and on October 14, 1926 certified by W. N. Everett, Secretary of State.
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/ch//Education in North Carolina Prior to 1860
IN ORDER THAT the reader may understand the circumstances under which Catawba College was founded, and may be able to properly evaluate its importance in the light of the educational standards of the time, it is desirable to give an account of education in North Carolina prior to 1860. Probably this cannot be better done than by taking as a sample county, Catawba, in which the new college was located. For this purpose the material of this chapter is taken in its entirety from the unpublished Master's. Thesis of Mr. [[Author:Russell W. Whitener|Russell W. Whitener]]./r//This entire chapter is taken from the unpublished Master's Thesis of Russell W. Whitener; "[[The Growth and Development of Education in Catawba County]]." Chapel Hill, N. C. 1924.//r/ The purpose of the writer was to show "that Catawba had a very ''creditable'' system of public schools." While this was doubtless true from a comparative standpoint, yet from our present-day viewpoint North Carolina, of which Catawba County was a fair sample, had, at the time of the founding of Catawba College, only the most meager school facilities. It was against a very dark educational background, therefore, that Catawba raised the bright torch of learning. From Mr. Whitener's account, which follows, the reader will note the extreme "smallness" of all things educational.
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"The history of education in Catawba County prior to 1860 is very closely associated with the history of the early German settlers of this region. But it has been the misfortune of all the Germans in North Carolina to have no historian at a time when it was possible to collect facts relating to their immigration into the colony—whence they came, or what part they had in laying the foundation for the future greatness of the state. Even records of churches are scant, imperfect, or lost. However, from the few records obtainable we learn that these Germans established parochial schools in all their settlements, whenever it could possibly be done and a teacher secured—an arrangement to which they had always been accustomed in their Fatherland, in which the catechism was taught as well as other branches of rudimental knowledge; neither was the Bible excluded from the school but generally constituted the textbook in the reading classes; by this means a vast amount of religious intelligence was diffused among the German settlers and their inhabitants./r//Bernheim—[[German Settlers and the Lutheran Church in North Carolina]]. (Pages 186-187).//r/
"Another writer says: They (the German settlers) had scarcely reared a log cabin and cleared away a few acres of land when there was built in some accessible place a schoolhouse which served as a place for worship; they had more teachers than they had ministers./r//Reverend [[Author:G. W. Welker|G. W. Welker]], in [[Colonial Records of North Carolina]]. Volume 8, Page 731.//r/ The Germans of Catawba were not an exception to this rule for we find that they
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early established parochial schools. The deed to St. Paul's, a union Lutheran and Reformed Church and the oldest church in the county, made in 1760, specifies that the land was given for a church and a schoolhouse./r//[[Reformed Church in North Carolina]]. (Page 243).//r/ There is no record as to the number of such schools established or how long the terms were, but we know that they were the only schools in existence during the early history of the county.
"In 1839 the State of North Carolina enacted a statewide public-school law. The provisions of this law made it possible for a county to receive from the literary fund of the state $40.00 for each school district, provided that the county raised by taxation the sum of $20.00 for each district./r//Knight—[[Public School Education in North Carolina]]. (Pages 140-144).//r/ But Lincoln County, of which at that time Catawba was a part, was one of the seven counties of the State which failed to adopt the State system./r//Knight—Public School Education in North Carolina. (Page 145). There is no record in the files of the County as to the date when Catawba adopted the school law and began to share in the funds of the State.//r/
"In 1845 John Coulter filed a bond for the sum of $10,000 having been appointed chairman of the board of superintendents of common schools of Catawba County./r//[[Records of Catawba County]].//r/ This bond was signed by John Coulter, Eli R. Shuford, Andrew Killian and J. A. Reinhardt. Coulter's first report, now in the records of the county, is for the year 1846-1847 and is dated November 13, 1847. Evidently schools were held during the year
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1845-1846, for he reports a balance on hand November 2, 1846, of $2,907.85, but the record for that year has been lost./r//All the reports of these years were made out on large sheets of paper and have never been bound. The records remaining are in a bad state of preservation with the paper rapidly decaying because of having been improperly filed away.//r/ The report for 1846-1847 shows that there were 38 districts in the county at that time and that school was actually taught in 35 of them. The census is given by districts, in part of which males and females were kept separate, but in most of the districts they were reported together. The total census of children between the ages of 5 and 21 years of age is 3,772. The number of children taught in 30 districts was: Male 971, female 848, total 1,814. Reckoning on the basis of the districts reporting, 56% of the children in the census were enrolled.
"The names of the teachers which are given for each district reveal the surprising information that there is not one woman in the forty-three teachers of the county. Three districts had two-teacher schools, and four other districts had more than one teacher but they taught at different periods during the same year. The length of the term would perhaps indicate that summer schools had been held in these districts. Another surprising fact which this first report revealed is the length of the school term. Few people knew of the existence of any public school system in North Carolina before the publication of Knight's 'Public School Education in North Carolina' (1916). But to find a school in Catawba County in the early forties with a six or a seven months' term gives something
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of a shock. It is true that we find two-months' schools as we should naturally expect but this report shows only three of them. In addition to the three districts which had school two months, we find that twenty had school for three months, three for four months, one for four months and eight days, one for four months and eleven days, four for five months, one for five months and fourteen days, and one for six months. One school failed to make a report but the amount paid the teacher indicates that the term must have been between three and one-half and four months. The average term for the entire county was three and one-half months. An entry after one district records that the schoolhouse was burned after school had been taught for two months and three days. The total amount paid the teachers was $1,550.39/1/2/ or an average monthly salary of $12."5 per month. Three schoolhouses were paid for during the year. Nothing is given to indicate the type but in all probability they were one-room log structures of the kind so frequently found in the county at a much later period. One building cost $100.00, a second had been built for $91.00, while the third, including building, benches, and buckets, cost a grand total of $100.37/1/2/.
"In the financial statement Coulter does not explain what amount was raised by local taxation or how much was received from the State literary fund although two entries are made which indicate that the funds from the State for this year must have
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passed through the hands of the sheriff of the county before being turned over to the superintendent of common schools. One entry shows: 'By cash on fall dividends $862.13,' and the other entry says: 'By cash from A. M. Shuford, Sheriff, on spring dividend of 1847, $622.50.' In Coulter's report for the next year dated October 30, 1848, an entry dated November 20, 1847, credits the fall dividend of $960.91 from the Cape Fear Bank and the spring dividend of $460.87 from the same source. This second report also credits B. S. Johnson, Sheriff, of Lincoln County, with $125.60 as tax money received February 1, 1848. No further information was given in either of the reports concerning the meaning of these entries.
"The entire financial statement for the year 18461847 is as follows:/r//Records of Catawba County.//r/
Receipts:
{|
|Balance on hand, November 2, 1846
|$2,907.85
|-
|By deduction from district Number 25, an error in the number of children
|28.00
|-
|By cash on fall dividend
|862.13
|-
|By cash from A. M. Shuford, Sheriff, on spring dividend
|622.50
|-
|Total receipts
|$4,420.48
|}
Disbursements:
{|
|Paid teachers
|$1550.39/1/2/
|-
|Other disbursements
|425.89/1/2/
|-
|Total disbursements
|$2,025.67
|}
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{|
|Balance with the chairman after settlement with the committee of finances
|2,394.81
|-
|Total
|$4,420.48
|}
"Item #2 of the receipts shows that the funds for the districts must have been apportioned according to the number of children on the census, a probable reason for the varying length of the school term in the county. The commissioner or chairman received $49.40 for his year's work which was no doubt limited to certifying teachers, signing vouchers, etc.—duties which could be done in a few days each month—and while $49.40 is a small compensation in comparison with the value of the dollar today, when we remember that the average teacher's salary was only $12.55 per month, the $49.40 must have been a large salary for this work.
"In addition to the comparatively large salary, the chairman must have made a considerable income by loaning the large amount of money remaining in his hands as shown by the balances for each year. In fact, the balance remaining in his hands was considerably more than the total expenditures for the year./r//This practice was common and not considered wrong. It prevailed widely in ante-bellum Virginia. See Knight's [[Public Education in the South]], page 212.//r/
"In the second report made by Coulter, which has already been mentioned above, we learn that there were two districts in the county which supported a seven-months school. No better evidence could be produced to show that there was a fine school spirit in
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Catawba County in ante-bellum days and could the Civil War with its blasting effects have been postponed indefinitely there would perhaps have been no need for an educational revival under the leadership of the noted Aycock. Woman, in this report for the year of 1847-1848, also makes her début in the teaching profession of Catawba County. Mary E. Cansler taught a five-months school in district number five for a total salary of $57.00.
"In 1851 a report was filed by George P. Shuford, who was at that time chairman of the board of superintendents, which shows that the number of districts had increased from thirty-eight to forty-four and that school was taught in thirty-nine of the districts./r//Records of Catawba County.//r/ Shuford was chairman when Wiley was elected state superintendent of the common schools in 1853 and from this date, Catawba is included in the reports sent out from the state. A comparison of the status of Catawba at the time of Coulter's first report in 1847 and Wiley's report for the year 1860, thirteen years later, is tabulated below:
{|
!
!1847
!1860
|-
|Whole number of districts
|38
|47
|-
|Number of districts taught
|35
|43
|-
|Whole number of children reported
|3772
|3498
|-
|Average term in months
|3.5
|3.2
|-
|Number of male teachers
|43
|43
|-
|Number of female teachers
|0
|3
|-
|Amount of money spent
|$2025.67
|not given
/foot//
|}
//foot/
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/head//
{|
//head/
|-
|Amount of money on hand
|$2394.81
|not reported
|-
|Amount collected in county
|not specified
|$1210.45
|}
"The above comparison shows a pronounced increase both in the number of districts and in the number of schools taught in Catawba during this period of thirteen years. This increase of nearly twenty-five per cent shows an awakening interest in the question of public education by a larger number of the people of the county. Fewer children were reported in 1860, either for the reason that the later reports were not as accurately taken, or possibly because a number of people were leaving the county attracted by the cheay lands constantly being opened up in the west. The decrease in the length of the school term may have been a reaction which usually follows in the wake of all progressive and forward movements. But it is more probably due to a smaller amount of money received from the state brought about, no doubt, by a more business like and rigid system of state supervision under Wiley. Wiley's first report for the year 1853 shows that the average term for Catawba was only three months, hence, Catawba before this time must have been drawing more than her pro rata share from the literary fund. Beginning with Wiley's first report we find that instead of a decrease of eight and five-tenths per cent there is shown an actual increase of six and two-thirds per cent in the term for a period of seven years immediately preceding the war.
"The above reports reveal the fact that Catawba had a very creditable and growing system of rural public schools until the war, with its ruin and devastation, accompanied by the destruction of the entire financial
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system of the South. It wrecked the most auspicious system of state-aided schools of pre-war days, thereby keeping Catawba from contributing her share in making North Carolina take her proper place in the ranks of the foremost educational states of the Union.
"During the period between 1860 and 1865 Catawba County's system of schools, along with that of other counties of the state, gradually gave way under the terrific strain of war."
The above facts indicate that Catawba College was born into a state in which a small proportion of children were taught, for three months a year, by poorly qualified and underpaid teachers, in one-room log schoolhouses, almost entirely devoid of equipment. Catawba's history and service can be understood only against that background, and especially when it is remembered that comparatively little educational progress was made before the year 1900.
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/ch//Early Administrations
THE COLLEGE BEGAN in the one-room weather-boarded house known as the "Old Town Academy Building," located in a large grove of oak trees. It had been a private, ungraded school, owned by the town. The site of this old Academy was opposite the Eastview Cemetery. The plot still belongs to the town. The school soon became too large for this building and was removed to the "Old White Church" (Reformed), the first church built in the town, and for a number of years the only one. Here it remained about two years, until a number of citizens called obligors erected a substantial brick building and a dwelling for the President on an elegant campus of about six acres south of the village. This campus was donated in part by Reuben Setzer, who was for many years a faithful Trustee and constant supporter of the school. The campus has been enlarged by severai purchases since. In 1880 a new brick building, of three stories, forty-five by ninety feet, was added, and in 1905 a still larger addition, with plants for lighting and heating all the buildings on the campus, was commenced. The President's house was enlarged some years before and converted into a ladies' dormitory, called the "Matron's Hall."
An interesting character connected with the building of the college was Dolph Setzer, the negro who
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mixed the mortar. Before emancipation he belonged to Reuben Setzer. He was born on the Setzer land, about a mile from the court house. When the site for the town was staked out he was there; he mixed the mortar for the first court house and for most of the masonry in the town after that to the time of his death. When a young man his skin began to show white spots. Finally from coal-black he became white, thereby attracting a great deal of attention. The reason for this change is not known. At the age of eighty-five, according to the Newton paper, he was still working and getting about remarkably well. He died recently at the age of ninety-five. Accounts of his unusual life and change of color appeared in the newspapers of Charlotte and Newton.
[[Author:Charles H. Albert|Charles H. Albert]] was born in 1848 in White Hall, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. In early life he moved with his parents to Perry County, where he grew up. He pursued his literary and theological studies at Mercersburg, Penn., graduating in 1848, and after two years study in the Seminary was licensed by the Lebanon Classis in 1850. He came to North Carolina in the late fall of 1851 and was ordained to the work of the ministry by the Classis of North Carolina in May, 1852. He resided in Newton while acting as Principal of the budding young Catawba College, being Professor of Belles Lettres and the Latin and Greek Languages. In 1853 he was dismissed to Goshenhoppen Classis in Pennsylvania, where for several years he taught a select school. Subsequently he passed over into the Episcopal church and finally died in Texas in 1869, aged 45 years. Dr. Heisler in his
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book "[[Fathers of the Reformed Church]]" says: "Mr. Albert was a man of considerable ability, extensive knowledge and good taste; affable, social and kind but very eccentric. He published when quite young a small volume of poems." He preached while in Newton at some of the country churches and occasionally in Newton. There are at this time a few aged persons in the Church who remember Rev. Mr. Albert well. They say that he was personally well liked but that his wife did not adapt herself to the conditions, made odious comparisons, was continually homesick and felt herself superior to most of the people with whom she was compelled to associate. As a teacher he was overshadowed by the tremendous personality of his associate, Professor H. H. Smith, Professor of Mathematics, Natural Science and Modern Languages. Under these circumstances, he returned North after two years, leaving Prof. Smith in charge.
Dr. Hildreth H. Smith was born in 1820 at Deerfield Centre, New Hampshire. He was a farmer's son and taught school during the summer months in order to assist in paying his way through Bowdoin College, where he graduated with first honors. He afterwards went to Washington, D. C., where he taught school, read law, and was admitted to the bar. On account of failing sight, he gave up the profession, secured a sailing vessel and for several months voyaged with friends around South America to San Francisco. After teaching one year at Lancaster, Pa., he came south with Prof. Albert to assist him in building up Catawba College. He remained here four years, saw
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the first College building erected, and pushed the school on to success. He has always been considered the {{uc|first}} President of the College by most of the Newton people, for he was the first President after the school could in any way be considered a college. Some of the students were well-advanced, having been prepared in good private schools. Several, among them, Messrs. Tom and Sam Lowe, had been students of Peter S. Ney; others had studied at the Lincolnton Academy, and others elsewhere in the state. Many of them became very prominent in their own neighborhoods and in the State. J. C. Clapp, Alphonso Clapp, J. W. Foust, Eli Warlick, and other prominent men were among the first students. Prof. Smith was a thorough scholar and could teach any branch of study, as he did here and afterwards at the University. He believed also in Athletics, and had the students taught gymnastics, boxing and fencing while here. The people were very backward in those days, and in every way possible he contributed to the upbuilding of the community. He organized the young people into singing classes and met them around in the houses where he taught them to sing by note. One student was graduated from school while he was here, Mr. Dan Wilfong, who died several years ago in the far South. His diploma is in the possession of his children. It was beautifully written in Latin, on what seems to be home tanned parchment, probably tanned in Newton by Rev. J. H. Crawford. The diploma was written by Mr. Tom Lowe, afterwards Captain and later Colonel, of the 3rd company that went to war from Catawba
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County. The diploma for the A. B. Degree from Catawba College today is a copy of it in its wording.
While teaching here Prof. Smith married Mary Brent Hoke of Lincolnton, the sister of Gen. Robert Hoke of the Confederacy, and her son, Hoke Smith, was born here. Prof. Smith imbued the boys with great loyalty to the school and stimulated them to expect from this College great things for Catawba County and for the State. We have seen a commencement oration delivered by Mr. Tom Lowe while the school was still in the Church building, probably about 1852. It was full of praise and gratitude to the founders of the college, of hope and encouragement for the future. "This institution is ours, ours under a solemn pledge that we will preserve, exalt and extend it. Honor and gratitude have been to those who established it—honor and gratitude shall be to those who preserve it."
Of this period Mrs. Foil relates the following:
"Prof. Smith was a wonderful athlete and taught the boys boxing and fencing. I went with my father and mother to an 'exhibition' or entertainment. Part of the program was a boxing contest, won by Jacob Clapp, later to become President. He was one of the handsomest men I ever laid eyes on. I was glad he won the contest, but I was frightened to death by the boxing and fencing. I thought they would kill each other. Only Prof. Smith fenced with one of tke boys. At this time there were only about fifty or sixty students. They were not boys, but mostly young men.
"They built a house of seven rooms for the President, where Prof, Smith lived. Later it was enlarged as a
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dormitory for women. It had crepe myrtles in front, and a grove of cedars in the rear. It was a beautiful place. Mrs. Smith was very æsthetic and had the place beautiful. The house was built a year before the college.
"At first they did not have any boarding department at all. Most of the students boarded at Rev. Mr. Crawford's, Mrs. John Wilfong's, and Rev. John Lantz's—all Reformed families. Mrs. Wilfong at one time had thirty young men crowded in her house. This house is still standing—the George McCorkle house.
"The boys were, most of them, pretty good, but they did have some rowdies, who gave Prof. Smith trouble. He was a very strict disciplinarian. He passed a rule requiring the boys to be in their rooms studying after a certain hour, about 7:30 or 8:00 o'clock P. M. The landladies were to report them if they did not do it. The boys were very indignant. They caught Prof. Smith out one night and pelted him with "spoiled" eggs. I don't know how long he stayed after that. He went to Lincolnton to engage in school work, and later taught in the University of North Carolina. There his rigid discipline offended again. One day the boys set off an explosion of gunpowder under his chair. He was a great man. He was wonderfully "smart" and versatile. Mrs. Mary Baker G. Eddy was his mother's sister. I saw Hoke Smith when he was an infant. His parents moved to Lincolnton not long after that."
Prof. Smith was called from here to the University of North Carolina, where he taught Ancient Languages and Mathematics, and at times nearly all the other branches. He remained there twelve years, but in 1868,
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during the Reconstruction period, when it became apparent that the carpet-baggers were going to admit negroes to the University, Dr. Smith resigned. He then went to Lincolnton, where he organized a High School, having the late Dr. Wetmore as assistant. He taught there three years. He then moved to Atlanta and had taught there one year, when Dr. Sears, Agent for the Peabody Fund, asked him to go to Houston, Texas, to organize the Public Schools. He returned to Atlanta in 1884 and was for some time Principal of the Girls' High School; later, however, he resigned and became Literary Editor of the Atlanta Journal, until he gave up work, being in his old age afflicted with blindness.
Dr. Smith was a man of broad learning and culture, a fine mathematician, and fond of astronomical research. He had also a wonderful grasp of languages, both ancient and modern, and read and spoke well French, German, Spanish, and italian. The degree of LL. D. was conferred on him by Baylor University, Texas.
Dr. Smith died full of honors on the 14th of September, 1908, while his son was Governor of Georgia. Both houses of the Georgia Legislature adjourned out of respect to the Governor and the scholar who had done so much for the South. The following editorial concerning him appeared in "[[The Atlanta Journal]]." We append it because it seems so fair an appreciation of the man:
"The death of Dr. Hildreth H. Smith, the venerable father of Governor Smith, will carry deep and genuine regret to the hearts of thousands of devoted friends
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throughout Georgia and the south, while the tenderest sympathies of the people go out to the chief executive in this hour of his bereavement.
"His was a scholarship such as the south has rarely ever seen, combined with a gentleness and courtesy, the fine flavor of a high gentility and a native vigor of intellect which could not fail to place him among the notable figures of the south. To all these has been added length of days, and during eighty-eight years he has erected the wholesome example of a blameless life.
"He had the happy faculty not only of acquiring but imparting information and he readily became one of the most successful educators of the country. More than one generation, developing character and intellect under his discipline and tutelage, rise up to call him blessed.
"As a member of the faculty of the University of North Carolina he occupied every chair in the institution; as one of the trustees of the Peabody fund he demonstrated his broad, practical grasp of the larger questions of education, and when the removal of his children to Atlanta induced him to make his home here, he did notable work as principal of the Girls' High School.
"The Journal for many years had the benefit of his scholarship and literary ability, during the time that he was the gifted editor of the literary department of this paper. He placed this work on a high plane which attracted wide-spread attention.
"In all the relations of life, both public and private, he lived up to the high duties of citizenship and he
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goes to his reward full of years and honors, followed by the benediction of all who knew him. The sympathy of the entire state goes out to his bereaved family."
The scholarship plan on which the school was started entitled any person to tuition for one student if he paid or gave bond for two hundred dollars and paid the interest at six per cent. The rate of tuition for others was very low, and after running five years the plan was abandoned; the faculty resigned and the property was leased to one of the Professors, Charles W. Smythe, who conducted a high school until the spring of 1860.
While at Bowdoin, Professor Smith had as one of his Professors, Charles Smythe. When C. H. Albert left, Prof. Smith wrote to Prof. Smythe to recommend an assistant for him at Catawba College. Prof. Smythe recommended his nephew and namesake, Charles W. Smythe of the Senior class, who was secured.
Prof. Charles W. Smythe was born April 9, 1829, at Holderness, New Hampshire. He prepared for college at Northfield Academy, being graduated with the class of 1850, and from Bowdoin College with the class of 1854. While a student at Bowdoin, he was engaged by Prof. H. H. Smith for the Professorship of Mathematics and Natural Science in Catawba College for the fall of 1854, Prof. Smith himself taking the Department of Ancient and Modern Languages and Literature. In 1855 Prof. Smythe married Margaret Harris, daughter of Dr. Charles Harris, of Cabarrus County. They were the parents of five children, the two eldest of whom survive: Mary, who resides at Williamsport, Pa., and Louis, whose home is in St.
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Johnsburg, Vermont, where their mother died in 1902.
Prof. Smythe was a handsome, polished gentleman of the English style, of Puritan ancestry, whose forbears came over in the Mayflower. He was both an excellent scholar and an earnest Christian, and organized the first Sunday School ever held in Newton, a union Sunday School, which met in his private parlor. When it soon became too large, it was removed to the Reformed Church, where for several years after the war it remained the only one in town.
Prof. Smythe was an excellent teacher in the class room and was always a student, but it was said that he did not have the executive ability nor the physical strength for so much responsibility; also it was seen that the people were not as much interested in education as they should have been; and there arose a sentiment that there should be a Reformed minister at the head of the school who could go out among the congregations and stir them up to send their sons in increasing numbers. When he came here, Prof. Smythe was a Congregationalist but he connected himself with the Reformed Church and was a faithful member. After Dr. Smith resigned he had served as head of the school. When Rev. A. S. Vaughan was secured as President, Prof. Smythe declined to remain as Professor of Mathematics and Science, though the Trustees were anxious to retain him. Just what the feeling was we do not know, but the late Major Finger, who admired Prof. Smythe greatly, always thought the affair badly managed, and when Prof. Smythe moved to Lexington he himself went to Bowdoin College to finish his edu-
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cation. Newton lost one of her most valuable citizens in the departure of this great educator.
Prof. Smythe conducted a private High School at Lexington, and by this time had become thoroughly Southernized. He drilled in military tactics some of the first companies that went out from Lexington to serve in the Confederate armies; later, when through the hardships of war, textbooks for the schools became scarce, or, as we sometimes thought, disloyal, he published a series of school books, "[[Our Own Readers]]" and "[[Our Own Grammars]]." They abounded in Southern sentiments, and with the fall of the Confederacy they became obsolete.
After moving to Lexington, Prof. Smythe became an active elcer in the Presbyterian Church and Superintendent of the Sunday School. He died in 1864 in the prime of life, mourned by a whole state. His children have recently placed a monument at his grave in Lexington.
Rev. A. S. Vaughan came to Catawba College from Pennsylvania in the fall of 1859. As the railroad had not yet been completed to Newton, he and his wife came up in a stage coach from the Catawba River; their household effects, including a piano, were brought up later on wagons. Mr. Vaughan was a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College. He had married a highly educated lady, and they had conducted successfully a female Institute at Doylestown, Pa. Seeing that there were no opportunities for girls here, Mrs. Vaughan opened up in the Church a school for girls and small boys, which was an immediate success. She was assisted by W. R. Vaughan, her brother-in-law. In
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the spring of 1860, Mr. Vaughan was received into the Classis of North Carolina, and began to plan great things for Catawba College, his prime move being to raise sixty thousand dollars as an endowment fund. By the fall of 1860 he had secured half the above amount and reopened the institution, with Jacob C. Clapp as Professor of Ancient Languages and his brother, William Vaughan, as tutor. When the clouds of the Civil War began to thicken in the spring of 1861, the President and his family returned to Pennsylvania. Many of the students enlisted in the army, and Professor Clapp finished the term with the few that remained. Afterwards, at the insistence of citizens of the town, he conducted an academy in the college buildings until peace was declared. After the surrender he associated Maj. S. M. Finger with him in conducting Catawba High School. In a short time this institution rivaled Catawba College in her earlier days.
The flower of the youth of the surrounding country flocked to Newton both for a practical business education and to fit for college. Many of the young men had been soldiers and had felt the need of education. They had learned also obedience to authority. They made model students, and teaching them was a delightful task. These men are now among the most useful and successful of our citizens. Many of them are eminent in the learned professions and captains in the army of the growing industries which are rejuvenating the South. After a few years of school work Major Finger retired, and Catawba High School was conducted by Prof. J. C. Clapp, assisted by several young men who had fitted for college at Catawba, and had
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graduated at other institutions. Among these was Rev. John A. Foil, who in a few years became co-principal and afterwards Professor of Mathematics. In these capacities he rendered valuable service for many years, teaching at various times almost all the branches of an extensive curriculum, and being proficient especially in Mathematics, Greek, and Chemistry. He worthily carried the degree of Ph. D., conferred by his Alma Mater, Ursinus College, in 1889.
Mrs. Foil relates a number of interesting incidents connected with this pre-war period as follows:
"Prof. Smythe's daughter, at Williamsport, Pa., took the opposite position from her father on the Civil War issue. She went to live with her father's folks in New Hampshire. Some years after the war Mrs. Smythe's sister from South Carolina was invited to visit relatives in New Hampshire. They were invited out to dinner. She had started to eat. Suddenly she jumped up from the table crying and went to her room. She recognized her own silverware on the table. It had been stolen from her South Carolina home when it was raided during the Civil War. However, on that question, my attitude is that the Civil War was 'civil' and decent compared with the World War."
"Before the war and afterwards, they held 'exhibitions' at commencement time. People came in from all directions and stayed the whole week. They slept on the floors of the homes of citizens of Newton. Everybody expected to have the house filled, and charged nothing."
"Old Mrs. Brown sold gingerbread to students and others on Muster day. Twice a year every ablebodied
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/img//Rev. A. S. Vaughan.
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man had to come and train. She came with a covered wagon and great quantities of gingerbread. We liked to see the muster and training of the men. They never expected to go to war."
"President Vaughan came about '59. He was a Democrat and not out of sympathy with the South, but he did not know just what to think of secession. Rev. John Lantz did not favor secession until Lincoln called for troops and South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee had seceded. After Fort Sumter was fired on, they began to enlist soldiers and they were trained in Newton, a good deal. They—the soldiers who enlisted—were the flower of the South. There were probably then about seventy-five students. Some of them were from South Carolina. When South Carolina seceded, these boys became hot-heads and did a lot of talking. When Fort Sumter was fired on, Mrs. Vaughan got nervous. She was afraid she could not get back home. She cried, so he took her home. Whenever a company would march away, they would have a preacher preach a sermon at the Church to this company and tell the boys how to fight the good fight spiritually as well as physically. Many of the soldiers were college students and Reformed students. They requested Mr. Vaughan to preach the sermon to the company that was going to leave. This I remember distinctly, as I was about twelve years old. He took as his text: 'And I will say to the North, give up, and to the South, keep not back' ([[Habakkuk (Bible)|Habakkuk]]). It was startling. Many people were curious to know how he would stand on the subject. He encouraged the boys, and took some into the Church. Some of them came to our house to
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be confirmed by my father before they went off. They would come in groups of from two to five and he confirmed them in the house."
"The railroad to Newton was finished while Mr. Vaughan was there. When they left, they could go all the way on the train. There was only one train a day, passenger and freight combined."
"We thought those Yankees and New Englanders were smart. That is why we usually got professors from the North. They tried to get Dr. J. Spangler Kieffer before Mr. Vaughan came. Smith and Smythe were Congregationalists. Many of our people preferred Congregationalism to Mercersburg theology. Our house was always a center for Reformed preachers to congregate. I used to hear Revs. Messrs. Crawford and Welker just storm and storm and storm about Mercersburg theology, until I thought it must be something 'poison.'"
"Mr. Vaughan had a school for boys, and Mrs. Vaughan a school for girls. During the War they were combined. Dr. Clapp tried to run both schools, the girls school at the Church and the boys school at the college. He had a woman to assist him with the girls school, and he divided his day between them. That however became too trying. After that he took us all to the College. They did not want to do away with education altogether in the South during the war. They had a rule that if a man could get 75 to 100 pupils in school, he would be exempt from being drafted for the war. Dr. Clapp scouted around and got all the boys and girls he possibly could to come to school. Eli Warlick assisted him."
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"Either Prof. Smith or Prof. Smythe was assisted for a time by Samuel Lander of Lincolnton, who was taking some special studies at Catawba. He afterward taught a private school at Lincolnton for some years, became a Methodist preacher, moved to South Carolina, and established a school for girls which is now known as Lander College. It is likely that other advanced pupils may have assisted Prof. Smythe. Rev. A. S. Vaughan also used his brother, W. R. Vaughan, as a pupil-teacher."
"The two literary societies, the Philomathean and the Athenaean, were both organized before the War."
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/ch//The Great President—Dr. Clapp.
"UPON THE COAT OF ARMS of the Clapp family we always find this motto, which is a French maxim:
"Fais ce que dois, advienne que pourra.
"The meaning of this motto is—'Do your duty whatever comes.'
"The ancestral home of the Clapp (or Klapp) family of the Brick Church Community in eastern Guilford county, North Carolina, was near the town of Bingen on the Rhine river in the upper part of the Palatinate region of eastern Germany. George Valentine Clapp and his brother sailed from Rotterdam on the ship named 'James Goodwill' in the year 1727, and landed in Philadelphia, Pa., on September 27, 1727. He married while in Pennsylvania on his way to North Carolina, and his wife's maiden name was Mary Albright. Their great-great-grandson was the Rev. Jacob Crawford Clapp, D. D., the best known member of the family that the state has yet known. He was a son of the late Capt. Joshua and Delilah (Huffman) Clapp, and was born at Clapp's Mill on Alamance creek, near what was for a long time known as Alamance postoffice, September 5, 1832. He passed through the preparatory department of Catawba College then at Newton, N. C., and graduated from Aimherst College, Amherst, Mass., with the class of 1857
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/img//President Clapp.
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when he was 25 years old. Ursinus college of Pennsylvania conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity upon him in later years. In 1858-1859 he taught near Alamance postoffice, his old home, and had as his pupils many of the best known young people from the best families of eastern Guilford. His school was called Good Hope and had fifty boarding pupils, in addition to the local patronage. After a year spent here he went to Bolton's, Mississippi, where he taught for some time. At this place on July 4, 1860 he was married to Miss Emma Lewis.
"Returning to North Carolina, Dr. Jacob C. Clapp was ordained a minister of the Reformed Church in 1867. He had for the five previous years, or since 1860, been professor of ancient languages in the college of his church, Catawba College, and in 1862 had been made president of the institution. He had a long and honorable service as president of Catawba College, in connection with which he held various pastorates of the churches of his denomination, and was widely known throughout the state as a lecturer, especially upon the subject of temperance, which was a vital issue during his lifetime. He was the intimate and confidential friend of Dr. George Wm. Welker and others of the strongest men of his denomination. Major S. M. Finger who was long associated with him in his educational work afterwards became State superintendent of education for North Carolina. In May 1900, after a long and continuous service as teacher and president Dr. Clapp resigned from the work of the college.
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"In 1908 the volume known as the 'Historic Sketch of the Reformed Church in North Carolina' was issued with Dr. Jacob C. Clapp as editor-in-chief. This was the result of four years' work since the publication had been authorized in the meeting of the Classis of North Carolina at a session held in High Point, in May, 1904. Much of the earlier part of this book is based upon the researches of Dr. George Wm. Welker as published in Vol. VIII, pages 727, etc., etc., of the Colonial Records of North Carolina.
"Dr. Jacob Crawford Clapp was a man of fine and commanding physique standing more than six feet high; he had broad shoulders, strong features and dark, {{SIC|peircing|piercing}} eyes. In physical build, and in mental and moral equipment he was a born leader of men. His mind was well disciplined, his stores of knowledge were abundant, and he was fluent and convincing in speech. He had many of the finest qualities of the born orator. Having traveled widely, and having a liberal education and great interest in his fellow-men, he spent much thought on the question as to how to direct humanity to its highest aims. Gifted in social qualities, and with an unfailing memory for names and faces, he won and held an unusually wide circle of friends.
"In the pulpit and on the lecture platform he ranked with the ablest men of his time, and when it was known that he was to speak it might be safely said that every seat would be filled. The Reformed Church in North Carolina has never had a minister who surpassed him in all the higher qualities, and very few, indeed, would claim that he has had many equals.
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/img//Rev. J. D. Gurley.
/img//Wm. H. Thompson.
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His fraternal spirit gave him much influence with other denominations, and his type of Christianity was sufficiently broad to enable him to always be at home in any Christian circle. He was the idol of his friends and admirers, and this was the result of qualities almost ideal for such work as his.
"His long connection with Catawba College, where he trained many of the ministers of his church, kept him in intimate touch with every movement of his times. His influence in his church Classis was unbounded, and its ministers delighted to follow where he pointed the way.
"The long and notable life work of Dr. Jacob Crawford Clapp as teacher, minister, college president, lecturer and Christian gentleman without reproach was such as to build for him an everlasting monument in the hearts and lives and characters of those who came under his influence. Prepared for college in the south, and graduating in the north before the storm of the Civil War broke, he was fitted to see with eyes of a statesman, with a liberality that was all too rare in those trying times. It is a matter of great regret that no one has as yet written the story of his life; it would be an inspiration to the young men of any day, and some one, it is hoped, will soon prepare such a volume. As a master workman he has finished his course on earth, but his works will live after him through all time."/r//This sketch of the life of Dr. Clapp is quoted from: [[History of Brick Church and the Clapp Family]], Whitsett Historical Monographs, No. 2. By [[Author:William Thornton Whitsett|William Thornton Whitsett]], Ph. D., Publishers, "Saber and Song," Whitsett, N. C.//r/
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In 1885 the institution resumed operations under its original charter. Catawba High School became Catawba College in name and in fact. The faculty consisted of Rev. Jacob C. Clapp, A. M., D. D., President and Professor of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy; Rev. John A. Foil, A. M., Ph. D., Professor of Mathematics; Wm. H. Thompson, A. M., Professor of Latin and English; Wm. W. Troup, A. M., Professor of Greek and German; Rev. Joseph L. Murphy, A. M., D. D., Professor of Logic and Aesthetics. The first class under the new arrangement was duly graduated in 1889, It comsisted of three young men, viz.: Jacob C. Leonard, of Davidson County; J. M. Lutier Lyerly, of Rowan County; Moses A. Foil, of Cabarrus County. Subsequently the two first named became ministers of the Gospel, and the last named became a physician. This class was instrumental in originating the first monthly magazine issued by Catawba College. The first issue bore the date of January, 1887. Drs. J. A. Foil and J. L. Murphy were named as editors, with J. C. Leonard and J. M. L. Lyerly as associate editors, and M. A. Foil as business manager. But it was understood that the three students were responsible for the management of the new magazine, for which they chose the name, "{{uc|[[The College Visitor]]}}." It was published under the auspices of the Philomathean Literary Society of Catawba College. The issuing of a college magazine in those days was a tremendous undertaking. It was an untried enterprise for this institution. There was of course the danger of financial failure. The college owned no printing equipment. The whole enterprise had to be paid for on contract. To back up the untried
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/ix3//
//Dr. M. A. Foil.
