Part 17 (1/2)

4. That subscriptions of $500 may be paid by the subscribers either during their natural life or twelve months after death, with interest from date, to be paid annually.

5. That Rev. H. B. Cowles be appointed agent, and that Dr. William A.

Smith be a.s.sociated with him.

[Ill.u.s.tration: REV. L. M. LEE, D. D., _Editor: Richmond Christian Advocate_.]

These resolutions were adopted, and the agents appointed were requested to make arrangements for the prosecution of the work as soon as practicable. It could not be done at once, as the Agent elected had to be a.s.signed to the work by the Conference, which did not meet till November. So it was arranged that the work should be commenced next spring.

In the interval Dr. Leroy M. Lee, then editor of the _Richmond Christian Advocate_, proceeded to write and publish from time to time a series of articles on ”Christian Education”--articles probably not surpa.s.sed in force and pertinence by any ever written on the subject. He kept the matter of the canva.s.s which was to be inaugurated the coming year before the Methodist public, and thus effectually paved the way for better success.

In May, 1855, the agent and president of the College began the active field work to raise the amount to one hundred thousand dollars at Crenshaw's Church, on the Nottoway circuit, near Blacks and Whites station, on the the (then) Southside Railroad. At this church a ma.s.s-meeting was held, lasting several days. There were present, in addition to the leaders above named, Dr. Leroy M. Lee, editor, who was much interested in the effort.

Dr. Smith was the chief speaker, and he never appeared to better advantage, having the sympathy and interest of the audience with him from the start. Dr. Lee followed him. Agent Cowles struck while the iron was hot and took the subscription, which, in addition to what was secured in the circuit in the next few days, amounted to five thousand dollars. This gave the enterprise a good send-off, and was received and accepted by the church at large as an augury of final success, which proved to be true. The agents did not relax their efforts till the limit was reached.

There were several circ.u.mstances which made this effort a success. The men in charge were the right men. Dr. Smith was a great man before the people. Few men who lived in the State ever equalled, fewer still ever surpa.s.sed him. His colleague, while not deficient in public speaking (he was a most excellent preacher), was gifted with good business address and tact, well versed in reading and managing mankind in general, and thorough in his business transactions, securing all the benefits which were possible. Both were largely acquainted throughout the Conference.

The times were propitious. The decade beginning 1851 was the golden era in the material prosperity of Virginia. The spirit of improvement in lands, building railroads, and plank roads, and other roads was at its height. Most of the great lines throughout the State were built during this decade--the Richmond and Danville, the Southside (Petersburg and Lynchburg), the Virginia and Tennessee (Lynchburg to Bristol), the Orange and Alexandria (Lynchburg and Alexandria), and the Roanoke Valley (Clarksville and Ridgway, N. C.), and others were built or projected.

The last named brought railway communication within twelve miles of the College, and Keysville, on the Richmond and Danville, was within thirty-five miles of the College. Besides these improvements, a plank road was built from Petersburg to Clarksville, which was, as long as it lasted, a great improvement. Another plank road from Blacks and Whites, on the Southside Railroad, was built through Lunenburg in the direction of Boydton, but its terminus was twenty miles short of reaching it.

The Crimean war, involving the great Powers of Europe, raised the price of wheat to a price seldom, if ever, reached previously. It sold in 1853-'54 for $2.35 per bushel, and good prices were maintained for the balance of the decade. Lands in the State, which had been low in price, were increased in value one hundred per cent. and other property in something like the same ratio. All this made people more ready to contribute as well as more able.

COLLEGE YEAR 1854-'55.

This College year was marked by no special change or event. The President's report notes: matriculates in College during the session, 134, 72 of whom were on scholars.h.i.+ps.

[Ill.u.s.tration: DAVID R. DUNCAN, _Major C. S. A.; Senator S. C.

Legislature._]

Professor Samuel Lander, A. M., entered upon his duties as Adjunct Professor of Languages, and W. A. Shepard was a.s.sistant in the Laboratory.

At the annual meeting, June, 1855, degrees were conferred:

A. B.

GEORGE E. BOOKER, Va.

JAMES B. DUGGER, Va.

WILLIAM N. CARTER, Va.

JOHN E. CHRISTIAN, Va.

THOMAS A. GATCH, Va.

JAMES C. HANES, Va.

PETER A. MOSES, Va.

ROBERT N. SLEDD, Va.

DAVID R. DUNCAN, S. C.

OLIVER G. SMITH, N. C.

A. M.

THOMAS E. Ma.s.sIE, Va.

SAMUEL LANDER, N. C.