The Millsaps Collegian Vol. I. NOVEHBER, 1898. No. i THE HISTORY OF MILLSAPS COLLEGE. The fact that so many boys and young- men had to go out of the state in order to obtain an education in a school under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, caused in the minds of some of the most influential laymen and clergymen of the church a re- lization of the necessity of establishing a male college in Mississippi where these young- men might receive an education without going be- yond the bounds of the state. Tlie nearest denominational school was Centenary College, located at Jackson, Louisiana, and there was an in- disposition to send to school there owing to its inacessability from many parts of Mississippi. By a failure on the part of the Xorth Mis- sissippi Conference to resi)ond to an appeal in behalf of Centenary, it became evident that the two conferences of Mississippi should turn their interests towards the establishing of a home school. The sub- ject had been agitated for a long time and during the year 1888 it took, definite shape, when at the session of the Mississippi conference held in Yicksburg, Miss., December 5th-10th, 1888, presided over by Bishop E. K. Hargrove, resohitions to the effect that a college for males un- der the control of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, ought to be est.tbJished at some easilj^ accesable point; and that a committee should be appointed to confer wit] i a like committee from the North Mississippi Conference on th/ })robabiIity of establishing the college. The committee consisted of L. L. Mellen, A. F. Watkius, W. C. Black, W. L. ISTugent, L. Sexton and E. W. Millsaps. The committee of the Xorth Mississippi Conference, held at Starkville, December 12th-17th, 1888, Bishop C. B. Galloway presiding, and which passed similar reso- lutions to those of the Mississippi Conference, ctmsisted of J. J. Wheat, S.^M. Thames, T. J. Newell, G. D. Shands, D. L. Sweatman, J B. Streat(u-. Thus constituted, the joint committee entered npon a great work, the result of which was the founding of an institution which is the pride of Methodism. ThfiJiist meeting of the joint com- mittee was held in the city of Jacksoili.,Mississipj3i,jni February lltlt, 1889. After the purpose, which was to adopt meaus and to devise a 0-165 )/ 2 THE MILLvSAPS COLLEGIAN. ])la?i of establishmo' a Methodist Male College in Mississippi, had been stated, Maj. R. W. Millsaps, who stands first anions- tlie philanthropists of Mississippi, ever ready and willing' to do soMiething in behalf of others, proposed to gve fifty thonsand dollars towards establishing- the college, ])rovided the Methodists of the state wonld raise a like sum. Taking- liis own experience as a guide, he has placed the poor boys in a j)osition where tliey cannot say as lie said: '' I pined over the hard misfortune that the doors of all the high schools and colleges in Mis- sissippi were closed against me for the want of means." Drs. Wheat and Black were requested to draw up an appeal to the church to meet the offer of Maj. Millsaps, and Bishoi) Galloway was requested to aid in raising- the Endowment Fund. The i)roposition of Maj. Mill- saps was warndy received by the people of the whole state, and in less time than six )aonths after the first action of the conference Bishop Galloway reported that he had received twenty-five thousand dollars in endowment notes. Every preacher in the two conferences was urged to preach one sermon at each of his churches on '' Christian and denominational education," in order that the subject might be brought clearly before the people. On March 6th, 1894, the offer of Maj. Millsaps was formally ac- cepted and a vigorous canvass of the state was instituted. Rev. A. F. Watkins was the first financial agent. The others in order of suc- cession were : Revs. J. W. Chambers, J. W. Cooper, T. S. West and T. B. Holloman. The wonderful success with which the agent met in securing the desired amount proved that the cherished enterprise had become an es- tablished fact, and in consequence a board of trustees was appointed, to whom was given the power to procure a charter, to secure a loca- tion, and to do all things necessary to the opening- of the college. The first trustees were: Bishop C. B. Galloway, J. J. Wheat, S. M. Thomas, T. J. Newell, R. M. Standifer, G. D. Shands, D. L. Swcdt- man, J. B. Streater, John Trice, W. C. Black, T. L. Mellen, A. F. Wat- kins, C. G. Andrews, R. W. Millsaps, W. L. Nugent, L. Sexton and M. M. Evans. The charter of Millsaps College was obtained from the legislature of Mississippi at its session in 1890, whereupon the board fixed a day to receive proposals for the location of the college. Several places mad '^ offers ranging from twenty to forty-five thousand dollars and from twenty to eighty acres of land. Jackson,J3rrenada and Winona were the strongest applicants, and Jackson was selected, and'the Hem- ingway place, commanding- a view of the city and surrounding coun- try, was selected as the campus upon which the college shoald be built. The college was known as the Methodist Male College until January 10th, 1890, when upon motion of W. C. Black it was given CARNEGIE - MH.LSAPS LIBRARY ' THE MILLSAPS COLLEGIAN. 