//Rev. Dr. J. C. Leonard.
//Rev. Dr. J. M. Lyerly.
//ix3/
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venture, citizens of the town of Newton were solicited for subscriptions in a sort of guaranty stock company. Encouraging response was made and the management had assets of a few hundred dollars which could be called in if necessary. Fortunately the venture was a splendid success, and the stockholders were never called on for any payments. The subscription price was sixty cents a year. The College Visitor was continued through eight volumes, the last issue being No. 8, Volume VIII, October, 1894. The author of this history has a complete file of this interesting college periodical, likely the only complete one in existence.
Other publications have been issued by the college since The College Visitor passed out of existence, some for longer and others for shorter periods. Each in its time and place has rendered good service to the institution and its friends. The latest magazine issued by the institution is [[The Catawba College Bulletin]], issued regularly from the college offices in Salisbury, North Carolina.
Since 1889, with a few exceptions, classes have been graduated regularly, varying in numbers from three to eighteen.
The College became coeducational in 1880, and the easy and natural way in which this step was taken, probably without any real appreciation of the importance of the change, is very interesting. Miss Willie Lantz was well advanced with her studies and not having the opportunity to go on with them, was doing some private study with considerable irregularity. Her mother asked Dr. Clapp whether she could not come to the college to recite. After a little considera-
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tion he said that he saw nothing against it and that he would also take in his daughter, Miss Emma Clapp. These two girls were the only "co-eds" that term. Other mothers desired the same privilege for their daughters, and as the college was being built up, and the number of schoolrooms increased, the faculty was also increased, and was soon giving instruction to a large number of girls. The girls were admitted, however, with the understanding that they were to fit into classes already formed, not making any extra work, and so these two were admitted in 1879. At the end of this year the first neat catalogue of the High School was published in Raleigh, and Dr. Clapp was spending most of his time in canvassing for funds for the new building. He raised in the Classis something like $4,000, scarcely any one refusing to contribute. In the catalogue for that year it was announced that "as soon as the new buildings are completed and the necessary arrangements made, a Female Department will be opened, in which will te afforded young ladies advantages equal to those afforded young men." The faculty next year consisted of Dr. Clapp, J. A. Foil, W. P. Cline, Miss Emma Bell, "Music," Mrs. Clapp, "Assistant," Miss Mattie Jones and Miss Sallie McDowell, "Primary Teachers," and Mrs. Foil, "French, U. S. History and Penmanship." The number of pupils enrolled was 132, of whom 49 were girls. In 1881 Rev. G. D. Gurley joined forces with the school and had charge of the Normal Department and remained several years. Among the pupils at that time may be mentioned J. L. Murphy, W. A. Self, Edward Cline, Luther Hunt, Robt. Cline and W. B. Gaither all of whom
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/img//Main Building—South and East View.
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became useful and prominent men. Rev. Robt. Cline in a recent letter says of Catawba High School: "It was better than many of our late Colleges." The school aimed to prepare students for the Junior Class in the best Colleges. As a matter of fact, numbers entered college ahead of the class for which they had prepared. Up to this point besides the teachers named there were Miss Annie Sorber (Music) and Miss Lizzie Lindsay, (Primary). In 1884 the Board of Trustees decided to send Dr. Clapp north to ask aid for the school. After an extensive canvass he returned with the announcement that he had received only about $500, and a promise of $1500 as a bequest. He was much discouraged because it seemed that a number of the ministers not only did not assist him but threw obstacles in his way, some even telling him that they did not wish him to canvass their congregations. While in the north, he met an old school friend at Amherst, [[Author:William Hayes Ward|William Hayes Ward]], Editor of the Independent. This meeting resulted in the election of Herbert D. Ward, his son, to take the place of W. P. Cline, resigned. He was a brilliant man and a fine teacher but remained with us for only one year. He has done something in the way of authorship, but is best known as the husband of Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, the distinguished authoress. The enrollment at the College was now 180, and in 1885 it ceased to be known as a High School, resuming the charter as a College. Dr. Clapp agreed to this somewhat reluctantly. He knew that it meant a larger faculty and unless the endowment could be raised he could not see how additional salaries could be met. He had personally felt the pulse
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of the north and thought that we could not expect much in that quarter, and having so recently canvassed the Classis for money for buildings, he did not think much could be secured for an endowment. Prof. Ward thought that the American Missionary Association would help us and that they would do so regardless of denominational lines, and he was authorized to see what could be done. The Association wrote encouragingly, some prominent men were sent here and hope was held out to us that ultimately they could make the endowment $100,000. However, this hope was disspelled when the Trustees received from Rev. Joseph E. Roy, the Field Superintendent of the Missionary Association, a letter explaining on what terms and to what extent they would aid us. The following is quoted: "If Dr. Roy receives assurance from the Board of Trustees of Catawba College that any suitably qualified colored person shall have admission to the college if he desires, he (Dr. Roy) be authorized to pledge the A. M. A. at his discretion to the amount of $1,000 for the year ending September 30, 1885, with the understanding that if this agreement be found mutually acceptable, the sum shall be subsequently increased as the needs of the College and the financial condition of the Association warrant." Under this condition the offer of the American Missionary Association was declined. In 1888 Mr. Herbert D. Ward was sent as a delegate to the Trustees with a proposal that the American Missionary Association should lease the College for a period of 33 years and run it themselves. It was felt that this would destroy the Reformed Church in North Carolina, that part of the Church would become Con-
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/img//Philomathean Literary Society Hall.
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gregationalist and the rest disintegrate, passing over into other churches; that it would be unfair to those that had done so much for the College; and that by the admission of negroes her mission to the whites would be at an end. This proposition also was declined, and Prof. Ward who had set his heart on helping us returned home disappointed.
The Trustees now saw that if we wanted an endowment for Catawba College, we must depend on ourselves, and began to take subscriptions first from Trustees and members of the Faculty. The subscribers gave their note for the amount they were willing to give, pledging themselves to pay the interest annually, the principal to be paid at death, or during life if preferred. Dr. Clapp secured the larger number of these subscribers. Up to this time the young ladies who were boarding pupils had boarded in town, usually with relatives or members of the Faculty. In order to have them under better supervision, at the suggestion of Major Finger, the Hall was remodeled to be used as a boarding house for girls and Mrs. Katharine Shuford was employed as the first Matron. She was very popular and the house became so crowded that some years later it was again enlarged and at one time there were thirty girls crowded in. The disposition to help ourselves met with reward, and later the Potomac Synod came to our aid with the promise of $17,000 toward the endowment.
On May 18, 1896, Mr. S. M. Finger, a trustee of the college, addressed a letter to Col. H. A. Forney, Secretary of the Board, in which he expressed his regret that a meeting of the Greensboro Normal and Indus-
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trial School Trustees prevented his attendance upon the meeting of the Trustees of Catawba College. In his letter, therefore, he suggested two steps which he considered important for the future of the college. 1. He suggested that the "Matron's Hall" be improved and reserved for the exclusive use of the girls, so as to provide for the increasingly important place the girls would occupy in the future of Catawba College, as "a successful coeducational institution."
His second suggestion was as follows: "2. As the Synod of the Potomac will no doubt ratify the action of their committee in reference to endowment, it will be proper for our Board to put themselves in communication with the Synod at its meeting to be held next October, and take some steps looking to raising the endowment as contemplated in the report of the committee, which was adopted by Classis. This endowment is to be raised by the Trustees and some systematic plan should be devised to do it. I think it well to consider this at the approaching meeting of the Board. Of course we must have a financial age at either in the person of the President of the institution or someone else. Naturally it would seem that the President should be that agent, but not necessarily. This and other duties will of course take all his time. Indeed the Trustees have already said that just as soon as the financial way is open, the best interests of the institution can only be subserved by commanding all the time of the President in teaching, disciplining, and canvassing."
Maj. Finger suggested a field Secretary to raise the money and Rev. J. C. Leonard was elected. He
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/ix3//
//H. A. Forney.
//Abel Shuford.
//Rev. Dr. J. L. Murphy.
//ix3/
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canvassed the Synod very thoroughly and the money he secured aided materially, while he brought the school before the church as had never been done before. The Faculty of the College remained practically the same for some years, Music teacher, Primary teacher and Matron constantly changing. The largest enrollment including the Primary was in 1890 when there were 192.
When Prof. Troup, who was a most excellent teacher, resigned in 1892, C. H. Mebane, a recent graduate, was elected to succeed him as teacher of Greek, German, and History. This position he held until elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Dr. P. M. Trexler was chosen in his place. About this time Rev. J. C. Leonard was added to the Faculty teaching History and English, and later when Prof. Thompson resigned J. B. Leonard taught Latin for a number of years. Crawford Clapp also taught a year or two.
The early curriculum was like those of other colleges of that day: much Latin and Greek, English, various sciences (theoretical, all taught from textbooks with little equipment for laboratory work) and also considerable mathematics. After 1885 a regular "cut and dried" college course was arranged and it was strictly adhered to. Only two courses were arranged; the one leading to the A. B. degree required much Latin and considerable Greek. The B. S. course was exactly the same, with the omission of Greek. Two years of German were required. Sometimes French was substituted for German. When the first class graduated in 1889 they were as good scholars as if they had graduated in any other college. The course was about
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the same and the teachers well qualified. The prices of tuition were graded, the highest in the Literary Department being $4.00 per month.
In May 1900, after an almost continuous connection as student, tutor, Trustee, Financial Agent, Professor and President, beginning in 1851, Rev. Dr. Clapp resigned the presidency. From Mrs. Foil we have received the following personal information, which will help the reader to feel that he has formed the acquaintance of this great man. She said, "Dr. Clapp was a splendid teacher. He could get more out of students than anyone I ever saw. He was a great orator and preacher, and never in my life have I heard anyone who could make a prayer like Dr. Clapp. He had graduated at Amherst, and had gone down to Mississippi to tutor for some planters. The Trustees invited him to come to Newton. It was a promotion for him and he came with his young wife of only seventeen. Amherst was considered a great school. Mr. Smith may have suggested to him that he should go to Amherst. Dr. Clapp's family were large slaveholders. When he came to Newton they had perhaps five or six with them. They hired them out to people for help in their houses or on the farms. They were good negroes and they gave no trouble at all."
Mrs. Foil also related how Dr. Ernest Clapp invited her to come to the First Reformed Church, Charlotte, when he was to preach. It was Mother's Day and he paid a glowing tribute to his mother, saying "All that I am I owe to my mother." Then he said: "As for my father, you all knew my father. You know my father was a man of many activities. The fact is, we
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/img//Residence of the Rev. J. C. Clapp, D. D., President of Catawba College from 1890-1900.
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hardly knew him." So it has often been with the leaders in the work of the Church. They have given themselves to their work so completely that their families were effectually robbed of husband and father. For this great sacrifice they deserve the gratitude of those they served.
The following account of Dr. Clapp's death and burial is reproduced just as it appeared in the Newton newspaper:.
"While his death had been expected for several days, there was no little sorrow when it was known over Newton that her most noted citizen had passed into the great beyond. Dr. Clapp took sick on the second Sunday in June, just after he had filled his appointment in Smyrna Church. He came home Monday and took his bed, which proved to be his death bed. The end came peacefully about 12:30 Saturday morning. His death was due to a complication of kidney and heart trouble. . . .
"There was a short service held at the home by the pastor, Rev. W. W. Rowe, in the presence of the immediate family only, at 11:15 Sunday. About 11:30 the bell at the Reformed Church began to toll the years of her former faithful pastor. The body was taken to the College Chapel, where the services were held. This spacious auditorium was already filled with the doctor's many friends and admirers. Hundreds of these had been under his tuition in the past on these sacred grounds, made more sacred by the presence of the lifeless form of him, who had given so many years to training the youth of this and a former generation.
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"As the body was brought in, the choir of the Reformed church sang '[[Nearer My God to Thee]].' Rev. W. W. Rowe had charge of the service. On the rostrum were twelve ministers, representing five denominations. All the preaching services in the town were called off in the morning hour out of respect for his memory.
"By request of the deceased, Dr. J. L. Murphy of Hickory delivered the funeral sermon from [[Zechariah (Bible)|Zech.]] 14:7—'It shall come to pass that at evening there will be light.' This was one of Dr. Clapp's favorite texts. Dr. Murphy told of the deceased as a great preacher, a great teacher and a strong personality. His tribute was both beautiful and touching.
"The doctor's favorite hymns were used, '[[My Faith Looks up to Thee]],' '[[Abide with Me]],' '[[Lead Kindly Light]].'
"At the conclusion, the body was taken to the front door, and placed midway in the aisle, and the casket opened. Then as the congregation passed out in order everyone could view the face of this 'hero of the cross' for the last time. The pallbearers were ministers and elders of the Classis of North Carolina. The body was taken to Eastview cemetery and placed in the tomb to await the summons on the resurrection morn."
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/ch//Dr. Clapp's Great Coworker—Dr. John A. Foil
THE MATERIAL for this chapter was derived chiefly from an interview granted to Dr. Hoke by Mrs. Foil when she had reached the age of seventy-eight years. Mrs. Foil told how her father, Rev. John Lantz, moved from Rowan County to Newton just before the building of the first college building. At the age of three she walked with her parents to the site of the new college where the masons' strings were stretched, and the piles of brick ready for work of construction to begin on the following day. From that time to this day Mrs. Foil has been more or less closely associated with the life of the College. She said of Dr. Foil:
"He was the only one in his family that cared anything about being educated. He was determined to have an education, and he went to private schools. He was to be seventeen years of age on the twelfth day of December. He knew he would have to go to war. (The Civil War). In January he enlisted. He did not want to go. He had malaria. The war was nearly ended and anyone with sense knew how it was going. He knew it was useless but he went and was in three battles, including the battle of Bentonville, the last battle fought in the East.
"In 1867 Dr. Foil entered Catawba high school, taught by Dr. J. C. Clapp and Major S. M. Finger,
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and completed the course in four years, paying his way by tutoring part of the time. During vacations he either taught or sold books to make the money necessary to complete the well-rounded education that he eventually obtained.
"In the fall of 1871 he entered the junior class at Ursinus College, Pennsylvania, and at the same time studied theology under Dr. Bomberger, graduating from both schools in June, 1878, with the first class that went out from that institution. At commencement he delivered the philosophical address. Two days later he married Miss Susan C. Lantz at Reading, Pa., a daughter of the late Rev. John Lantz, who served in the North Carolina Classis for many years.
"In the summer of 1873 Dr. Foil returned to Newton and became a member of the faculty of Catawba College, teaching at first mental and moral science and Greek. He taught Greek for many years and was recognized as a master in that branch. He then taught natural science and mathematics, and in this last subject he had no superior in the State. Not infrequently knotty problems were sent to him from outside points, for solution.
"And so for 29 years he continued to teach, touching the lives of hundreds upon hundreds of boys and girls, and rendering a class of service that could not have been commanded by the school for anything like the salary paid Dr. Foil, had he not been more in love with his life's work and cared more for being useful to his church and school than he did for money.
"About this time he resigned and became secretary and treasurer of the Union cotton mills at Maiden, in
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/img//Dr. J. A. Foil.
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which he was financially interested, and served in that capacity for eight years. Then in 1910 the board of trustees called him back to the chair of mathematics and science and made him vice-president of the college. He had already been elected president of the board. He continued with the school until his health gave way about a year ago, and he was forced to give up the class room. At commencement last spring he was made professor emeritus.
"Dr. Foil was licensed to preach by the Philadelphia Classis in 1873, and was received by the North Carolina Classis in 1874, was ordained shortly afterward, and with Dr. Clapp served all of the ten congregations in the western part of the Classis. His sermons were always impressive, for he always had a message for his congregations. His discourses were marked by polish and depth of thought. But it was as a teacher that he excelled. He was a ripe scholar, a natural teacher who had the happy faculty of imparting instruction. Mathematics, dry, uninteresting and abhorred by the general run of students, in his hands became easy and interesting.
"Dr. Foil received from Ursinus College the degrees of A. B., B. D., A. M., and Ph. D., the last being bestowed in 1889 'for distinguished scholarship,' and was as unsought as unexpected.
"Dr. Foil is survived by Mrs. Foil and three daughters, Misses Helen, Miriam and Ethel Foil; and a great host of old students, associates in school and church, and friends in all walks of life who echo the 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant' which greeted this good and useful man when he passed from earth
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to that Kingdom whose livery he wore and for the advancement of which he labored throughout his life among us.
"After Dr. Foil went home from the army General James A. Lane, a Confederate General, educated at West Point, started a High School at Concord. Dr. Foil was one of his pupils. I suppose it was General Lane that gave him his love for mathematics. I met Dr. Foil at Newton that same fall. Dr. Clapp introduced him to me. Some weeks later he said: 'Sue, I'll tell you, I have a student in school who has a wonderful genius for languages.' I said: 'Oh, yes, you introduced him to me.' He said: 'Yes, he is a perfect genius for languages.' After General Lane left Concord Dr. Foil went to Newton to school for four years. He made his way by working in vacation, and they gave him tutoring to do. Later he went to Ursinus College and graduated in the first graduating class, with three others—Rev. F. F. Bahner, Rev. H. T. Spangler and a Strassburger, who became a lawyer in Philadelphia. Dr. Foil's most intimate friend at Collegeville was F. F. Bahner. Dr. Super was a celebrated mathematician and teacher at Ursinus when Dr. Foil was there. He wanted Dr. Foil as his successor in Mathematics but he couldn't go. He was too much devoted to Catawba and my mother lived with us, and when he was invited to apply for the position, my mother said: 'Well, I don't want to keep Dr. Foil back from any advancement. You and Susie can go if you want to go, but I'll not go. I'll stay and live out my days at Newton.' Dr. Foil said: That settles it, Grandma, we'll not go.'
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/img//Residence of Dr. J. A. Foil.
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"Dr. Foil was the one who first had the idea of starting the college again from the High School. Dr. Clapp was not very ardent for the change to the College. Dr. Foil was in favor of the classical education all the time, with the full curriculum, regular and loaded down, and opposed to electives.
"There are people who worshipped Dr. Clapp like a god. Some old ladies said they thought Dr. Clapp was next to Jesus Christ. He had a great personality. He could go among people to the very lowest and adapt himself. He would talk to them about crops and babies. Dr. Foil could not do that so well. Dr. Clapp was a very stern man. He favored corporal punishment. During the war he would thrash boys sometimes, but later when we had boys exclusively and even after it was a 'co-ed' school, he would make the boys cut off stumps,—take an axe and work away at a stump until they cut it down to the ground. The Methodist preacher, Mr. Ivey, had his son Eugene and other children in the school. Eugene was insubordinate. Dr. Clapp put him to cutting a stump—a tremendous one. He soon threw down the axe and said he was not strong enough and he couldn't do it. His father backed him up. Dr. Clapp and the faculty had him expelled. Mr. Ivey determined to fight this action. He would not have the disgrace. He looked up the by-laws and found the faculty could suspend but only the Trustees could expel. He took it to old Col. McCorkle. He said: 'Yes, that's so. He's got you.' They had to take him back. He later went to Trinity and studied electricity and invented a number of things. I think he lives at Mooresville now.
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"The salary of Dr. Clapp at the highest was $700. Dr. Foil began at $300 and his highest salary was $600. For this he taught every day and preached on Sunday. Dr. Clapp, however, managed to accumulate something. The faculty usually numbered about ten. For a long time they ran a primary department and then had even more than ten. Teachers usually got about $500. In addition to the salaries Dr. Clapp and Dr. Foil were allowed to send their children through college free of charge.
"When Ursinus College conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity upon Dr. Clapp, he walked over to our house, and Dr. Foil said: 'So you are Doctor now.' He said, 'Yes, I came to tell you, I don't know what to do with it. What will I do with it? Can I send it back? I don't deserve it. I don't claim to be a theologian. Can't I send it back?' Dr. Clapp was older and looked on Dr. Foil as his son. At Dr. Clapp's funeral Dr. Foil was asked to make a few remarks. Dr. Foil said: 'I feel like I was at the funeral of my father.' It was very difficult for him to make remarks. Dr. Clapp was very strict with his own family and never seemed to know his own children. He really seemed to look upon Dr. Foil as a son.
"Both men were very modest. From time to time the Trustees, when looking for a President, would say: 'Dr. Foil, why don't you take it?' He would say: 'I can't stand the responsibility. I have more than I can stand now. I hate discipline and we must have it.' His salary was never more than $600. He subscribed $600 to the college, to pay the interest his lifetime and the principal at his death. We kept boarders and
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/img//Athenean Literary Society Hall.
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I coached and we tried to keep out of debt. At the end of the year he always turned back $36.
"Martin Carpenter at Maiden persuaded Dr. Foil to take some stock in the Union Mills. Later when Dr. Foil's health was failing he persuaded him to come and be Secretary-Treasurer of the Union Cotton Mills. He was in this position seven or eight years. He always remained a Trustee and one of the Executive Committee. He discovered that his trouble was arterial sclerosis. Worry made it worse. The Mills were in bad shape. They had to borrow money to buy cotton. When they urged Cr. Foil to come back into the school he said: 'I expect I must come back for my moral support whether I can teach or not. It seems I must always be between the College and trouble, somehow or other.' I went behind the house and cried when he accepted, for I knew he was not able to teach. He had hardening of tre arteries and a leaking heart and ought not to have had any worry whatever. He came back and stood up a year to it. In the summer he began to fail and get so dizzy that he staggered when he walked. The Potomac Synod met that fall, 1911. Mr. Buchheit's inauguration was at Newton and Synod came down from Hickory for the inauguration. Dr. Spangler Kieffer was at our house and was talking to me about Dr. Foil not being well. I said. 'They appointed him to introduce Mr. Buchheit.' I said, 'He is just not able to do it. He is too nervous.' They all insisted he had to do it. Dr. Kieffer asked me whether his mind was affected at all. I said, 'No, only he thinks more slowly and gets so nervous.' He said, 'Well, just tell him to have it
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short, and he will soon get over it.' I went into the library. He had a tablet as if starting to write something about what he should say. He would lay it down and look so nervous and worried and finally he said: 'Well, I just can't do it. I can't write this thing.' I said, 'Well, you just make some notes, what you want to say, and I'll write it.' He did, and I wrote Dr. Foil's introduction of Mr. Buchheit before the Potomac Synod in the inauguration. I have the outline of it yet somewhere."
From the Reformed Church Standard we reproduce the following:
{{c|{{sc|Funeral of Dr. Foil.}}}}
Beloved Teacher and Preacher laid to rest in Eastview—close of a long and useful life.
The funeral of Dr. J. A. Foil, who passed away Thursday night at 10:30 at his home here, was held Saturday morning at 10:30. Pastor W. W. Rowe of the Reformed church conducted the liturgical service of the church at the home assisted by Dr. J. L. Murphy, and interment was made in Eastview cemetery.
A large number of people attended the service and followed the remains to the grave. "Lead Kindly Light" was rendered very beautifully by Catawba College students and students also acted as pallbearers—Messrs. John S. Carpenter, Noah H. Fravel, Harvey A. Fesperman, Augustus Peeler, Phillip Smith, J. K. McConnell, J. D. Corriher and C. E. Brown. The floral offerings at the cemetery were very numerous and very beautiful.
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Dr. Foil was a native of Cabarrus county, born December 12, 1847, and was therefore almost 65 years of age. He was the third son of Allison and Margaret Foil, and until about 18 years of age spent his life on the farm. His preliminary education was secured in private schools taught by good teachers, two of whom had been students at Catawba College—then a high school. Possessed of a keen desire for knowledge, combined with a natural disposition to be thorough, he made rapid advance and was well prepared when he sought higher education.
At the age of 17 he volunteered as a soldier of the South, and became a member of Company E. Second Regiment, North Carolina Junior Reserves, which went out from Concord, and he served for three months, or until the war ended. During this time he was in Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's army and participated in three battles, the last one being at Bentonville.
From Mr. Whitener's ''[[History of Education in Catawba County]]'' we learn that
"On July 2, 1894, Reverend J. A. Foil, who was chairman of the board of education, resigned from the board to succeed R. A. Yoder as county superintendent. R. A. Yoder had held this office since about 1881. Foil served only one year, for on July 3, 1895, the county commissioners took over the work with little interruption to the schools resulting from the change of boards."
Dr. Foil therefore served for a time as County Superintendent of Schools. Doubtless a more complete account of his life would reveal many other forms of service to his Church and his community. Modest and
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unassuming, he was the type of man who renders a greater service than the world realizes. Surely it will be impossible for this history to make an adequate estimate or give a worthy account of his life and labors. Laboring together, he and Dr. Clapp presided over the affairs of the College during a period which we may now look back upon as a golden age of the past. To Rev. Dr. J. A. Foil, Catawba owes much.
Mrs. Foil, before her marriage, taught for two years at the Allentown Female Seminary (now Cedar Crest College) under Rev. W. R. Hofford, the first President. She began her work in that institution after one class had graduated. She always taught or tutored so long as she was associated with Catawba College. Her sister, Miss Willie A. Lantz, was for many years a teacher and administrative officer in Hood College, and when the new Catawba opened its doors at Salisbury, returned to Catawba to become Registrar and Dean of Women.
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/ch//The Development of the College and the Classis
THE FORTUNES of Catawba College and the Classis of North Carolina have been most closely united through the whole history of the former. In the early years neither of them was the recipient of any large benefactions. In later years both the Classis and the College have fared much better. During the last several years the Board of Home Missions has been very generous in establishing churches and supporting missionaries in North Carolina.
The Forward Movement, inaugurated by the General Synod in 1919, has been a blessing to the Classis and to Catawba College. The College was placed in the general budget for $125,000, and in the Home Mission budget for an additional $200,000. This made a total of $325,000. While the total sum was by no means reached, the college received a generous amount of money, as noted in another chapter.
In 1856 the Classis received a donation of fifty dollars from an unknown friend in New York "for the spread of the Gospel in the South." In 1860 the Classis gave its endorsement to a plan to raise a fund of $60,000 for the endowment of Catawba College. Considerable of the amount was received in bonds, which the Civil War rendered worthless. In 1863 Mr. John Hileman, an elder in the West Rowan Charge, donated
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to Classis the sum of $220.50. In 1864 the Classis decided to increase the amount to $5,000, to be invested for the benefit of indigent widows of deceased ministers of the Classis, and agents were appointed in each charge for the purpose. But the war also rendered this worthy cause of no avail.
The Classis, while unab!e to give large sums in suppoyt of any particular cause, has always done its best to help along places that needed assistance. There are but few congregations in the Classis that have not in some way been her beneficiaries. In the early years assistance was rendered rather in giving help in the support of missionaries, and in later years in aiding to build houses of worship. In 1860 the sum of $200 was appropriated to assist in supporting the pastor of the church at Newton. At the same time provision was made to supplement the salary of the pastor of the Grace Charge (Grace, Bethel, and the mission at Hickory Tavern). When the Classis met at Emanuel Church, Davidson County, in 1871, one of the items coming up for consideration was an appeal in behalf of the Reformed Church at Hickory. The Classis took favorable action, as follows: "Whereas, the prospects of the Reformed congregation at Hickory Station are of unusual promise, and as the effort at that place deserves support, Resolved, That this Classis approves of the effort to erect a house of worship at this place, and will do all it can to encourage the important work; that this enterprise be recommended to the Church and people under the care of Classis as worthy of the bestowment of their means upon it; that the ministers of Classis be not unmindful of this claim and bring it
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/img//History Classroom.
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to the notice of their people; that the appeal of our brethren abroad be endorsed by this Classis as an urgent one and worthy object of liberality."
In 1872 the Classis undertook to establish a "Mission House" for the training of students for the ministry. A committee was appointed to draw up regulations for the conduct of such an institution, and to receive proposals for its location and funds for its support. The enterprise proved impracticable, and was dropped the next year. But the effort shows the anxiety of the people to secure ministers. In 1891 the Synod of the Potomac, in session at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, appointed a committee to confer with the Classis of North Carolina and the Trustees of Catawba College on the subject of establishing a theological department in that institution. This action was in answer to a request from the executive committee of the Trustees that such a department be established. That committee reported to the next Synod in favor of the work, and the Synod pledged the sum of $1,000 annually for five years for the support of a professor of theology. The Synod also agreed to raise an endowment fund of $25,000, and appointed a committee to mature a plan. The several Classes of the Synod had in the meantime assumed the amounts apportioned for the support of the professor. Rev. Wm. C. Schaeffer, Ph. D., was elected to the position and provision was made for his inauguration. The Rev. Dr. Schaeffer, however, declined to accept the position. The Synod in session at York, Pennsylvania, the next year took the following action: "Resolved, That because of the changed condition of affairs in the Classis of North
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Carolina, making the election of a theological professor at this time unnecessary, the election of such professor be indefinitely postponed. Resolved, That the agency for securing an endowment fund be discontinued. Resolved, That the several Classes contributing this fund be requested to turn the same over to the Trustees of Catawba College for the use of the general endowment fund." The theological department was dropped by the Synod. The time given to its consideration was not lost. The attention of the Church in the North was called to the great mission field offered by North Carolina to the Reformed Church. The Classis of North Carolina made far more substantial progress in the years when the great subject of Christian Education for her people was before the Synod than during any previous similar period. Wider publicity was given to the consideration of the work in the Classis of North Carolina.
In 1895, at the Synod in session at Frederick, Maryland, the delegates from the Classis of North Carolina presented an overture from the executive committee of the Trustees of Catawba College asking that Synod's action of last year in regard to the theological professorship be reconsidered and reversed. The Synod did not grant the request, but instead invited the Classis of North Carolina to consider the propriety of placing Catawba College under the care of the Synod of the Potomac. Rev. Dr. J. O. Miller, Rev. Dr. E. R. Eschbach and Gen. John E. Roller were appointed to confer with the Classis and formulate a plan for this purpose. The Classis met in Newton, December 9, 1895, and appointed Rev. J. C. Clapp, D. D., Rev. J. L. Murphy, Rev. J. C. Leonard, Col. M. L. McCorkle and Maj. S. M. Fin-
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/img//Grace Reformed Church, Newton.<br>Attended by Professors and Students.
/img//The Chapel.
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ger as a committee to confer with the Synod's committee. These committees agreed upon a plan which was submitted to both the Classis of North Carolina and the Synod of the Potomac, and the plan was approved by both bodies. By this plan the Classis conceded to the Synod the nomination of the Trustees of the College, and the Synod agreed to provide the College with an additional endowment fund of $17,000, and to pay the interest on the same until the principal was paid. The College remains the property of the Classis of North Carolina, but is under the fostering care of the Synod of the Potomac.
The plan agreed upon by the joint committee and approved by both the Synod of the Potomac and the Classis of North Carolina follows:
To the Reverend Classis of North Carolina: Your committee appointed at a special meeting of the Classis, held in Grace Church, Newton, N. C., December 9, 1895, to confer with a committee of the Synod of the Potomac and to devise plans by which Catawba College may be placed under the care of the Synod, beg leave to make the following report: A joint meeting of the committees was held in the town of Newton, N. C., on February 12, 1896, when the following action was taken:
Responding to the overture of the Potomac Synod recently in session in Frederick, Maryland, and the action of the North Carolina Classis in regard thereto, we the undersigned committees of the said Synod and of the said Classis appointed to consider said overture, beg leave to report that we have agreed upon the following plan, subject to the approval of the said Synod
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and of the said Classis, relative to placing Catawba College under the care of said Synod:
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I. The Classis concedes to the Synod of the Potomac the nomination of the Trustees of the College, who shall make report annually to the said Synod, and agrees to choose in accordance with the charter of the said College passed in 1852 those that may be nominated; and further agrees to make provision as soon as practicable to allow the nominations to be made as aforesaid.
d
II. In consideration of the concession by said Classis as herein expressed, the Synod of the Potomac agrees to furnish one thousand dollars annually to the Trustees of said College until at least seventeen thousand dollars of endowment, additional to that which the College now has, shall be raised by an agent of the Trustees of said College, or otherwise; and that the said sum of seventeen thousand dollars be raised as speedily as possible.
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III. With this addition to the endowment, that fund will still be far short of the needs of the College and its prospective work, and we recommend that the Trustees prosecute the work of endowment until the needs shall be fully met.
{{c|Respectfully submitted,}}
{| {{brace table parameters}}
|J. O. Miller,
|{{brace|r|t}}
|
|-
|E. R. Eschbach,
|{{brace|r|m}}
|For the Synod.
|-
|J. E. Roller,
|{{brace|r|b}}
|
|}
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{| {{brace table parameters}}
|J. L. Murphy,
|{{brace|r|t}}
|
|-
|J. C. Clapp,
|{{brace|r|s}}
|
|-
|J. C. Leonard,
|{{brace|r|m}}
|For the Classis.
|-
|M. L. McCorkle,
|{{brace|r|s}}
|
|-
|S. M. Finger
|{{brace|r|b}}
|
|}
The Trustees of the College subsequently appointed Rev. J. C. Leonard agent to collect the sum of $17,000 within the Synod and also to be the general field secretary. In the meantime an apportionment was laid by Synod upon the several Classes to pay the interest on this sum until the endowment should be raised. The full sum was eventually secured and now forms a part of the general endowment of the college.
In 1903 Mr. George G. Solliday, of Hagerstown, Maryland, who had at heart the interest of the Reformed Church in North Carolina, donated to the Trustees of Catawba College a fund of $15,000 (afterwards increased to $20,000) to establish a theological professorship at such time as the Trustees may deem this step necessary. In the meantime the accrued interest on the fund was to be used in assisting to build mission churches in North Carolina. In 1905 this fund was changed to a "Beneficiary Education Fund." From the interest on this fund a student for the ministry pursuing his course at Catawba College and a Reformed. Theological Seminary is entitled to one hundred dollars annually. Any part of the interest not so used goes into another permanent fund, to be loaned to mission churches in the South at a low rate of interest on easy payments. The full conditions of this fund follow:
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First, The interest of this fund, to the extent that there may be need, shall be used in aiding poor but worthy students who are members of the Reformed Church in obtaining a Classical and. Theological Education for the Christian Ministry of the Reformed Church in the United States. Such classical course shall be taken at Catawba College, and shall embrace the full course of studies as prescribed by said college. The theological course shall be taken at one of the Theological Seminaries of the Reformed Church in the United States, and shall embrace the full regular course as prescribed by such. Theological Seminary.
(A) The beneficiary aid to be given to any one student while pursuing his studies, whether in Catawba College or in the Theological Seminary, shall not exceed $100.00 for any one year. This amount, while such student is at Catawba College, shall be paid directly by the Treasurer of the Trustees of the College to the Treasurer of the College, and applied by him to the yearly expense of such student. While such student is at the Theological Seminary, the money shall be paid to him and applied to the actual necessary expenses involved by pursuing his regular course as required by such Theological Seminary.
