. H633 1910 Copy 1 17 7 6 19 10 SOUVENIR BULLETIN Hampden-Sidney College «ftiiHyii t ffi#BiiWHi^ HAMPDEN-SIDNEY, VA. J.P.BELL CoPRIfiTEfiS " ZwfflUIi6\^ Volume IV 1776 1910 Number 4 SOUVENIR BULLETIN OF Hampden-Sidney College ( Midwinter Number ) Hampden-Sidney, Va. Published by the College Entered at the Postoffice at January — April — July— October Hampden-Sidney. Va., as 2d class matter '\^' Gushing Hall — Remodeled HAMPDEN-SIDNEY COLLEGE A SKETCH \AIPDEN-SIDNEY COLLEGE opened its doors on January 1, 1776. It has, therefore, just passed the threshold of its 135th year of unbroken life, with a record of service rendered to God and countr)' that is astonishingly rich and fruitful. In point of age Hampden-Sidney stands second among the colleges of the Southland, and eighth among all tlie institutions of learning in tlie W'esti'rn Hemisphere. It is older In' six months than the Declaration of Independence, and older In- thirteen years tlian the Constitution of the Lnited States. During this century and a third, co\ering the lifetime of four generations of men, it has ne\'er closed its doors except in \-acation. Memorial Hall ITS ESTABLISHMENT Just 135 }'ears ago, in February. 1775. the Presbytery of Hanover resolved to establish an uisti- tution which would meet the educational needs of this southern section of the rapidly growing Colony of Virginia. The site selected was "at the head, of Hudson's Branch, in Prince Edward County, on an hundred acres of land, given for the use by Mr. Peter Johnston," the grandfather of General Joseph E. Johnston, of Confederate fame, whose birthplace, "Longwood," is only a few miles from the College campus. The institution which came into being at the beginning of the tremendous struggle tlTat gave to the colonies their independence appropriately received its name from two illustrious champions of English liberty, John Hampden and Algernon Sidney. The first faculty was composed of four men — all of them graduates of Princeton, and all of them honored names in the annals of church and country. Although established, and through its early years controlled, l)y the Presbytery of Hano\-er, yet from the first its founders were insistent that it should be free from sectarianism, and at the same time distinctly Christian. By its charter, which was issued in May, 1783, and which has never been amended in any wise, the control of the College was transferred to a self -perpetuating Board of Trus- tees. Among the charter members of this Board we find the names of Patrick Henry and James Mad- ison. 5 Gushing Hall AIkmorial Hall NORTH VIEW OF CAMPUS ITS THREE-FOLD AIM In establishing Hampden-Sidney College its founders had in view three distinct, and yet closely related, objects, viz. : I. That Sound Learning be promoted. II. That the Principles of Liberty and Patriotism be impressed upon the youth of the land. III. That True Religion be conserved, and the Kingdom of Christ advanced. With these principles as its magna chorta Hampden-Sidney College came into being Januarv 1, 1776, and throughout its long and memoraI)le career has abundantly fulfilled the higli purpose of its founders. A. In Education The College has always stood for the things that are best in culture and cliaracter. Never a large institution (the largest student body ever enrolled numbered only 155), she has placed the emphasis upon quality rather than quantity. A well-known man of letters, not himself an alumnus of the Col- lege, has recently said that "Hampden-Sidney is one of the few institutions that still stand squarelv for the things that are really worth while in education." As a college of liberal arts she has striven to give 7 ViavrABLE Haix (The Seminary) SOUTH VIEW OF CAMPUS jVIiddle Court Young Ladies; Shepherd College, West Virginia. These and other institutions were founded, or resus- citated, bv the energy and talent of men who had studied or taught in the stimulating atmosphere of Hampden-Sidney. B. In Patriotic Service Hampden-Sidney's contribution to the history of state and nation has been extraordinarily large, and is out of all proportion to her numerical strength. Five times since the College was founded the tocsin of war has sounded, and in each of tliese wars lier sons have rallied to their country's standard — viz.: the War of the Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, and the Spanish-American War. Three times ha\'e the students of the College enlisted as a bodv and marched to the battle's front. In 1777, at the call of Governor Patrick Henry, tlie Hampden-Sidney Boys, under the command of (then Professor and later President) John Blair Smith, took the field and marched to the defence of Williamsburg. Again, in the War of 1812, the students of the College organized themselves into a company, chose one of their own numljer, John R. Kirkpatrick, as captain, and engaged in daily drill in prepa- ration for active service in the field. This company of youthful patriots was deeply stirred 1)}- the eloquence of John Randolph of Roanoke (whose home was a few miles distant from