AL-KULLIYYAH ISSUED by the American University

From left 10 right:- Dr. Hall. Dr. John Carruthers, Pres. Dodge L.L.D., and Dr. Ward. AL-KULLIYYAH ISSUED BY THE American University. of Beirut FORMEI:tLY THE SYRIAN PROTESTANT COLLEGE VOL. XIII. NOVEMBER, 1926 NO.1 THE LIFE OF CLEVELAND H. DODGE The Great Friend oj the Near East. I have been requested by the editor of the English issue of AI-Kulliyyah to prepare an article on Cleveland H. Dodge, placing special emphasis on his interest in the Near East. All I can do is to state a few facts simply-their unusual significance must be left to the imagination of the reader. Cleveland H. Dodge came from an old American family which has been distinguished for many generations for its re ligious zeal and philanthropy. The first member settled in Salem, Mass., in 1629. The first New York member of the family was David Low Dodge, born in Connecticut in 1774. He came to New York in 1805 as a partner in the largest wholesale dry goods house in the city. David married a daughter of the Rev. Aaron Cleveland, grandfather of Grover Cleveland-a former president of the United States. David Low Dodge founded a line of philanthropists. For five generations the name has been prominent in finance, social and religious work. He was one of the founders of the American Tract and Bible Society and the first president of the American Peace Society. He wrote several books on religious subjects, one being "War Inconsistent with the Religion of Jesus Christ." His son, William Earl Dodge, became in 1833 a partner in Phelps, Dodge and Co., which is still one of the greatest houses in the metal industries. He was president of the National Evangelical Alliance, the National Temperance Socie ty and similar bodies. He was also a generous supporter of the Y.M.C.A. 2 AL-KULLIYY AH William Earl Dodge, Jr., was born in Xew York in r832. Besides being one of the leading financiers of the city, he was president of the National V.M.e.A. and an official of many religious and educational organizations. Cleveland H. Dodge was the fourth in line of this re markable family. He was born in 1860 and was graduated from Princeton University in the class of 1879 with Woodrow \-Vilson, who was then, and remained until his death a warm personal friend. Judging from the comments of the press in America during the past summer, it is evident that Mr. Dodge was considered one of the most prominent men of his time. He was officially connected with many important business cor porations but he will be known in history as an outstanding philanthropist. For many years he was the president of the Board of Trustees of Robert College of Constantinople, a trustee of the C1t.rnegie Institution of Washington, of the New York Public Library, the American Museum of Natural History and the New York Zoological Society. During the war Mr. Dodge not only contributed liberally to the Red Cross, the Y.M.C.A., and many other relid enter prises but he showed such zeal in promoting these causes that he was again and 1t.gain appointed to head their gigantic cam paigns. He was intimately identified with the Near East Relief. He was present at the first meeting when that com mittee was organized and never missed a single meeting until his health was impaired. He served as the Treasurer and for several years paid all of the expenses incident to the collection of vast sums of money because he thought people would give much more generously if they knew every cent collected would go directly to the orphans. He was so deeply interested in the American Colleges in the Near East that he worked out a plan for a joint offIce in America which was to provide an efficient business administra tion for these growing institutions, to collect the necessary funds to clear them of their war debts and to place them on a permanent basis financially by increasing their endowments. Not only did Mr. Dodge pay all of the expenses of this enter- AL-KULLIYYAH 3 prise but he gave the closest personal attention to the develop ment of the plan and acted as the chairman of the Emergency Fund in 1922 and of the Fund for Near East Colleges in 1925. The family's connection with the Near East is being carried a generation further by his daughter, Mrs. George H. Huntington of Robert College, and his son, Bayard Dodge, now president of the American University of Beirut. Few lives and few fortunes are so largely given over to well doing as was that of Cleveland H. Dodge. Such men not only reflect honor on the country that produces them but provide the basis for faith in a universal brotherhood throughout the whole wide world. AI,B$l' W. STAUB. MEMORIAL