The course of such beneficiary student, whether in College or in the Seminary, shall be continuous, subject only to the regular vacation periods.
(B) Before any student or prospective student shall be eligible as a beneficiary of this fund he must be carefully examined by a committee of the Classis within whose bounds Catawba College is located, of which committee the President of Catawba College
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/img//The Office of the President.
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shall be a member, and received under the care of said Classis. This examination shall have particular reference to the candidate's health, moral character, purpose for entering the Christian Ministry, and prospects for good success in such ministry. It shall be the duty of such student to apply himself diligently to his studies, to be a worthy example to his fellow students, and to make annual report to the Classis under whose care he is.
(C) A further requirement on the part of such student is, that he pledge himself to give the first ten years of his Christian Ministry in the service of the Reformed Church in the South, and that he give a bona-fide bond that snould he not faithfully carry out such pledge, his bondsmen shall be liable, and the money advanced to him paid by them to the Treasurer of the Trustees of Catawba College, and applied to the fund hereafter created, to be known as "The Mrs. Rebecca Solliday Church Building Fund."
(D) Such beneficiary student, while at Catawba College, shall be a boarding student, save in the event that the College should not conduct a boarding department.
Second. The interest on this fund, known as "The George G. Solliday Fund," not needed in the support of students after the aforementioned manner, shall be used to create a second fund, the same to be known as "The Mrs. Rebecca Solliday Church Building Fund." From this fund, sums not exceeding $1,000 shall be loaned to mission churches at not more than 2 per cent. In view of this low per cent the church to which the sum shall be loaned shall meet all the neces-
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sary expenses involved in securing the loan. The amount loaned shall be used in the erection of a church, and for no other purpose, as for instance the building of a parsonage. It shall be fully secured, preferably by first mortgage, the lot being unincumbered when the loan is made. The loan shall be made for a period of not more than five years, and at the expiration of such period, shall be paid back in full, and again loaned after the aforementioned manner, and so on indefinitely.
(A) The interest accruing from the 2 per cent rate shall be added to the original fund known as "The Mrs. Rebecca Solliday Church Building Fund."
(B) This fund shall be under the direction of a committee representing the Trustees of Catawba College, and the Classis within whose bounds said College is located.
It is further directed that should unforeseen conditions arise which would make this gift, or any part of it, inactive after the aforementioned stipulations, the Trustees of Catawba College shall have power to direct such fund as may have become inactive, with however the proviso that it be used as nearly as possible after the manner herein stipulated, and always with the view of serving the best interest of the Reformed Church in the United States in the South.
In 1899 a friend in the State of Virginia established the "William Wirt Roller Scholarship" in Catawba College and endowed the same in the sum of $500. The same year Rev. Geo. B. Russell, D. D., LL. D., of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, gave to the college a deed for 880 acres of land in Somerset County of that State.
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This land did not prove to be as valuable as the kind-hearted donor anticipated. It was eventually sold by the Trustees for the sum of $2000.00, during the administration of President Andrew.
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/ch//Struggles During and Following the Civil War
OTHER CHURCHES in the United States were divided on the line of slavery; not so with the Reformed Church. The Classis of North Carolina seceded from the Synod, but for another reason. That which finally led to the withdrawal was the so-called "Mercersburg Theology." The first mention of the subject is given in the proceedings of the annual meeting at Brick Church, in 1852, when doubt was expressed as to the soundness of the theology taught in the Seminary. For some reason not mentioned no delegates were elected that year to represent the Classis in the Synod, which was to meet in Baltimore. When the Classis met at Pilgrim Church in special session, April 18, 1853, a committee was appointed to examine into the teachings of Mercersburg and report in full at the annual meeting of the Classis on the doctrines, with their tendencies and effects. Revs. Messrs. G. W. Welker, Jeremiah Ingold and Elder Jacob Berrier constituted the committee. The regular meeting was held in May at Lincolnton. The report of the committee elicited protracted discussion. The Classis expressed itself as not in sympathy with "Mercersburg Theology," and it was declared that the Classis of North Carolina no longer acknowledged the jurisdiction of the Synod, and that it would continue to be
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independent of said Synod until satisfied that the alleged heresies were no longer held. The Classis became an independent ecclesiastical judicatory. The next Synod sent a letter inviting a return, which invitation, however, was not accepted. The constitution of Synod, with slight modification, was adopted for the government of the Classis. The next year Synod appointed a committee to admonish the Classis, but this, too, was without effect. The next year the officers of Synod addressed to the Classis a conciliatory letter, inviting a return to the jurisdiction of Synod. But Classis was not satisfied that its original cause of complaint had been removed. In 1858 two of the prominent ministers of Synod (Drs. Zacharias and Porter) addressed conciliatory letters to the Classis, intended to bring about reunion. But Classis was still not prepared to go back into the Syned. Two commissioners, however, were appointed to attend the next meeting of Synod, at Frederick, with a view of paving the way to reunion. In 1859 the commissioners reported and laid before the Classis an invitation from Synod to resume its former relation. The Classis was almost equally divided, four voting for, six against, and two not voting. The matter then rested until 1865, when a committee was appointed to report next year on the advisability of resuming the former relationship with Synod by the appointment of delegates to that body. In 1866, in connection with the report of this committee, a letter from Synod was read, signed by the President and Stated Clerk, in which were expressed most hearty feelings of regard, Christian sympathy, brotherly kindness and charity, together with sincere regret
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that adverse circumstances had for a time prevented the Classis from sending delegates to Synod, and the earnest hope that from that time Classis would send delegates to meet and mingle with the brethren in Synod. Classis thereupon resolved to send delegates to the next meeting of Synod, and thus resume its former relations. The chasm was thus finally closed. Sectional differences had nothing to do with it. Slavery was not the cause of withdrawal. Reconciliation would probably have been accomplished sooner had not the war shut off communication.
During the interval of separation efforts at unioa with the Reformed Dutch Church and the North Carolina Synod of the Presbyterian Church claimed the attention of the Classis. In 1855, during its sessions at Bethany in Davidson County, petitions were laid before the Classis from the Newton and Catawba Charges, asking that a union with the Dutch Reformed Church be effected. Two commissioners were appointed to attend the next meeting of the Synod of that Church. The movement did not, however, materialize. In 1857 the North Carolina Synod of the Presbyterian Church overtured Classis to effect a closer union with that body. The subject was referred to a committee for further conference with a similar committee representing the Presbyterian Church. The plan agreed upon was then to be submitted to the congregations of the Classis. The terms offered by the Presbyterian Church were liberal and generous; but such was the affection of a majority of the Reformed in North Carolina for the Church of their fathers, and so strong was their unalterable attachment to the doc-
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trines of the [[Heidelberg Catechism]], that union with the Presbyterian Church was an impossibility. During these many years the Reformed people in North Carolina stood faithful to the standards of their Church.
The Civil War period was in every way a dark one for the churches in the South. When the Classis met at St. Paul's Church, Rowan County, in April, 1862, a cloud of gloom hung over the entire country. There was sadness in the hearts of ministers and elders. The seat of Rev. Samuel J. Fetzer, the beloved pastor of West Rowan Charge, was vacant; he had answered the roll-call in heaven. Rev. P. A. Long wrote the report on religion and morals. In that report is the first reference to the Civil War. "The many calamities which excite our country have greatly affected the Church. Many of our brethren have been called by our rulers to leave their homes and thus made vacant their places in the church." This was early in the war. Next year the story was sadder. Rev. John Lantz in his report on the state of the church, said: "In looking over the reports from the several charges in connection with Classis, we have observed with profound sorrow the desolations of war with its concomitant evils in our beloved Zion. It has brought death and gloom in many a once happy family, made vacant many places in the sanctuary formerly vocal with the praises of God, and borne away from time to eternity many of our most promising and excellent young men. Among them were youths of high literary attainments and mental culture, as well as devoted piety, which fitted them for eminent usefulness
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in the Church and the world and made them the hope of the future prosperity of our Reformed Zion in the South." Thursday, July 16th, of that year was appointed a day of fasting and prayer. The records of 1864 say: "Amid the calamities which have afflicted our country and the sorrows whose bitter waters have rolled their dark waves through all our churches, we have cause of devout gratitude to God for His great mercy vouchsafed to us. Our churches without perhaps a single exception are mourning over the death of members to whom they looked with hope for the future. Our hearts are pained at the remembrance that so many loved ones have been taken from us." July 21st was appointed as a day of fasting and prayer.
The place appointed for the meeting in 1865 was Daniel's Church, Lincoln County, Tuesday before the second Sunday in May. But Classis could not meet at the time and place designated, on account of the presence of hostile armies. Accordingly the President and Stated Clerk issued a call for a meeting at Grace Church, Rowan County, November 3, 1865, to transact all business that would come up at a regular meeting. Although the war was over, its effects were to be felt through many coming years. It left the treasury of Classis literally bankrupt. Col. George Barnhart, the treasurer, reported in hand a Confederate bond for three hundred and nineteen dollars in Confederate currency. The archives of Classis contain the three-hundred-dollar bond, one ten-dollar bill, one five-dollar bill, and two two-dollar bills. All the funds in the treasurer's hands had become worthless through the collapse of the Confederate government. The Classis
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had to begin its financial business anew. The records of that year say: "It is under unusual circumstances that we meet as a Classis. The events of the past four years have been such as greatly to depress our churches and to impoverish them. Many of our most pious and active members have fallen, and our number is greatly reduced. Many of our youths have been swept away by the floods of iniquity from their safe position in the bosom of the Church. . . . Poverty, too, like an armed man, is upon us. All these things cause deep gloom to rest upon our Church. Yet we owe great praise to God that our churches have so much escaped the corrupting influences of the war, and still maintain their existence. As a general thing the churches are rapidly rising from their late depression, are beginning to look hopefully into the future, and are laying plans to preserve their spiritual inheritance to their children. In most cases they hope to do something for the support of their pastors as the business of the country shall be resumed."
That same year the Mission Board of Classis reported itself practically bankrupt, since it had in hand but seventy-nine cents in good money, while five hundred and thirty-two dollars and seventy cents had perished with the Confederacy. The outlook of the mission field was gloomy. There were numerous inviting opportunities, but there were no funds. In 18"Classis found itself twenty-six dollars in debt. The condition of the treasury was but little more favorable in the three following years. In 1870 all bills had been met, and there was a small balance (twenty cents) in the treasury. That year a plan was devised
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to inaugurate an aggressive method to secure largely increased benevolent contributions. The plan proposed by the committee appointed for the purpose, which was reported in 1871, favored the organization of "A Board of Systematic Benevolence." The plan was adopted, and that system had an honorable and successful history of many years.
While those years during and succeeding the war formed a period of darkness for the Reformed Church in North Carolina, yet the pastors and people did not lose heart. At the close of the war Classis addressed a pastoral letter to the churches under her care. "The times," says the letter, "in which it has pleased God to cast our lot are such as seem to heighten the interest of the followers of Christ in each other. The intimate relation we sustain as brethren in the same communion will permit us to undertake this act of watchfulness and care without presumption. . . . In these days when the bonds which unite the Christian household have in so many cases been sundered, we would remind you that these sad events should not cause neglect of family religion, and the great covenant duty of training up the children for Christ in the knowledge of the truth. There is danger of the religious duties of the household falling into disuse when the head of the family has fallen. We urge upon Christian mothers to preserve the character and service of their families as required by the Word of God. In every case where the baptism of children has been deferred, awaiting the father's return, see to it that the child does not grow up without the mark of Christ. Attend strictly to the catechization of the children,
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and thus make your homes Bethels, where your little ones do not only grow in stature, but also in the fear of God and the knowledge of His Word. As we love the Church of Christ and with deep solicitude look into the future, we entreat Christian mothers, in this day of calamity, overwhelmed with care, who are widows, not to neglect to train their 'household treasures' in the way of life, so that the Church in days to come may reap of the fruits of your labors, tears and prayers a rich harvest of increase. Should not the consistory of the Church make it a solemn duty to watch over such families and encourage widowed mothers in their holy and arduous work? Should not the Church assume a parents' place for those, alas so many, who are doubly orphaned? Are they not the children of the Church by baptism, and does not the covenant bind the Church to watch over, love and care for them? We have almost as many orphans in the Church as children whose parents yet live; almost as many widows as wives. Here a sad and pious work is set before you by the Father of the fatherless and the widow's God. Let parents and the Church see to it that the young are well catechized and brought up in the fear of God and the love of the Church and our Zion shall soon flourish. . . . We as a Church occupy a noble position. We have calmly kept ourselves from strife and divisive words or counsel, and there is not a word in all our records to divide us or offend a Christian brother. We may then dwell in peace and unity. Neither, so far as we can see, is there one act or word in the records of our Church North that is marked by bitterness; but our churches
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have been hailed with delight on the return of peace, and all brethren speak to us words of love and kindness. Let us then as a Church maintain the unity of our whole body, and let it be our task to cement the bonds that shall make our country one. . . . A large number of those formerly slaves are now cast upon the country uneducated, without the means of life. Their condition makes an appeal to all Christian men. Some of you formerly sustained the relation of masters. The change in civil relation has not changed the Christian relation. It is now demanded of us all to ask what God requires of us in respect to them. . . . Let all men seek to be faithful in this new relation in which we are placed to the colored race. Let Christian kindness mark our treatment of them. Let all men be patient and forbearing as God is towards us, and let us seek to turn to a blessing what now seems a burden."
Some insight into the effect of the War upon Catawba College may be gained from the following ineidents related by Mrs. Foil:
"During the War period most of the men were out of Newton. The men enlisted one after the other. Finally there were only two men left in the college, one of whom was Michael Hedrick and the other was named Frank. Dr. Clapp was talking to them one day about enlisting. He asked Frank: 'What are you going to do?' 'I don't know. I think I'll go west.' Mr. Hedrick had only a high school education, but on account of the great scarcity of preachers they licensed him. He studied some under Dr. Welker."
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"When Stoneman's Brigade came into town, there was a large quantity of cotton stored in the house there. There were a few men in town, besides the preachers. They said that if the cotton was burned, the town would be burned. They decided to move the cotton, and were moving it when the brigade came in and caught them at it. My father was in the crowd helping to move it. They said: 'What are you doing this for?' very bluntly. My father said: 'We were afraid if you set fire to it you would burn up the whole town.' 'We are not going to bother your old cotton. Stop it!' They did not burn it. Those of their men who had never seen cotton certainly did enjoy it. They strung it out in long rows and the town was strewn with cotton. The jail was burned, but not according to orders. The Colonel was a strong disciplinarian. He put some of his men in jail to keep them out of mischief. They got matches and burned the jail."
"Only girls came in to the school and boarded. They boarded at mother's and other places. After the war Major Finger and Dr. Clapp started an English and Classical High School. Major Finger was a quartermaster during the Civil War. He was educated at Rowdoin. Afterwards he became State Superintendent. After the firing on Fort Sumter, he and Emanuel! Schell left Bowdoin in the spring, just before graduating. They came home. Schell went to the war as a soldier. He died of scurvy. Finger got home all right."
"Miles O. Sherrill, a Catawba County boy, after his amputated limb had healed, came home and entered the high school taught by Jacob Clapp and Eli Warlick during the Civil War and afterward. He married Miss Sarah Bost of Newton. They had four sons and two
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daughters, all of whom became prominent. Mr. Sherrill became Clerk of the Court of Catawba County and held other offices of trust. When chosen as State Librarian, he moved to Raleigh. This position he held till failing health caused his resignation, and he died some years ago in Greensboro, N. C."
"Among other young men who came back from the war we can mention D. Lafayette Rowe, lamed for life in one limb; G. W. Cochran, who lost a leg, and afterward became Register of Needs; Henry Rudisil! lost an arm, came back to Catawba to finish his education, and afterwards held one of the County offices. Sidney Wilfong lost an arm. Six of the sons of John Wilfong were soldiers in the Confederate army. Two of them lost their lives. Sidney Yount also returned to school after losing an arm. He became Sheriff of the County. Numbers of other students returned from the war unhurt, and renewed their studies. After that Major S. M. Finger became associated with Dr. Clapp, and they conducted a Classical High Schooi, without the girls unth 1873, when Major Finger resigned. During this period John A. Foil was a student and tutor."
"During the Civil War an ungraded school was conducted in the College building by Jacob Clapp and Eli Warlick for both sexes, Dr. Clapp teaching the 'higher branches,' and Eli Warlick the elementary subjects. Both these teachers, though exempted from going to war, were enrolled in the Home Guard. To the best of my recollection they were not called out except when a search was to be made for deserters, who generally hid in the mountains and became known as 'bushwhackers.' Their absence from the school, occasion
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ally for a few days, was generally understood by us, but whether they ever really arrested anyone we never knew."
"Eli Warlick had been one of the first pupils. He belonged to that staunch Reformed family in Lincoln County that has stood by Catawba College from the beginning till now. After he went to school as long as he wanted to, he migrated further South, to Georgia I think. He married a lovely girl, a Miss Seagle of Lincoln county, and they had four sons, whose descendants live in Newton. When he returned from Georgia to teach with Dr. Clapp, he had become a zealous Methodist, so zealous in fact, that he seemed to consider the old Reformed way of standing during prayer as sinful. When Dr. Clapp conducted chapel exercises, we always stood in prayer. When Mr. Warlick led the services, he always said: 'Let us kneel in prayer.' None of us liked the innovation, and besides we did not like to soil our dresses, as the floor was none too clean. I was myself, for this reason, and being actuated also by a spirit of mischief, one of those who would sometimes stand bolt upright. He told us that kneeling was the only proper way to approach God. I knew my Bible better than that, and though we were perhaps disrespectful to Mr. Warlick, I could not feel that we were irreverent toward God. Sometimes he would begin his prayer by saying: 'O Lord, we come before. Thee in the humblest attitude of which we have any knowledge, {{SIC|etc." He|etc.' He}} was a very good teacher, though I did not recite to him. I noticed he was severe and impatient with stupidity. He was very severe with his own boys. Mr. Warlick was married a
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second time and had two daughters, who became orphans when both parents died comparatively young. Dr. Clapp was their guardian, and they were educated at the College. Years later, one of them married the Greek professor, W. Troup."
Mr. Whitener, in his thesis before referred to, says: "The people of Catawba County are a conservative people, and in 1861 when South Carolina and other states and even parts of North Carolina, were agitated and excited, this county was calm and cool. However, when Lincoln called on North Carolina for her quota of troops, the young men of the county became very much aroused and when Governor Ellis called for troops they responded at once. About 1500 soldiers from Catawba County served the Confederacy and about 1200 returned./r//Hahn—[[Catawba Soldier of the Civil War]]. (Page 19.)//r/ They were in most of the engagements with Lee around Richmond and they left a number of their brave comrades on the field of Gettysburg. When the war was over they returned home to find their stock gone and a number of homes destroyed by a part of General Sherman's army. However, they set to work with their crude farm implements and for the second time laid the foundations for one of the most prosperous counties in the state."
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/ch//The Administration of President Mebane
IN MAY 1900 [[Author:Charles H. Mebane|Charles H. Mebane]], an alumnus of the college who had also served several years as Professor of Greek, was elected President of the College. He had served a term as State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and came to the presidency very well known throughout the State. He sustained well the character of the institution, and was especially successful in swelling the patronage, which was, perhaps, never larger before or since.
At the time of his death the following account appeared in the [[Charlotte Observer]] of December 15, 1926:
"C. H. Mebane, Editor of the [[Catawba News-Enterprise]], died at his home this afternoon after an illness extending over seven or eight months. Although his death has been expected daily for the last three weeks or more, it was a distinct shock to Newton and the entire county.
"On May 22, 1894, Mr. Mebane was married to Miss Minnie Cochrane, and to this union were born the following children: Charles H. Jr., Mrs. G. W. Mann of Winston-Salem, Mrs. C. W. Rothrock of Oteen, William M. of Charleston, S. C., and Misses Elizabeth and Evelyn Mebane of Newton.
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"The deceased was born in Guilford County, October 24, 1862, son of W. M. and Margaret Mebane. He was educated at Catawba College, and taught school for a number of years after his graduation. In 1896 he was elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and served in this capacity until 1900.
"From 1900 to 1904 he was president of Catawba College, and afterwards served as superintendent of Catawba County schools.
"Early in 1904 he bought the Catawba County News and soon thereafter became the editor of this paper. However, soon after purchasing his paper, he took a course of law at the University of North Carolina, and secured his license to practice in 1906. He was appointed special loan agent by the education department from 1909 to 1913, and afterwards from 1915 to 1917 was judge of Catawba County court.
"Later, from 1918 to 1919 he served as state prohibition director, and for the last thirty years has been one of the directors of North Carolina College for Women, at which place his two youngest daughters were attending school at the time of his death.
"Mr. Mebane has been an energetic and successful editor, always taking a strong and fearless stand on any moral question. His paper has made graduai progress since his connection with it in 1904, and has grown to be one of the largest county papers in the state."
Mr. Mebane was a cultured Christian gentleman, an able educator and statesman. He began the revival of learning in North Carolina, from the dark fortunes which befell public education in the years following the
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/img//President Mebane.
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Civil War. Of him Mr. [[Author:Russell Whitener|Russell Whitener]] says, in his thesis on the History of Education in Catawba County:
"The awakening interest on the part of the people of North Carolina was fostered and sentiment crystallized for a revival in education by State Superintendent C. H. Mebane, a citizen of Catawba County. Mr. Mebane made possible the new era for the schools of North Carolina which began in 1900 under the leadership of that young lawyer from Goldsboro, Charles B. Aycock. Aycock had placed himself at the head of all the progressive forces demanding better schools over the whole state and had waged a successful campaign in behalf of universal education."
He was a man of such strength that the minority party—the Republican—elected him to his office. He had the attractive power to build up the student body, but was none the less faced by grave difficulties. The buildings were overcrowded and the faculty too small. There was no endowment worthy of mention, and the constituency was not a rich one. He was compelled to fill the place of a full professor as well as to attend to the executive side of the work and to try to finance the growing demands of the school. He made repeated calls upon the Board for help, to which no response could he made. It was in the face of this situation that he decided to relinquish his leadership in favor of any man who could enlist mare fully the co-operation and support of the constituency.
A student of Mr. Mebane's writes that "in conversation with Mr. Mebane in his home, he has often said to me, 'It is heartbreaking to see the Church in North Carolina starve her favorite child.'"
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Mr. Mebane made a good President. In spite of the fact that he had to work his way through college, which took a long time, he was a good scholar. He gathered a good faculty. Mr. Wilson, later Librarian at the University of North Carolina, was for one year a teacher under Mr. Mebane. As President he was somewhat handicapped because of some political unpopularity. He was brought up a Republican, but when he was serving as Professor of Greek the Republicans and Populists fused and nominated him as State Superintendent, which resulted in his election. He was raised in Guilford County, where Dr. Welker had exerted a great influence in favor of abolition. Mr. Mebane came under this influence. His wife was a Democrat; accordingly, when the Democrats wanted him to continue as State Superintendent, he came out for reelection subject to the Democratic convention. This infuriated the Republicans and Populists, and his Democratic friends did not succeed in nominating him. In spite, however, of this political handicap he would probably have succeeded in a larger measure as President of the College, had it not been for the difficulties of the situation in which the college was beginning to find itself.
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/ch//The Administration of President Snyder.
SOME OF THE FRIENDS of the college were at tending a meeting of the Potomac Synod at Salisbury. On the return trip they met the Rev. George A. Snyder/rcs//From [[the History of Frederick County, Maryland]], we have secured the following sketch of the life of President Snyder:<br>"The Rev. [[Author:George A. Snyder|George A. Snyder]], the son of John George and Susannah (Kepler) Snyder, was born in Summit County, Ohio, August 10, 1863. His father, John George Snyder, was the son of Michael and Barbara (Weimer) Snyder, and was born in Alsace Lorraine, Germany, then a province of France, Jan. 13, 1827. His parents came to America in 1838, and settled in Stark County, Ohio. Michael and Barbara Snyder had five children: John George, Michael, Eve, Frederick, and Julia. John George Snyder was married to Susannah Kepler. Of their ten children nine reached maturity. The Rev. George A. Snyder was sixth of these. He was married October 5, 1892, to Mary Irene, daughter of Jacob H. and Alice (Koons) Cost, of Washington County, Md. They have had five children, three of whom are living: George Randolph, Charlotte Blanche, and Beatrice Rosaline.<br>"George A. Snyder grew up on his father's farm in Summit County, Ohio. He attended the schools of his district, and//rc/ on the train. He was explaining to some of the delegates from Catawba County an offer he had from Mr. Solliday. This offer later materialized into the Solliday Fund. It was on the strength of this offer that the Rev. Mr. Snyder was selected for the difficult position in the college, where the receipt of such gifts was so essential to its future.
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/rc//worked with his father on the farm until he reached his eighteenth year. In 1881, he entered Heidelberg College, at Tiffin, Ohio, and at the age of twenty-four, was graduated from that institution with the degree of A. B. He immediately entered the Theological Department of Heidelberg College and graduated in the class of 1888. In July of the same year, the Rev. Mr. Snyder was called to the pastorate of Christ Reformed Church at Hagerstown, Md., where he remained for sixteen years. During his long pastorate, the congregation in Hagerstown built a handsome new church, in which they placed a fine pipe organ, and also erected a commodious parsonage. In 1904, the Rev. Mr. Snyder resigned his charge in Hagerstown to accept the presidency of Catawba College at Newton, N. C.<br>"While he was president of the college, all of the buildings were remodelled and enlarged. The lands of the institution were increased and the campus was enlarged and beautified. The receipts from the students enrolled were increased from $4,800 in 1904-05, to $10,100 in 1907-08; the number of students was greatly increased, and the institution became popular. In the summer of 1908 the Rev. Mr. Snyder resigned the presidency of Catawba College. He accepted a call from Christ Reformed Church at Middletown, Md., and began his pastorate September 1, 1908. He attributes whatever success he has attained in life to hard work and close application to the duties of his profession."//rce/Under President Snyder's administration the buildings were greatly enlarged, giving an addition of five class rooms, a spacious auditorium, library accommodations, offices, etc., on the first floor, together with twenty or more well-appointed rooms, toilets, baths, halls, and the like on the sezond and third floors. The cost of the improvements was about $22,000. Of this sum $14,575, was carried over as a debt.
Dr. Snyder had assumed a tremendous task. There was a student body demanding a standard education and he did not have the physical equipment sufficient to meet the demand. He faced the situation with hope and confidence which inspired the students who were
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/img//President George A. Snyder.
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looking to their denominational college to supply them with the best education. His first efforts were to secure a proper faculty with which to instruct this student body, in which he succeeded. They were such men as Professors Garrison, Weaver, Schenk, J. B. Leonard, Slappy, Losh, and others. These men were an inspiration to the youth who came into contact with them.
With the additions and improvements to the buildings, the equipment was adequate for effective work that was standard in that day. Dr. Snyder raised funds sufficient to start the buildings, largely among his friends. The windows in the old chapel bore testimony to the friendships he had made for Catawba. Unfortunately, in order to complete the buildings it was necessary to borrow money, and debt was a burden which the college was not in a position to carry.
Dr. Snyder also gave his attention successfully to the scholastic work of the institution. One of his students says: "Catwaba was the equal of any denominational college in the State in that day." The need was for additional endowment in order to maintain the work. Dr. Snyder entered into the work of securing such endowment. He did succeed in securing the Solliday Fund, some lands in Pennsylvania, and other gifts. Hopes ran high. The student body was increased. But underlying all else was a burdensome debt and the inability of the College to secure the necessary funds for the endowment and for current expenses.
Dr and Mrs. Snyder were very popular with friends in Newton and with the student body.
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It had been the custom for students to room at the college and to get their meals in "mess clubs" outside. One boy usually got his board free for managing the club. At one time such a club was run in "the professor's house." Dr. Snyder preferred to conduct the college on the regular boarding plan.
President Snyder suffered, in common with other Presidents of the College, under the handicap of being required to take a full schedule of teaching in order to help out the faculty, which was always too small. This made it impossible for him to have the time needed for any successful effort to raise the large funds demanded by the needs of the institution. Dr. Snyder resigned in May, 1908. He accepted a pastorate in Middletown, Md., from which after some years he went to a pastorate in a mission congregation in Akron, Ohio.
Dr. Charles E. Wehler,/rcs//Charles Emanuel Wehler was born near New Oxford, Pa., Oct. 18, 1864, the son of Levi and Catherine (Mummert) Wehler. He attended Millersville (Pa.) State Normal School, 1881-82; Palatinate College, Myerstown, Pa., 1882-83. He took the A. B. degree in Ursinus College in 1887 and the A. M. in 1890. He attended the University of Tennessee during the summer of 1910. Catawba College conferred upon him the D. D. degree in 1906. On Dec. 18, 1889 he married Bertha Hendricks of Collegeville, Pa. He was ordained to the ministry of the Reformed Church in the United States in 1889. He was pastor of the Reformed Congregation in Newton, N. C., 1904-09. He was organizer and superintendent of the graded schools of Newton 1905-06. He was a teacher of History and Political Science in Catawba College 1905-06, Financial Agent 1907-08, and Chairman of the Faculty 1908-09. He was pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Ingleside, Ga., 1909-10. He became Professor of History and Bible and Vice-President//rc/ Pastor of Grace Church, at Newton, N. C., was elected Chairman of the Faculty,
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/img//Dean Charles E. Wehler.
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/rc//in Hood College, 1911. After twelve years in this position he accepted a call to the pastorate of Faith Reformed Church, Baltimore. In 1925 he was elected a Trustee of Catawba College.//rce/and Prof. W. R. Weaver/r//William R. Weaver, a native of Pennsylvania, received his early education in the public schools of Hamburg, and graduated with high honors from Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa., in 1902, with the degree of A. B., and the year later received the degree of A. M. from his Alma Mater.<br>From September 1, 1902, under the presidency of the late Hon. C. H. Mebane, until November 1, 1912, he occupied the position of Professor of Greek and German in Catawba College. During two of these scholastic years, viz., 1908-09, and 1909-10 it became his onerous task as Dean of the College to serve also as acting president during the period when that office was vacant.<br>Following his resignation in 1912, he became an instructor in English in the Pierce School of Business in Philadelphia, one of the oldest and largest schools of this kind in the country. In March, 1916, he resigned this position to accept a business position in his old home, Hamburg, Pa. On March 1, 1919, he again heard the call of the South when he located at Hickory, N. C., where he has since held the position of Assistant-Cashier and Trust Officer in the Consolidated Trust Company, one of the substantial, growing financial institutions of Piedmont, Carolina.//r/ was chosen Dean. These two men served as administrative officers for the time being. Dr. Wehler had been approached, but was unwilling to atcept the presidency. He had tried to raise some funds but did not meet with a satisfactory measure of success, and grew discouraged. After six months he resigned and the work was carried on by Professor Weaver, assisted by a competent faculty, for the remainder of the two years.
The following statement by Loomis F. Klutz, Esq., Representative from Catawba County, shows the esteem in which Dr. Snyder was held by his friends, and at the same time points out some of the definite for-
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ward steps which the College took under his administration:
"Rev. Dr. George Albert Snyder, President of Catawba College, from 1904 to 1908, did more to increase the standing of the institution than any other president during a similar period of time. He enlarged the main building, including a beautiful chapel filled with memorial windows, making the main building three times as large as it was before. He increased the number of the student body and the standing of the college improved because of the better course of instruction and the abler members of the faculty. He obtained large sums of money for the college in the North, and received large tracts of land in other states for the institution. He probably received more money for the school both North and South than the institution had received throughout its history. Dr. Snyder stood well with the people of Newton and Catawba County, the people of the North Carolina Classis and throughout the Reformed Church in the United States. He was by far the ablest member of the Reformed Church in North Carolina during the period of 1904 to 1908. He was by far the best all-round president the college has ever had up to the present time."
In a letter Dr. Wehler says of his connection with the College as "Chairman of the Faculty" in 1908-09: "I have always felt that my taking the chairmanship of the faculty was the direct cause of bringing Dr. Clapp and Dr. Foil back to the College. Both of these veteran teachers and strong men had been for a time out of the active service of the College. I took the position only on condition that Dr. Clapp would join me,
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/img//Dean Weaver.
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and he did." Dr. Wehler's health was not good, and he was breaking down under the double load of work in the Church and in the College. He therefore resigned for a period of rest and recuperation, leaving Dean Weaver in charge.
The following statement by Mr. Weaver will be of interest as showing the spirit of those who did pioneer work in maintaining the life and the ideals of our educational work at old Catawba: "During this ten-year period it was my good fortune to be intimately associated with capable co-workers, laboring under conditions in many ways most primitive, and handicapped by lack of proper equipment and facilities, yet zealously leading and inspiring those under their care. It is hardly fair to think of the teachers and the leaders of the past as lacking in the wisdom necessary so to organize and direct the educational work of their day as to place the institution on a par with others of a similar nature in the State. There never was a constituency sufficiently large or wealthy to justify such a hope for Catawba College in the past. Nor was there the general material prosperity now so common and so widely distributed that would have made it possible. It is only within very recent years that the people of the Reformed Church, particularly in the South, have become able as well as willing to do large and worthwhile things for the College. This statement is made not to minimize any shortcomings in the work or management of the College at any time in its long and honorable history but as an explanation in part at least of its comparatively minor position as an institution of higher learning in the State. While it has
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always been conducted on a smaller scale and with fewer students, the collegiate work has been thorough and scholarly, as those who have taken it have repeatedly proved in advanced work in other institutions, and will themselves bear witness.
"With the enlarged equipment, facilities and faculty of the new Catawba, and the united interest and support of a larger and wealthier constituency, already there are being realized many of the dreams of those who labored and sacrificed in days gone by, that the lamp of learning might not be dimmed, but shine with ever increasing brightness to dispel ignorance and enrich and ennoble life."
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/ch//The Administration of President Buchheit. 1910-1918.
AFTER AN INTERREGNUM of two years, during which time Dean W. R. Weaver was acting President, on April 1, 1910, John Frederick Buchheit,/rcs//He was born on his father's farm in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, June 28, 1874 of German parentage, his grandparents all having migrated to this country in the early thirties. Until he reached his legal majority he lived and toiled on this farm situated in the foothills of the Alleghenies. He was one of a family of nine children all of whom at an early age learned how to make their contribution to the material welfare of the family. The habits of industry and frugality formed at this time became a vital part of his entire future life.<br>His early education was obtained in the rural schools of his native county. The term at first was only five months a year, but was later extended to six. The distance to go, the severe winters with their deep snows, and a frequently swollen stream which had to be crossed on a foot-log made it impossible to attend regularly during his younger years. Later on his services were required on the farm in the early fall and the late spring so that his school terms were again curtailed. Nevertheless the rudiments of an education were received in these ungraded country schools.<br>At the age of seventeen, his pastor, the Rev. J. F. Wiant, prevailed upon his parents to send him to the Palatinate Collegiate Institute at Myerstown, Pa., an institution of the Reformed//rc/ Franklin and Marshall College, A. B., A. M., was elected president. He assumed his duties at Catawba Colleze immediately after the conclusion of the academic year at his former institution and at once
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/rc//Church, for the spring term of 1892. He took as much work as he could carry in the Normal course for twelve weeks, returned to his home, passed the County Superintendent's examination, and, having now become eighteen, the required age, began teaching a rural school of sixty-one pupils. For three successive winters he taught with success in the rural schools of the township in which he lived. During two spring terms he further strengthened his education by attending a State Normal School, and continued to assist on his father's farm during the summer months.<br>During the summer of 1895, having now become of age, he went into the book business to earn money a little more rapidly than teaching school at {{SIC|$30,00|$30.00}} or $35.00 a month provided it, in order that he might hasten the time for his admission to college. At the end of sixty days his publishing house promoted him to the position of Field Manager in western Pennsylvania. For a year he employed and trained college students to sell books, entering the field again himself when the colleges had closed. The self-reliance gained in this work was of great value during the college days that were to follow.<br>Having done some private work in Latin and Greek under the tutelage of his pastor, the Rev. J. P. Bachman, during the summer of 1897, he entered the Mercersburg Academy in September of that year, did two years' work in one, and was graduated fourth in his class the following June. While here he developed a great deal of skill in public speaking and had the honor of winning the Washington's Birthday Prize Debate, the greatest forensic event of the year at that institution.<br>In September, 1898 he entered the Freshman Class of Franklin and Marshall College from which he was graduated with honors four years later, being one of five to be elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Society. Among other prizes won during the course, he won the Senior Prize Debate and delivered the Salutatory Oration on Commencement Day. History, political and social science, philosophy, and pedagogy were his favorite subjects. While education, the law, and the ministry all made strong appeals to him, during his senior year he decided to enter the Theological Seminary across the avenue when the fall term opened.<br>In 1903, when he had completed his first year in the Seminary, he was drafted into the educational work of the church as a teacher in the Franklin and Marshall Academy. For two years he taught in this school with marked success, taking his second year in the Seminary in addition during his second year at the Academy. In June, 1905 he was challenged by the Board of Trustees of Franklin and Marshall College to assist in the//rc/
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/img//President Buccheit.