3 B. Miurali, then vice- io name of "Millsaps Colle-e/' Rev. W. on tbe resident of Whitwortli Feinale College, was elected president the faculty resulted rst ballot. The election of the other members of Patillo, Mathematics; G. s follows: W. L. Weber, English; N. A. Physics and \ Swenringen, Latin and Greek; A. M. Muckenfuss, Department. Miemistry; M. M. Black, Principal of the Preparatory number of the There have been some changes and an increase in the instead of A. acuity. It now stands as above, with J. A. Moore K with the addition Pattilio, and R. S. Ricketts instead of M. M. Black, Department J. P. 3f E. L. Bailey, Assistant Principal of Preparatory ; Dean of Hanner, Modern Languages and History, and Edward Mayes, Law Department. 18Q2. From the The first session opened on September 29th, preceding opening each session has been an improvement upon 'the learning and now the college ranks among the foremost institutions of in June, 1896, in the south. At the meeting of the board of trustees in connection with it was decided to establish a Department of Law of the State the college, and Judge Edward Mayes, ex-Chancellor began its University, was elected Dean of this Department, which added to the work in September, 1896. Several buildings have been are the large grounds since the opening of the college. Among them and and well-equipped gynasium, built by the efforts of the students, Maj. Millsaps. the beautiful " Webster Science Hall," also the gift of college upon F. M. In 1895 the first degrees were conferred by the Fifty is the AHsti'n7XBXJ.G- Lilly, B. S.; and H. S. Stevens, B. S. monument to the number of the Alumni, who are a living and growing memory of the generous founder of Millsaps College. George Lott Harrell. I THE MILLSAPS COIvLEGIAN. A MISSISSIPPI AUTHOR. In the college collection of books by Mississippi authors, there is pamphlet entitled, "English Grrammarfor Old Scholars and Young; by A. J. Wright." The copy in question is j^oorly edited, but at best it must be taken rather as a live teacher's protest against the grammars and grammar teacliing" of thirty years ago, than as a serious contribu- tion to language study. The author was worthy of a better memorial, a man of large information, a graceful writer, and, strange as it might appear to a reader of the "grammar," a very successful teacher of English. The pamphlet, it may be said in passing, was never used alone in class, but always in connection with some larger text-book of the time. Mr. Wright came to Mississii)pi in 1859, having failed as a com- mission merchant in ISTew Orleans. His father, James Wright, a pru- dent and successful business man, moved in the early forties to our southern metropolis, and laid there the foundation of a considerable fortune. Abram James, the subject of this sketch, was born at Cold Spring', near West Point, New York, Aug. 22, 1822. Here he spent his childhood and youth, working occasionally on the farm, going- to school when he had to and spending- more time than was good for him in wandeving" over the mountains, or lying under the shade of great trees while he read Irving's tales of ghosts and gobblins, and what- ever else of the kind fell into his hands. To this period, and to these somewhat Bohemian habits, which grew upon him in spite of whole- some influences at home, luight be traced a shyness and love of soli- tude which. \^as late in life, alternated in him with a boyish exuberance of spirit and an extravagant love of society. From his home in Highlands, Abram was sent to college at the Wesleyan University, at Middletown, Connecticut. At this institu- tion he was a puj)il of the celebrated Dr. Olin, and a fellow-student of Bishop John C. Keener, Dr. W. H..N. Magruder and others who have since become eminent in their several professions. How he graduated was a mystery to him and not altogether clear to the faculty. For while never wild in the worst sense of the term, he was irregular to a degree, studying by fits and starts, accurrate in unexpected places, and stumbling- often when- less gifted men walked secureiy.