tlie College), 11 "Penshuest," Residence of the President and of President Hoge — both of whom addressed the men in ranks. These student patriots saw ac- tive service in the section about Hampton Roads. Again, in 1861, at the call of the Commonwealth, to which the Southerner had always been taught his first allegiance was due, the Hampden-Sidney Boys, rmder the command of President John M. P. Atkinson, promptly volunteered and were mustered into service. Both in the Revolution and in the Civil War, when these special student organizations were disbanded, their members passed into otlier commands in those immortal armies commanded by Washington and by Lee, and ser\'ed until the end of the war. Altogether the College sent into tlie armies of the Confederacy (337 men — l)eing more than the total number of her matriculates during the 14 years immediately preceding the Civil War. Two-fifths of these were commissioned officers, ranking from Chaplain through all the grades to that of Major-General, and beneath the sod of the old Commonwealth they loved so well lie buried 83 of her gallant sons who "died on the field of honor." In view of the fact that the average annual en- rollment has been less than 75, it is probable that no college in America can match Hampden-Sidney's splendid record of patriotic service. Fvu"thermore, the service the College has rendered in times of peace is scarcely less remarkaljje. Hampden-Sidney has furnished one President of the United States. Her sons have sat in the cabinet, and have gone as ambassadors of their country to the ccnu'ts of Europe. Thirtv-three of her 13 View of Campus — Looking West alumni have been members of the Congress of the United States (Senate and House). In the brief four years of its existence nine Hampden-Sidney men sat in the Confederate Congress, including its brilliant Speaker. She has furnished Governors to si.x states — from Maryland to Missouri. In addition to those who have adorned the bench in other states from New York to Florida and California, 66 of her alumni have sat upon the bench in Virginia alone, and 120 have served in tlie Legislature and in Constitutional Conventions in this state. Besides these, a great company of her sons have held prom- inent and influential place in the various departments of professional and business life. C. In Religion Founded by men who counted "the fear of the Lord the beginning of wisdom," the College has stood squarely for the great fundamental facts — an inspired Bible and a Divine Christ. Its atmosphere is distinctly Christian. Four-fifths of the students are members of some church. Besides maintaining their own Y. M. C. A., the students conduct a number of Sabbath Schools within a radius of five miles of the College, carrying on with vigor the work once done by the students of the Theological Sem- inary. One of tlie most noted educators of the South, long familiar with the men trained here, though not himself of their number, has recently declared that "the glorious work of Hampden-Sidney lies in the type of character she has uniformly produced." While rigidly non-sectarian, enrolling stu- dents from every denomination, Hampden-Sidney has always been pre-eminently Christian, and from it have gone forth streams that have made glad the City of God. Not a few chapters in the history of the church at home and abroad could never have been written but for the fruitful work done here. 15 Gushing Hall — North View This College has furnished to the ministry of the Gospel a number equal to 50 per cent, of all its graduates, i. e., one out of every two have become preachers of the Evangel. Twenty-six and a half per cent, of all the matriculates at Union Seminary in Virginia have been Hampden-Sidney men. The general catalogue of that institution, recently issued, covered 96 years of active work. Fifty-three col- leges and universities have contributed to the student body of Union, and quite a number of its matricu- lates have had no college training at all ; yet more than one-fourth of all its students have been furnished by Hampden-Sidney, just double the number fitrnished by any other iustitiitioii. This record is the more remarkable when we remember that scores of Hampden-Sidney men ha\e pursued their theological studies elsewhere, and that the College has furnished to other divinity schools a number equal to 30 per cent, of the splendid company of young men whom she has sent intii the ranks of the ministry through Union Seminary. Quite naturally the large majority of these ha\-e l)een Presln-terians, but the ministry of five great denominations has been enriched by this College, and among the num- ber are three Bishops of the Episcopal Church. According to Mr. John R. INIott, there are only two colleges in the land that have equalled the record of Hampden-Sidney in this regard — one in ^klissouri, and the other in Michigan. But as both of these are comparatively young, and hence have not been tested half so long-, and as both are co-educational, and no doul^t have included the voung women who have devoted themselves to home or foreign mission work, Hampden-Sidney may safely claim to hare sent a larger proportion of her graduates into the ministry than any other college in America. 