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/rc//work of raising an endowment fund of $150,000. He reluctantly accepted, feeling sure that it would mean the relinquishment of a ministerial career. For three years he served as Financial Secretary of the college, pleading the cause of Christian education in a large number of congregations in the Pittsburgh, Eastern, and Potomac Synods of the Reformed Church.<br>In 1908 he became the Principal of the New Bloomfield Academy, New Bloomfield, Pa., a college preparatory school and a training school for teachers. It was while engaged in this work that he received a unanimous call from the Board of Trustees of Catawba, then located at Newton, N. C., to the presidency of this institution.//rce/began vigorously the work of rehabilitation. Due to financial and other difficulties and the prolonged illness of Prof. Weaver, the work of the institution had become more or less disorganized.
With the exception of Prof. Weaver, whose services had been invaluable to the institution, an entirely new faculty had to be selected. After a strenuous speaking campaign throughout the North Carolina Classis by President Buchheit and others in the annual educational and missionary campaign, his time was given to this important work and to the solicitation for students. A total student body of 96 was gathered together for the first year of this administration.
The new faculty consisted of the following: John F. Buchheit, A. M., History, Political and Social Science; J. A. Foil; Ph. D., Mathematics and Philosophy; W. R. Weaver, A. M., Greek, German, and Mathematics; G. H. Smith, A. B., B. D., English and Bible; L. A. Springs, A. M., Natural Science; Alice H. Cook, A. B., French and Latin; Rosa E. Volrath, Pianoforte and Voice; Miriam H. Foil, B. S., Shorthand, Typewriting, and Bookkeeping. The general feeling was
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that in spite of the limitations imposed through insufficient funds to pay adequate salaries, an unusually strong faculty had been secured. The entire curriculum of the institution, both collegiate and preparatory, was also revised and strengthened and the entire work of the college put upon a higher plane.
The new administration was at once confronted with difficulties: The endowment of the institution was only about $20,000, so that the interest on the debt almost consumed the income from endowments. The charges for tuition were very low, quite insufficient to meet the operating expenses. President Buchheit, in addition to teaching a full schedule in the classroom, spent a great deal of time each year in the Pittsburg, Eastern, and Potomac Synods soliciting funds for current expenses and for necessary improvements and equipment. Excellent laboratories for all the work in science were installed, since there had been almost no equipment for work in these departments. The classrooms and dormitories were largely re-furnished. Electric lights were installed. Shower baths with cement floors were put in, and the buildings were connected with the city sewer system. New blackboards were supplied throughout, and maps, historical charts, etc., purchased. Through the efforts of students and teachers, four hundred dollars worth of cement walks were built. A new carpet and $250 worth of new scenery were purchased for the stage, and the main building generally was renovated.
During the first year of this administration a handsome Book of Views of the college and its environs was issued and circulated. The catalogue was entirely
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/img//The Matron's Hall.
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re-written and enlarged and made to represent much more adequately the work done in the several departments. These two publications did much to create a more favorable impression of the college at home and abroad. The literary societies were stimulated to renewed activity and numerous contests were held. The Y. M. C. A and Y. W. C. A flourished. Athletics were purified and regulated, professionalism being strictly ruled out. Educational qualifications were established for membership on the several teams and strictly adhered to, and as a result Catawba College acquired an enviable reputation for clean sports. Supported by the people of the town and community, the college maintained an excellent Lyceum Course which brought to Newton annually some of the most renowned musicians, lecturers, humorists, and Shakespearean readers of the world.
During the second and third years the size of the faculty was increased to thirteen members. The curriculum became recognized for its breadth and the instruction for its thoroughness. During the second year the college suffered a great loss through the withdrawal of the honored Dr. J. A. Foil on account of ill health, his death occurring the following year. By his fine Christian spirit and his devotion to duty through more than a score of years of faithful service, he had endeared himself to the entire constituency of the institution. In the fall of 1912 another serious loss occurred through the resignation of Prof. Weaver who had rendered more than nine years of able and self-sacrificing service to the college. He was succeeded by Dr. Ernst Derendinger, recently from Switzerland
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and Germany, who set a high-water mark for the work in the German department.
At the meeting of the Board in connection with the Commencement exercises in 1918, President Buchheit tendered his resignation. He was succeeded by Rev. J. D. Andrew.
In summing up the administration of President Euchheit one should say, first of all, that he was a good schooiman. He had been recommended from the North as running a successful school at New Bloomfield. When he was invited to Newton, he made an excellent impression. A Committee accordingly recommended his election. He was well-versed in methods of organizing and conducting school work, and one observer says that under his management "the college was more nearly what a college ought to be than it had ever been." He selected an excellent faculty and insisted upon high standards. Students who did not make good grades were not to be passed. Without doubt he would have been able to develop the work of the college in a very strong way, had it not been for the financial difficulties. He was strong, vigorous, and fearless. He set up a type of discipline and educational efficiency for which the Church owes him thanks.
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/img//The Library.
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/ch//Catawba College in Relation to Claremont College.
SO CLOSELY has the history of Catawba College S. been related to that of Claremont College, located at Hickory ten miles from Newton, that it is impossible for any one to understand clearly the history of the former without a knowledge of the history of the latter. In a number of instances the same persons have at one time or another been connected with both institutions. The two colleges were alike the outgrowth of the educational interest and efforts of the Reformed Church in North Carolina. Their existence eventually determined the policy of the church in regard to the maintenance of separate colleges for boys and girls. The question became this: Shall the Reformed Church in North Carolina maintain one college for boys and another for girls, or shall the church maintain one co-educational college?
The author of this history takes pleasure in making available for readers the interesting story of Claremont College as related several years ago by his firm friend, the late Rev. [[Author:Joseph L. Murphy|Joseph L. Murphy]], D. D., in a pamphlet under the title: "[[A Historical Sketch of Claremont College]]." Dr. Murphy was a true friend of Catawba College, and he was as sincerely devoted to the interests of Claremont College. He was at one time a professor in Catawba College. For many years
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he was a trustee of this institution and through a long period he was president of the Board and chairman of the Executive Committee. He was also a trustee of Claremont College. After he became pastor of Corinth Reformed Church of Hickory he was prevailed upon to become President of Claremont College. His work in this capacity was truly great. Dr. Murphy's modesty would not allow him to tell in full the accomplishments of Claremont College during his administration. But there are hundreds of women all over the land who testify to the greatness of this man as an educator.
It was the sincere desire of Dr. Murphy to see Catawba College made our college for boys and Claremont College our institution for girls. And it was a very great disappointment to him when the Classis of North Carolina finally surrendered control of Claremont College. Dr. Murphy did not live to see our "Greater Catawba College," having been suddenly called to his heavenly reward in 1917. But Catawba College never had a truer friend and more ardent supporter than that great churchman and educator.
The following pages of this chapter are taken rather fully and freely from Dr. Murphy's pamphlet, "A Historical Sketch of Claremont College."
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The action of the Classis of North Carolina taken at Newton, May 24, 1915, suspending the work of Claremont College, forms an epoch in the history of the educational work of the Reformed church in the state, and closes an institution which has been the pride of the community and the glory of the city of Hickory. During the thirty-five years while this school was open, it educated hundreds of young ladies and had on its teaching force some of the greatest educators of the country. It is thought proper
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that some record of this school should be placed in permanent form, and I have set myself to the task of recording the facts as I may be able to gather them, although the material at hand is very scant.
Claremont Female College had its origin in a meeting of the consistory of Corinth Reformed church of Hickory, North Carolina, held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Wilfong on April 24, 1880. The records state that the meeting was held at the request of "Sister Wilfong." The object of the meeting was to consider establishing a school for the education of the girls of the community and especially of the girls of the Reformed church. At that time there was no girl's school in Hickory; Messrs. Blair and Ivey conducted a mixed school, and the Reformed church in North Carolina had no school for girls.
There were present at this meeting the Rev. Jeremiah Ingold, pastor of Corinth congregation, W. P. Reinhardt, and J. F. Murrill, elders in this congregation, and A. A. Shuford, A. GC. Link, F. D. Ingold, deacons in the same congregation. Mrs. Wilfong stated that she had voluntarily gone to see Mr. and Mrs. Henry W. Robinson and had asked them to donate a part of the old Hickory Tavern lot for a site for a new church building; that they had granted her request, and had promised to give forty feet in width across the lot. On motion of A. A. Shuford, seconded by A. C. Link, the donation of Mr. and Mrs. Robinson was accepted, and it was decided that a new church should be built and the old church be converted into a school for girls. While many plans for inaugurating this new project were offered, the plan suggested by J. F. Murrill seems to have been the one which met the approval of all present. Mr. Murrill's plan was to employ a competent lady teacher who for the present would co-operate with Messrs. Blair and Ivey, who were conducting a school on the first floor of the Reformed church. The plan, though approved and adopted at this meeting, seems never to have been executed.
About this time the Rev. Samuel R. Fisher, D. D., of Philadelphia, editor of the Reformed Church Messenger, visited the Rev. Dr. J. A. Foil of Newton and also made a visit to Dr. Jeremiah Ingold of Hickory. The plans for the new school were laid before Dr. Fisher, who on his return wrote some articles in the Reformed Church Messenger, setting forth the wonderful opening there was in this part of the country for such a school. These articles attracted the attention of Rev. A. S. Vaughan, who had been president of Catawba College, at Newton, at the beginning of the war between the states. Mr. Vaughan at once
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corresponded with Dr. Ingold concerning the school project. On the 10th day of July, 1880, a special meeting of the consistory of Corinth church was called by Dr. Ingold "to consider a proposition from Rev. A. S. Vaughan to return to North Carolina and build up a female school of high grade in or near Hickory." This meeting was he'd in the home of A. L. Shuford, a deacon in the Corinth congregation. This proposition received favorable consideration by all present, and the pastor, Rev. Dr. Ingold, was instructed to write Mr. Vaughan to ascertain more fully his plans, and, when he had received such information, to call the consistory together. At another meeting of the ccnsistory held in July it was decided that Dr. Ingold should write Mr. Vaughan and request him to visit Hickory so that the consistory might ascertain by a personal interview the chances of success. This meeting was held in the office of F. D. Ingold, a deacon of the congregation. In response to this invitation, Mr. Vaughan came to Hickory and appeared before the consistory of Corinth church at a meeting held on August 5, 1880. This must have been a meeting of much interest and earnest discussion.
That there might be no delay in the work, and to provide some support for Mr. Vaughan, Dr. Ingold and Rev. J. H. Shuford, pastors of the Hickory and Grace charges, respectively, voluntarily resigned their charges in favor of Mr. Vaughan, who was to become pastor of Hickory, Bethel, Grace and Daniel's congregations and serve these churches in connection with his work in establishing the new school. The action of the Rev. Messrs. Ingold and Shuford is the more magnanimous when it is remembered that Rev. Mr. Vaughan, although educated and ordained a minister of the Reformed church, was at this time a minister in the Presbyterian church. It was agreed and understood, however, that Mr. Vaughan should unite with the Reformed church when he came to Hickory, and that he was to be installed pastor of the above mentioned churches. This he never did. He held his membership in the Presbyterian church while serving the Reformed churches, and died a minister in the Presbyterian church.
It will be observed that all these meetings preliminary to establishing the new school were with the consistory of Corinth Reformed church of Hickory. The idea of the school was conceived in this congregation; the initiatory steps were taken by the consistory of this congregation; and the expenses so far had been borne by this congregation. When Mr. Vaughan appeared in August, before the consistory of Corinth church he was full of enthusiasm and zeal, perhaps visionary in its scope. He
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had great plans. He had a vision of a school, the greatest in the Sth: it was to be the Wellesley of the South. He seemed to be equally confident that he could secure sufficient money from the North to finance his scheme. He dreamed of great philanthropic souls in the north on charity bent.
The one thing which stood in the way of the great school which he proposed was the character of the institution to be established. It must be of a broader type than a denominational school. It must be independent of any denomination, but include all the denominations represented in this community. He writes: "What is called sectarianism, an evil connected with modern forms of Christian activity, is to be forever excluded. Christ, and his precious Word form the central principles of all nurture and instruction. Christ in the heart is the key that unlocks all the glories of the universe." A beautiful sentiment indeed if it could have been realized. He had high ideals. It was never to be in any sense a fashionable boarding school. He says: "A woman trained with no higher idea of her important mission in life then to spend money on dress, to wiggle in the ball room, and to make a show in society, is indeed a pitiable example of human folly." Such high ideals appealed strongly to the catholic spirit of our Reformed people, but they were of conservative German type of citizenship and hesitated just a little. It is said that H. W. Robinson especially objected to the complete change in the original plan. On July 27, 1880, Mr. Robinson had made a deed for twenty-two acres of land. The stipulation in this deed was one dollar in hand paid, and the free tuition of the four daughters of John W. Robinson and his two sons while under ten years of age. Yielding somewhat to Mr. Vaughan's plans, the men who organized this movement solicited the entire community, and the town became interested.
This school was organized under a charter granted by the State of North Carolina, August 25, 1880. The committee on organization was composed of seven persons, viz: J. F. Murri!l, chairman, J. G. Hall, A. A. Shuford, A. L. Shuford, R. B. Davis, and two other members whose names are not recorded.
The following is the charter:
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{{uc|Claremont College,}}
North Carolina, Catawba County.
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We, J. F. Murrill, J. G. Hall, A. M. Peeler, R. B. Davis, A. A. Shuford, A. L. Shuford, A. S. Abernethy, W. P. Reinhardt, J. W. Robinson, M. L. McCorkle, S. T. Wilfong, R. W. McComb, Rev. J. Ingold, Dr. J. T. Johnson and A. C. Link, all of the county of Catawba, and the state of North Carolina, being desirous of orm-
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ing ourselves into a private corporation, for the purpose of promoting female education and establishing a female college in the town of Hickory, in the county and the state aforesaid, of high grade by the name of Claremont Female College, and by that name shall have a perpetual succession and common seal and shall be able and capable to sue and be sued in law and equity and to plead and be impleaded and shall take, demand and receive and possess all goods and chattels, lands end tenements which may be given to said corporation, or said trustees and their successors for the use and benefit of said corporation, and shall take and receive all donations made and appropriate them according to the wishes of the donors and to the purpose hereinafter declared, and by purchase or otherwise shall take, hold and possess to themselves and their successors in office forever any lands and tenements which may be sufficient for said college and college purposes and may purchase and hold for the purpose of said institution said personal property as they may deem necessary, provided the said real and personal property shall not exceed in value at any one time the Sum of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000).
I. That said trustees of said corporation and their successors in office shall have power to elect such president, professors and tutors for said college as they may see fit and proper and have power to remove the same for misbehavior, inability or neglect of duty or any other sufficient cause as to them may seem expedient.
II. That upon the death or resignation or removal of any member of the Board out of the State of North Carolina, his place shall be filled by the congregation or church to which he belongs or is a member, provided, that in case of the failure of any church or congregation to appoint a trustee after reasonable notice of such vacancy, the Board of Trustees may elect, provided always that three-fifths of said trustees shall be members of the Reformed church, formerly known as the German Reformed church, and provided further that said trustees shall have power to remove any one of their number for misconduct, neglect of duty, inability or other sufficient cause.
III. That said trustees shall have power of conferring such degrees and marks of Classical and literary distinction as is usual in colleges and universities.
IV. That said trustees may admit into said College, as pupils, boys under the age of ten years, in the Primary Department.
V. That said trustees, or a majority, may make such By-Laws, Rules and Regulations for the government of said college as they
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may deem best for the same, not inconsistent with the constitution and laws of North Carolina and those of the United States.
VI. That whenever either of said trustees shall remove from the State of North Carolina or cease to be a member of the church or denomination to which he belongs at the time of appointment or election or to be a member of the church from which he may have been selected by his respective congregation his place shall be vacated and filled as is heretofore provided in case of death or resignation.
VII. The officers of this corporation shall be a president, secrctary, and treasurer to be elected by the board of trustees.
VIII. That the said trustees shall make such rules and regulations as to the duties and the manner of electing their officers as they may see fit.
IX. The individual corporators shall not be individually liable for the debts of said corporation.
X. No person of color shall be admitted a pupil in said institution.
{| style="margin: auto; font-variant: small-caps;"
| J. F. Murrill,
| J. G. Hall,
|-
|A. M. Peeler,
|R. B. Davis,
|-
|A. A. Shuford,
|A. S. Abernethy,
|-
|A. L. Shuford,
|W. P. Reinhardt,
|-
|John W. Robinson,
|M. L. McCorkle,
|-
|J. Ingold,
|R. W. McComb,
|-
|A. C. Link,
|J. T. Johnson,
|-
|
|S. T. Wilfong.
|}
E. L. Shuford, Attest.
North Carolina,
Catawba County.
The execution of the foregoing paper writing by the parties signing the same wag this the 28th day of July A. D. 1880, duly proved before me by the oath and examination of Ed. L. Shuford submitting witness thereto. Therefore let said agreement and certificate be Registered.
/ri/2/{{sc|M. O. Sherrill}},<br>Judge of Probate.//ri/
Filed and Registered July 28, at 4 p. m., 1880, in Book on Pages 59 and 60, G. W. Cochran, Register of Deeds.
The charter provides that the school should be known as "Claremont Female College;" that there should be fifteen trustees; that three-fifths of these should be members of the Reformed church, commonly known as the German Reformed church—all of them might be—but three-fifths must be; that its management and control should be undenominational. Another interesting pro-
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vision in the charter was that no person of color should be admitted as a pupil in the institution. Evidently the promoters were somewhat suspicious of the Northern influence brought to bear in establishing the school. Another equally interesting provision showing the mind of the founders on co-education is the provision that no boy over ten years old should be admitted. The charter provides a board of Trustees of fifteen members whose names appear above.
While the charter specifically provides that nine out of the fifteen trustees must be members of the Reformed church and mentions no other church, provision, however, is made for electing successors to the above members, and in this way recognition is given to other churches. It provides "That upon the resignation, or removal of any member of the board out of the state of North Carolina his place shall be filled by the congregation or church, to which he belongs or is a member." Again it is provided, "That whenever either of said trustees, shall remove from the state of North Carolina, or cease to be a member of the church or denomination to which he belonged at the time of his appointment, or selection, or to be a member of the church or denomination to which he belonged at the time of his appointment, or selection, or to be a member of the church from which he may have been selected by his respective congregation, his place shall be vacated and filled as heretofore provided in case of death or removal."
In view of this statement it might be of value to record the denominational relation of each of the above named trustees. J. F. Murrill, A. A. Shuford, A. L. Shuford, W. P. Reinhardt, J. Ingold, S. T. Wilfong, John W. Robinson, M. L. McCorkle and A. C. Link, were members of the Reformed church; J. G. Hall, Presbyterian; A. M. Peeler, Lutheran; R. B. Davis, Episcopalian; A. S. Abernethy, Methodist; R. W. McComb, Presbyterian; and J. T. Johnson, Methodist.
The school was formally opened in the fall of 1880 in the Reformed church of Hickory. This building was a two-story structure and the first floor was divided into three rooms in which the teaching was done. The music was taught at the home of J. F. Murrill. (The Reformed church at that time stood on 9th Avenue and adjoined the old cemetery on the west side.) At the opening the faculty was composed of Rev. A. S. Vaughan, Miss Edwina Shearn, and Miss More. The school was—started on the high plane outlined at the beginning by Mr. Vaughan. There were to be three distinct departments of instruction. First was the primary and included five years; the second was the pre-
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paratory and included four years; the third was the college course and included four years. In the college there were six courses of study. These courses included Hebrew, Sanscrit, Greek, Latin, Saxon, French, Spanish, Italian, Vocal and Instrumental Music, Drawing, or Painting. Wellesley was the model after which Claremont was patterned, and the course of study was fashioned after the Wellesley curriculum. No teachers were to be employed except graduates from Wellesley and Smith, or from schools their equal in scholastic standing. Not only were the courses of study well arranged, but the buildings were admirably planned. The present commodious building was intended to be only the south wing of the projected building, which was to include chapel, library, class rooms, laboratory, parlor, reception rooms, rooms for cabinet, drawing, painting, and music both vocal and instrumental. There was a plan to erect a number of halls. One hall was to be for young women who wished to do missionary work; another was to be for the young women who wished to prepare themselves for teaching; and another hall for orphan girls. The standard of the school can be judged by the course of study prescribed.
/bc//
{{c|{{uc|Freshman class.}}}}
Bible, Lectures on Old Testament Literature.
Latin, Cicero and Virgil.
Greek, Testament, Xenophon and Homer.
Mathematics, University Algebra.
History, Lectures and Text.
Literature, Lectures and Text.
{{c|{{uc|Sophomore class.}}}}
Bible, Lectures on Old Testament Literature.
Latin, Livy and Horace.
Greek, Testament, Herodotus and Plato.
Mathematics, Geometry.
History, Lectures and Text.
Literature, Lectures and Text.
Chemistry. Theoretical and Applied.
Botany, Lectures and Text.
{{c|{{uc|Junior class.}}}}
Bible, Lectures on New Testament Literature.
Latin, Tacitus and Ovid.
Greek, Testament, Plato and Thucydides.
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Mental Science, Lectures and Text.
Mathematics, Trigonometry.
Physics, Lectures and Text.
Physiology, Lectures and Text.
Rhetoric, Lectures and Text.
Elocution, Lectures and Text.
French.
German.
Italian.
Anglo-Saxon.
{{c|{{uc|Senior class.}}}}
Bible, Lectures on the Literature of the Apostolic Church.
Christian Ethics, Lectures and Text.
Latin Selections.
Greek Selections.
Mathematics, Calculus.
Astronomy, Lectures and Text.
History, Lectures and Text.
Mineralogy, Lectures and Text.
Geology, Lectures and Text.
Literature, Special Authors.
Science and Revelation, Lectures and Text.
French.
German.
Italian.
Spanish.
//bc/
In addition to the prescribed literary course, there was a Teacher's Course. This was provided especially for those who desired to make teaching a profession. Musical courses were to be established according to the best Observatory methods of this country and Europe; there was a course in Art. Instruction was given in Drawing and Painting. A Domestic Science Course was also under consideration. The Preparatory school offered a four year's course and carried the students up to a study of Latin and Greek. The Primary school also included a four-year course. The Kindergarten was intended for children under six years of age. The children were to be taught without books, but were to have an enclosed yard planted with flowers and shrubs and tastefully laid out. The children were to be "taught, trained, umused, and interested."
It may be of interest to note some of the regulations and rules which obtained in those days. Among the many we note a few:
"No student is permitted to indulge in eating between meals.
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"Boxes of eatables, or nuts, and candies from home are not permitted to be received, and any student known to receive such a box in a clandestine way, will be immediately dismissed from the institution. Young women ought to know that students do not live to eat, but eat to live and that, too, as long as the most careful observance of the rules of Hygiene will permit.
"No student may have any escort to or from school, church, lecture, or other public gatherings. No calls or visits from young men are permitted except by written permission of parents and such visits must be confined to Friday in the parlor and from 4 to 6 o'clock. No calls or visits may be received on the Lord's Day, and walking and driving for pleasure are forbidden. No student is permitted to attend any ball, or dance."
Theze and many others of like character help to determine the discipline administered in the early days of Claremont College.
In the early days Claremont had three societies. The Argonauts was a literary society and met once a week for "improvement, in Reading, Essay-Writing, and Debate." This society was organized in 1881, and held the first public debate on January 15, 1882. The following was the subject: Resolved, That Women should not vote. The affirmative was upheld by Emma Ingold, Dora Wilfong and Amelia McComb. The negative was discussed by Lizzie McComb, Mattie Robinson and Inez Hiller. It is said that the negative won the question. The second society was a musical society and was under the direction of the teachers of vocal and instrumental music. The incentive to join this society was the offer of free instruction in choral singing. The third was a missionary society the object of which was to increase missionary intelligence. Later two literary societies were organized, the one called "The Minervian," and the other "The Columbian."
Such was the high ideal set for Claremont. The attention of the public was being drawn to this institution, and we have a pamphlet, with an introduction written in 1882 by the late Gov. Thomas J. Jarvis, commending the work of Claremont College.
While the school was being taught in the Reformed church, work on the building was being carried on under the direction and supervision of A. L. Shuford. The money to erect this building was secured by taking subscriptions, for the most part in the community. There are no subscription lists or books available by which it can be determined who gave the money or from what source it came, but the testimony of living witnesses is that it came mostly, if not altogether, from the town of Hickory, and largely from the Reformed church of Hickory.
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The following additional teachers were secured by Mr. Vaughan: Miss Batchelor, Miss Ida Pettit, Miss Belle Haven, Miss Alice Eversten, Miss May Ramsaur, Miss Amelia McCombs, Librarian; Sarah C. Perrin, Superintendent, Catering, Cooking, and Housekeeping.
The first concert was given in the Reformed church on December 21, 1881. Among the performers were some who are now mothers of happy families in Hickory.
The following program gives evidence of the high grade of work:
/bc//
Chorus—"[[Swiss Mountaineer]]."
Piano Trio—[[March Millitaire]], Op. 75, Streab.
{{c|Miss McComb.}}
Chorus—[[Praise of Singing]], Hiller.
Piano Duet—Studenten Lied, Kretchman.
{{c|Miss Shuford.}}
Song—King Christmas, Hatton.
{{c|Miss Emma Ingold.}}
Chorus—"[[Ivy, ivy, winter-green]]." Mozart.
Piano Trio—[[Scotch Airs]], D'Albert.
{{c|Miss Etta Suttlemyre.
Miss Ida Ingold.
Miss Lizzie McComb.}}
Quartette—[[The Triton]], Molloy.
Piano Duet—Kahufahrt, Op. 19-9, Lowe.
Chorus—[[Loreley]], Sitcher.
{{c|Miss Whitener.}}
Piano—Valse Duet, Op. 14-7, Streaborg.
{{c|Miss Nelia Lawrence.
Miss Carrie Holden.}}
Vocal Duet—"[[O How Sweet the Hunter's Song]]." Kucken.
{{c|Miss M. Whitener.
Miss S. Whitener.
Miss S. Shuford.
Miss M. McIntosh.}}
Piano Duet—Boildieau. ("From Caliph of Bagdad.")
{{c|Miss Mattie Abernethy.
Miss Etta Suttlemyre.}}
Vocal Duet—"[[Lightly may the boat row]]." Watson.
{{c|Miss Ella Shuford.
Miss Etta Suttlemyre.
Miss A. McComb.
Miss Mary Robinson.
Miss L. McComb.}}
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Piano Duet—A. B. C.
{{c|Misses Robinson.}}
Chorus—(a) "[[Nobody ask you to]]." (b) "[[We bid thee welcome]]."
Chorus—"[[Thy Flowery Bank]]." Meyerbeer.
Piano Duet—For two pianos. Polonaise, Op. 9; Schmidt.
{{c|Miss S. Whitener.
Miss M. Whitener.
Miss M. Abernethy.
Miss Etta Suttlemyre.}}
Vocal Duet—From the opera of II Trovatore. "[[Home of our mountains]]." Verdi.
{{c|Miss May Ramsaur.
Miss M. Abernethy.}}
Vocal Duet—"[[The land of the swallows]]." Masini.
Chorus—"[[The little bird]]." Soederbery.
{{c|Solo by Miss Emma Ingold.}}
Piano Trio—Op. 27, Mozart. (From the opera of Don Juan.)
{{c|Miss Etta Suttlemyre.
Miss Ida Ingold.
Miss Mattie Abernethy.}}
Rounds—(a) "[[The Birds around me are pouring]]." (b) [[Hark! the distant clock]].
Chorus—Good Night.
//bc/
The school continued to be taught in the Reformed church until the beginning of the fall term of 1883, when the brick building was sufficiently completed to permit the removal to this new building.
Unable to fulfill the promise he had made to the trustees to secure money from the North to build the school, disappointed in realizing his expectations in other directions, discouraged and disheartened, Rev. A. S. Vaughan resigned the presidency of Claremont at the end of 1883 and left the school at the beginning of 1884. It is only just to say that those who knew Mr. Vaughan best think that he was self-deceived; that he had led himself to believe that in this great undertaking to establish a great school for the Southern girls he would meet with a ready response from, the philanthrophic souls of the North. He was honest, but disappointed in his honest expectations. His resignation was a great disappointment to the trustees and the community. Their high hopes vanished like the mist before the morning sun. They were left without any fixed policy and no definite plans for the future; Miss Florence L. Chase, who had been a member of Mr. Vaughan's faculty, was engaged to complete the school year.
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As "the burned child dreads the fire," so the trustees were slow to take hold of any new plan. They were without money, and with no organization behind them. They had adopted the policy of the undenominational school, but now found their school an orphan. Having nothing to offer, and no friends to whom they could appeal, their only hope was to secure some one who would assume the financial responsibility and conduct the school. They were fortunate however, in selecting their teachers, and brought to the school some of the best teaching talent in the country. Mrs. Alice Thurston, the widow of a much beloved Presbyterian minister, was secured to take charge of the school at the beginning of the fall term of 1884. With Mrs. Thurston were associated Miss Mary Geitner, Miss Emma Bonney and Prof. R. K. Meade. This was a strong faculty and would doubtless have made a success of the school, but the trustees were not able to retain them. They remained only one year. In the meantime, Miss Bonney's mother, who was the widow of a Presbyterian missionary to China, came to visit her daughter, Miss Emma, and was secured to take charge of the school. Mrs. Bonney was a woman of great piety and culture, and she secured a good faculty, but she remained in charge of the school for oniy one year, leaving at the close of the spring of 1887.
In the fall of 1888 the Trustees secured Prof. W. H. Sanborn to take charge of the school. Mr. Sanborn had been conducting Davenport College at Lenoir with marked success. He had married in Germany, and he and his wife had been students of music in the Conservatory at Leipsic, Germany. Their reputations as teachers of music were well established. He gathered around him an able faculty, including Judge C. A. Cilley, Mrs. Von Bulow, a teacher of national reputation, and Miss Laura Norwood. He had also a fine student body, including girls from the leading families in the state. His coming inspired the trustees with renewed hope. They erected an addition to the building. It was at this time that the east wing, or "Long Hall", was erected. In order to secure money to erect this additional building, a part of the campus was sold and bonds were issued. Mr. Sanborn conducted Claremont upon a high plane and his musical school was the best in this part of the state. The school was not, however, a financial success, and in 1892, he resigned to accept a school in Tennessee. Some of the best musicians in Hickory today, received their musical foundation from Prof. Sanborn.
Rev. J. L. Murphy, who had recently been called to become pastor of the Corinth Reformed church of Hickory, was asked to take charge of the school in connection with his pastoral duties.
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This he did, and moved into the college in July, 1892. He had associated with him Rev. C. E. Woodruff, a young Baptist minister, who was a profound scholar. The number of boarding pupils was increased, and the first year was encouraging. At the end of the first year, Prof. Woodruff left and entered the University of Chicago to work for his doctor's degree.
The second year of Dr. Murphy's administration, Dr. P. C. Mensch was secured as dean of the school. Dr. Mensch had studied in Germany and was both an erudite scholar and a great teacher. He was, however, soon elected Professor of chemistry in Ursinus College, and left Claremont at Christmas. Byron G. Cole, Ph. D., of New York, who had just done post graduate work at Cornell University, was secured to take the place of Dr. Mensch. Dr. Cole resigned after remaining at Claremont one and a half years, and accepted work in the city schools of Mount Airy. Thomas M. Huffham was next secured to teach, which he did with marked ability. Other members of the faculty under Dr. Murphy were Misses May Ramsaur, Amanda Clarke, Julia Gregory, Elizabeth Krider, Carolina Link, Edna Farlow.
In the year 1895, the Reformed congregation built a commodious parsonage adjoining the college campus, into which Dr. Murphy moved. He resigned as president of Claremont College, his resignation becoming effective in the spring of 1896. During Dr. Murphy's presidency the debt on the college was paid. The trustees then leased the school to S. P. Hatton, a member of the faculty of Kee Mar College, Hagerstown, Maryland. In 1900 S. P. Hatton transferred his lease to his brother, M. W. Hatton, who in 1902 transferred his lease to A. J. Bolin. The Hattons advertised largely and had more students than the building would accommodate. From the standpoint of numbers the administration of the Hattons was the most prosperous period in the history of Claremont College, and the faculty also was strong.
Mr. Bolin's lease expired in 1905. Mr. Bolin had among his teachers Miss Maude Forthman, now Mrs. Dr. J. H. Shuford of Hickory. The trustees next leased the building to Prof. D. W. Reed, a graduate of the University of Virginia. Prof. Reed was a man of liberal culture, and his wife was a highly educated woman of great executive ability. Prof. Reed's lease expired July 1, 1907.
On July 22, 1907, Rev. W. B. Duttera and Rev. J. H. Keller leased the school for a period of five years, Dr. Duttera, being president and J. H. Keller, dean. Considerable advertising was done, some canvassing was made, and the contracts drawn up, but on Sept. 9, 1909, a short time before the school was to have opened, the lease was returned unsigned. The reasons assigned
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were that the Rev. Mr. Duttera had a nervous breakdown and that Mr. Keller could not leave Mt. Pleasant for that year.
The trustees then turned the school over to the Rev. J. L. Murphy, president of the board, to make the best possible arrangements. A faculty was secured with Prof. N. E. Aull, Miss Grace Kirkpatrick, Miss Boyd, Miss Ora Huffman, and Mrs. Eubert Lyerly as members, and on September 17 the school opened with a fair number of pupils. Mrs. Kirkpatrick and Mrs. Louise Aull had charge of the boarding department. The same arrangements continued for the second year, Miss Nanaette Ballew teaching in the place of Prof. Aull, and Miss Rhea Sourbeer teaching in the place of Miss Kirkpatrick.
On February 8, 1907, the trustees met to determine the future policy of the school. The school had been for sometime an orphan without any fostering care from any one. It was felt that if some denomination were placed over the institution, the success of the school would be assured. F. A. Clinard offered the following:
Resolved, That the trustees of Claremont Female College tender to the Classis of North Carolina, Reformed church in the United States, for the girls' school or young ladies school, Claremont Female College, free of Rent, said Classis to make all necessary repairs and build any additional buildings they may deem proper and keep the property insured and said Classis to retain said College as long as they maintain a school for girls or young ladies. Rev. J. L. Murphy was appointed to convey this tender to the Classis of North Carolina.