MEETING In konor oj tke great American Benefactor Cleveland H. Dodge. No matter how widely critics of national traits and character may differ in their comments upon Syria and the Syrians, they cannot help agreeing that the beautiful quality of gratitude is deeply rooted in the hearts of the Syrians. Moved by deep regret for the sad death of the great philanthropist, Cleveland H. Dodge, father of our President, recognizing the great love he always cherished for Syria and the Near East and conscious of the priceless moral and financial aid he had rendered to the causes of education and culture and charity in the Near East, a group of distinguished men repre~ . senting all political and religious creeds in the country, held a memorial meeting, Wednesday afternoon, July 28, in the Tabariz spacious Hall in Beirut. The Committee in charge was made up of the following leading citizens :- Marquise Jean Freije, A Beirut Notable. George Effendi Baz, Champion of Women's Rights. George Bey Tabit, Member of the House of Representatives. Omar Bey Beyhurn,,, " " " " Omar Bey Daouk" " " " " Emir Fuad Araslan" " " " " 4 AL-KULLIYYAH Habib Bey Trad, Banker. Ramiz Eff.Sarkis, Proprietor of Lisan VI-Hal. Dr. Fuad Bey Ghosn, Prop. and Editor of the Medical lVlagazine. Henry Effendi N akkash, Director of the Banco di Roma. The noteworthy and impressive fact about this gathering is that it was a spontaneous and sincere demonstration of love and appreciation of the work of Cleveland H. Dodge for Syria, Moreover, the men who made the arrangements and executed the plans are not connected with our University and with the exception of two did not receive their education at the A.U.B. Omar Bey Daouk was the Chairman of the occasion. He opened the meeting by a very appreciative address. He quoted one of the sayings of the Prophet Mohammad and applied it most fittingly w the late benefactor. "When the Son of Adam dies his work stops except in three forms: Flowing charity, use fullearning and a righteous son." Omar Bey added, "Surely the work of Clevel8.lld H. Dodge is still going on. In the great charitable institutions he established, in the great centers of education he supported and in the person of his righteous son Mr. Bayard Dodge, president of the American University of Beirut." George Baz delivered in Arabic a biography of Cleveland H. Dodge. A very high tribute was paid in French by M. Alfred N akkash. Amin Effendi Rihani spoke on Cleveland H. Dodge as the ideal rich man (I) . Nicola Tabit extolled in English the great deeds of the late philanthropist. Mary Ajamy eulogized him in Arabic verse. Habib Eff. Bustany's address in French expressed clearly the appreciation of the country for its great friend. A magnificent poem was delivered by the well known poet, Amin Bey Taky-ud-Din, showing the great loss suffered in America as well as in Asia through the death of the man who was one of God's gifts to his generation. Prof. Khauli thanked the speC\kers and the audience on behalf of President Bayard Dodge. Wadi Sabra, the well known pianist and 'com poser, furnished the music for the evening. A beautiful large (I) Mr. Rihaai'.. address will be translated into English to be published in the December iSSl!{, of the Alumni Monthly. AL-KlTLLIYYAH 5 picture of Cleveland H. Dodge, the work and gift of Wadad Shoucair, was hanging on the wall behind the speakers to give them inspiration and to show the audience the man whose bene ficence and charity were world wide, bounded by no color, creed or geographical lines. EDITORIAL COMMENTS ON CLEVELA~D H. DODGE For several months after the death of the great American Philan thropist, Clevelar,.d H. Dodge, the American and European Press have given columns to the description of the life and deeds of the big hearted benefactor and his gigantic work of charity and benevolence. In the "Outlook" of New York we read that the late "lover of his kind" raised $170,000,000 for the American Red Cross work in Europe and the Near East. He was himself one of the biggest contributors towards this stupendous amount. He gave one check for $1,000,000 besides many others. His interest in spreading sound education in the Mediterranean countries is too wen known to need any comment. Salloum A. Mokarzel, the able editor of the Syrian World, has well said of him. "He had contributed so much of his time and resources to the cause of education in the Near East that his life is said to have marked a new era in American philanthropy in this field." Portlalld (Orego};) J oUi·nal.- Some men find their happiness in life in getting; Mr.

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