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begun and is being vigorously prosecuted. The buildings already alluded to will be as rapidly built as practicable.

PECULIAR ADVANTAGES OF THE COLLEGE.

Located within six miles of the city of Birmingham and connected with it by rapid dummy transit, its friends claim that the students have all the advantages of a large city without its disadvantages. Situated also in the heart of the mineral regions, and within easy reach of the founderies and manufactories, ample facilities for scientific research are afforded. These, taken in connection with the social, moral, and relig ious advantages afforded, give to Howard College incalculable benefits as a seat of learning.

CHAPTER IV.

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.

Southern University is located at Greensborough, and was established by the Alabama Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. It was designed to be an institution of high grade, and to embrace in its curriculum a full and liberal course of literary, scientific, and religious culture. The better to enable it to accomplish these ends, it was founded upon a broad basis and liberally endowed. The University was incorporated in January, 1856.

Rev. Robert Paine, Rev. James O. Andrew, Rev. Edward Wadsworth, Rev. Jefferson Hamilton, Rev. Thomas O Summers, Rev. Archelaus H. Mitchell, Rev. Thomas J. Koger, Rev. Christopher C. Calloway, Rev. Joseph J. Hutchinson, Rev. Joshua I. Heard, Rev. Philip P. Neely, Rev. Lucius Q. C. De Zampert, Rev. Henry W. Hilliard, Rev. Thomas Y. Ramsey, John Erwin, Gideon E. Nelson, Robert A. Baker, John W. Walton, Thomas M. Johnson, Gaston Drake, Thomas W. Webb, Augustus A. Coleman, and Luke W. Goodman are named as trustees in the act of incorporation.

The first regular meeting of the board of trustees was held in Greensborough on the 17th day of March, 1856. Rev. Bishop Paine was elected president, and Hon. John Erwin vice-president of the board. Steps were immediately taken to carry out the provisions of the charter. On the 11th day of June, 1856, the corner-stone was laid, and on the 3d day of October, 1859, the halls of the University were thrown open for the admission of students. From that time until the present its doors have remained open, with the exception of the session of 1864-65.

The first Faculty was composed of the following gentlemen: Rev. William M. Wightman, D. D., LL. D., chancellor, and professor of

biblical literature; Rev. Edward Wadsworth, A. M., D. D., professor of moral philosophy; Oscar F. Casey, A. M., professor of ancient languages; Rev. J. C. Wills, A. M., professor of mathematics; N. J. Lupton, A. M., professor of chemistry; Rev. J. A. Reubett, A. M., professor of modern languages and Hebrew; J. A. Gatch, A. M., adjunct professor of mathematics. Rev. C C. Calloway was financial and endowment agent. It was largely through his efficiency and energy that the University buildings had been erected and paid for, and that it began its course of usefulness with an active endowment of two hundred and torty thousand dollars. It suffered in common with all the South from the late Civil War, and its large endowment was almost a total loss. Patronage was diminished by the financial reverses of the people. After the retirement of Rev C C. Calloway, Rev. R. R. Hargrove, Rev JA Heard, Rev. Jefferson Hamilton, and Rev. W. I. Powers alternately became the agents of the University. But, with all their earnestness and zeal, their success was comparatively small, and for years the history of the institution was made up of a long and heroic struggle with poverty, difficulties, and discouragements.

In the spring of 1866, Dr. Wightman was called to the "office and work of a bishop in the church," and in July of that year he tendered his resignation. From that time until July, 1871, Dr. Wadsworth acted as chairman of the Faculty. At that time Dr. Wadsworth and Professors Wills and Lupton withdrew from the institution, and Rev. Allen S. Andrews, A. M., D. D., was elected president and professor of moral philosophy. Oscar F. Casey, A. M., was continued in the chair of ancient languages; Rev. John S. Moore, A. M., was elected professor of mathematics; Thomas O. Summers, A. M., M. D., professor of chemistry; and David M. Rush, A. M., and Rev. Robert T. Nabors, A. M., were elected adjunct professors in the departments of mathematics and ancient languages.

The administration of Dr. Andrews was a success, the enrolment being greater than at any former period in the history of the University. He organized the School of Medicine, which continued in operation for the three following sessions, and graduated a number of young men to the degree of doctor of medicine. His connection with the institution ended in July, 1874. Rev. John S. Moore, A. M., was chairman of the Faculty during the ensuing year. In July, 1875, Rev. Luther M. Smith A. M., D. D., was elected president and professor of moral philosophy. The following Faculty was associated with Dr. Smith: Rev. J. H. Hopkins, A. M., M. D., professor of chemistry; Rev. Josiah Lewis, A. M., D. D., professor of English literature and history; O. F. Casey, A. M., professor of ancient languages; Rev. John S. Moore, A. M., D. D., professor of mathematics; Charles A. Grote, A. M., professor of modern languages; and Charles Lane, A. B., principal of the preparacory department. Professors Casey and Lane remained in connection with the institution only during the session of 1875-76, and were

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succeeded by Prof. Clarence M. Verdel, A. M., and Arthur W. Smith, A. M.

Rev. W. J. Powers was at this time endowment agent. He labored faithfully, but owing to the difficulties in his way, he attained only a small measure of success. The labors of Dr. Smith closed with his death, which occurred in July, 1879. At the ensuing commencement, in 1880, Rev. Josiah Lewis, A. M., D. D., was elected chancellor. His co-laborers were Rev. John S. Moore, A. M., D. D., professor of math. ematics; C. M. Verdel, A. M., professor of natural science; C. A. Grote, A. M., professor of modern languages; Rev. F. M. Peterson, A M., B. L., professor of ancient languages; and Prof. W. P. Stott, B. P., principal of the preparatory department.

Dr Lewis retired from the University in December, 1881. No president was elected at the ensuing commencement. The fortunes of the school seemed to be waning, and the outlook was extremely discourag ing to its friends. But during the following year effective measures were taken for its rehabilitation. The charter was so amended as to constitute the institution the joint property of the Alabama and North Alabama Conferences. In July, 1883, Rev. A. S. Andrews, A. M., D. D., was again called to the presidency; at once confidence was inspired, and the church, in fact the whole Christian public, rallied to the support of the University as they had never done before. During the year 1883-84 the institution numbered one hundred and six matriculates; in 1884-85 the number was one hundred and twenty-seven; during the year 1885-86, one hundred and seventy-one; in 1886-87, one hundred and ninety-two; in 1887-88 the patronage increased to two hundred and twenty-five; and at the opening of the spring term of the present session, 1889, the school numbered two hundred and fifteen matriculates. Rev. Dr. W. C. McCoy was elected agent in 1884. He was successful in securing a considerable amount of productive endowment, which has been safely invested, and during his agency he repaired and greatly improved the buildings of the University.

In 1888 Rev. James O. Andrew succeeded Dr. McCoy in the agency, and during the year he has had unusual success. He is a man of great personal magnetism, is in all respects fitted for the delicate and difficult work that he has in hand, and the omens of complete success have greatly cheered the friends of the institution.

The Methodist Episcopal Church South is strong in Alabama, num bering more than eighty thousand communicants; many of these are rich men, who could individually endow the University and never feel the loss of the bequest. The school is becoming more and more a necessity to the church and to the State. It is sending out from its halls of instruction annually bands of educated and trained young men who are taking their places in the front ranks of society, each one to become a centre of light and Christian influence. More and more is the lesson of Christian culture spreading throughout the State, and the sentiment is

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