The Classis met in the Reformed church of Hickory on Fehruary 28, 1907 and took the following action: Resolved, That we hereby express our sincere appreciation of the courteous consideration and generous tender;
Resolved, That we look with favor upon the proposition;
Resolved, That we appoint a commission of three members to confer with the trustees of Claremont Female College to work cut a legal and detailed plan for the proposed transfer.
The committee called for consisted of Revs. J. C. Leonard, W. B. Duttera, and W. W. Rowe. This committee met the board of trustees, and the following is their report made to the Classis of North Carolina at the annual meeting held in Burlington, N. C., May 8-11, 1907:
{{uc|To the classis of North Carolina:}}
Your commission appointed at the special meeting in Hickory February 28, 1907, to confer with the Trustees of Claremont College and to work out a legal and detailed plan for the proposed
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transfer of that institution to the Classis of North Carolina beg leave to submit the folowing report:
We have given the subject careful consideration. We find that the property consists of 17 acres of land on a beautiful elevation within the corporate limits of the town of Hickory. Substantial brick buildings in a reasonably good state of preservation occupy a central position in a campus of native oaks. The buildings contain recitation rooms, a chapel, parlors, dining rooms, kitchen and dormitories sufficient to accommodate 50 girls. These buildings have water connections with the city mains, and a private sewerage system. A conservative estimate places the value of the property at $25,000. The Trustees of Claremont College propose the following terms of transfer:
"1. Articles III and VII of the charter shall be so amended as to lodge in the Classis of North Carolina, Reformed Church in the United States, the e!ection of three-fifths of the said Trustees of Claremont Female College, who shall be, as provided by the said charter of the said Claremont Female College, members of the said Reformed Church. Successors to the remaining twofifths of the said trustees shall be elected by the said Board of Trustees, viz., the Board composed of those elected by the said Classis of North Carolina and the present two-fifths of the Trustees, and thereafter vacancies in the 'two-fifths number shall be filled by the Board of Trustees. Provided, That should the Classis of North Carolina for two years fail to maintain a female college as provided by the charter, then the said property shall revert to a Board of Trustees created as the present Board.
2. The officers of this Board of Trustees are hereby directed to take at once the steps necessary to carry the foregoing into legal effect.
3. This action shall go into effect immediately upon legal ratification, provided the Classis of North Carolina takes favorable action."
Your commission after a careful consideration of the facts in the case recommend the following:
1. That the term of transfer proposed by the Trustees be approved, and that Claremont Female College be accepted by the Classis of North Carolina.
2. That the Trustees to be elected by Classis be divided into three groups to be elected at this meeting as follows:
Three to be elected for a term of one year, three for a term of two years and three for a term of three years; and that hereafter successors to those whose term expires be elected at each annual meeting of Classis.
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3. That the new Board of Trustees be divided into three groups; six Trustees to be chosen by the Board; two to be chosen at the first meeting for one year, two for two years and two for three years, and thereafter at each annual meeting of the Trustees successors to those whose term expires shall be chosen.
4. That the Trustees elected by Classis at this meeting be instructed to proceed as soon as practicable to carry out the terms of transfer.
/ri/2/Respectfully submitted,<br>{{sc|J. C. Leonard,<br>W. B. Duttera,<br>W. W. Rowe.}}//ri/
At a meeting of the trustees held June 10, 1907, the executive committee was instructed to repair the buildings, and on July 22, 1907, J. M. Shuford was instructed to look after the work that was being done on the buildings. A new kitchen was built, a new roof put on the front porch, the rooms recalcimined, and water and sewer connections were made. At another meeting held June 15, 1909, a motion was made to borrow $1,500 for the purpose of installing a heating plant and repairing the college building. A meeting was held October 18, the amount was increased from $1,500 to $1.600. This loan was effected and the work was done. During the summer of 1914, the entire wooden part of the building was repainted and the building greatly improved. On Sunday night, March 19, 1916, the building caught on fire from defective wiring, and the chapel was greatly damaged. This, however, was covered by insurance and the building was soon repaired and greatly improved. The indebtedness of the college had increased to nearly $3,000, and the trustees had no money with which to pay this amount. It was agreed to sell certain lots on the west side of the campus. Mr. C. C. Bost, who was intrusted with this duty, reported to a meeting of the executive committee held on Aug. 22, 1913, that he had sold three lots. Mr. Riddle to whom one lot was sold refused to accept his deed until the title was tested. Notwithstanding the fact that Mr. H. W. Robinson had made a second deed to the trustees dated February 1, 1881, in which he acknowledged the receipt of three hundred and nineteen dollars in hand paid, $14.50 per acre, it was agreed to have a friendly suit and the courts upheld the title of the trustees.
At a meeting of the trustees held Jan. 5, 1909, a committee consisting of J. L. Murphy, C. C. Bost, and A. C. Link was appointed to have the charter amended in such a way as to place the school in the proper relation to the church, according to the terms of
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the transfer, and an amendment was made by the legislature of 1909 and is as follows:
{{uc|An act to amend the charter of Claremont College, at Hickory, North Carolina. 1909.}}
Whereas on the 28th day of July, 1880, J. F. Murrill, A. A. Shuford, J. G. Hall and others obtained a charter from the Superior Court of Catawba County incorporating an institution for the promotion of religion, morality and learning therein, named Claremont Female College, and have maintained a school and acquired valuable real and personal property at Hickory, North Carolina, held by them as trustees under said name; and whereas, in the promotion of the objects of said charter, desire to place the said school and its property under the control of the Classis of North Carolina, Reformed Church in the United States, and have reached a satisfactory agreement with said Classis to that end, and desire to obtain from the General Assembly of N. ratification of its said Charter, with certain amends thereto:
{{uc|The General Assembly do enact:}}
Sec. 1. That the name of Claremont Female College, at Hickory, N. C., shall be and the same is hereby changed to "Claremont College."
Sec. 2. That articles three and seven of the original charter of Claremont Female College, obtained in 1880, be and the same are hereby stricken out and the following inserted in lien thereof: "That the trustees of Claremont College shall be 15 in number, the present board being Rev. J. L. Murphy, D. D.; Rev. J. C. Leonard, D. D.; A. A. Shuford, Dr. J. C. Clapp, C. C. Bost, L. A. Carpenter, F. A. Clinard, H. D. Warlick, E. L. Shuford, C. M. Shuford, G. H. Geitner, W. H. McNairy, J. E. Wilfong, J. W. Robinson, and N. M. Seagle, and they and their successors in office shall constitute the board of trustees of Claremont College; that said trustees above named shall continue in office until the regular annual meeting for the year 1909 of the Classis of N. C., Reformed Church in the United States, and at which time said Classis shall elect three members of said board to serve for one year, three to serve for two years and three to serve for three years, and annually thereafter three members for a term of three years; and the board of trustees of said college shall themselves elect six of their own successors in office, beginning with their next annual meeting in such way that the term of office of two members so elected by them shall expire annually: Provided, that in the event the said Classis of North Carolina, Reformed church in the United States, should fail for two years to maintain a female college, as provided by the Charter of Claremont Col-
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legs, or should fail to carry out the conditions of maintenance and preservation of property assumed by said Classis, then such failure shall vacate the offices of the nine trustees elected by said Classis, and they are hereby declared so vacated, and Corinth Reformed Church, at Hickory, North Carolina, shall have full power and authority and it shall be the duty of the congregation of said church in meeting assembled for that purpose, to elect nine members of the board of trustees of Claremont College to take place of those whose offices are vacated by this act, and thereafter said trustees shall be elected annually by said church, as hereinabove provided for by said Classis; and they, with the other members of said board, shall take possession and control of all real and personal property belonging to Claremont College; and either the Pastor, the Consistory or any three members of said Church may by proper notice call a meeting of the Congregation of said Corinth Reformed Church, and those present at said meeting shall have the power to elect nine Trustees under this act.
Sec. 3. That said original charter of said College is in all respects wherein the same is not inconsistent herewith recognized, ratified and confirmed.
Sec. 4. That this act shall be in force from and after its ratification.
Ratified this the 12th day of February, A. D., 1909.
(The President of the Trustees of Claremont College in his Teport to Classis in May, 1909, said "The Charter of the College was amended at the last meeting of the Legislature of North Carolina, and your instructions were followed just as closely as legal advice permitted us to do so. I suggest that the charter, as amended, be read to this body.")
In the fall of 1909, Rev. J. H. Keller, was made dean of the college, with Dr. Murphy as president. The Rev. Mr. Keller placed in the building, new furniture which was his property, and the trustees borrowed $1,600 to put in steam heat and make improvements.
In 1908, the college secured as the teacher of music Signor Severio D'Anna, who gave a decided impetus to the musical department of the school, and brought many additional students. Signor D'Anna resigned in 1911. The Rev. Mr. Keller remained until the end of the spring term of 1912, when he resigned and accepted the pastorate of the West Rowan charge. Some of the teachers during this period were Mrs. Keller, Miss Sourbeer, Miss Hoffman, Miss Mary Heller, Miss Mary Barringer, Miss Holtzendorff, Mrs. E. B. Menzies and Miss Ramsay. It is just to say that the school enjoyed renewed prosperity during
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these years. Prof. D'Anna was succeeded as teacher by Miss Mary Ramsay. Miss Ramsay was followed by Mrs. J. H. Hatcher. Dr. Murphy continued as president from that time until the close of the spring term 1915, when the Classis suspended the school. Miss Ramsay was principal for one year, Miss Mary Schnebley for part of a year. This year was completed by Mrs. Oliver Nelson, and the following year Miss Mazie C. Schmidt was in charge. The last three years were most successful and pleasant in many respects. Mrs. Hatcher continued as teacher of music until the end of the spring term, 1916.
Dr. J. M. L. Lyerly had charge of the school during the year 1915-1916. Associated with him were Miss May Lyerly, Miss Helen Troup, Miss Ethel Peeler, and Miss Josephine Pritchard.
During the year 1907, a new kitchen was built, part of the building was renovated and all the rooms recalcimined and put in excellent shape. This was done at a cost of more than $1,000, which was paid in full by the late A. A. Shuford. In the year 1908, with the assistance of Mr. C. C. Bost, Mr. Shuford placed in the College a Chickering grand piano.
At the annual meeting of the Classis held in Waughtown, May, 1916, no action was taken relative to the future of Claremont College. From this it is inferred that the property will be permitted to revert to Corinth Reformed church, Hickory, according to the conditions of the changed charter. This is not, however, what Corinth congregation desired. The representatives of this congregation voted for the Classis to retain the school. In justice to the action it might be pointed out that during the first ten years of the existence of the school, the burden of the support of the school was shared by others, but for the last 26 years the entire burden of keeping up the school rested solely upon the Corinth congregation of Hickory. The action of the Classis defines the educational policy of the Reformed church in North Carolina. It is co-educational. Catawba College is the church school; Claremont College is no longer a school of the church nor the property of the church. There are those who believe it to be a mistaken policy. Claremont College, although not reaching the ideal set by its founders, has done a great work. Its ideals have always been high. The girls educated here are found in many of the responsible positions of life. Two if not more are fcund in the foreign fields doing effective work as missionaries of Jesus Christ. The teachers have been among the best and the work done of the highest order. There is a lingering hope cherished in the breasts of some that God may yet raise up friends of the institution who will bring it up to the high ideal set by the founders. But the Reformed Church has lost the institution.
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/ch//The Administration of President Andrew.
THE REV. JAMES D. ANDREW/r//James David Andrew, the son of James W. and Peny Greeson Andrew, was born on September 27, 1864, in Guilford County, North Carolina. He attended public schools until twenty-one years old and entered Pleasant Lodge Academy on August 5, 1885. He attended Liberty Academy in the Spring and Fall of 1886 and Fairview Academy in the Spring of 1887. The latter school later became Whitsett Institute. He entered the preparatory Department of Catawba College on February 4, 1888, and graduated in 1893. He served as Pastor of the Guilford Charge of the Reformed Church from 1893 to 1898. During the Summer of 1898 he attended the Moody Bible Institute. From 1898 to 1913 he served as Pastor of the Burlington Reformed Church. After five years as President of Catawba College, he accepted a call in 1918 to the pastorate of the Upper Davidson Charge, where he served to the end of 1924. Since that time he has been Pastor of the Faith Charge. He was married to Flora Branson, March 14, 1894. They are the parents of ten children, of whom all but one are living.//r/ was elected President of Catawba College in 1913, succeed ing President Buchheit. His administration covered a period of five years, closing with Commencement in May, 1918. Throughout his administration in the College, as throughout his life, President Andrew proved himself a good, faithful man. He was always successful in his pastorates, but in the college found himself in such a difficult position that no man would have been able to surmount it under the circumstances. On account of the lack of patronage and endowment, financial difficulties arose. Hence necessary retrench-
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/img//President James D. Andrew.
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ments were made, which scholastically retarded the progress of the institution. Efficient teachers could not be secured and no outstanding improvements could be made. Some of the most loyal friends of the college sent their children to other institutions, where they might enjoy a standing that Catawba was losing. These were some of the darkest years in the history of the College. President Andrew must be given credit for doing everything reasonable that any man could, and he deserves the unlimited gratitude of the Church for holding the institution together, maintaining its charter, and operating in the best manner possible until such time as Providence should again open the way for the development of the College into a standard institution.
President Andrew did much hard work, visiting churches to secure subscriptions and homes to solicit students for the college. He succeeded in enrolling a rather good-sized body of students, because, as has often been stated, "everybody knew the Rev. Mr. Andrew, and he was popular with the young people." As it was a time when money was scarce, President Andrew received many "one dollar" subscriptions for the college. Tuition at Catawba during his administration was very low and it was hard for the college to secure the funds required to meet current expenses. The property, consequently, could not be kept in the best repair. It should be stated, however, that during his administration many young-men were enrolled in the institution as students for the ministry, for President Andrew incessantly urged and stressed studying for the ministry, and he insisted on the highest moral standards for all students.
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/ch//The Administration of President Wolfinger
IT WAS ON JANUARY 30, 1918, that Rev. J. C. Leonard, D. D., called upon the pastor of the First Reformed Church of Greensboro, North Carolina, with the challenge to accept the presidency of Catawba College. The interview together with a subsequent study of the situation resulted in an affirmative answer. On February 26, the Board of Trustees, meeting at Salisbury, passed a unanimous action calling Rev. A. D. Wolfinger,/rcs//The Rev, A. D. Wolfinger, D. D., was a native of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He received his Collegiate and. Theological preparation at Ursinus College and School of. Theology and was ordained to the ministry of the Reformed Church in June, 1888. He was elected pastor of the Brownbach's Charge, Chester County, in 1887, entering upon its pastorate at graduation in June, 1888. In 1890 he was called to the Reformed Church at Thornville, Ohio. Five years later he accepted a call from the Rockingham Charge, Virginia, returning to Ohio in 1900. In the Ohio Synod he served several churches, and, while pastor of Trinity Church, Dayton, he was called by the Board of Trustees of the Central Seminary and by the Directors of Ursinus College to the work of Field Secretary of the Seminary, and later of Ursinus College. He moved to Philadelphia in May, 1910. He served as pastor of Bethany Tabernacle Church, and in 1916 accepted a call from the First Reformed Church of Greensboro. North Carolina. From here he was called to the presidency of Catawba College, and he served in that position from May, 1918, to September, 1923. In December, 1923, he accepted a call from St. Paul's Reformed Church, Youngstown, Ohio. He served on the Board of Trustees//rc/ D. D., to the presidency of the
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/rc//of Heidelberg. Theological Seminary and later Central Seminary for nine years, took an active part in the relocation of Heidelberg Seminary, and acted as chairman of the committee on buildings and grounds during the relocation of the seminary at Dayton. He served as president of the Lancaster and Miami Classes and in 1909 was elected president of the Ohio Synod. Ursinus College conferred upon him the title of Doctor of Divinity in 1909.//rce/college. The new president took formal charge on the day following the closing exercises of the college year.
The inauguration took place on May 8, and was largely attended by friends of the institution and representatives of the Board and institutions of the Church. At the annual meeting of the Board of Trustees, held the day preceding the inauguration, the president presented an outline of immediate needs. In the survey of the colleges made by the U. S. Bureau of Education in 1915 the college was removed from the list of recognized colleges. The institution was dropped from the publications of the Bureau, as well as from the State Department of Education. The country was in the midst of the World war, with its challenge for men and money. That a real crisis in the life of the institution was pending was believed by all the friends of the college. In September, 1917, Rev. J. L. Murphy, D. D., wrote the pastor of the Greensboro Church: "I am in sympathy with your position relative to holding fast to our institution of learning, but at times become discouraged." It was clear that united support must center in securing adequate funds for endowment and equipment and in such a reorganization as would secure for the college a place on the accredited list. The church under whose supervision
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the college operated was in the midst of a denomination-wide campaign under "the Association of Schools, Colleges and Seminaries" for one million dollars. From this effort the college was to receive substantial help.
As an emergency action to relieve temporarily the financial strain, the Board adopted the plan of organizing the "Catawba College League" with a membership fee of ten dollars. This plan had been used by other institutions with success. At the close of the first year three hundred and fifty-six members were enrolled. This movement helped to increase the income, so that the total for the first year reached one hundred per cent above the receipts for the preceding year. The educational value of this effort, carried on for four years, was even more than the financial return. The "million dollar campaign" leaders asked that no independent financial effort be made during the campaign. The Board, however, ventured at the meeting in May to request that fifty thousand dollars be secured from the friends of the college. Mr. J. T. Hedrick must be credited with offering, at the close of the inauguration exercises, the first five thousand dollars.
In March, 1919, the million dollar movement suspended its program. The failure of this campaign to give any help to the college created a sense of distrust, which reacted unfavorably upon the local program. A meeting, attended by the heads of the educational institutions, was held at Harrisburg, Pa., on February 14, 1919, to consider a determined financial effort by the denomination. The action of this meeting was reported to the special meeting of the General Synod of
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/img//President A. D. Wolfinger.
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the Reformed Church held at Altoona, Pa., on March 14-16, 1919. At this meeting the Synod adopted a five-year program to raise $5,790,700 and referred the entire matter to a commission, thus creating the Forward Movement. At a meeting held in Philadelphia, June 19, 1919, attended by the president of the college, the action of the Synod was the item for discussion. A strong effort was made to allot Catawba College $75,000 and the largest colleges $300,000. Under the protest of the president of the college, to whom the effort seemed quite unfair, and upon calling attention to the loyalty and sacrifice of the people in the Southland, the conference voted $100,000 as Catawba's share, subject to the action of the commission.
On December 22, 1919, the chairman of the survey committee forwarded the following to the college: "The recommendation of the committee is that Catawba College be conducted as a Junior College and that the allotment of $100,000 be held in trust by the church for education work within the bounds of Potomac Synod." This was in answer to the survey questionaire sent in by the college with the request for $280,000 as the minimum. The action stirred the entire church in the State. One of the veteran pastors, Dr. Leonard, of the Classis wrote, "I cannot understand why we should have to fight constantly for our rights in North Carolina. Why do they take such a remarkable view of the situation?" Protests came from all sections, even from beyond the state. No greater reproach could be given to the constituents of the college. At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board, December 26, 1919, the following action was
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passed: "In the judgment of this committee such exceptional and indefinite action upon one of the greatest needs in the entire church in the South will paralyze any effort within the Classis of North Carolina to project the Forward Movement or solicit funds for the general budget. This committee is of the conviction that the fund of $100,000 should be given over, as in the case of all other institutions, to the Trustees of the College." This action was at once forwarded to the survey committee. On January 2, 1920, the president of the college and Mr. Clarence Clapp attended a meeting in Philadelphia, when the matter in question was to be considered. It required but a short time to assure the Body that such action forced upon the people of North Carolina would be a lasting injustice and a phenomenal missionary blunder. The conference adopted the following action: "To remove the restriction of the work to a Junior College and to increase the apportionment from $100,000 to $125,000 the fund to be held by the Board of Trustees." This action was published and gave great satisfaction and created a new interest. On January 23, 1920, Dr. W. E. Lampe wrote the president: "The Committee fixed the Budget in money for the five-year program at $10,847.425. The amount allotted to Catawba College is $125,000." The largest institutions were to have $600,060.
The disparity of this allotment raised a vigorous protest. It was a historic fact that the college stood foremost in her contribution to the work of the church in the south, and of all the institutions was in greatest need. The disproportion in the allotment created a sense of discouragement. With such a small amount
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coming to the college in five years and with a restriction on all independent financial efforts, friends of the institution wanted to close the college at once. At a meeting of the Board of Trustees on March 4, 1920, a leading member had the written resolution to close the college ready to read. It was a serious moment. No rash nor headlong plunging with the old college which had weathered many a storm! Keenly feeling the situation and with undaunted faith in the people, the president proposed the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted: "To place the College on an accredited basis, and to maintain the institution as such, requires $300,000 as a minimum amount for endowment. The Board commits itself to its most united effort to raise this amount within five years, the same to terminate with the Forward Movement period. To guarantee the full amount of $300,000, the Board appoints a committee who shall effect such organization as will carry forward a campaign to secure the needed fund, the effort to follow the canvass period of the Forward Movement, April, 1920."
This action was supported by the entire Classis, and a full discussion was published in the Reformed Church Messenger. The result was that it created a new interest as expressed by messages within and beyond the State. A meeting was arranged at once by the Executive Secretary of the Forward Movement Commission to be held at Newton on March 22, 1920, at which Drs. C. E. Schaeffer and E. S. Bromer were present. After discussion of the subject, representatives Schaeffer and Bromer "proposed the amount of $200,000 to be paid the college out of the 'Type B. Fund' which
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may come into the hands of the Board of Home Missions from the Interchurch World Movement Budget." This was good news and would cover the need of $325,000. Following this action, the Board resolved, "that we call upon all our pastors, consistories, congregations, and our entire constituency in the Classis of North Carolina to support heartily the Forward Movement in its entirety." This proposal cleared the atmosphere and carried the Forward Movement "over the top."
Later in the summer of 1920, the Interchurch World Movement failed, creating another feeling of disappointment among all the people. A special meeting of the North Carolina Classis was called on November 26, 1920, and, after reviewing the situation, it passed an action sending J. T. Hedrick, J. W. Peeler, and the president of the college to a meeting to be held in Philadelphia on December 10, 1920. Great hope began to center in the proposed meeting. This was soon shattered when messages came to the college expressing doubts as to whether the appointed representatives would get a hearing at the meeting. One writer regarded the trip "as an unnecessary expenditure." Others wrote: "better keep your hands on the situation," and "be sure to attend and have your other men go." On December 4, 1920, the Executive Secretary wrote: "At a meeting of the executive staff today, it seemed to be the sense of those present that we ought not to interfere in the proposed action of the representatives of the North Carolina Classis." The way was now clear and the trio from North Carolina was safe to venture on the way.
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The college really seemed worth saving, and for this the representatives from the South stood in the conference. Upon motion by Dr. E. S. Bromer, the following action was passed: That we refer the matter to the executive committee to confer with the Board of Home Missions to have them assume the amount of $200,000 for Catawba College. It is the judgment of the commission that the amount for Catawba College is a ''bona fide'' element of the claims in the causes of the Forward Movement of the Reformed Church, and the commission pledges itself to provide ways and means to attain the ends involved. "Upon the passage of this action, Mr. J. T. Hedrick arose and offered $10,000 for the support of needy students at Catawba College. Amidst a roar of applause, the college representatives made ready to leave for the South. The action of the commission was reported at the meeting of the Board of Home Missions held in New York, January 11, 1921. The meeting was attended by Rev. J. C. Leonard, D. D., a member of the Board, and the amount of $200,000 accepted. Thus ended a long and disheartening struggle which at last secured the ends originally sought.
The Board at its meeting in May, 1922, realizing that only about 50 per cent of the $325,000 would be likely to come into its possession, adopted an action which proposed raising $150,000, the culmination of the effort to be observed in connection with the seventy-fifth anniversary of the founding of the college. This action was held in abeyance until the meeting of the General Synod at Hickory, North Carolina, May 23, 1923.
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The Classis of North Carolina now saw the necessity of a radical change of program, occasioned by the requirement of the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and the North Carolina State Department of Education. The report of the Trustees of the college through their President, Charles M. Rowe, to the Classis in annual session in Charlotte, May, 1923, was clear and concise and marked out the only course to be followed. We give it herewith:
"The question still confronting the institution is a financial one. The committee authorized by the Board to place a man in the field, who should give all his time to the financial needs of the college, met with insurmountable difficulties. The best substitute that could be agreed upon was the calling into service of ten men of the Classis who would assume responsibility so far as they were able to secure pledges for the current expenses of the year. Up to this time less than $1,000 has come in from this source. There is, accordingly, a deficit in the current expense fund. The Forward Movement receipts to date are $45,000. This already helps to relieve the situation, but is only a small part of what the life of the institution demands. It is clear to every close observer that immediate response is needed to some plan which will guarantee sufficient endowment to continue the work in a larger way. As President of the Board, I wish to express the hope that united response may be given to such a plan as will guarantee the life of the College on the list of standard Colleges. The work of the year has been carried forward as successfully and satisfactorily as could be expected under the limitation of equipment and finan-
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/img//The Administration Building.
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cial resources." The action of Classis was the following: On the basis of facts made in the report of the Board as well as oral statements made by the President of the College on the floor of Classis, we make the following recommendations for your consideration:
1. Realizing that an "A" grade College will only meet our requirements, we therefore do instruct the Board of Trustees to proceed to lay such plans that Catawba College shall be made to comply with the conditions of a Standard "A" grade College.
Resolved, That the Trustees be requested to challenge the General Synod to convene in Corinth Church, Hickory, N. C., May 23, to take over Catawba College as a Missionary Institution.
2. That opportunity be given to any town or city to make a proposition or propositions as to the location of said College.
The Board of Trustees, May 22, 1923, adopted the action of the Classis and designated a minimum amount of $300,000 for endowment, overturing the General Synod for support. A historic event took place when the Synod, upon invitation of the president of the college, visited in a body the college at Newton. After a number of addresses in the chapel, Synod returned to Hickory, and the next day endorsed the overture of the Board and recommended that the sum of $400,000 be raised for the institution.
The question of the removal of the college from Newton was frequently discussed through the years. It was one of the first topics which came to the attention of anyone, whenever appeals were made for sup-
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port. The uncertainty of the permanent location prevented many people from making investments in the old plant. The Trustees, learning of the military school building at Salisbury being for sale, met on June 5, 1923, and at that meeting appointed a committee to negotiate the purchase, and also passed an action removing the college from Newton.
The president was instructed to open the college at Newton in September, 1923, to secure a full faculty, and to conduct the school there for the year. Mr. W. R. Weaver was elected Dean to act during the absence of the president while on the financial campaign. The declination of Mr. Weaver placed the financial responsibility, as well as the administrative work of the college, upon the president. The removal having been finally settled upon, successful work at the old location was made impossible. On June 25th, the president of the college tendered his resignation to take effect August 31, 1923. This was accepted and a committee appointed to draft suitable resolutions. On the question of closing the college following the declination of Mr. Weaver and the resignation of the President, the latter made the closing speech on the affirmative. Nothing else was now to be done. Many people throughout the Classis of North Carolina firmly believed in the possibility of creating the much-needed institution. With the question of location settled, a new day was coming and the closing of the college during the ''interim'' of relocating and reorganization seemed a necessity.
Of the graduates during the period, seven have entered the Ministry of the Reformed Church and a
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greater number are in the teaching profession. One thousand students were enrolled in all departments, financed by an annual budget of $27,000. The scholarships provided by Mr. J. T. Hedrick assisted a large number of students. Through the interest of Mrs. George P. Mariner of Philadelphia, a library endowment fund was started with $1500, the income from which was devoted to additions to the library.
The question of academic standing was of equal importance with that of adequate financial resources. The effort begun in 1915-16 to standardize the educational institutions of the state found the colleze lacking. During the summer of 1918, the library was catalogued and placed in a working condition; extensive yepairs were made to the buildings; system and classification were introduced into the admission of students; new courses of instruction were added and an enlarged faculty secured. Everything looking toward academic recognition was done that was possible under the conditions. Toward the close of the summer, the college was confronted with the question of establishing an S. A. T. C. Unit. Unless this could be done, the college should have to close for lack of students. Early in August, application was made for a unit. Communications from the Bureau of Education and the State University came in denying a unit on the basis of having no standing. On August 31, 1918, the president of the college called upon President Graham of the University, who was the regional Director of the S. A. T. C. units. The supplement to the catalogue containing the courses, faculty, standards of admission, and policy of the administration was presented.
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The young but keen-eyed auditor listened while asking a question now and then. The fate of the college seemed to hang upon his decision. He communicated with Washington by long distance and later wired the president of the college as follows: "Find on investigation that I wired sometime ago Catawba College does not satisfy academic requirements for S. A. T. C. I am wiring MacLaurin to-night that Catawba does satisfy requirements." The news was hailed with great rejoicing, and everybody seemed to be on the search for students. On September 30, a wire was received notifying the college that since it had less than one hundred students "it was unadvisable to esestablish a unit." On October 2, the president went to Washington to confer with Congressman Webb, who passed him on to the Departinent of Education where a record of the condition of the college was made. A message followed the president back to the college saying "that there were not enough men to organize a unit," and a letter expressing astonishment at our expecting the Government to make an exception for Catawba College. One more appeal was made to President Graham of the State University on October 7. After listening under high nervous tension, he said, "I will do my best with Washington for your College." On October 9, a message came to the college authorizing a unit on the basis of fifty. Everyone about the college breathed easily now, since the way was open to line up with other institutions of the country in the great World War. This interview by the president of the college and the message authorizing an S. A. T. C. was one of the last acts of President Graham, his
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early death occurring shortly after. A unit of sixty men was formed with First Lieutenant J. C. Gilmore of Philadelphia in charge. He was a fine Christian gentleman, and gave all support and sympathy to the work of caring for one hundred and eighty-five students in the crowded quarters of the college building. On November 1I came a relief. No one in official or professional relations would want to pass through another such experience. After one more trip to Raleigh, November 13, the college received from the government for its service the sum of $5,014.82. The recognition of the college in its new outlook placed it in the confidence of newly made friends.
The next effort was directed toward reorganizing the Preparatory Department on the basis of a standard high school. This being done, the State Department of Education placed the academy on the accredited list of high schools in 1919. Students who completed the four-year course were admitted into the Colleges and University without examination. This was a long step in advance.
The raising of the College Standard proceeded slowly owing to financial limitations and inadequate equipment. Graduates of the college were credited with three years of college work by some of the best colleges of the state. In June, 1922, the examiner at one of the leading colleges wrote, "As for your work, please let me say that we shall be glad to accept it at par. We have no doubt that it is as good as that done at any other college in North Carolina." In September, 1922, such progress had been made in the work of the institution that, after a rigid investiga-
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tion by the State, the committee wrote, "With the increase in the number of the faculty since our last visit, and the improvement in the training of the faculty, we suggest that perhaps a 'B' rating, beginning with the graduates of 1923, might be allowed." This meant credit for three years of college work, or two years more than the college had in 1918. That the college always did and was now preparing students on a par with other colleges was recognized by men of other institutions. Theoretically, however, the points which made up the standards of college measurement were lacking when the test was applied in 1915.
Under all the unusual difficulties arising during the administration there was a growing faith in a new day for the college. The work of greatest value, perhaps, in this five-year period was that of general edueation throughout the Classis of North Carolina. The President visited every church each year with an appeal and a challenge to every meeting of Classis and Synod on behalf of the College. Articles constantly appeared in the literature of the church. The confidence and support of the constituency of the college could hardly have been greater. With abiding faith, the last president of the college on the historic spot at Newton ever looked forward to a better day for the institution.
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/ch//Relocation At Salisbury.
HILE THE COLLEGE was experiencing difW ficulties at Newton, owing to lack of equip ment, suitable plant, and endowment, Rev. C. C. Wagoner, Pastor of the First Reformed Church of Salisbury, made repeated suggestions to members of the Classis and to the Trustees of the College that the college be relocated at Salisbury. Since this suggestion ultimately led to the relocation of the institution, it may be well to give an account of the history of the property bought there for the new college.
{{c|{{sc|History of the Administration Building.}}}}
Mr. A. S. Ford, who had been superintendent of some normal school in the State of Alabama, came to Salisbury in the fall of 1913. He gave Montgomery and Birmingham as his address. Working through the Chamber of Commerce, he conceived a plan for operating a boys' military school at Salisbury. A local realty company donated the land, forty acres or more, estimated to be worth at the time about four thousand dollars. In addition, $53,517.90 was collected and expended for materials and labor. The campaign was made for this fund in April, 1914. Mr. Ford said he could get a hundred thousand dollars in a certain town in Alabama provided Salisbury would raise so much. The late Dr. Whitehead was enthusiastic to
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such an extent that he signed his personal note for thirty thousand dollars, contingent upon the raising of a similar sum in Alabama. Mr. Ford went to Alabama and did not come back for some time. Finally he was compelled to give up the note, and left town.
By this time the walls of the building were rising. Building operations were suspended, and a local committee which had been handling the project threw it into the hands of a receiver. Mr. N. W. Collett was made receiver for A. S. Ford in October, 1914. The Receiver issued certificates to cover the indebtedness for materials and labor, and was authorized by the Court to execute deed for the property to the Saliskury Normal and Industrial Institute, a new institution for girls which was about to be established in Salisbury. This deed was executed May 1, 1917.
The Trustees of the new institution were Dr. Byron Clark, President, W. F. Snyder, George R. Collins, Dr. John Whitehead, and H. A. Rouzer, Secretary. This Board of Directors brought to Salisbury Rev. George H. Atkinson, who had been running a normal and industrial institute for girls at Albemarle. The new institution then made an issue of bonds and thereby borrowed suflicient money to pay off the receiver's certificates.
The Institute conducted its work in buildings connected with the extensive Presbyterian Church properties in Salisbury, and never got into the new building, which was called "Faith Hall." The institution gathered considerable equipment by donation and purchase. The Rev. Mr. Atkinson operated a successful school, and turned out some very fine students. At
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/img//Administration Building.
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the same time he travelled extensively in the effort to raise funds, and it is estimated that he actually secured around one hundred thousand dollars. This money was expended mainly for materials and labor needed to carry forward the constructionof "Faith Hall." Those who were connected with the entire history of this property estimate that approximately two hundred and forty thousand dollars were actually expended upon it. A second fund of twenty-five or thirty thousand dollars was later raised in Salisbury for the Institute.
The Salisbury Normal and Industrial Institute carried on for five years. It had as many as one hundred and ten students, half of whom were day students, and as many as a dozen teachers. The students were for the most part girls of very poor circumstances. The type of work was largely of a practical sort, such as home economics, music and art, in addition to the standard high school work. Repeated disappvintments and financial difficulties led the Directors to give up the work.
After the Rev. Mr. Atkinson left, the Directors brought in from Ohio Dr. L. S. Fulmer, who was elected on July 24, 1922. He attempted to raise the money needed, but without success, and after about six months the project was abandoned.
Following the suggestions of Rev. C. C. Wagoner about this time, Mr. J. T. Hedrick, a Trustee of Catawba College, and Mr. H. A. Rouzer, Secretary of the Directors of the Institute, informally discussed the possibility of relocating Catawba College on this property. The Rev. Mr. Wagoner was intensely interested
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and called upon members of the Classis to interview the Rev. Dr. Clark and others about the property. A Committee consisting of Rev. W. C. Lyerly, Rev. Shuford Peeler, Rev. J. A. Palmer, and Elders J. W. Peeler, L. A. Corriher and J. P. Linn and others, made a number of trips to Salisbury and had interviews with Dr. Clark, Mr. Rouzer, and other members of the Board of Directors. Finally, it happened that the General Synod of the Reformed Church in the United States was to meet in Hickory in May, 1923. On their way to Hickory about two hundred members of the Synod stopped at Salisbury and were entertained at dinner by the Reformed Church of Salisbury. This delegation visited the property and became very enthusiastic. The potentialities of the splendid administration building did as much as anything else to create a new spirit of optimism, which was carried throughout the whole Church.
