Memorials of academic life: being an historical sketch of the Waddel family, identified through three generations with the history of the higher education in the South and Southwest

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Preface

THE greater portion of a life, now protracted beyond tlie limit assigned to man, having been spent in close connection with the practical work of education in the South and Southwest, and my individual labors having been devoted, to a far greater extent, to the public institutions of the land of my birth than to any private enterprises of my own, some of my most intimate and judicious friends, in whose candor and sincerity I repose the utmost confidence, have, more than once, suggested the propriety of my committing to permanent record the reminiscences connected with educational history familiar to me. In addition to these suggestions from private sources, I have been applied to by gentlemen sustaining important relations to the Bureau of Education, Department of the Interior, to aid those engaged in collecting the annals of the educational history of South Carolina. These annals have j-eference, so far as I am concerned, especially to '' Willington Academ}^" founded by Dr. Moses "Waddel, where so many distinguished men of South Carolina and Georgia were trained under his superintendence.

This work has been undertaken by me not without a profound sense of my inadequacy to the successful accomplishment of the task and a consciousness of my deficiency in the great qualities essential to authorshiiD.

Let it be kept in -view, however, that in such a work as is here contemplated, much of the private life of my father

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must necessarily be included, and its details may furnish little of interest to the mass of readers. His contemporaries have long since j^assed away in the vast majority. Besides, *'the short and simple annals" of a teacher's life hold out a small attraction for any but his immediate descendants. There are readers, however, who wdll feel interested in the biography of men whose labors w^ere given, as his were, always to unselfish public work. I offer no apology for accompanying this publication with some account of his life and labors, inasmuch as the results of his labors, being matters of history, will naturally awaken some desire, even in the present generation of readers, to know somewhat of the life and character of the man himself.

This, then, in part, will serve to explain my purpose in undertaking to furnish this narrative. But it wdll be conceded that it would fall short very far of a record of the entire history of Southern and Southwestern education were it to comprise only a notice of its progress under one of its earlier agents, however important his labors may have been. Each age has its own workers, and each can furnish only its individual contribution to the history of the whole.

As some small part of this history, showing the successive advance of this great cause, so as to bring the present generation into personal association with its progress, I venture to incorporate in the work the amount of my personal knowledge and identity with the history. It may furnish future writers, so far as it is presented, a foundation for its continuance. I propose to cover this second era in the record with a narrative of my personal connection with the cause. It will extend over a j^eriod of some sixty years, embracing reminiscences of j)rivate work, as well as that of those public institutions of which I formed part of the corps of instructors.

In this case, as in the case of Bev. Dr. Moses Waddel, it

Preface. 7

is impossible to avoid statements of fact that will be entii-ely personal, inasmuch as the work done by me during my manhood, and within the half century now near its close, has been almost solely the work of education. Consequently, if I write on that subject, I must write, more or less, of myself. I trust, however, that though these statements of details of private life might i)rove to my readers somewhat dry and unattractive taken alone, ,they may, nevertheless, l^e somewhat tolerated upon the ground that, interspersed through the narrative will be found, of necessity, allusions to and sketches of eminent and distinguished characters with whom I was incidentally associated, and of many of my own contemporaries and classmates, who afterwards reached distinction in their several pursuits and professions.

The period covered by this record embraces much of momentous interest and importance to our country and to the world, exerting more or less of influence upon the history of education, in not only intellectual training, but in the events of the pohtical world, as well as in scientific and Christian civilization. A bare allusion to these facts will serve to recall them to many now living and acting. When we mention the Nullification ordinance of 1832 in South Carolina, and the coin^Dromise of 1833 ; the Abolition movement; the Kansas and Nebraska excitement; the Mexican war and the annexation of Texas ; the civil war between the States 5 and the emancipation of the slaves of the South; then turning from this pohtical crowd of grand events, and thinking of the advance of this land and all others in all imaginable and unimaginable forms of invention and discovery in science, and lastly, the progress made in the victories of the Christian religion, the conclusion is inevitable, that never in any previous three-quarter century has the world made progress so illustrious as the present era has exhibited in such rapid succession.

Contents

EEV. MOSES WADDEL, D. D.

Chapter I

Sketch of Parents. — Emigration to America. — Birth of Moses Waddel.— Schools of his Childhood to his Fourteenth Year,.-. 25

CHAPTER IL Invitation to Teach Declined. —Father's Reasons. — Views of the Son then and in after Life.— First Engagements as Teacher. — Filial Disobedience. — Results, — Reflections, 30

Sketches of Dr. Waddel's Colleagues of the Faculty from 1819 to

1820, 77

Chapter XIV

University Administration During Dr. Waddel's Presidency. — His Life in Athens. — His Services to the Cause of Christian Education, 92

CHAPTER XY. 3)r» Waddel's Objects in View in Accepting the Presidency of the Universit}'. — Successful Results. — Close of his Term of Service.- — Resignation, 100

CHAPTER XVL Death of Mrs. Waddel. ■ — Manner of Life in Retirement. —Churches he Served. — His Associates Among His Ministerial Brethren. Last Sickness and Death, 119

Contents. H

WILLIAM HENKY WADDEL.