17 Venable Athletic Field ITS PRESENT STATUS This glorious record of achievement gives to Hampden-Sidney a large place among the forces that have moulded this Republic. Her past is secure. What of her present? A comparison will show that the College is fully maintaining both the standards and the spirit of the past and is stronger to-day than ever before. Of the men whom she has trained for advanced educational work, throughout her long career, 40 per cent, arc noiv in active service. Of the great company of strong men whom she has sent into the ministry, more than half are in harjiess to-day. at the forefront of every great enterprise of the church, from the shores of the Chesapeake to the heart of far Cathay. In professional and public life her sons still hold conspicuous place. Witness the fact that of the ten most prominent state officials in Virginia to-day, exactly one-half are alumni cf Hampden-Sidney. In resources and ecjuipment, also, there has been distinct advance. Her endowment, though still very inadequate, and, as is true of practically all her sister colleges in the South, compelling" the most rigid economy, has received material additions in tlie past two decades, and is nozv larger than at any time in her history. The erection of the Memorial Hall has given the College a thoroughly modern and attractive chapel, together with lecture rooms and society halls. New departments have been added, 19 The Libeaey the laboratories have been greatly improved and a well-equipped gymnasium has been provided in the space formerly occupied by the old chapel. The accjuisition of the Seminary property has added to the College holdings four substantial brick dwellings, a large dormitory, and a handsome library building. The fences have been removed, and the grounds of the Seminary and College thrown into one, making an extensive and beautiful campus of grove and greensward, which in natural beauty and extent prob- ably has no equal in the South. The entire property of the College forms a compact tract of some 200 acres. An athletic field, comprising about eight acres, and conveniently located, affords ample space for all out-of-door sports. These grounds form a natural amphi-theatre of great l)eaut}', and are ad- mirably adapted to the needs of the various field and track teams, and to the convenience of spectators. In recent months the sum of $20,000.00 has been expended in improvements upon Inuldings and grounds. Cushing Hall has been so completely remodeled that it is now practicall}' a new l)uilding. thoroughly modern, comfortable, convenient and attractive throughout. It is heated with steam, liglited with gas, and has an ample supply of baths, hot and cold, shower and plunge, together with the other conveniences of modern life. Half a mile of granolithic walk also has been laid, and steam heat and gas have been supplied to the Memorial Hall. Thus, while its needs are many, and all of tliem most urgent, the College is ])etter equipped for its work and is doing that work nmre tliornughl}' than at any- time in its long and fruitful life. 21 The College Church r i ,t 'SM M^ ^- 111 Q ^s w^^M^K^ S^^UUb^ ^^ /-v^ ^H fj^ K*^^! r> ■•'^'■'>;ivp; ^ _, _— ^ - /I'*" ^^ « / "^~^T— ^B .41 J/^^5^ j' -■^ J : 1 SiSJ ll F^ l^^ • , •• 1 w f 1 HI, teM ^^^1 r^ ■^Tx^ 1 SI I 1 III lllj 1 11 ■T,:^:* m' ■ -■?••■• - '■ *^P' f\ yiMir^f pi ^ / Gushing Hall — Looking East LOCATION Hampden-Sidney College is located where the far-sighted wisdom of its founders first placed it' — at Hampden-Sidney, Prince Edward County, Virginia. It is the only college in the section known as "South-side- Virginia," lying between the James River and- the Carolina line, and reaching from the mountains to the sea,— a territory measuring about 100 by 250 miles. Its railroad and express office is Farmville, on the Norfolk and /Western Railway, which can be re;ached from the College in 45 min- utes over an excellent macadai;n road. It Hes on the crest of a water shed, about 700 feet above the sea. The climate is exceptionally fine, being delightfully dry and bracing, and free frorn the extremes of both heat and cold. The ex;traordinary healthfulness of "the Hill" is frequently' cpmmented upon. The bi"eadth and beauty of the College campus, the atmosphere of culture" and dignity that sur- rounds it, its rerharkable healthfulness, its thorough work, the high character of its faculty and student body, and, its wonderful record of achievement, explain the modest claim made by the students in a recent issue of the College Annual, that Hampden-Sidney is "the only authenticated fragment of the Garden of Eden." A catalogue or any further. information relating to the College will gladly be furnished on request. Address the President, Rev. Henry Tucker Graham, Hampden-Sidney, Va. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS IliPlllifl'lll'!"!!'" 029 908 873 P (|f