On May 21, 1923, a proposition was formally made by the Directors of the Institute to the Trustees of the College. The Trustees of Catawba College requested an extension of time till June 5, 1923. In June, 1923, after some plans had already been made to continue the college at Newton, an all-day meeting of the Classis was held at Salisbury. At this time, on account of the large deficit, it was decided that the school could not reopen. Shortly thereafter a meeting of the Trustees was held in connection with members of the Classis, in the First Church, to consider the purchase of the school property. Rev. Dr. C. E. Schaeffer, Rev. Dr. C. B. Schneder and Rev. J. C. Leonard, D. D., as the representatives of the Board of Home Missions, were
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asked to be present. From the standpoint of the Board of Home Missions, these representatives felt that the property should be purchased, and they promised the support of the Board. A motion to buy the property was carried and a Committee consisting of Revs. Shuford Peeler, J. H. Keller, and J. P. Linn was appointed to handle the matter relative to the transfer of the property. The property consisting of 43 acres, the large administration building, many thousands of dollars worth of furniture and equipment, was purchased for about $44,000.
At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Salisbury Normal and Industrial Institute, held in the office of the Secretary on the 1st day of October, 1923, the following resolution was offered and unanimously adopted:
"Resolved, That Catawba College take over the entire properties, both real and personal, of the Salisbury Normal and Industrial Institute, and assume all liabilities against the Salisbury Normal and Industrial Institute, including all notes or other accounts, or claims or liabilities outstanding against the party of the first part, or which may arise and be established in the future.
"It is further resolved that a proper deed of conveyance to carry into effect this resolution be prepared and executed by Byron Clark, President, and H. A. Rouzer, Secretary, and that said deed thereupon be delivered to said Catawba College."
/ri/4/(Signed) Byron Clark,//ri/
/ri/2/President of the Board.//ri/
(Signed) H. A. Rouzer,
{{gap}}Secy.
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Other denominations were seeking this valuable property for their educational work, but Dr. Clark and others of the Presbyterian Church, which controlled the property, felt that the sister denomination, the Reformed Church, as next of kin, should have the first chance.
After some time had elapsed a Committee consisting of Rev. Shuford Peeler and Dr. H. E. Rowe accomplished the removal of all the furniture and equipment of the old College to the new building. The chapel seats were sold to the Nazareth Orphans' Home, since pews for the new auditorium were already in the building at Salisbury.
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/ch//The Dawning of a New Day for Catawba College
THE TRUSTEES OF THE COLLEGE laid the following overture before General Synod at its triennial sessions in Hickory, North Carolina, in May, 1923:
To the Reverend General Synod of the Reformed Church:
Dear Fathers and Brethren:—The Trustees of Catawba College, located at Newton, North Carolina, respectfully request your Reverend Body to consider the following memorial:
At its last annual meeting in Charlotte the Classis of North Carolina, the owner and foster patron of Catawba College, the institution of the Reformed Church in the South, instructed the Board of Trustees to inaugurate plans to raise this institution to a "Standard 'A' College," and also to challenge the General Synod, convening in Corinth Reformed Church, Hickory, May 23, to take over Catawba College as a Missionary Educational Institution.
The Trustees at their annual meeting in May carefully went over the situation. It is our conviction that the time has come for us to meet the requirements of an "A" grade college. A Junior College will not meet the needs and demands of our Reformed people in North Carolina. We cannot hope to hold our young
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people in Catawba College unless we offer them advantages which will assure them of the same standing and rating with the graduates of other colleges. This will require an annual income of $50,000, at least half of which must be from endowment sources; a library of 8,000 volumes; separate building and faculty for an academy if run in connection with the college; eight heads of departments; 100 college students. We believe that the record of service of Catawba College is such as to have won the good-will of the people of the whole denomination. We occupy the extreme Southern border of the Reformed Church. Naturally, our losses in members and ministers are very heavy. But at the same time we are giving many strong preachers to other sections of our Church and numerous valuable members to other churches of our own and other denominations. Our ancestors believed, and their sons and daughters believe, that the college is essential to the existence of the Reformed Church in the South. We have certainly been dependent upon the college for a supply of ministers. Under the old system of sending our students North we gave the church 11 ministers. Then while the school did only High School and Junior College work, we gave to the denomination 16 preachers. And since we have been graduating students through the last 34 years, we have sent out to the Reformed Church ministry 38 young men, a total of 65 Gospel preachers. Besides, we have graduated many ministers for other denominations. It would be a distinct calamity to the State, to the nation, and particularly to the Reformed Church to close the doors of Catawba College.
n
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Here is a college which has paid large dividends in ministers of the Gospel and in other educated young men and women, trained well for service in the world. Here is a college which has served the denomination well in its capacity as a missionary institution through long years without official recognition.
Resolved that we, the Trustees of Catawba College, hereby earnestly and affectionately overture the General Synod to take such action as will preserve Catawba College to the Reformed Church, either through its "Educational Commission," or its "Board of Christian Education," or through such other means or agencies as the General Synod may devise or adopt.
At the opening session of the said General Synod, Rev. J. C. Leonard, D. D., an alumnus of Catawba College of the class of 1889, was elected President of this highest judicatory of the Reformed Church. In response to the overture of the Trustees of the College the General Synod took the following action:
"To the Reverend General Synod:
Dear Brethren: Your Committee on the Overture from the North Carolina Classis with reference to Catawba College presents the following report:
At our meeting we invited the President of the College, Rev. Dr. A. D. Wolfinger, members of the Board of Trustees, pastors of the Classis, to be present and to give us in verbal form the facts concerning this educational institution.
From what these brethren told us, and from the reading of the overture, we learned the following:
1. Catawba College has been in existence for 72 years. In that period it has sent 65 men into the
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ministry of the Reformed Church. If this institution had done nothing else in its history than just that, it would amply have repaid those who gave to it their time, their thought, and their money. Large, indeed, are such dividends; but it has likewise graduated a number of young men who have gone into the ministry of other denominations. It has also educated young men for other professions,—lawyers, doctors; young women, who have gone back into the churches where they are the leaders in every movement for the enlargement of the Kingdom.
2. That which saddened the hearts of your committee was to learn of the critical condition of the college. In plain words we are told that unless two things are done the doors of the institution will not be opened this fall. These two things are:
:(a) According to the educational standards of this State, Catawba is now a Junior College. This is to be changed in such a way that it will be made a college of the Grade 'A' standard. This is an unqualified demand on the part of the patrons of the college. Otherwise, they will not further support it financially, nor will parents continue to send their children to it.
:(b) To do this requires a large amount of money, and this the college does not have. Help, large help, must be given by the whole Reformed Church. It should have at least $350,000, if not $400,000. North Carolina cannot raise this amount alone, but its friends assure the committee that it could raise possibly half of this amount. Unless,
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/img//Main Entrance—Administration Building.
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:in this emergency, this absolute financial aid is given, there is no hope of saving the institution.
:(c) To permit this college to die is unthinkable. The continuance of this college is an absolute necessity, if we are to continue our work in the South, and thus assist in preëmpting this rapidly developing and most promising section of our country for Christ. What the college has done is an indication as to what it will do as a Home Missionary center.
In view of these facts your committee would submit the following for your consideration and action:
/bc//
(1) Synod endorses the desire of the Board of Trustees, the Faculty, and the friends of the institution to change the standing of the college from that of a Junior College to that of a Grade 'A' College.
(2) Synod pledges its moral and financial support to Catawba College, so vital to the life and growth of our denomination in the South, asking our pastors to open their pulpits as soon as possible to its representatives, pleading with our men and women of means to consider it as a place of most fruitful investment.
(3) We do not deem it expedient in this report to make any recommendation as to the relocation of Catawba College. This is a question to be determined by the Board of Trustees and the Classis of North Carolina, after a careful survey of all conditions. The offer of the splendid property at Salisbury is an example of the great possibilities open to the College
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should relocation be determined upon. It goes without saying that in the development of the institution into a standard 'A' college, the physical requirements as to buildings and equipment must be fully and adequately met.
(4) Inasmuch as the Board of Home Missions is giving to Catawba College at the rate of $200,000 out of its quota of the Forward Movement, and inasmuch as this institution is the chief Missionary agency for the promotion of our denomination in the South, your Committee recommends that Synod request the Board of Home Missions to act with the Board of Trustees of the College in an advisory capacity.
//bc/
In the consideration of the foregoing report, the General Synod was addressed by Drs. J. C. Leonard, Geo. W. Richards, Joseph H. Apple, A. D. Wolfinger, the president of Catawba College and Rev. W. W. Rowe. The report was finally adopted as a whole."
At a special meeting of the Classis of North Carolina held in the First Reformed Church, Salisbury, July 18, 1923, the following communication was received from the Trustees of Catawba College:
The Board of Trustees of Catawba College would submit for your information the following action taken by the Board at meetings held on June 5, 1923, and on July 18, 1923:
1. On June 5, 1923, the Board voted to accept the proposition offered by the Trustees of the Salisbury Normal and Industrial Institute in regard to their property on condition that the citizens of Salis-
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bury raise the sum of $50,000 for the benefit of the Institution.
2. On June 13, 1923, the Board voted to suspend class-room work during the coming school year.
The Classis thereupon adopted the following resolutions:
/bc//
Resolved, That we endorse the action of the Trustees of Catawba College in suspending collegiate work during the coming year.
Resolved, That we request the Board of Trustees of Catawba College to reconsider its action of June 5, 1923, and advise the Board of Trustees to accept immediately the proposition of the Board of Trustees of the Salisbury Normal and Industrial Institute, and to take over the property.
//bc/
In harmony with this action of the Classis, the Trustees on July 18, 1923, took action to accept the offer of the authorities of the Salisbury Normal and Industrial Institute. The formal transfer was made, the consideration being $46,818.60.
A succinct statement of the ''status quo'' at this time is given as follows in the official records of the Classis, meeting in St. Mark's Reformed Church, Alamance County, May 6, 1924:
{{c|Report of Treasurer of Catawba College.}}
{{c|As of May 1st, 1924.}}
{|
|G. G. Solliday Endowment
|$20,000.00
|-
|G. G. Solliday Interest Fund
|1,460.81
|-
|Rebecca Solliday Church Building Fund
|3,590.96
|-
|Alumni Endowment
|13,689.00
|-
|General Endowment
|17,000.00
/foot//
|}
//foot/
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/head//
{|
//head/
|-
|Emanuel Pontius Home Building Fund
|873.20
|-
|Library Endowment
|1,528.44
|-
|Forward Movement Fund
|63,023.94
|-
|Bills Payable
|32,500.00
|}
Invested as follows:
{|
|Home Mission Board Notes
|$20,000.00
|-
|First Real Estate Mortgage and Notes
|26,179.66
|-
|Citizens Building & Loan Stock
|2,164.10
|-
|Salisbury Building
|46,818.60
|-
|Town of Newton Bond
|500.00
|-
|Liberty Bond, U. S. Government
|50.00
|-
|Rebecca Solliday Church Building Fund Notes
|1,650.00
|-
|Catawba College Building (Newton)
|56,029.64
|-
|Cash on hand
|274.35
|-
|
|$153,666.35
|}
The action of Classis was the adoption of the following report of the Committee on Education:
The report of the Board of Trustees of Catawba College has come into our hands and we have gleaned the following facts from the minutes of the Trustee Meetings and of the Classis: On June 25, Dr. A. D. Wolfinger resigned as President of the College to take effect September 30, 1923. On July 18, the Trustees decided to suspend work at Catawba College for one year, which action was endorsed by Classis on the
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same date. As per instruction of Classis, the Trustees further took action on the same date to purchase the property of the Salisbury Normal and Industrial Institute at Salisbury and appointed a committee to dispose of the Newton property. On {{SIC|Auggust|August}} 7, the committee on Buildings and Grounds leased the Newton property to Asheville University. On November 28, the Trustees took action to sell tha Newton property to Asheville University and terms of sale were accepted by the President of said Asheville University. On November 28, C. M. Rowe resigned as President of the Board and Edgar Whitener was elected to succeed him. On the same date, Dr. Clarence Clapp resigned as Treasurer and G. A. Fisher was elected to succeed him. On December 6, Classis accepted the resignation of George Moose and Rev. W. W. Rowe as Trustees and elected J. P. Linn and Dr. J. C. Leonard to succeed them. On July 18, 1923, action was taken to raise $400,000 endowment for the College and a canvass was launched within the bounds of the Classis, the same to be conducted during the month of September. Rev. Shuford Peeler was elected to finish this canvass within the bounds of the Classis and Rev. J. H. Keller to solicit funds for the endowment in the North.
We heartily commend the Trustees for every forward step that has been taken during the year, but we regret to learn that no plans have been made for the immediate completion of the Salisbury Building and the opening of the College this year.
The Classis wishes to reiterate its action of one year ago that only an "A" grade Institution will meet our
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needs and its instruction to the Board of Trustees to proceed to lay such plans as are necessary to make Catawba College an "A" grade Institution. But the Classis is mindful that other things besides endowment, such as a faculty, students, and equipment, are necessary for the attainment of that goal. We realize, therefore, that if every cent of the endowment was in possession of the College at the present time, it would be practically impossible to open the Institution with an "A" grade rating.
Your committee, therefore, presents the following for your consideration and adoption:
1. The Classis advises the Board of Trustees to hasten the completion of the $400,000 endowment within the bounds of the Classis, in Salisbury, and throughout the Church by the sending out of sucn additional workers as are necessary.
2. The Classis advises the Trustees to resume collegiate work by opening Catawba College in Salisbury in September, 1925.
3. The Classis advises the Board of Trustees to proceed at once to the selection of a Dean or President who shall begin work at the earliest possible date.
4. The Classis advises that the unused portion of interest received on the G. G. Solliday Endowment Fund be applied to the Rebecca Solliday Church Building Fund as per instructions provided for in the will.
5. That Classis apportion 43 cents per member for Catawba College and that the same be placed in the contingent column.
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/img//Rev. Shuford Peeler.
—p
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6. That Classis hereby calls upon all our people to cooperate with the Board of Trustees in carrying out the above instructions and in the working out of such other plans as may be deemed necessary for a greater Catawba College, looking forward to the time within the next few years when our College may be an "A" grade Institution and take her place along with the other Christian Colleges of the State in the education of the youth of our land.
The Trustees felt that before the College could be reopened an endowment fund must be secured. It was decided that the minimum amount which must be raised to meet the State requirements for a standard college was $400,000. Hence, the task of raising this tremendous sum was undertaken. A Committee consisting of Rev. Shuford Peeler, J. T. Hedrick and Rev. J. H. Keller was appointed to work out a plan of campaign.
The plan of campaign recommended by the Committee was as follows: $150,000 to be secured in the North Carolina Classis, $200,000 to be secured in the Reformed Church outside of North Carolina, and $50,000 to be secured in the city of Salisbury. The Classis was divided into three sections for the campaign: the Eastern, Central and Western, and allotments made the different sections. Rev. Shuford Peeler, in connection with his pastoral work at Charlotte, had charge of the campaign in the Classis. Literature was distributed through the Churches, the campaign launched, and over $140,000 raised in the Classis. Rev. J. H. Keller was given leave of absence by his congregations, and spent a number of months in the North in
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the interests of the college, and secured subscriptions for nearly ten thousand dollars.
It is easy to see that these months were epoch-making in the history of Catawba College. As a matter of record the names of the Trustees and the committees are herewith given; and also the names of those composing the first faculty of the new Institution:
{{c|{{uc|Trustees.}}}}
{{c|Term Expires 1925.}}
{{sc|Edgar Whitener}}, High Point, N. C., ''President.''
{{sc|H. E. Rowe}}, M. D., Newton, N. C.
{{sc|Rev. John H. Keller}}, China Grove, N. C.
{{sc|M. A. Foil}}, M. D., Mt. Pleasant, N. C.
{{sc|J. T. Hedrick}}, Lexington, N. C.
{{sc|Rev. George Longaker}}, D. D., Hickory, N. C., ''Secretary.''
{{c|Term Expires 1926.}}
{{sc|Rev. J. C. Leonard}}, D. D., Lexington, N. C.
{{sc|J. O. Moose}}, Concord, N. C.
{{sc|W. G. Hinkle}}, Thomasville, N. C.
{{sc|J. T. Plott}}, Greensboro, N. C.
{{sc|Rev. Shuford Peeler}}, Charlotte, N. C.
{{sc|J. P. Linn}}, Landis, N. C.
{{c|Term Expires 1927.}}
{{sc|John W. Peeler}}, Rockwell, N. C., ''Vice-President.''
{{sc|C. M. Rowe}}, Newton, N. C.
{{sc|John L. Gerber}}, York, Pa.
{{sc|G. A. Fisher}}, Salisbury, N. C., Treasurer.
{{sc|L. A. Corriher}}, Landis, N. C.
{{sc|Harry Foil}}, Mt. Pleasant, N. C.
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/img//South Hall—Faculty Apartments.
—p
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{{c|{{uc|Standing committees.}}}}
{{c|''Executive.''}}
{{c|{{sc|Edgar Whitener}}, ''Chairman''}}
{| style="margin: auto; font-variant: small-caps; width: 25em;"
|J. W. Peeler
|G. A. Fisher
|-
|REV. George Longaker, D. D.
|J. T. Hedrick
|}
{{c|''Finance and Investments''}}
{{c|{{sc|J. T. Hedrick}}, ''Chairman''}}
{| style="margin: auto; font-variant: small-caps; width: 25em;"
|John L. Gerber
|J. P. Linn
|-
|W. G. Hinkle
|Edgar Whitener
|}
{{c|''Buildings and Grounds''}}
{{c|{{sc|L. A. Corriher}}, ''Chairman''}}
{| style="margin: auto; font-variant: small-caps; width: 25em;"
|Harry Foil
|J. O. Moose
|-
|J. T. Plott
|Dr. M. A. Foil
|}
{{c|''Budget''}}
{{c|{{sc|Edgar Whitener}}, ''Chairman''}}
{| style="margin: auto; font-variant: small-caps; width: 25em;"
|Dr. J. C. Leonard
|L. A. Corriher
|-
|J. T. Hedrick
|C. M. Rowe
|}
{{c|''Instruction''}}
{{c|{{sc|Dr. J. C. Leonard}}, ''Chairman''}}
{| style="margin: auto; font-variant: small-caps; width: 25em;"
|Rev. George Longaker, D. D.
|Rev. Shuford Peeler
|-
|Dr. H. E. Rowe
|Rev. John H. Keller
|}
{{c|{{uc|Officers of administration.}}}}
{|
|{{sc|Rev. Elmer Rhodes Hoke, Ph. D.}},
|President
|-
|{{sc|Rev. Shuford Peeler}}
|Bursar and Dean of Men
|-
|{{sc|W. Augusta Lantz, M. S.,}}
|Registrar and Dean of Women.
|}
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{{c|{{uc|Faculty}}}}
{{sc|Elmer Rhodes Hoke}}, B. D., Ph. D., President and Professor of Education and Psychology
{{sc|Shuford Peeler, A. B., B. D.,}} Bursar, Dean of Men, and Professor of Religion
{{sc|W. Augusta Lantz, M. S.,}} Registrar and Dean of Women
{{sc|Ernst Derendinger, Ph. D.,}} Professor of History and Modern Languages
{{sc|Raymond Jenkins, Ph. D.,}} Professor of English
{{sc|John Paul Pritchard, Ph. D.,}} Professor of Ancient Languages
{{sc|George Garfield Ramsey, Ph. D.,}} Professor of Chemistry
{{sc|Ralph P. Seward, Ph. D.,}} Professor of Physics and Mathematics
{{sc|Mary F. Seymour, A. M.,}} Professor of Biology, Physiology and Hygiene
{{sc|Emma Louise Wills, B. A.,}} Librarian
{{sc|Florence Fransioli Busby,}} Director of Dramatic Art
{{sc|Grace Goodykoontz,}} Instructor in Voice
{{sc|Lura Garner, A. B., B. M.,}} Instructor in Piano
{{sc|Harold Hastings Newman,}} A. B., M. D., F. A. C. S.
{{sc|James Graham Ramsay,}} A. B., M. D. (Associate College Physicians, Directors of Physical Education and Athletics)
{{sc|Olive L. Jenkins, B. L. I.,}} Instructor in Expression
{{sc|Laura Warren Maupin, B. M.,}} Instructor in Theoretical Music
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/img//President Hoke.
—p
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Rev. Elmer R. Hoke, Ph. D.,/r//Elmer Rhodes Hoke, son of Edward John and Mary Margaret (Rhodes) Hoke, was born at Ada, Ohio, September 16, 1892. In 1909 he graduated from the Lewistown, Pennsylvania, High School. Franklin and Marshall College conferred upon him the A. B. degree in 1913, and the A. M. in 1914. In 1917 he received the B. D. degree from. The Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He received the A. M. degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1920, and the Ph. D. in 1922. He served in two pastorates as follows: Faith Reformed Church, Trafford, Pa., 1917-18; Trinity Reformed Church, Baltimore, Md., 1918-20. From 1920 to 1922 he was Professor of Education and Psychology in Hood College, and from 1922 to 1924 he held the same chair in Lebanon Valley College. He also taught during summer sessions in Birmingham-Southern College, the University of Richmond, and Lebanon Valley College. He is the author of a technical book which is in its second edition, and is a charter member of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science. He was elected President of Catawba College on August 7, 1924.//r/ was elected President of Catawba College on August 7, 1924. Shortly after, he gave official notice of his acceptance of the honorable and responsible position. His first annual report to the Classis of North Carolina, in session at Lower Stone Church, Rowan County, May, 1925, is a succinct statement of the development of the college, parts of which, together with a summary from the report of the treasurer of the college, Mr. George A. Fisher, are as follows:
{{sc|Report of the Trustees of Catawba College:}}
To the Reverend Classis of North Carolina:
Dear Fathers and Brethren:
"As President of Catawba College, I beg leave to present the following report for your consideration:
"I was elected to the presidency of Catawba College and began my work on September 1, 1924, almost four
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months after the last annual sessions of your body. The situation of the college on September 1 was practically the same as that reported to you a year ago, with the exception that the reported sale of the old Catawba College property to the Asheville Universities, Inc., had been found to be a disappointment, inasmuch as the supposed buyers were not responsible parties.
"In accordance with the report of the President of the Board a year ago, and in accordance also with the recommendations contained in the report of the Committee on Education, it was clearly stated to me by the members of the Board of Trustees with whom I conferred prior to my call, that the principal work that would be expected of the President during the first year was that of endeavoring to complete the subscription of an endowment fund of four hundred thousand dollars.
"At my request Rev. John H. Keller again took a furlough from his pastorate and went into the Church in the North to continue his work for the endowment fund. After approximately two months Brother Keller felt that the time had come when it would be necessary for him, in fairness to his charge, to return to the work of his pastorate.
"The month of September I spent in an effort to organize a campaign through the four Synods: Ohio, Pittsburg, Potomac, and Eastern. I drove over these four Synods in my car, interviewing brethren in the ministry, who I had reason to believe might be efficient workers for Catawba College. In making selections of these I had the advice of Dr. Chas. E. Schaeffer and others. The plan of organization had also been ap-
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proved by men in whom I had reason to have confidence, especially Mr. George A. Williams, who later conducted our successful campaign in Salisbury. It was his judgment that no better plan could be devised. I was successful in securing the promises of fifty ministers in thirty Classes that they would sacrifice their time and energy in the effort to secure the proper support for Catawba College in their respective territories. I regret to report the plan a comparative failure. Only two or three of the men accomplished anything worth mentioning.
"The month of October was consumed mainly in attendance upon the four Synods. From that time on to the Christmas holidays I was continuously occupied in the directing of the campaign, in soliciting subscriptions, and in public presentations of the cause. I had prepared two booklets together with other pieces of literature and during this period had sent out to the larger contributors of the Church probably thirty thousand pieces of literature. I also kept the cause before the Church by having one or more articles in practically every issue of all the Church papers. While subscriptions were not received as rapidly as they should have been to insure the complete success of the effort to raise two hundred thousand dollars, yet I was happy to note numerous evidences of a rapidly growing sentiment throughout the whole church in favor of the college. All in all, I felt that the work of these four months, while it had not succeeded in raising a great sum of money, had nevertheless been a success, in that the way was prepared for complete success in the future. Everywhere members in our
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church began to say: 'This thing must be done, it can be done, and it will be done.'
"On December 29, I went to Salisbury with Mr. Geo. A. Williams, a member of St. John's Reformed Church of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and an expert in the conduct of short-time {{SIC|compaigns|campaigns}}. Working under the authority of the Board of Trustees, and with the approval of the Chamber of Commerce and other organizations in Salisbury, we began to gather together an organization for a campaign for two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in Salisbury and adjacent counties.
"At the time of your last meeting, the plan was to raise fifty thousand dollars in Salisbury. We now planned to secure twenty thousand dollars in each of the five counties bordering on Rowan. The campaign had not advanced far before it was found that this part of the plan was a vain hope. It was necessary, therefore, to give up that part of our program and to try to secure one hundred and fifty thousand dollars in Rowan County. It should be noted here that Mr. Williams did his work well. Tactfully he brought together discordant elements and enlisted the full support of the entire community, with the result that on the closing night of the campaign, February 16, 1925, the reports ran the total secured considerably beyond the goal of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. In connection with this campaign, also, a booklet was prepared and literature sent to all the members of our church in the state. For this purpose the mailing list of the 'Standard' was used. It was hoped, by this method, to complete the campaign within the Classis. Committees were also organized at several points in
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the Classis who were charged with the responsibility of completing the work in their sections. Some small results were secured from these efforts and the total was brought to within ten per cent of the goal.
"During January, February, and March I presented the cause practically every Sunday in the larger churches of Reading and Harrisburg, and found time to secure a few contributions. I also kept in touch with the ministers of our church, and with the organization of workers and the committees appointed by Synods and Classes, although I never secured any large measure of coöperation.
"During these months several meetings of the Board of Trustees were held and much important work was done. Plans were being prepared for the girls' dormitory and for the reopening of the institution. Finally, the Trustees were brought face to face with a great problem. The campaigns had not attained complete success. The total of four hundred thousand dollars was not fully subscribed. Yet there was sufficient success to make it impossible to turn back. The Board found that while they were not fully ready to reopen the college, yet they were forced to do so, in order to keep faith with those who had subscribed to the fund. Accordingly, it was decided to reopen the institution in September, 1925, and a committee was appointed to finance, plan, and carry out the necessary building program. On April 1 I took up residence in the college at Salisbury, and on April 10 contracts were let for the completion of our Main Hall and for the erection of our girls' dormitory, the W. M. S. G. S. Hall.
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"Many other things needed to be done in order to prepare for the reopening of the institution. Chief among these was the securing of a faculty and students. After a voluminous correspondence with universities and candidates, the Committee on Instruction made certain recommendations to the Board about 4 month ago. We are happy to report that we have succeeded in securing what we consider a very strong faculty.
"The new catalogues have come from the press and the campaign for enrolling students is getting under way. By action of the Board of Trustees every Minister of Classis is appointed a committee of one to work for the enrollment of students from his own territory. The success of the college in its first year depends very largely upon our success in enrolling a large number of students. Those brethren who will serve faithfully and give their best efforts to this work will be rendering a most important service to our Church.
"The members of the Board of Trustees and the officers of the college are in complete accord in their intention to prosecute the campaign for two hundred thousand dollars in the church at large. They believe that during the coming year this campaign will be more aggressively and more successfully carried on than ever before. Rev. Shuford Peeler has been elected Financial Secretary and will give his full time from May 1, 1925, to September 1, 1926, to the prosecution of the work, probably in the Eastern Synod. Rev. H. N. Smith, of Marion, Pennsylvania, who has done good work for our cause, has been elected as an additional financial agent. He will give his full time from May 1,
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1925, to September 1, 1926, to this work, in the Pittsburg Synod, completing the work in the Potomac Synod, and perhaps assisting in the Eastern Synod. The President of the college expects to give at least onehalf of his time to the work of the campaign in the Church at large.
"During the past year, we have been greatly handicapped in our efforts by the fact that it was the Completion Year of the Forward Movement and the first year of the increased apportionment. Many of our strongest churches felt that they were already burdened beyond the limit. Congregations that had subscribed thirty, forty, or fifty thousand dollars for the Forward Movement, were making great efforts to secure payments of their subscriptions, and they felt, doubtless with some justice, that their principal business was to devote all energies and efforts to the completion of the Forward Movement. Doubtless it is true that the past year was in many ways the worst in the history of the Church for such a campaign as we tried to wage.
"With the closing of the Forward Movement on June 30, and after the churches have settled down far a year to the increased apportionment, we believe that the coming year will be more auspicious for our efforts. However, we need to take warning of the fact that there will be at least a half-dozen other campaigns carried on by various Boards and Institutions of our Church during the coming year. The multiplicity of campaigns may again prove a serious handicap. However, we are all determined to press forward with all patience and Christian love, but at the same time with
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all the energy and determination that we can command. Of this we are convinced: that it is the will of the whole Church that the two hundred thousand dollars approved by the General Synod is to be given to Catawba College. It remains to 'perform the doing of it.'
"Building operations are under way at the College. Steps are being taken and investigations made looking toward the completion and proper equipment of the institution on a standard 'A' grade basis throughout. A strong faculty will be there, and we can conscientiously promise to pastors and parents that if they send their young people to Catawba College they will receive an education as good as can be secured anywhere. Above all, we hope that there will be many young men and women preparing definitely for Christian service as ministers, missionaries, or in other capacities. Our prayer is not that God shall make Catawba great, but that He shall use her greatly. 'He that would be great among you, let him be your minister.'
"We are glad to report that on Thursday, April 26, the college property at Newton was put on sale by one of the land companies, with fairly satisfactory results. The total amount of the sale was approximately $64,000, which includes, however, the sum of approximately $21,000 bid by the committee for the Main building and the ground on which it stands. This part of the property, therefore, remains in the possessicn of the Trustees. We have reason to believe that it can be disposed of to better advantage by private sale than if sold at auction.
"Before closing this report I am constrained to express my deep appreciation for the fine spirit of loyalty
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/img//J. T. Hedrick.
—p
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of our people in the Classis, for the many kindnesses of my brethren, for the harmonious support by the Board of Trustees of every movement which was calculated for the advancement of the interests of the college, and for the unstinted labors of the Trustees and Ministers.
"It is but fair that I should make special mention of the services of Mr. J. T. Hedrick, the chairman of our Building and Finance Committee, who gave weeks of his time to painstaking study and investigation of building plans, who saved for the college a great deal of money by putting at its disposal all the advantages of his business acumen, and who succeeded in financing our building operations only by pledging a large sum of his own securities. In the whole history of cur Church, North and South, East and West, there have been very few instances in which any man has matched the services of this good friend and brother.
"My only request of the Classis is that you continue to stand steadfastly back of the college. Much work remains to be done. If the people of our Church will stand by the college now, they shall find that the College will be one of the strongest supports of the Church in the future. Our people have a mind to see this through. Let us look to God in prayer for his benediction upon our labors, and then work on to success. It is His will that we seek to perform. Therefore, we cannot fail, for He never fails."
/ri/4/Respectfully submitted,//ri/
/ri//Elmer R. Hoke, President.//ri/
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{{c|Report of Treasurer of Catawba College.<br>As of May 1, 1925.}}
{|
|G. G. Solliday Endowment
|$20,000.00
|-
|General Endowment
|17,000.00
|-
|Alumni Endowment
|13,689.00
|-
|Rebecca Solliday Church Building Fund
|5,724.93
|-
|Emanuel Pontius Home Building Fund
|925.58
|-
|Library Endowment
|1,620.12
|-
|Forward Movement Fund
|73,903.87
|-
|Building and Endowment Subscriptions
|214,551.16
|-
|Endowment Subscriptions
|134,722.00
|-
|Gifts and Accumulations
|189,842.74
|-
|Athletic Fund
|84.27
|-
|Bills Payable
|28,500.00
|-
|
|$700,563.67
|}
Invested as follows:
{|
| Home Mission Board Notes
| $20,000.00
|-
| Real Estate Mortgages and Notes
| 53,376.50
|-
| Citizens Building and Loan Stock
| 2,515.10
|-
| Salisbury Building
| 196,884.65
|-
| Grounds
| 25,000.00
|-
| Books, Equipment, and Furniture
| 32,262.70
|-
| Rebecca Solliday Church Building Fund Note
| 900.00
|-
| Bonds
| 1,050.00
|-
| Catawba College Building and 22 lots, Newton
| 23,533.74
/foot//
|}
//foot/
-
/head//
{|
//head/
|-
| Subscriptions Outside of North Carolina
| 49,936.17
|-
| Subscriptions in Salisbury Campaign
| 151,643.50
|-
| Subscriptions in North Carolina Classis
| 133,172.90
|-
| Cash
| 10,188.41
|-
|
| $700,563.67
|}
Note: Since this Statement was prepared Bills Pay able has been reduced by $8,500.00.
/ri/4/Respectfully submitted,//ri/
/ri/2/G. A. Fisher, Treasurer.//ri/
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/ch//The First Year of the New Catawba College
THE FOLLOWING is the report of the President of Catawba College, Dr. Elmer R. Hoke, at the end of the first scholastic year, submitted both to the Classis of North Carolina, in 96th annual sessions in Hedrick's Grove Reformed Church, Davidson County, May 11, 1926, and to the Trustees of the College on June 7:
The first year of the work of the new Catawba College at Salisbury has been brought to a close. Already the friends of the institution have been convinced that the college in its new location has a very successful and bright future. These are days of hopefulness and enthusiam in this cause which is so dear to our hearts. Under such happy circumstances it is a privilege to present this, the first annual report of the work of the new Catawba.
{{c|{{sc|Outstanding Events of the Year.}}}}
Since our last annual meeting the Administration Building and Zartman Hall have been completed, and the latter dedicated with impressive ceremonies. The college opened with a splendid reopening program. On this occasion the address was delivered by our State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. A. T. Allen.
The next important public event was the Inauguration of the President. This function was well-attended.
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A large number of delegates were present from various institutions, and from the Church Boards. The principal address of the occasion was delivered by Dr. J. Henry Highsmith, State Supervisor of High Schools, who had also rendered important service in assisting the Building Committee to lay plans for our building program. The degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred upon Dr. Highsmith as a token of appreciation of his special services in helping to solve our problems, as well as in recognition of his attainments and his larger services in the State. The addresses of Dr. Allen and Dr. Highsmith, together with the inaugural address of the President, have been published in one of the Bulletins of the College under the title: "The College—Three Addresses."
Early in January the Committee of the North Carolina College Conference inspected the College and reported in favor of giving full credit for four years of college work. Thus, the institution has attained its ambition for accredited standing as an A-grade college. This rating, however, is not yet permanent, but will become so only as the college continues to show on further inspections that the standards are being met. (In December, 1926, this rating was made permanent and unconditional.)
Another important event of the year was the awarding of the contract for the new gymnasium on April 2. Already the building is well under way and it will certainly be available for use at the opening of the college in September. By this step Catawba will be provided with an equipment for physical and athletic work rarely matched in small colleges.
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{{c|{{sc|Publications.}}}}
During the year the college took the necessary steps to have its catalogue admitted to second class under the name of "The Catawba College Bulletin," published quarterly in April, July, October, and January. In this series have appeared the following:
Volume I.
:No. 1. The Prospectus (first catalogue) (Not under second class.)
:No. 2. Scholarship Announcement.