Memorial Kecord of the Life, Labors, and Character of William Henry Waddel, Professor of Ancient Languages in the University of Georgia, . .... 129

Chapter V

First School. Death of My Mother. —Life in the Country. —A College Associate. — My Habits, 186

CHAPTER YL Feelings and Views on the Subject of Religion. — My Father's Preaching, and my Estimate of it at that Time. — Some Notice of George McDuffie and Others, _.. _ 193

CHAPTER VIL Courtship and First Marriage, 202

CHAPTER VIII.

Incidents, Public and Private, in 1832 -'33. —Sketch of J. C. Calhoun. — Nullification, 206

CHAPTER IX Purchase of Land in Alabama. — Removal. — Signal Providential

Interference in My Behalf, 218

CHAPTER X.

Four Years' Residence iu Alabama, with its Consequences, and

Another Removal, 223

CHAPTER XI.

A Visit to South Carolina, and Removal of Family to Mississippi. —Business Settlements in Mobile, and Incident There. — New Home,___„ . - - — - 232

CHAPTER XII.

Prosecution of Ministerial Studies. — Licensure by the Presbytery

of Mississippi. — Places of my First Year's Preaching, 237

CHAPTER XIIL Establishment and Organization of Montrose Academy. — Its Progress and Influence. — Supply of Religious Destitutions. — Difficulties, - 241

CHAPTER XIV.

More Sorrow. — Incorporation of Board of Trustees of University of the State. — Proceedings of the Board. — Coming Events Foreshadowed, ^ 246

CHAPTER XV.

Election of Faculty of the University. ^ — Initiatory Difficulties. — Farewell Sermons. — Removal to Oxford, and Formal Opening, . 251

CHAPTER XVL General Educational History of Mississippi, 257

CHAPTER XVIL Preparatory Steps for the Opening of the University. — Erection of

Buildings and Inauguration Ceremonies, 260

CHAPTER XVIII.

General View of Matters Connected with the First Session of the

Universitj'-, 266

CHAPTER XIX.

Annual Meeting of the Board of Trustees.— Election of President.— Some Statistics.— Sketch of President Longstreet and Others, 273

CHAPTER XX.

Brief Sketches of the Chartered Board, . 287

CHAPTER XXI.

Financial History, 292

CHAPTER XXII.

Statistical Statements, _„ 298

CHAPTER XXIII.

Changes and Additions in the Faculty from Time to Time. — Danville Theological Seminary.— Other Changes in the Course of Study, and Other Facts, 301

CHAPTER XXIV.

Review of Private and Domestic History from 18-18 to 1857, 309

CHAPTER XXV Establishment of a Church College by the Synod of Memphis. — Election of a Facult5\ —Discussion iu Relation to the Location. — Choice of La Grange, Tennessee, 319

CHAPTER XXVI.

Rehictance on my Part to Leaving Mississippi.— Inducements Held Out. — Resignation and Removal to La Grange. — Action of Faculty and Studer ts on my Resignation, 324

CHAPTER XXVIL Visit to the North, and Opening Prospects of the College iu 1857.

General Train of V/ork, 328

CHAPTER XXVIIL Sketches of the Faculty.— Rev. John H. Gray, D. D.— Professor

J= R. Blake. - Professor James L. Meigs, 33'4

CHAPTEP. XXIX.

Second Session. — General Character of the "Work. — Mode of Discipline. — Progress of the Endowment, 345

CHAPTER XXX.

Besignation of Dr. Gray. — Election of his Successor. — Correspondence with Davidson College i^.uthoritiss, 348

CHAPTER XXXI.

Routine of College Work. — Boarding System. — Dormitory Plan

Discussed, 356

CHAPTER XXXIL Meeting of the Synod in 1860, and Final Decision of the Qiiestion. — The Election of Lincoln. — Close of the Fourth Session of the College. —The End, 360

CHAPTER XXXIII.

Further Notes of War Experience in La Grange, and My Escape

from the Lines, 366

CHAPTER XXXIV.

Effect of the War Upon the Presbyteries of the South. — Dr. Spring's Resolutions. — Atlanta Convention. — Organization of the General Assembly, December 4 1861, -. 372

CHAPTER XXXV.

Return to La Grange. — Continuation of War Record. — Personal

Incidents, 381

CHAPTER XXXVL

Resumption of the Narrative of the Escape. — Mode of Life in

Mississippi. — Occupation and Service until the Spring of 1863, 389

CHAPTER XXXVIL Appointed Commissioner of Army Missions in the Mississippi Army. — Two Sad Events of the Year. — Arrival of my Children from La Grange, 395

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

More Perils and Escapes. — Residence at MeridiarC and at Montgomery. — Wanderings. — Change of Work. — In Danger of Capture, 403

CHAPTEH XXXIX.