:No. 3. Report to the Potomac Synod.
:No. 4. The College—Three Addresses.
Volume II.
:No. 1. The Catalogue.
:No. 2. Booklet of Views.
:No. 3. Supplement. Announcement of the Music Department.
The Registrar is at work on an Alumni Directory or Roster which is to be published in the series. It is hoped that this will inaugurate a movement for closer organization and greater activity on the part of the Alumni. Already the request has come from Alumni for an annual reunion in connection with commencement week.
{{c|{{sc|The Faculty.}}}}
We are convinced that a college may be great without being either large or rich, and that it may even do as good work, or better work than some institutions that are apparently more fortunate in numbers and financial strength. Accordingly, Catawba College was reorganized with a definite policy of seeking for its
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professorships only men and women who could meet the following requirements:
1. A Ph. D. degree or the equivalent training in a recognized graduate school to insure knowledge of the subject to be taught.
2. Membership in a Protestant Christian Church to insure their contribution to a Christian religious atmosphere and purpose in the college.
3. Successful experience in college teaching.
Accordingly, the first faculty consisted of sixteen persons, seven of whom had only part time work in connection with the library, dramatics, music, physical education, and athletics. The other nine have had an average of {{uc|four years of post graduate work}}. Of the six professors giving their full time to academic instruction, all but one actually hold the Ph. D. degree from leading universities. The Professor of Biology has had equivalent graduate training in several universities, and was chosen for extraordinary recommendation which she has amply justified. All the professors of the first year have been reelected and have accepted their contracts. Members of the faculty have commented upon the fine spirit of cooperation that exists. Ours is a happy group. It is our ambition to avoid sources of discontent so that the faculty may never suffer from any great annual exodus, but become a relatively stable as well as a strong group.
The following additions have been made for the next academic year:
{{sc|Carlton C. Rice, Ph. D.,}} Harvard, French and Spanish.
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{{sc|Bruce A. Wentz, Ph. D.,}} Johns Hopkins, Psychology.
{{sc|Clayton B. Alexander, Ph. D.,}} U. N. C., History.
{{sc|Ruth B. Smith, B. S.,}} Cornell, Home Economics.
{{sc|Gabriel Zsigmondy,}} Royal Academy of Music, Budapest, Music.
{{sc|Rob Roy Peery, A. B.,}} Mus. B., Midland and Oberlin, Violin, Organ.
{{sc|Olive L. Jenkins, B. L. I.,}} Emerson, Public Speaking and Expression.
{{sc|Dora L. Kline, A. B.,}} Hood, two years library science in George Washington University, Librarian.
{{sc|G. Flake Laird, B. S.,}} Davidson, Director of Physical Education.
There will also be four student assistants, two in Biology and two in Chemistry.
In this connection mention should also be made of the faithful and efficient services of Janie E. Anderson as bookkeeper and assistant to the treasurer, Mr. L. P. Davis as Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds, and Mrs. L. P. Davis as Superintendent of the boarding department. For the second year there will also be a stenographer who will have charge of the Book Store and Post Office in a large room that is being fitted up for the purpose. Altogether, the college will have, next year, a splendid staff of more than thirty capable and efficient workers.
During the past year practically every member of the faculty has attended one or more professional meetings or conferences of their respective learned societies or academies. In this way the name of the college and
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the professional interest of its faculty have been brought to the attention of the public.
New departments of instruction are being developed. With the coming of Zsigmondy, who will easily rank as the first musician in this State, and Rob Roy Peery, who has no peer as a musician in this State, Catawba's department of Music will without any doubt rank with the very best. Miss Smith will begin the development of a major course in Home Economics. The election of Dr. Alexander, relieving Dr. Derendinger of practically all work in History, will permit of his developing a Department of Art, for which he is extraordinarily well qualified by virtue of his special work in that field in European Universities, as well as by virtue of his own temperament and interests. Thus Catawba will become a leader in developing this new field of work in the college—a field which is just now attracting so much attention from educators.
{{c|{{sc|The Student Body.}}}}
The total enrollment of students for the year was 127. Of this number 91 were Freshmen, 17 Sophomores, and 19 unclassified. 73% came from Rowan County, 25% from other counties of the State, and only 3% from other States. It is expected that these percentages will be gradually reversed as the college develops in its new location.
I am happy to report that we have had practically no sickness during the year. Dr. Pritchard was compelled to undergo an operation for appendicitis, and Dr. Jenkins suffered from a severe case of mumps. In these cases practically all the work was carried by
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other professors. Our experience indicates the wisdom of using the space intended in the original plans for an infirmary for other purposes. The small college in a city with hospital facilities should scarcely burden itself with the heavy expense of an infirmary for which it probably has almost no need. We are profoundly grateful for the good health enjoyed by the college.
One matter which has caused deep regret on the part of the faculty has been the fact that a considerable number of students either could not or would not do college work. Fairly high standards have been maintained by the faculty. If we have been at fault in this respect, our error has probably been in the direction of over-strictness. A number of students withdrew of their own accord, and a number of others were asked to withdraw. It has already become evident that such a faculty as ours will not allow standards to be lowered.
The college has had very little trouble with discipline. What little trouble we have had has been for the most part with students who also failed in their courses. The college has felt the lack of the steadying and guiding influence of upper classes; but there has been a marked improvement noticeable during the year. With the elimination of the students who failed, the situation became steadily better.
Towards the close of the year the students were encouraged to organize a Student Government. It is hoped that the best influences in the student body will gain control and will contribute much to the development of a healthy atmosphere in work and play.
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Other student activities have also been organized, such as the Y. M. C. A., the Ministerial Band, the Philomathean and Athenaean Literary Societies, the Athletic Association, the Dramatic Club known as the Blue Masque, and the Glee Club. It is to be regretted that some of these organizations were not as active as might be desired. However, it is felt that with increased numbers their work will be much improved next year.
In order to help reëstablish the college for the first year, a number of students were awarded fifty dollar scholarships. This is not to be continued for next year, but a reduction of twenty dollars has been made in the rates for boarding students. The Faculty has found the "five-day plan" unsatisfactory, and it has been abandoned. The college will doubtless have a six-day schedule next year. The only scholarships available are the twelve Solliday scholarships of one hundred dollars each, given under certain restrictions to ministerial students. In addition, a loan fund has been established by the gift of $750 by the Masonic Fraternity. This fund is loaned by the faculty only in emergency cases. This year one loan was made to the amount of one hundred dollars to a very worthy student who would otherwise have been compelled to withdraw. The friends of the college should gradually establish both scholarship and loan funds sufficient to meet the urgent needs of worthy young men and women.
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{{c|{{sc|Student Activities.}}}}
The one student activity that has probably consumed more time and effort than any other has been athletics. The college sent out teams in football, basketball, baseball and track. The athletic phase of the work of the college has been fairly initiated. The various teams, composed for the most part of freshmen, made as creditable a showing as should be expected. They had no full time or paid coach, and were without such facilities as the new gymnasium will hereafter afford.
The Blue Masque has done especially good work under the direction of Mrs. J. C. Busby, who has made friends of all the students, and has given them excellent training. Four public performances were held during the year, the last of the four before the members of the four civic clubs, their wives, and friends.
The work of the literary societies of the college should get a great impetus next year. Mr. Hurley of the Salisbury Post has announced the gift of a beautiful cup to be awarded annually to the winning society, and permanently to the society which first attains its tenth victory. The Civitan Club will also give a medal to the best individual debater, while the Warlick Orator's Medal will also be continued.
{{c|{{sc|Finance.}}}}
The college is being conducted under the budget system, though of course that system could not be expected to work perfectly for the first year or two. The income of the college is beginning to assume quite creditable proportions. It is expected that with the
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/img//Zartman Hall—Girl's Dormitory.
—p
-
fees from increasing numbers of students the college will be able to conduct its work without a deficit. There has been a small deficit the first year, but not so large as might have been expected under the circumstances, in reopening what is to all intents and purposes a new institution, though we are proud of the past and are seeking to maintain the continuity of the new and the old Catawba.
The Forward Movement has continued to bring some support to the institution, while some progress has also been made in our several campaigns. Reverend Mr. Smith has labored faithfully in the Northern part of our Church, and has accomplished, despite trying circumstances, some good work.
One of the most encouraging events of the year, financially, was the action of the Potomac Synod levying an apportionment of ten cents per member for Catawba College. This should produce an income of approximately five thousand dollars, which will be enjoyed next year for the first time.
Inasmuch as circumstances in the Church have made it impossible to secure in full, up to this time, the sum of two hundred thousand dollars in the Church outside of North Carolina, as authorized by the last General Synod, the Board of Trustees is petitioning the General Synod, meeting at Philadelphia, May, 1926, to levy a small apportionment so as to bring to Catawba some support from the whole Church.
Catawba has three groups of friends to whom she may appeal for financial support: the community, the North Carolina Classis, and the denomination at large. The possibilities from these three sources are for the
-
time being practically exhausted, without giving the college all the support that it needs. We are therefore casting about hopefully and prayerfully for such other sources of support as may be enlisted for our work. The future alone can determine what success we shall have in this effort.
{{c|{{sc|Equipment.}}}}
Our chief asset in the way of equipment is, of course, our great Administration Building, which is really five buildings in one: a faculty building, a boys' dormitory, an administration building, a building of classrooms, and a science building. In addition, we have a splendid dormitory for girls, Elizabeth Conrad Zartman Hall, built at a cost of $46,000. The W. M. S. G. S. and the G. M. G. have already appropriated $28,000 for this purpose, and the Cabinet of the W. M. S. voted during the year to recommend to the W. M. S., meeting in connection with the sessions of General Synod, the payment of the full cost. A new gymnasium is rapidly being constructed, and the opening of the college in September will find us with a complete college plant, ranking among the best.
The college has excellent electrical, sewerage, and water systems, as well as an adequate central heating plant, with adequate hot water tanks and heaters. There is a modern kitchen and dining room, nine rooms well fitted up for instruction in the sciences, and a library which has gone far beyond the standard required, and which is housed in most attractive quarters. The college is being well equipped for dramatic work, as well as for instruction in art. The music studios are on
-
/img//The Gymnasium.
—p
-
the fourth floor. Our professors and staff are unusually well housed in comfortable rooms, and their rooms are well furnished, as is the college throughout. A large, fire proof vault was built in the college for the protection of students' and business records. The office equipment is almost complete, and the science equipment has been greatly augmented during the year. About one thousand volumes have been added to the library, and approximately the same number will be added annually.
The next buildings needed will probably be: (1) a house for the president, (2) a second dormitory for girls, (3) a small Music Conservatory, and (4) a small building for Home Economics. These four buildings would cost approximately one hundred thousand dollars and would complete an ideal college group for a college of four hundred students. However, there are no funds available, and no immediate prospect of the construction of any of these buildings unless some special source of income can be found to finance the same. The rooms occupied by the president's family must be assigned to incoming professors for next year. During the summer a house must either be built or leased for his residence. It will also be necessary to add about five thousand dollars worth of equipment during the summer.
{{c|{{sc|Looking Forward.}}}}
The outlook for the college is bright. Its friends are enthusiastic and greatly encouraged. There is every indication that the college in its new location is destined to become a source of pride to its friends, and
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to render a high service to Church and State alike. The president proposes to apply to the Southern Association of Colleges for inspection and admission in accordance with its standards. Success in this inspection would give another great impetus to our work, and tend to render the future of the college even more secure and bright.
Everything that has been accomplished has been done only through the loyal support of devoted friends of the college in the community and in the Church. With a continuance of such loyalty and support, nothing is impossible. The college realizes its debt of gratitude, and will endeavor to maintain and develop such a Christian atmosphere, and to render such noble services as will fully justify the confidence and generosity, as well as the sacrifices of her friends. Only thus can she fulfill her mission.
We must not fail to make mention of the tireless efforts and unwavering devotion of the faithful Board of Trustees. They have been guiding the institution through a difficult period of its history, and they are doing it nobly and successfully. Nor can we be content without making special mention of the Chairman of the Committees on Building and Finance, Mr. J. T. Hedrick of Lexington. He has placed his time, his energy, and his ability at the disposal of the college in a manner which is as praiseworthy as it is unusual, and which has been as much appreciated as it has been effective.
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/img//President's House.
—p
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{{c|{{sc|Seventy-Fifth Anniversary.}}}}
Catawba College was chartered on December 17, 1851. The Seventy-fifth Anniversary should therefore be fittingly celebrated. It has been proposed that this anniversary should be made prominent in connection with commencement in 1927. In connection with this approaching anniversary, Rev. Dr. J. C. Leonard has been challenged to write the history of the college for publication in book form. He has accepted the challenge and has begun to collect his materials. His own rich personal experience and contacts with the college make him peculiarly fitted to perform this labor of love. It is recommended that a committee be appointed to formulate and carry out the plans for this celebration.
{{c|{{uc|Report of Treasurer G. A. Fisher.}}}}
{{c|{{sc|G. G. Solliday Fund.}}}}
{|
|Received April, 30, 1926, Interest
|$1200.00
|
|-
|Paid to ministerial students
|
|$900.00
|-
|Transferred to Rebecca Solliday Ch. Bldg. Fund
|
|300.00
|-
|
|$1200.00
|$1200.00
|}
{{c|{{sc|Rebecca Solliday Church Building Fund.}}}}
{|
|May 1, 1925, Balance
|$5724.93
|-
|Interest collected from Schlatter Memorial Church
|26.67
|-
|Interest on $4824.93 at 2%
|96.50
/foot//
|}
//foot/
-
/head//
{|
//head/
|-
|April 30, 1926, Unexpended from G. G. Solliday Fund
|300.00
|-
|May 1, 1926, Balance
|$6148.10
|}
-
{{c|{{sc|Emanuel Pontius Pres. Home Bldg. Fund}}}}
{|
|May 1, 1925, Balance
|$925.58
|-
|April 30, 1926, Interest
|55.50
|-
|May 1, 1926, Balance
|$981.08
|}
{{c|{{sc|Library Endowment Fund}}}}
{|
|May 1, 1925, Balance
|$1620.12
|-
|May 1, 1926, Balance
|$1620.12
|}
{{c|{{sc|Forward Movement Account}}}}
{|
|Previously rec'd H. E. Paisley, Treas.
|$28,951.67
|-
|Previously rec'd Home Mission Board
|44,953.20
|-
|Total to May 1, 1925
|$73,903.87
|-
|Rec'd May 1, '25 to Apr. 30, '26 H. E. Paisley
|$7250.00
|-
|Rec'd from the Home Mission Board
|1823.80
|-
|Total rec'd, May 1, '25 to Apr. 30, '26
|$9,073.80
|-
|Total receipts to April 30, 1926
|$82,977.67
|}
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{{c|{{sc|Catawba College-Newton Property.}}}}
{|
|Balance May 1, 1926
|$23,533.74
|}
{{c|{{sc|North Carolina Classis Campaign.}}}}
{|
|Subscriptions outstanding May 1, 1925
|$133,172.90
|-
|New subscriptions, May 1, '25 to Apr. 30, '26
|1,650.00
|-
|Total to May 1, 1926
|134,822.90
|-
|Cash paid on above to April 30, 1926
|12,623.94
|-
|Subscriptions outstanding, May 1, 1926
|$122,198.96
|}
{{c|{{sc|Campaign In Church Outside of North Carolina.}}}}
{|
|Subscriptions outstanding May 1, 1925
|$49,936.17
|-
|New subscriptions, May 1, '25 to Apr. 30, '26
|15,901.68
|-
|Total to May 1, 1926
|65,837.85
|-
|Cash paid on above to Apr. 30, 1926
|25,105.51
|-
|Subscriptions outstanding May 1, 1926
|$40,732.34
|}
{{c|{{sc|Salisbury Campaign.}}}}
{|
|Subscriptions outstanding May 1, 1925
|$151,643.50
|-
|Paid on above to Apr. 30, 1926
|17,255.29
|-
|Subscriptions outstanding May 1, 1926
|$134,388.21
|}
{{c|{{sc|W. M. S. and G. M. G. Fund.}}}}
{|
|W. M. S. Subscription
|$25,000.00
|-
|G. M. G. Subscription
|3,100.00
|-
|Total subscribed
|28,100.00
|-
|Paid to Apr. 30, 1926 by W. M. S.
|$13,400
|}
-
{|
|Paid to Apr. 30, 1926 by G. M. G.
|3,100
|16,500.00
|-
|Balance May 1, 1926
|
|$11,600.00
|}
{{c|{{sc|Additional Endowment and Subscriptions to April 30, 1926.}}}}
{|
|North Carolina Classis
|$50,000.00
|-
|W. M. S. and G. M. G.
|28,100.00
|-
|N. C. Classis Campaign
|1,650.00
|-
|Outside of North Carolina
|15,901.68
|-
|Kauffman English Literature Alcove Endowment
|442.30
|-
|Forward Movement
|9,073.80
|-
|Total
|$105,167.73
|}
{{c|{{sc|Masonic Loan Fund.}}}}
{|
|Gift of the Masonic Fraternity
|$750.00
|
|-
|Interest to April 20, 1926
|22.50
|$772.50
|-
|Loan to student
|
|100.00
|-
|Balance, May 1, 1926
|
|$672.50
|}
{{c|{{sc|Statement as of May 1, 1926.}}}}
{|
|G. G. Solliday Endowment
|$20,000.00
|-
|General Endowment
|17,000.00
|-
|Alumni Endowment
|13,689.00
|-
|Rebecca Solliday Church Bldg. Fund
|6,148.10
|-
|Emanuel Pontius Home Bldg. Fund
|981.08
|-
|Library Endowment
|1,620.12
|-
|Forward Movement
|82,977.67
|-
|Building and Endowment Subscriptions
|230,452.84
/foot//
|}
//foot/
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/head//
{|
//head/
|-
|Endowment Subscriptions
|136,372.00
|-
|Gifts and Accumulations
|190,807.74
|-
|Classis of N. C. Note
|50,000.00
|-
|W. M. S. and G. M. G. Fund
|28,100.00
|-
|John R. Kauffman Alcove of Eng. Lit. Endow.
|442.30
|-
|Masonic Loan Fund
|672.50
|-
|Bills Payable
|60,000.00
|-
|
|$839,263.35
|}
Invested as follows:
{|
| Home Mission Board Notes
| $20,000.00
|-
| Real Estate Mortgages
| 39,422.30
|-
| Salisbury, Administration Building
| 231,328.14
|-
| Zartman Hall
| 46,059.44
|-
| Grounds
| 28,251.30
|-
| Water and Sewer Systems
| 2,756.99
|-
| Books, Equipment and Furniture
| 43,221.13
|-
| R. Solliday Ch. Bldg. Fund Note
| 900.00
|-
| Bonds
| 1,000.00
|-
| College Bldg. and 22 lots, Newton
| 23,533.74
|-
| Subscriptions, Campaign outside of N. C.
| 40,732.34
|-
| Subscriptions, Salisbury Campaign
| 134,388.21
|-
| Subscriptions, North Carolina Classis
| 122,198.96
|-
| A. R. Brodbeck Stock and Contract
| 4,000.00
|-
| Classis of N. C. Note
| 50,000.00
|-
| W. M. S. Fund, Outstanding
| 11,600.00
|-
| Gymnasium, Excavation
| 480.00
|-
| Certificate of Deposit, Masonic Loan Fund
| 672.50
|-
| Cash on hand
| 35,242.46
|-
| DEFICIT
| 3,475.84
|-
| Total
| $839,263.35
|}
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/ch//Present Status and Outlook for the Future
THE RESOURCES of the College, including a conservative evaluation of its property, buildings, grounds, and equipment, together with its endowment funds, which include bona fide subscriptions, are approximately nine hundred thousand dollars. The campaign for increased endowment is still going on. The Synod of the Potomac has given the College an annual appropriation equivalent to the income from one hundred thousand dollars. A large portion of the subscriptions on hand are interest bearing. The College looks forward with much confidence to the future, in the belief that it will enjoy an income adequate for the maintenance of its work as a standard, accredited institution.
One of the most epoch-making events in the history of the college was the action of the General Synod of the Reformed Church in the United States, meeting in Philadelphia in 1926, whereby the Board of Home Missions was instructed to include in its budget $20,000 annually for the ensuing triennium for Catawba College. This is probably the first time in the history of the denomination that General Synod has included an educational institution in its budget. By this action the Reformed Church clearly shows its determination to stand back of Catawba College, and to give it the
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support necessary for conducting its work as an accredited institution. The church recognizes her need of this institution as an instrument through which she may do her part in the work of the whole church of building up the kingdom by educational means. The leaders of the movement which resulted in giving the college this support were: Elders, J. T. Hedrick, Emory L. Coblentz and A. R. Brodbeck, three men who had already done their part by making liberal subscriptions to the Endowment Fund of the college.
ACCREDITATION.
Catawba College reopened in September, 1925, in new buildings and in a new location at Salisbury. No rating could be given or expected until the College should have had time and opportunity to prove the worth of its work, the quality and completeness of its equipment, and the standard character of its organization and administration. After the work of the College was under way for a few months, the North Carolina Conference of Colleges was invited to send a committee to inspect the College. The report of this Committee contained the following recommendations, which were approved by the Commission:
1. That students be given credit hour for hour for the work of the Freshman and Sophomore classes in the session of 1925-26.
2. That students be given credit hour for hour for the work of the Junior and Senior years also, for the session of 1926-27, provided that further inspection of the college shows that the requirements for standard collegiate rating are being met.
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In December, 1926, this rating was made permanent and unconditional.
Parents and students need entertain no doubt about receiving proper credits and recognition for work done in Catawba College. The college is rapidly improving its equipment and enlarging its faculty. Students who come to Catawba may be well assured that their work will be accepted elsewhere and that they will have an Alma Mater of which they will be increasingly proud.
LOCATION.
The location of the college at Salisbury is considered particularly fortunate. No point in the State of North Carolina is more centrally located with reference to the constituency of the Reformed Church. Salisbury is a community of approximately 25,000 population, and is a prosperous and rapidly growing town. Governmental authorities certify that there are more people living within fifty miles of Salisbury than within that distance of any other point in the State. The splendid character of the citizenship was evinced when the community successfully completed a campaign in which over one hundred and fifty thousand dollars were subscribed for Catawba's endowment fund. Probably nowhere else in the State is there a stronger demand or a greater need for a college.
Salisbury is the junction point of the main lines of the Southern Railroad and one of its principal branches, which runs west through Asheville. It is, furthermore, the center of a well-developed system of bus-transportation and is therefore easily accessible from every direction. Students from the north will
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find excellent accommodations on the trains of the Southern Railroad.
Salisbury is located in the heart of the famous Piedmont section, surrounded by rich farming lands, as well as a rapidly advancing industrial development. The climate is healthful, North Carolina having the lowest death rate of all the States in the Union.
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
Catawba College has a well-located campus of fifty-one acres, just within the city limits of Salisbury. A beautiful new boulevard, just completed, runs direct from the college to center square, a distance of one and one-half miles.
The large Administration Building, now being occupied for the first time, is nearly 300 feet in length. The central section is 120 feet in depth. This building provides one million cubic feet of space, and is admirably planned to provide almost a complete college plant under one roof. The structure is three stories, built of brick and granite, in the Tudor Gothic style. Its tower, dominating the country for miles around, is destined to occupy a central place in college sentiment and tradition, and in the hearts of the alumni.
Included in the Main Hall are the following:
In the central section:
Administrative offices.
Library rooms.
Apartments for Professors.
Chapel seating 600, with modern facilities for dramatics.
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Dining hall.
Kitchen rooms.
Heating plant.
Laundry. In the two sections to the left:
Dormitory and social rooms for 108 boys. In the two sections to the right:
Ten standard class rooms.
Book store and post office.
Library, reading room, and stack room.
Physics laboratory and lecture room.
Chemical laboratories, lecture room, office and stock room.
Biological laboratory, lecture room, office and stock room.
ZARTMAN HALL.
The College is fortunate in its dormitory for women. This building has been named by the Woman's Missionary Society of General Synod of the Reformed Church in the United States in honor of Mrs. Elizabeth Conrad Zartman and in recognition of her services in the development of the work of the Society. For the erection of this hall the Woman's Missionary Society and its Girls' Guild have pledged the sum of $46,205 to cover the full cost of the building.
This building is of the same materials and in the same architectural style as the Administration Building. It provides accomodations for sixty-four girls, and every room has two closets and a bathroom adjoining. The rooms are similar—all provided with two windows, and all well furnished. The heating.
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plumbing, hot-water, and electrical equipment are of the best. The building has only two floors. It was deemed inadvisable to require girls to climb to third and fourth floor rooms. Furthermore, the fire hazards are reduced practically to zero in a building of this type, with fireproof stairways at either end. Each floor has a large, cheerful, and centrally located social hall, with large fireplace, piano, and attractive furnishings. These rooms, and the comforts of Zartman Hall, make a large contribution to the joys of college life.
While General Synod was meeting in Philadelphia, in May, 1926, the Woman's Missionary Society of General Synod was meeting in another church in the same city. Rev. Shuford Peeler appeared before the society with a petition that the society should appropriate an additional sum of $18,105 which would be sufficient, with sums previously appropriated, to cover the entire cost of the Girls' Dormitory, known as the Elizabeth Conrad Zartman Hall, $46,205. The Rev. Mr. Peeler's petition received the hearty support of all the women of the society with the result that Zartman Hall comes to Catawba College without a cent of cost—the magnificent gift of the Woman's Missionary Society to the College.
From the beginning of the work of building a new college at Salisbury the Trustees realized that it would be absolutely necessary for the college to have a modern gymnasium, in order that it might successfully serve the needs of the modern age and make a proper appeal to public interest. Accordingly, at the earliest possible moment the Trustees approved the building
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of the gymnasium, which was ready for use in September, 1926. This building is a substantial modern structure. In its construction a steel frame was used, the walls being filled in with brick and granite. The gymnasium is unusual for its size. The playing floor is nearly seven thousand square feet in area and an equal amount of space is devoted to offices, shower and locker rooms, toilet rooms, and dormitory for visiting teams. Visitors have pronounced the building one of the best they have ever seen. The total cost including equipment was less than $35,000.
In the spring of 1926, the president of the college informed the Board of Trustees in the February meeting that the rooms he was occupying in the Administration Building would be needed by the following September for professors' apartments. The Board, therefore, approved plans prepared and presented by the president for the building of a house for his residence. Construction was soon begun and before the opening of college in September the president's family was comfortably settled in the new residence. The cost of the house was $7,000. It is planned as an ideal house for a professor. The Board of Trustees expressed their intention to build a larger house for the use of the president after a few years. This first house is built of the same materials and in similar style with the other college buildings. It contains six rooms, besides reception hall, bath, vegetable room, laundry, and heating room.
On December 14 the Board of Trustees met in special session at the request of the president of the college to consider his report to the effect that for the
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satisfactory conduct of the work of the college for the academic year 1927-28, it would be necessary to construct a fifth building, namely the Home Economics Building, and also to build a new athletic field and track. The estimated cost of these projects was $30,000. The Board approved the recommendations and referred them to the Building and Finance Committees, for execution, if possible. On January 14, these committees met in joint session and it was decided to carry out these two projects. Accordingly, when the college opens in September, 1927, it is expected that the Home Economics Building and the athletic field will be ready for use.
This new building will be of the same materials and in the same Tudor Gothic style as the other buildings. The first floor will provide the facilities needed for the work of the department, lecture room, laboratories, office, model dining room, storage room, and a room for child care and training. The second floor will provide dormitory rooms with private bath rooms and living room for sixteen girls. The purpose is to have seniors in Home Economics live in this building so that they may be the more directly under the supervision of the department, especially in the matter of the care of their rooms.
The Athletic Field will be of standard size and construction, with a quarter mile cinder track, and with the usual fields for football, baseball, and other sports. This, together with five tennis courts, and the modern gymnasium, provide the equipment for a thoroughgoing program of physical education and games for both men and women. The field will be located in
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the natural bow] to the rear of the college group of buildings.
EQUIPMENT FOR INSTRUCTION. SCIENTIFIC LABORATORIES.
The scientific laboratories occupy the second and third floors of the north wing of the building. The rooms are large, well-lighted, and furnished with gas, hot and cold water, and electric current.
The biological laboratories on the third floor of the north wing of the buildings are unusually well-lighted by the double windows. These laboratories are furnished with an aquarium, lockers, compound microscopes, and all other equipment necessary for giving the courses offered.
The chemical laboratories include a large genera] laboratory furnished with equipment for courses in general chemistry, and an analytical laboratory for courses in organic chemistry and analytical chemistry. In connection is a lecture room, office, stock room, and small laboratory for the professor in charge.
The physics laboratory on the third floor is adequately equipped for college courses in general physics. In connection with the laboratory is a lecture room with demonstration table and apparatus.
LIBRARY.
The library is large, well-lighted, and occupies the entire north end of the first floor of the main building. As it is a depository of the federal government, it already contains about eight thousand documents and
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several hundred pamphlets, which are arranged on stacks in an adjoining room. In addition to the leading periodicals and newspapers, the library has on its open shelves approximately 10,000 well-selected volumes, including the best yearbooks, dictionaries and encyclopedias. The library has this year acquired nearly 1,000 volumes. The appropriation next year for new books will be about $1,100.
INCOME.
The income of the college, over and above that re-—ceived from fees of the students, is derived from endowment funds, from grants from the church bodies, the Classis of North Carolina, and the Synod of the Potomac, the General Synod, and from the interest paid by subscribers on a large part of the pledges secured for the endowment fund. The endowment is 'growing so rapidly that the income of the college is fast approaching that which would be received from an endowment of five hundred thousand dollars, which is regarded as the standard for an accredited college.
COLLEGIATE ACTIVITIES.
The officers of the college believe that all the usual collegiate activities are necessary to a complete and well-rounded education. The spirit of administration, therefore, is not one of repression, but of encouragement, with a view to making each activity contribute its utmost toward the growth of healthy bodies, scholarly minds, sturdy characters, and a real religious experience.
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The social activities of the college are under, the supervision of the faculty, and every effort is made to provide a natural and wholesome social life. Living conditions in the dormitories are made as home-like as possible. The most cordial and sympathetic relations obtain between the students and the members of the faculty.
ATHLETICS. Intercollegiate contests are encouraged as they assist in the complete development of the individual through a rigorous discipline and the effective stimulation of college spirit. By virtue of the number of students at Catawba, a relatively large portion are able to participate in various collegiate sports. Although athletic activities are given their rightful place, they are not permitted to interfere with intellectual pursuits. Strict rules for eligibility are observed.
The Athletic Association has charge of all intercollegiate contests. The sum of ten dollars from the fees paid by each student is used by the Association for the support of Athletics. The payment of this fee entitles all students to free admission to games.
FRATERNITIES. By action of the Trustees, fraternities are not permitted at Catawba College.
Y. M. C. A—Y. W. C. A. The Young Men's and Young Women's Christian Associations are maintained for the development of the religious life of the students. The meetings are held weekly and are usually addressed by members of the faculty, ministers, and laymen. The programs are of such nature as to give inspiration to the distinctively religious and missionary impulse. A representative from these organiza
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tions attends the annual conventions of the State organizations. The annual reception to new students, occasional open programs, and public entertainments come within the work of these organizations. All students become members upon their own choice.
LITERARY SOCIETIES. Catawba College has two literary societies, the Philomathean and the Athenaean, with one of which all students, unless excused, are required to associate themselves. These societies are governed by constitutions and by-laws of their own selection, and devote their weekly meetings to exercises in music, essays, declamation, oratory and debate. For proficiency in oratory and debate annual awards, in the form of medals, are made.
Since the ability to express thought clearly and cogently constitutes a high test of knowledge, the chief end of these societies is to develop public speaking. To help the student obtain grace, ease, and fluency in the presence of an audience, the societies have arranged for occasional public meetings.
THE BLUE MASQUE. The college dramatic society is known as the Blue Masque. The aim of the society is threefold: to enable students to select and produce plays, to familiarize them with modern dramatists and their important works, and to train them for public performances. At each monthly meeting a one-act play, directed by a student under the supervision of a competent coach, is produced. Two public performances are given each year under the direction of a professional coach.
GLEE CLUB AND CHoIR. The glee club and chapel choir afford excellent opportunity for drill in ensemble
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work. The members are chosen from the students, and the conditions of membership are: a fairly good voice, a correct ear, some knowledge of musical notation, and regularity in attendance. Rehearsals are held weekly.
MINISTERIAL BAND. This is an organization of young men who have chosen the ministry as their life work. In the weekly meetings, some phase of their plan for life is discussed. Some minister from town occasionally addresses the organization.
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. The Alumni Association is composed of all graduates of the College and those elected to honorary membership. The annual meeting is held on Commencement Day at 3 P. M., following the Alumni luncheon in the college dining hall at 1 P. M. The Association provides the speaker for the annuai address on the evening preceding Commencement Day.
PUBLICATIONS. During the academic year 1926-27, two publications were initiated by the students, a biweekly paper, the "Pioneer," and the annual, for which the name "Swastika" was adopted.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION.
Students may be admitted to Freshman standing in Catawba College on the following plans:
I. Admission by Certificate. The following classes of candidates are admitted to Freshman standing on presentation of certificates signed by the proper authorities showing the kind and amount of work done:
1. Graduates from any four-year high school course approved by the State Department of Education.
2. Graduates from any four-year course of a school accredited by the Association of Colleges and Second
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ary Schools of the Southern States, or by the State University of the state in which the school is located.
Such certificates must represent a total of at least 15 units of work and must meet the requirements outlined in the Table of Requirements for Admission.
A unit represents the work of a school year of no less than thirty-six weeks, with five periods of at least forty-five minutes each per week, or four periods of one hour each per week. A unit, therefore, is the equivalent of one hundred and eighty recitation periods of forty-five minutes each, or one hundred and forty-four periods of one hour each.
Blank entrance-credit certificates will be furnished upon application to the Registrar.
II. Admission by Examination. Candidates not presenting approved certificates may be admitted upon examination. Examinations will be given upon the work covered by the approved list of secondary subjects. Candidates for admission by examination must meet the same specific requirements as those for admission by certificate.
The enrollment of the college during its second year at Salisbury was 244. The faculty in charge was of such strength as to have attracted attention in other states. The general impression of the public and of educators is that the college is doing a very high type of work. The financial condition of the institution is good and everyone connected with it is enthusiastic over its prospects.
The Trustees in their regular meeting, February 15, 1927, adopted a Budget which marks a new epoch in Catawba's history. It is based upon an estimated stu
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dent body of 325 for the year 1927-28. This Budget provides for a gross income of $121,000, of which the largest expenditure will be $63,000 for salaries and wages. Five new professors were elected in addition to the reelection of all those already connected with the college. The new professors elected have the same qualifications as those previously elected: most of them hold the Ph. D. degree and have proved themselves successful teachers. The Trustees adopted a rule that when a professor shall have been elected for the third year, there shall be recognized a presumption of permanent tenure. In building the new college the Trustees have adopted the policy of seeking the strongest and most permanent faculty that can be secured.
The Trustees approved a plan for conducting a Summer School at the College. Dr. George Howard was elected Director, and has completed plans for a school during the summer of 1927.
Catawba College has had her share of troubles and disappointments. The building of colleges in this country has almost universally been fraught with a great deal of difficulty and hardship. However, other colleges which once ranked with Catawba, and in many cases those which were even weaker, or even founded much later, succeeded in making more rapid progress, especially since 1900, so that when the standards for the accrediting of colleges were formulated, they succeeded much earlier in winning recognition as A-grade institutions. The question may therefore be asked, with fairness: why has Catawba's path been blocked by difficulties and obstacles, ofttimes so great as to appear actually insurmountable?
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This question is more easily asked than answered. We venture to assert that the men who labored for Catawba College, in every period of her history, and in every department of her life, were in piety, in learning, in sincerity, in tactfulness, and in the willingness to labor and to spend and be spent for the institution they loved the equals of those who built up other institutions. Surely the historian who would escape the charge of superficiality must look deeper for the underlying causes of these trials. We may without fear throw out the challenge to any and all parties to point out a single institution in which men, however great, were enabled to accomplish a greater work for Church and State than was accomplished by Catawba College, with RESOURCES, SUPPORT AND CONSIUENCY equal to Catawba's.
The writer does not know where to look for a college that has been able to survive at all, and hold a place as a standard college with so small a constituency. The marvel is not that the men of Catawba accomplished no more, but rather that they were able to keep the institution alive at all, especially during the trying times of the last quarter century. Surely Catawba has a proud history. This early foundation went on, through the Civil War days, continuing her service of education when the public schools of the state and the south broke down completely. For seventy years she "carried on," doing a noble work on the pittance of support that her small but loyal constituency was able to give her.
Were we to explain the trials of Catawba's history then we would do so solely on the ground of the small
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ness of her constituency in the local community, in the denomination, and in the body of alumni.
We would point out first of all that the college began her work in 1851 in a small urban community or town of 500 people. A great start was made for those days, but the devastation of war came upon this young institution and swept away much of its strength. After the war everything in the South revived slowly. It was not until about the year 1885 that the institution really began to do college grade work again, and it was not until the year 1889 when the first class was graduated. At that time the town of Newton had a population of about 1200. When the college finally closed at Newton the town had a population of 3000. The history of colleges shows, with only enough exceptions to prove the rule, that institutions located in large centers of population have been able to thrive and gather increasing strength with the years. The experience of Catawba in its new location at Salisbury is but another instance of this law of college growth.
In the second place, the critic should remember that the Reformed Church in North Carolina had only about 1200 members when the college was founded, and that at the present time the membership of this denomination in the State is only 7700. It is also true that, prior to 1923, the Reformed Church in the United States, outside of North Carolina, has never been in a position to invest any large amount of money or even of men or interest in this institution. There were always a few loyal friends in the Church in the North, but there was never an opportunity for a systematic effort to secure for the college the needed support
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from the denomination at large. Always the burden has fallen for the most part upon the devoted shoulders of the loyal but weak constituency of the old North State. Even this constituency is only now beginning to be so prosperous as to be able to do large things for the college. We doubt not but that in the years ahead the friends of the College in this State will do splendid things for the college, by gifts and legacies, according as God has prospered them.
The question may be asked, and has been asked, Should not the Church abandon a college whose constituency is so small? The reply is equally obvious. To do so is to abandon its own life in this State. The Reformed Church in North Carolina is a healthy and growing arm of the denomination. Weak as are our numbers, the State nevertheless ranks fifth in the number of communicant members of the Reformed Church. With equal logic might the Church abandon her other interests in various States, save only Pennsylvania, and perhaps Ohio. If the process of decay is to be allowed to go so far, what reason is there to suppose that the process will not continue to the end. But the denomination is full of life, especially in North Carolina, and thinks more of expanding her service and usefulness in the Kingdom than of retrenching and withdrawing from the field. Catawba College is needed at Salisbury. There is not an outstanding educator of the State who will not gladly give witness to that fact. Fortunately, the events of the last three or four years have made it apparent that the denomination, with the help of a populous and loyal community, will be able to maintain the institution as one of the best in the State and in the South.
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The College has not been able to look to its alumni for any large measure of support, as college needs go. There are two reasons for this. Probably few colleges have lived through seventy-five years with so small a body of alumni. The usual graduating class numbered approximately three members. Only in a very few instances were classes so large as six, eleven, or seventeen. In the second place, most of the men who have graduated from Catawba College have entered the ministry or some form of Church work. It goes without saying that no college can, as a rule, look to its ministerial alumni for large sums for buildings and endowment. For real loyalty and willingness to endure privation for the love of Alma Mater, Catawba will not hesitate to measure her alumni against those of the proudest institution in the land.
The above considerations, drawn from the facts of Catawba's history, should convince all friends of the institution of the wisdom of putting all personal blame for previous shortcomings away once and for all. By the circumstances of her life, Catawba has been called upon to endure refinement as by fire. Let her friends hope that out of the furnace of her afflictions may come pure and fine gold—an institution that shall continue to hold high the idealism and sacrificial service of the Cross of Christ, in whose service and for whose glory the institution was first conceived and founded by those great and godly men, seventy-five years ago. If this hope may be realized, then surely even those who gave and suffered most will rejoice with a joy unsullied by regrets.
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It is probable that Catawba's troubles have grown out of the difficulties of a transitional period in the educational advance of North Carolina. It was shortly before the year 1900 that the problems of the college began to press for the attention of the Board of Trustees. It was at about the same time that the great development in public education began in North Carolina. The past quarter century has been the period of greatest stress in the college, but also the period of greatest prosperity and progress in the public high schools. These two facts are related. While the College began to do real colleze work in the "eighties," it nevertheless remained true that the great majority of students were always of sub-college grade. The college was for the most part a secondary school. The growth of the high school movement made it more and more difficult for the college to get students. Students could be secured only by holding out inducements in the form of scholarships and low rates. The extreme lowness of the rates robbed the college of the income it needed and should have had. The result was a financial situation which no financial genius could remedy so long as the fundamental trouble was not remedied. In short, the high schools began about 1900 to take away Catawba's work, and it was not until the year 1925 that she found herself completely in her new and better field. This transition was a very difficult one, and could probably not have been made earlier with success, owing to the lack of a sustaining fund. To have abolished the Academy, which enrolled two-thirds of the students, would have been a heroic, if not a foolhardy, step. In relocating the college, this step was
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taken without anyone's realization. In fact, it did not occur to anyone to reopen the Academy. It just "dropped out" without any formal action of the Board of Trustees to that effect.
It is interesting to note that Dr. Clapp and Dr. Foil foresaw the troubles the High Schools would bring upon the College and its Academy. Mrs. Foil says: . "I am sure that Mr. Foil did not vote for the tax establishing the public High School and I do not think that Dr. Clapp did. They felt and knew that it would hurt the college and would not provide an adequate substitute. The effect on our Academic department, after the High School was started, was immediate. I moved away several years later and considered myself fortunate that I did not have to witness the gradual deterioration of our school."
The student of history who is trying to understand the trying times through which the College has gone should perhaps give attention to one thing more, namely: the psychology of success and failure. When a group are experiencing success in their common project, they are apt to pat each other on the back, to trust and love each other, to overlook shortcomings, and see only good in each other. Such is the psychology of success. The psychology of failure is just the reverse. A board of directors of any bank or business concern, which found themselves drifting toward the rocks of financial ruin, would be apt to become distrustful, hypercritical, impatient, unkind, sour, unforgiving, expecting the impossible, and seeing all manner of evil. "Nothing succeeds like success" and nothing fails like failure. From 1900 to 1923, Catawba was being car
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ried on irresistibly, by strong underlying causes, into deeper and deeper financial stress. Naturally, her friends could not work together with the joy they might have had in a more prosperous undertaking. If men were sometimes so exhausted with the worries of their difficult trust that they had not the time or energy left for such manifestations of kindness and courtesy as was normal to them, then surely we must say not that they were frail men but rather that they persevered through great trials.
In short, success for Catawba College during this period "was not in the wood." No group of men could have taken the places of those able and loyal Trustees, Presidents, Professors, Alumni and students, and have wrought out for Catawba College what was not possible. There were reasons why it could not be. Those reasons we have tried to point out.
THE FUTURE.
It is not part of our present purpose to undertake any prophecies for Catawba's future. The college is continually gathering strength, and it is becoming fairly certain that the institution can be conducted on a high plane without incurring discouraging annual deficits which sap the very life-blood of any college—the endowment fund. Living within her means, the college will be able to gather, more or less rapidly, additions for her endowment, until such strength shail have been attained as to make her life secure. The history of colleges indicates that this process is cumulative. The stronger any college becomes, the more rapidly do the gifts come. Perhaps Catawba's day has come at last. Perhaps we are up to or beyond
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the turning point. The support the College has received from the community, the Church, and other sources is most encouraging. It is for us to conduct her work in such a way as to deserve the generosity and confidence of a growing constituency.
One trend of the history of higher education will work in Catawba's favor. In every community it is more and more becoming the practice to send children to a convenient college, rather than to cling to denominational ties and loyalties. Everywhere Christianity and Christian Education are beginning to be accepted as far bigger than denominationalism. So it is that Catawba College now draws the great majority of her students from non-Reformed homes. The same is true of her faculty. The life of the College is Christian rather than denominational merely, valuable as denominationalism is. This fact will probably mean in the future that a college like Catawba will have the support of the community it serves in a fuller measure than in the past. The greater it grows, with the help of such support, the more proud will its denominational supporters be of it, and the greater will be the service it can render its denomination, in any genuine form of Kingdom-building activity.
At this time it does not appear probable that the college will ever, at least for so long a time as our vision can reach, add other departments such as professional schools, whether theological or otherwise. The future usefulness of the College is conceived to be in the field of liberal education, and therewith in the development of Christian character. That Catawba may serve greatly, and grow great only as a means to great service, is the fondest hope of her best friends.
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APPENDIX A.
Graduates of the College at Newton
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M. A. For, M. D. J. C. Leoxarp, D. D., minister *J. M. L. Lyrerny, Ph. D., minister
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CrAWForRD CLApp, bookkeeper
J. S. Garrison, minister
J. B. Leonarp, bank cashier
"C. A. Srarr. Theological student
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D. P. Brinces, minister *C. H. MEBANE, lawyer, journalist A. C. SHERRILL, teacher
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J. D. ANpREWw, minister CLARENCE Clapp, druggist. Mrs. Heten L. For Bearp, music teacher
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J. L. Granam, lawyer H. A. M. Hotstotsrer, Ph. D., minister W. H. McNairy, minister
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"W. B. Dove, Secretary of State H. E. Secuier, minister Miss MiktamM Foin, stenographer
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"R. H. HERMAN, teacher Mrs. ANNIE Clare BURNS
"Deceased.
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Mt. Pleasant, N. C. Lexington, N. C.
Greenville, S. C. Harrisonburg, Va. Newton, N. C.
Ellerbee, S. C.
Greensboro, N. C.
Salisbury, N. C. Newton, N, C. Charlotte, N. C.
Cincinnati, Ohio. Rockwell, N. C. Rockwell, N. C.
South Carolina Phoenix, Ariz. Charlotte, N. C.
Lawndale, N. C.
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J. L. Bowers, minister Robert E. CLapp, bookkeeper
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J. W. Barnuart, Post-Office Clerk
S. W. BEcK, minister
"D. E. Bowers, minister W. H. Everhart, M. D.
C. W. Wariick, minister
1900 Patt P. Brown, bank clerk W. H. Causry, minister Rorert T. CeciL, teacher J. C. HEAVNER, minister G. F. HINKLE, manufacturer SHuFoRD PEELER, minister Mompred Rowe, teacher Lucy Fry, bookkeeper
1902 H. E. Rowe, M. D. Mrs. MyrTLE SMyrRE ROWE J. H. Joyner, teacher Mrs. CaRkIE DEAL MICHEL *E. B. Hutcutns, business
1903 W. S. Crapp, minister J. D. Hucatns, minister MILTON WuiTENeER, minister 1905 Bretra H. Gray F. W. Gray, minister CAROLINE McNairy, M. D. L. A. PEELER, minister G. W. Sipe, M. D. Mrs. ANNIE Lowrance Moore Mrs. PEARLE E, TREXLER SMITH Mrs. Pattie Chine TROXLER
"Deceased.
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Woodleaf, N. C. Frederick, Md.
Concord, N, C. Blain, Pa.
Newton, N. C. Mt. Pleasant, N. C.
Asheville, N. C. Harrisonburg, Va. Spartanburg, S. C. Address unknown
Charlotte, N. C.
Salisbury, N. C.
Newton, N. C. Miami, Fla
Newton, N. C. Newton, N. C. Gibsonville, N. C. Newton, N. C.
Collegeville, Pa. Boiling Springs, N. C. High Point, N. C.
Mooresville, N. C. Blakes Mill, W. Va. Lenoir, N. C. Kannapolis, N. C. Newton, N. C. Greensboro, N. Salisbury, N. Greensboro, N. C.
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1907 LILL1aN GrorGE, teacher R. H. Rowe, M. D. C. C. Waconer, minister CLARENCE Woops, minister
1908 O. A. BARRINGER, manufacturer W. S. Coulter, lawyer W. F. JARRETT Mrs. Mary HELLER JENKINS
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"L. A. Linn, manufacturer Mary ScCHNERLEY, teacher
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Mrs. Maye Lyerty Coser Mrs. Erna LIttLeE PatMer
J. A. Pacmer, minister
J. M. Peck, minister
A. J. SHAVER
W. L. Warrick, lawyer KATHERINE WHITENER, teacher
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Mrs. Pauline PHILLIPS Gappy J. R. Kenyon, lawyer
1912 Mrs. FANNIE CLAPP ANDERSON MARGARET CROWELL, teacher ANNIE HILDEBRAND, teacher S. J. Kirk, minister *M. L. McCorKte, M. D. G. E. Prott, minister HeLEN Smit, teacher Mary WHITE, teacher
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N. H. FrRAvEL, minister
"Deceased.
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Winston-Salem, N. C. Raleigh, N. C.
Elkin, N. C. Appalachia, Va. Newton, N. C. Columbus, Ohio
Mt. Pleasant, N. C. Burlington, N. C. Address unknown
Salisbury, N. C.
Hagerstown, Md.
Toledo, O. Thomasville,' N. C. Thomasville, N. C. Buffalo, N. Y. Address unknown Newton, N. C. Stanley, N. C.
Durham, N. C. Charlotte, N. C.
Mt. Dora, Fla. Concord, N. C. Newton, N. C. Riegelsville, Pa.
Greencastle, Pa.
Charlotte, N. C. Newton, N. C.
Cressona, Pa.
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1914 J. F. CARPENTER, manufacturer H. A. FesperMAN, minister J. K. McConnet, Y. M. C. A. Sec. J. C. PEELER, minister
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H. F. Incie, bank clerk A. R. Tosu, minister
1916 Masex L. Bacon, teacher F. L. FesperMAN, minister Pavt B. Fott, merchant G. A. INGLE, minister J. L. Moose, druggist A. C. Prxzer, minister E. R. Stewart, minister S. A. TROxELL, minister G. C. WaARLICK, merchant S. W. WHITENER, minister
"1917 Mrs. Dorotiy Ervin Eaton Mrs. Bessie HERMAN HALTEWANGER EpirH SHERRILL, teacher Mrs. Lois YELTON SMITH Mrs. SaRAH WITHERSPOON SELF R. W. WHITENER, teacher
1918 LEONA FLEMING, teacher Cc. L. Lutz, bookkeeper Mrs. ELsis ANDREW PAISLEY
1919 Mrs. GLENNA D. Lentz Black Mrs. Jessix DRUM ADAIR Mrs. Katy N. Moose FesrERMAN HEATH G. GasRIEL, bookkeeper Mrs. WILLIE Maz RHYNE GABRIEL Freppiz Hoover, teacher A. Opett LEONARD, minister O. B. MiciaeL, minister Mrs. BREMA SHARPE LINEBERGER
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Maiden, N. C. Greensboro, N. C. Leakesville, N. C.
Lenoir, N. C.
Blowing Rock, N. C. Frederick, Md.
Charlotte, N. C. Japan
Mt. Pleasant, N. C. Conesville, lowa Baltimore, Md. Winston-Salem N. C. Fairfield, N. C. Baltimore, Md. Hickory, N. C. China
Moorehead City, N. C. Hickory, N. C. Greensboro, N. C. Newport News, Va. Shelby, N. C. Newton, N. C.
China Grove, N. C. Charlotte, N. C. Sedalia, N, C.
Evanston, IIl. Spartanburg, S. C. Charlotte, N. C. Greensboro, N. C. Greensboro, N. C. Newton, N. C. Lexington, N. C. Winston-Salem, N. C. Lincolnton, N. C.
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Mrs. CHRISTINE ERVIN MEHAFFEY Mrs. ANNIE J. LITTLE PECK
Fevix B. Peck, minister
Mrs. AGNES ANDREW PEELER
B. J. PrEELER, minister
Mrs. MILDRED SHERRILL RICK
Cart WILKINSON, bookkeeper
Mrs. CATHERINE WILSON WILKINSON
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ChakENCY AREY, minister
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Mrs. Lucire ANDREW LEONARD Ep. Lona, teacher
1922 H. W. Biack, minister Mrs. Mary Drum CoLlins WINNIE ERVIN Mrs. AILEEN G. JONES Wiista Raver, teacher AILFEN SHERRILL, teacher Susik THRONEBURG, teacher Mrs. Precyovs WHISENHUNT DesHazo
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Mary Rost McK nicut, teacher LESTER TROXEL, bookkeeper Fred WHISENHUNT, teacher
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Inman, S. C.
Clear Spring, Md. Clear Spring, Md. Salisbury, N. C. Salisbury, N. C. Indian Head, Md. Winston-Salem, N. C. Winston-Salem, N. C.
Weyer's Cave, Va.
Lexington, N. C. Hickory, N. C.
NS Evanston, Il. Rocky Mount, N. C. Newton, N. C. Newton, N. Newton, N. C. Greensboro, N. C. Newton, N. C. Claremont, N. C
China Grove, N. C. Winston-Salem, N. C. Newton, N. C.
APPENDIX B. The By-Laws of Catawba College
(Revised and Adopted) May 19, 1925. ARTICLE I. MEETINGS. Section 1. Annual Meeting.
The annual meeting of the Board of Trustees of Catawba College shall be held at Salisbury, North Carolina, on the day next preceding the annual commencement, at the hour of 10 A. M.
Section 2. Reyular Meetings.
Regular meetings shall be held on the third Tuesday of September and of February, at the hour of 10 A. M.
Section 3. Notice of Meetings.
Notices of all regular meetings shall be mailed to each member of the board by the secretary at least ten days prior to the date of such meetings.
Section 4. Special Mectings.
Special meetings shall be called at any time by the secretary, upon request of the president of the board, or of three members of the board, or of the president of the college.
Section 5. Call for Special Meetings.
The call for a special meeting shall state the nature of the business to be considered, and shall be mailed at least five days before the day on which the meeting is to be held.
Section 6. Place of Meeting.
All meetings shall be held at the office of the board unless otherwise directed by the president of the board, or by the Board of Trustees. The place of the meeting shall be indicated in the notice or call for the meeting.
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Section 7. Quorum.
Seven members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business except the election of officers and the amendment of by-laws when a quorum shall consist of a majority of the board.
Section & Rules of Order.
General parliamentary rules, as modified by rules and regulations of the board, shall be observed in conducting the business of the board.
Section 9. Order of Business.
The following shall be the order of business at each meeting of the board, but the rules of order may be suspended and any matter considered or postponed by action of the board:
Call to Order.
I. Roll Call.
II. Consideration of minutes of last meeting and any special meetings held subsequently, and their approval or amendment.
III. Election of trustees and officers.
IV. Reports of standing committees.
V. Reports of special committees.
VI. Reports of officers and agents.
VIL. Unfinished business.'
VIII. New business.
IX. Petitions and communications.
ARTICLE II. OFFICERS. Section 1. Election of Officers.
At the annual meeting, the board shall proceed to organize by electing by ballot the following officers to serve for one year, or until their successors shall have been elected and shall have qualified: a president, a vice-president, a treisurer, a secretary, and a business manager. The president, vicepresident, and treasurer shall be chosen from among the members of the board. The offices of secretary and business manager may be held by one person.
Nection 2. Special Elections.
In the event of a failure for any reason so to elect any or all of said officers, or in case any vacancy occurs in said
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offices from any cause, then an election may be held at any regular or special meeting, a majority of all the trustees being present and notice of such eletcion having been given in the notice of the call for the meeting.
Nection 3. Duties of President.
The president of the board shall preside at the meetings of the board and shall discharge the duties which ordinarily pertain to that office. He shall sign all diplomas and shall execute, with the secretary attesting, contracts and instruments authorized or issued by authority of the board requiring his signature.
Section 4. Duties of Vice-President.
The vice-president of the board in the absence or disability of the president shall perform all the duties of the presi lent of the board. In the absence or disability of the president and the vice-president of the board, the chairman or the acting chairman of the Committee on Finance and Investment shall act as president of the board.
Section 0. Duties of Treasurer.
The treasurer of the college shall be the custodian of the funds and securities belonging to the college, and shall keep the securities in a safety deposit vault to be designated by the board. He may, by written appointment to be filed with the secretary, designate some persons who shall represent him in obtaining access to the securities of the college as herein next provided. The treasurer shall be responsible for all acts of his representative.
The treasurer shall countersign voucher checks on endowment funds, on funds for special purposes, on building funds as prepared and signed by the business manager. (See Art. II, See. 7).
Surety Bond of Treasurer.
He shall file with the secretary a bond for the faithful performance of his duties of such a sum as may be fixed by the board, and if not so fixed, then to the sum of Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) with some responsible surety company approved by the board, the premium on said bond to be paid by the college.
In case of the absence of the treasurer, or of his inability to act, or in case the office becomes vacant, his duties shall be
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performed by the chairman or acting chairman of the Committee on Finance and Investment.
Access to Securities.
Access to the securities of the college shall be had by not fewer than two persons jointly in the following manner, and never otherwise:
(a) By the treasurer (or his representative) jointly with the business manager.
(b) By the treasurer (or his representative) jointly with the chairman or acting chairman of the Committee on Finance and Investment.
(c) By the treasurer (or his representative) jointly with the president or acting president of the board.
This provision, however, shall not be held to exclude the presence of other persons at the same time, providing access has been obtained as aforesaid, nor shall the provisions of this article be held to prevent the Board of Trustees from contracting with a responsible trust company to act as custodian in holding and keeping safely said securities, and to make deliveries on the order of any two persons entitled to access to said securities under this section.
Section 6. Duties of Secretary.
The secretary shall perform the usual duties pertaining to this office. He shall keep full and true minutes of all meetings of the board and the meetings of all standing committees of the board, and of such special meetings as shall be requested of him. He shall be the custodian of all documents entrusted to his care.
He shall transmit promptly to each trustee a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the board and of its committees, and he shall notify all persons concerned of the actions taken by the board with respect to appointments, promotions, term3 of service, and appropriations for their work and departments and of any other matter.
He shall see that all bonds required by officers and employees of the college for the faithful performance of their duties are filed in his office. The business manager shall furnish the secretary a list of all officers and employees who should be bonded. He shall have the custody of the corporate seal and shall with it attest all documents requiring a scal.
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Section 7. Duties of Business Manager.
The business manager shall be the chief business officer of the Board of Trustees, and shall be the chief executive head of those departments, officers, and employees of the college not attached to the instructional staff. He shall see that the rules and regulations prescribed by the Board of Trustees for the government of the business affairs of the college are faithfully observed. He shall have the management of the entire college plant, and of all property of the college, whether real, personal, or mixed. He shall take the initiative in seeking investments for the funds of the college, and shall report promptly thereon to the Committee on Finance and Investment. He shall be responsible for the economical purchase of all supplies and materials bought by the college, and shall see that all building and other contracts made by the board are faithfully executed.
Receipt of Funds.
The business manager shall collect and receive all moneys arising from gifts, bequests, or otherwise, for the benefit of the college, and all fees and money from any source due to the college or to any of its departments. He shall deposit promptly all such moneys received to the credit of the college in the appropriate bank accounts in such state or national banks as may be determined by the Board of Trustecs.
Supervision and Keeping of Accounts.
He shall keep proper books of ccount, fully setting forth the financial conditions and transactions of the college, and shall exercise a general supervision over all accounts of officers and employees of the college which have to do with the receipt or disbursement of funds and securities and he shall obtain true and full reports of all such receipts and disbursements from the officers and employees aforesaid, who shall keep their accounts in such manner and render to him such statements as may be from time to time required of him, or as may be needed to show correctly the financial conditions of the college, or any of its departments. He shall supply the board and the committees and the president of the college with such statements as muy be required of him, or as may be needed to show correctly the financial condition of the college or any of its departments.
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Examination of Accounts.
He shall examine all accounts, claims, and demands against the college, and no money shall be drawn from its treasury unless the amount thereof be adjusted and settled by him and found to be within the budget appropriation, or provision, therefor. If he shall, upon examination of any account, doubt its correctness or find the appropriation or provision insufficient, he shall submit the account to the Committee on Finance and Investment for its decision. No money shall be drawn from the treasury except by checks prepared and signed by him as follows:
Methods of Payment.
(a) Voucher checks on the endowment funds and on funds for special purposes, and on building funds, for purchases and payments authorized by the Committee on Finance an: Investment or by the special action of the board, said voucher checks to be countersigned by the treasurer.
(b) Voucher checks on current funds in payment of bills for materials and supplies, provision for which has been made by the board or Executive Committee, approved by the deans or heads of departments, said voucher checks to be countersigned by the president of the college or some person authorized by the Board of Trustees to sign in his place.
(c) Checks on current funds for salaries and wages as fixed by the bourd or the Executive Committee, or certified by the directors of departments in accordance with budget provision or other appropriations; said checks to be countersigned by the president of the college or some person authorized by the Board of Trustees to sign in his place.
All voucher checks shall indicate the particular account to which the payments are chargeable and the person to whom they are payable.
Surety Bond of Business Manager.
The business manager shall give a bond in favor of the college for the faithful performance of his duties of such a sum as may be fixed, and if not so fixed then to the sum of Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($ N00), with some responsible surety company approved by the board, the compensation of such surety company to be paid by the college.
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CATAWBA COLLEGE
Surety Bonds of Officers and Employees.
Sect
Sect
He shall see that all officers and employees in all departments of the college having custody of or responsible for funds and securities shall furnish bonds in such amounts as shall be determined and fixed by the Committee on Finance and Investment; and it is also hereby provided that all premiums thereon shall be paid by the college.
The business manager shall also perform such duties as the president of the college or the Board of Trustees may from time to time designate.
In case of vacancy in the office of business manager, or of his absence or inability to act, his duties shall be performed by the chairman or vice-president of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE III. COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD, ion 1.
There shall be six standing committees of the Board of Trustees, namely:
(a) Executive Committee.
(b) Committee on Finance and Investment.
(c) Committee on Instruction.
(d) Committee on Buildings and Grounds.
(e) Committee on Audit.
(f) Committee on Budget, ion 2. Appointment of Committees.
The standing committees, other than the Committee on budget, shall be appointed by the president of the board, with the concurrence of the board, at the annual meeting, or as soon thereafter as possible, to serve until their successors are appointed. In making the appointments the president shall designate the chairman and vice-president of each committee, except for the Executive Committee and the Committee on Budget.
Section 3. Personnel of Committees.
Each committee appointed as aforesaid shall consist of five members of the board, and, in addition, the president of the bourd and the president of the college as members ex Officio.
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Section 4. Minutes of Committees.
Record of the actions of each committee shall be kept by the secretary of the board, and shall be reported in writing to the board at its next meeting for approval. A copy of the minutes of each ccmmittee meeting shall be sent promptly to every member of the board.
Neclion 5. Quorum of Committees. Time and Place of Mecting.
Three members of any of the foregoing committees shall constitute a quorum. Meetings of any committee shall be called by the secretary whenever requested to do so by the chairman of the committee, by the president of the board, or by the president of the college. The Executive Committee shall meet regularly on the last Friday of each month at 10 A. M. All committee meetings shall be held at the office of the board, unless otherwise directed by the chairman of the committee. The place of meeting shall be indicated in the notice.
Section 6. Duties of Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee shall, when the board is not in session, arrange for the execution of orders and resolutions not otherwise specifically committed or provided for. It my fill vacancies in the faculty occurring during a recess of the board, and, in accordance with the general policy of the board, shall have the care and direction of matters pertaining to the welfare of the college, and especially shall discharge such duties as the board may assign to it from time to time. It shall make formal report of its actions to the board at its next regular meeting. The president of the boar l shall be chairman of the Executive Committee unless he finds it inconvenient or inexpedient for him to act. In thit case the committee shall elect its own chairman.
Section 7. Duties of Committee on Finance and Investment.
The Ccmmittee on Finance and Investment, acting in accordance with the general policy and under the instruction of the board, shall make or cause to be made investments of all college funds available for investment. This committee during the intervals between the meetings of the Board of Trustees and of the Executive Committee, shall have authority to change the form of investments of college funds and to make new investments in amounts aggregating, but
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Clas. Cert
CATAWBA COLLEGE
not exceeding, One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) without the previous approval of the board, and the committee shall make formal report of all such transactions to the board at its meeting next following. No investment, purchase, or sale for the amount of endowment funds of the college, nor any contract concerning the same, shall be made by the treasurer or the business manager without the formal approval of this committee which shall have supervision of the funds of the college, sification of Funds.
The funds of the college shall be grouped as follows: (a) Endowment funds.
(b) Funds for special purposes.
(c) Building funds.
(d) Current funds, wthecation of Endowment Funds.
The endowment funds shall neither be expended nor hypothecated for current expenses, but shall be retained and preserved inviolate. Investments of endowment funds shall be made as heretofore provided by the Committee on Finance and Investment. There shall be no restriction as to the kinds of investments which may be made, except as hereinafter provided, but other things being equal, preference shall be given to securities issued by the federal and state governments, and to obligations issued by cities having over twenty-five thousand inhabitants; to real estate mortgages on improved property, preferably in the state of North Carolina and adjacent states, but in no case shall the amount loaned on mortgages exceed 50 percent of a fair valuation, ain Loans Prohibited.
No loan shall be made to any trustee, officer, or employee of the college, nor to any religious, fraternal, or charitable organization.
Funds for special purposes shall consist of all gifts, grants, donations, and bequests for special purposes, whose principal and income may be used, and shall be expended or invested in accordance with the terms of the gift.
Building funds shall consist of all gifts, grants, donations, and bequests for the erection and equipment of buildings, and of other moneys and properties appropriated or assigned by the board of Trustees for that purpose.
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The current funds shall consist of income on endowments, tuition receipts and other fees, gifts, grants, or bequests for current purposes, receipts from business and commercial operations of the college, and all other receipts for current use.
Separation of Funds.
Endowment funds, funds for special purposes, and building funds shall not be deposited with or combined in any way with the current funds of the college.
Section 8. Duties of Committee on Budget.
The Committee on Budget shall consist of the chairman of the four committees first above mentioned, together with the president of the college, the president of the board, and the secretary and business manager, and shall have supervision over the bookkeeping and the financial records of the college, and shall submit to the board at the regular February meeting for its approval and consideration a budget for the year commencing on the first day of the following July. The budget submitted shall include an itemized statement of the probable income of the college available for its expenses, and shall indicate the sources from which the income is to be derived. It shall also give an itemized list of the estimated expenses for the year, showing in detail the salaries to be paid and the persons to whom payable, and separating other current expenses and expenses for books and equipment by departments. The president of the board shall be chairman of this committee.
The budget, when approved by the board, shall be the authority for incurring expenditures for the departments included therein. It shall be the duty of the president of the college and the business manager, acting as a committee on expenditures, to make distribution of such budget appropriations as are general by authorizing expenditures within the limits of such appropriations, subject to the following procedure:
Requisitions upon authorized budget appropriations shall be made by the administrative officers of the college and heads of departments for materials, supplies, services, and expenses before any expenditures are incurred, and shall be sent to the president and the business manager for approval. No requisition shall be approved which exceeds the amount of the appropriation available without reference to the Com
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mittee on Finance and Investment. The business manager shall give effect to the approved requisitions either directly or indirectly.
Section 9, Duties of Committee on Instruction.
The Committee on Instruction shall consider all changes in the instructional staff proposed by the president of the college, and shall make recommendations to the Board of Trustees regarding the members of the instructional staff, specifying the terms of their employment, in accordance with the approved budget. It shall also be the duty of this committee to examine the system of instruction, educational management, rules, discipline, and all other matters pertaining to the educational problems of the college, and to report and make recommendations thereon to the boar.
Section 10, Duties of Committee on Buildings and Grounds.
The Committee on Buildings and Grounds shall exercise supervision over the care and control of all buildings, grounds and equipment of the college. It shall once a year, or oftener if necessary, inspect said buildings, grounds, and equipment, and report to the trustees the condition of the sime, recommending such expenditures as in its judgment should be made to keep them in good condition. Report of its inspection shall be made at the February meeting of the board in order that its recommendations my be considered by the committee preparing the annual budget. It shall be its duty to see that the buildings and property of the college are adequately insured.
The committee shall investigate and determine the need for new buildings, and shall report to the board, recommending suitable sites. It shall be responsible for the preparation of plans and specifications of such new buildings as the board may determine upon; it shall call for bids, and shill recommend to the board for approval the contractors, who, in its opinion, shall be awarded the contract for any construction authorized.
Section 11. Duties of Committee on Audit.
The Committee on Audit shall consist of five members of the board, not including the treasurer and members of the Committee on Finance and Investment, and shall arrange for and supervise the annual audit of the books and securities of the college by a firm of public accountants. A written re
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port by said committee of its examination shall be made at the regular meeting of the board in September.
ARTICLE IV. PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE.
Section 1. Duties of President of the College.
The president of the college shall be a member of the Board of Trustees er officio, and shall be the head of all educational departments of the college, exercising such supervision and direction as will promote their efficiency. He shall preside at the meetings of the faculty and shall be the official medium of communication between the faculty and the Board of Trustees, and between the students and the Board of Trustees. 7
He shall recommend to the board through the Committee on Instruction all promotions and appointments for the faculty.
He shall be responsible for the discipline of the college and for carrying out all measures officially agreed upon by the faculty concerning matters: committed to them by the board, and for executing such measures concerning the internal administration of the college as the Board of Trustees may enact.
Section 2. Annual Report of President.
He shall make an annual report to the Board of Trustees of the work and condition of the college, and from time to time shall give to the board reports upon the condition of the college, and shall present for their consideration such measures as he shall deem necessary or expedient for its welfare.
Section 3. Acting President.
In case of vacancy in the office of the president of the college or of the absence of the president, or of his inability to serve, the board may appoint an acting president of the college.
ARTICLE V. THE FACULTY.
Section 1.
The faculty shall consist of the president of the college, the deans of the college, and the officers of instruction, classified as follows: the professor, the associate professor, the assistant professor, the instructor, and the assistant. Only per
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sons of the rank of instructor and upwards shall be entitled to vote at meetings of the faculty. Assistants who are apPointed for at least one year may attend the meetings and take part in the deliberations but shall not vote.
Section 2.
The faculty shall meet monthly during the college sessions, and shall appoint a secretary who shall keep a record of their proceedings. They shall make such rules of procedure and provide for such committees as may be required.
Section 3.
The faculty shall prescribe, subject to approval by the Board of Trustees, requirements for admission, courses of study, conditions of graduation, the nature of degrees to be conferred, rules and methods for the conduct of the educational work of the college, and shall recommend to the board candidates for degrees, persons to receive the award of fellowships, scholarships, and prizes, and candidates for honorary degrees, and shall investigate all cases of misconduct of students, or violations of rules of the college by students, and through the president and deans shall administer such discipline as the circumstances require. They shall prescribe rules for the regulation of student publications, athletics, intercollegiate games, musical, dramatic, and literary clubs, and other student affairs.
ARTICLE VI. AMENDMENTS.
These by-laws may be amended or repealed at any regular meeting of the board by a vote of two-thirds of all the members present, provided a majority of the trustees shall be present and participating in the meeting, previous notice of the nature of any proposed amendment having been given at least one regular meeting before action thereon shall be taken.
ARTICLE VII. FORMER BY-LAWS.
All former by-laws are hereby repealed.
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