Finale of the Sherman-Smith Raid. — Return to Mississippi with my Children. — Marriage of My Yonngest Daughter. — Fourth Meeting of the General Assembly. — Change of Location in Army Worli, ^ 415

CHAPTER XL„ Sojourn iu Atlanta and in Camp.— General Johnson Relieved. — Evacuation of Atlanta. — Stay in Euf aula. —Death of my Son at Jonesboro. — Army Movement Toward Nashville, 422

CHAPTER XLI.

Appointment to a New Service, and Last Days of the Confederacy.. — Gloom and Despondency. — Destitiition of the South, 428

CHAPTER XLIL Incidents of Personal Historj'. — Release from all Ofhcial Duties

Growing Out of the War.— Visits to Old Homes, 433

CHAPTER XLIIL Private Histor}'. — Attendance at the Meeting of the Presbytery of Memphis. — Meeting at Holly Springs. — Return to Oxford and Settlement there, 441

CHAPTER XLIV.

Governor Sharkey's Term of Service. — Oxford my Home. — Election to the Chancellorship of the University. —Marriage. — Care of Oxford Church. — Address before the Legislature, 445

CHAPTER XLV.

Advance of University Work. — Additions to the Faculty. — Annoyances Threatening Disturbance. — Close of First Session. — Sketches of Some Professors. — Changes of State Government. — Political Trouble in Prospect, 456

CHAPTER XLVI.

Under a New Regime. — Signs of Diminished Patronage. — Judge Hudson's Letter and Answer to It.— Governor Alcorn. — New Board Appointed. — A Sketch. — Small Attendance, 464

CHAPTER XLVIL Return of Confidence in the University on the Part of the People of the State. — Governor Alcorn. — Respect Shown the Board. — Two Unpleasant Incidents. — The Dormitory System.— Change of the System of the University, 472

CHAPTER XLVITI.

Burden of Eesponsibility. — Church and State Institutions. — Attitude of the University Toward Christianity. — Free Tuition. — Work Done by its Graduates.- — Historical Address. — Degree of LL. D. Conferred by University of Georgia, 481

CHAPTER XLIX.

General Assembly of 1868. — Elected Moderator. — Proceedings. — Educational Convention. — Director of Church University. — Results of Two Meetings — General Assembly of 1874. — Elected Secretary of Education. — Resignation, . 488

CHAPTER L.

Maturing my Views as to Accepting the Office of Secretary of Education, — Advised Against it. — Formal Acceptance. — A Difference. — The Question Settled by the Assembly. — Epidemic of Yellow-Fever of 1878. — Joined Presbytery of Memphis. 497

CHAPTER LI.

Resiime of Matters. — Correspondence with Dr. Palmer in 1878- '79. — Conflict of Feeling. — Attendance on Meetings of the Directory. — Re-organization of Stewart College and Election of the Faculty, 507

CHAPTER LII.

Attendance on Assembly May 15, 1879. — Return to Memphis and Preparation to Remove. — Resignation of the Secretaryship and Election of Successor. — Farewell Sermon. — Arrival at Clarksville and Address to the Six Synods, 515

CHAPTER LIII.

The Epidemic Again. — Number of Students. — The Public School. —The Free Feature of the University. — Character of the Faculty. — The Student Body Before and After the New Crganization. — Discipline and Christian Influence, 524

CHAPTER LIV.

Proceedings and Action of the Board. — Resignation of Professor Dinwiddie. — Election of Professor Massie, — Resignation of Professor Hemphill. — Election of Professor Nicolassen. — Establishment of a Chair and its Endowment — Election of Dr. Welch. — Refusal of Presbytery to Dissolve Pastoral Relation. — Dr. Price Elected and Accepting, 531

CHAPTER LV.

Divinity School Established. — Election of Professor and the Chair

Endowed. — Dr. Caldwell's Resignation, 537

CHAPTER LVI.

Divinity School and First Class.— Sketch of Vice-President Welch, 542

CHAPTER LVII.

Filling Vacancies. — Withdrawal of Synod of Texas. — Sketches. — Failing Health and Resignation of Chancellor. — Election of Successor and Inaiignration Exercises, 547

CHAPTER LVIII.

General Review. — What is a Christian Institution. — Closing Reflections on the Subject' of Education, 553

APPENDIX.

I. Correspondence on Danville Seminary, 565

II. Correspondence on Resignation of Chancellorship of University of Mississippi, 569

III. Correspondence on Resignation of Chancellorship of South-

western Presbyterian University, 572

IV. Closing Exercises of Ninth Commencement, 581

MEMORIALS

OF

The Waddel Family

OF

THE WADDEL FAMILY,

REV. MOSES WADDEL, D. D.,

FOKMERLY PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA.