Newspaper Page Text
Ideal Democracy In Education.
_ (Continued from page 2.)
of the war seemed to indicate that for a time the
future of the college hung in the balance. But even
during the period of the war the friends of the
school had not forgotten its needs and even though
burdened with debts and difficulties the institution
was opened in 1565 and work was conducted there
under the direction of Rev. W. C. Wilkes who had
labored long and faithfully for the school. In 1879
the entire college building, containing valuable lab
oratories, libraries and genera] equipment, were de
stroyed by fire and for a time the college was en
tirely suspended. But after several years of inactiv
ity, again energetic friends came forward and with
the small insurance fund of four thousand dollars
as a. nucleus the inspiring efforts of the Ladies’
College Aid Association together with liberal private
donations enabled the college to again resume work
with Prof. R. T. Asbury at its head. After this
Rev. J. E. Powell and Dr. M. 11. Love stood at the
helm.
College Tendered to the Baptist Convention.
But the financial struggles were too heavy to be’
borne by any individuals and at the Georgia Bap
tist Convention held in Augusta in April, 1898, the
college was offered to the convention, and by special
effort on the part of the citizens of Forsyth and
the Trustees of the institution it was free of debt.
Although there was at first much opposition to the
acceptance of Monroe College by the Baptists of
Georgia, it was finally accepted by the convention
and a board of trustees elected for its management.
Several splendid institutions, private or local in
ownership, had been called Baptist schools, but Mon
roe was the first college to be owned by the denom
ination as a whole.
In the light of late events it may be said that this
acceptance of this institution by the Baptists was
as notable an event as ever happened in the history
of that denomination. While the college is a Bap
tist institution and the best efforts of that denomi
nation are constantly put forward to the mainte
nance and encouragement of an institution which
would do honor to any civil or religious organization
in the 'world, girls of all denominations are. attracted
there by the excellence of the work that is done.
The New Monroe.
In glancing at the stately buildings, picturesque
campus, the complete interior arrangements of the
college as it is today there is little evidence of the
tempestuous history which the institution has had in
.the past. It would seem, also, that every problem
which it has had to solve had been met and mas
tered. But there is a new and possibly an unfore
seen condition which not even- its most sanguine
friends had ever anticipated. I refer to the problem
of caring for the vast numbers who flock to the
gates of Monroe just as eagerly as did the pilgrims
of old to the shrine of Mecca or to the Fount of
Lethe. New buildings for dormitories, class rooms,
practice rooms, chapel room, library room, etc., etc.,
etc., have been added, but still other buildings are
greatly needed, and their erection is in prospect.
Beautiful Location and Buildings.
Situated as the college is in the very center of
“The Empire State of the South” it attracts stu
dents from every direction, not only from Georgia
but from other states. Forty-eight acres of land
which surround the college are cultivated both for
purposes of usefulness and pleasure. The handsome
buildings are joined one to the other by long cov
ered corridors. In the center is the Walton Hunter
Wiggs Hall, while on the left is the Bessie W. Tift
Hall, which only recently received a generous dona
tion of $37,000 from Col. 11. H. Tift and Mrs. Bes
sie Tift—this hall provides more than eighty bed
rooms, drawing rooms, and practice rooms, while the
dining room, with a seating capacity of more than
four hundred, is on the first floor of this building.
On the right is the Addie Upshaw Hall containing
more than a hundred bed rooms as well as handsome
reception rooms and practice rooms. This hall was
named by Wm. I). Upshaw, in honor of his mother.
It was proposed to call it the Wm. I). Upshaw Hall,
The Golden Age for September 20, 1906.
on account of Mr. Upshaw’s unsalaried and unselfish
efforts in raising funds for its erection, but Mr. Up
shaw preferred, the present name for a “son’s
reasons” which he gave in his brief address deliv
ered at the dedication of the building in 1904.
Artistic Interior of the Building.
The interior of the buildings is of so complete
a character that they need a special word of com
mendation. Every possible device is had for the
comfort and convenience of the students, and some
of the rooms -are really models of college furnish
ings and finishing. The class rooms are provided
with every possible appliance for the requisite study
of the various collegiate branches, and in addition
to these, there is a special building for the study of
domestic science, known as the Alsie-Imor Cham
bless Hall. Here dressmaking and cooking are taught
and a graduate of Monroe College is required to
be as proficient in these essential domestic arts as
she is in those of advanced modern science and lit
erature.
Literary Societies.
The college spirit is most largely in evidence at
Monroe, especially at the opening, and one of the
forms which it assumes is the enthusiasm displayed
in the literary societies, of which there are two—
The Clionian and the Kappa Delta. Both of these
have handsome meeting or reception rooms and their
members are engaged in a friendly but none the
less wholesome and stimulating rivalry.
College Discipline—A “Self-Governed School.’’
It seems almost an anachronism to speak of “col
lege discipline” for it is so often claimed that col
lege girls need no discipline. This is a serious error,
for we know there is no walk in life where discipline
is non-essential, and the halls of a college prove
no exception to this rule. But at Monroe the dis
cipline is distinctly of a character building quality.
The student body itself supplies the material of
which the socalled “self-governed set’’ is composed.
Students who receive no demerits for a month and
whose general bearing and standard of scholarship
meet certain requirements, are voted on by the en
tire school first for places on the Honor Roll and
then, after another month, for the distinction of
membership in the. ranks of the “self-governed.”
These girls, in turn, are trusted with the discipline
of the other students, and names of fellow students
who are known to be violating college rules are
listed in secret session and are given to the facul
ty. This method relieves the individual student
from all personal unpleasantness, but it is a method
so effectual and so unusual that it seems to pre
serve college discipline almost without the knowl
edge of the students themselves. On entering the
campus each girl’s chief ambition seems to be to
become “a self-governed girl,” and then to stay
one throughout her college course.
Preparatory Students.
In Monroe College, as in many similar institutions,
it was found exceedingly difficult to find all students
fitted to enter the college classes, and so it was de
cided to establish a preparatory department/ This
department is largely patronized and as the general
tone of the college is so high and its influence so
far-reaching these preparatory pupils find only
helpful inspiration from the contact with the more
advanced students.
Standard of Scholarship.
True to the original plan of the founders of the
College the standard of scholarship at Monroe Col
lege is of the highest—its graduates rank with those
of any other college in the country and the B.A.
degree conferred by Monroe is a distinction equal
to any won by other male or female colleges in the
South. Mention has been made in the foregoing of
the interest which the students seem to feel in the
work—there is wonderfully little “shirking” at
Monroe—students are discouraged from attending
who have any other object except to acquire
knowledge for wider usefulness and it is a fact that
a higher personal standard is maintained here than
in many similar institutions.
The President and Faculty.
Monroe College has been singularly fortunate in
having had men of unusual ability at its head. The
brief glance at its history will show that such were
ever needed, and the need has not grown less with
the passing of the years. The presence of Bros. C.
11. S. Jackson as the president of Monroe College
is, to (he initiated, almost a personal guarantee of
the work done there. In addition to President
Jackson’s ability as an instructor he has a marvel
ous power of business management which is in con
stant demand to meet the growing needs of the in
stitution which he governs with his many-sided gen
ius. His corps of assistants is chosen with a spe
cial view to efficiency in the various lines of college
work and the students at Monroe may feel entirely
assured that the instruction offered them is of the
most approved and practical sort. While all the
departments deserve mention, special emphasis is
placed on the Conservatory of Music, under the
famous director, Dr. Chas. J. Wallace, who, as a
pianist and composer, has an international reputa
tion.
Opening Exercises.
The recent opening of (his college was marked by
a charming faculty recital, the instructors of vocal
and instrumental music and expression contributing
to the program delightful songs, readings and in
strumental selections.
The morning of Sept, 13th was marked by the
formal opening of the college and Dr. J. L. White,
President of the Board of Trustees and pystor of
the First Baptist Church at Macon, Ga., delivered a
stirring sermon from the words, “Arise and let us
go hence,’’ which was indeed a “commencement ”
call to the assembled students as well as to the nu
merous visitors from the town of Forsyth and other
portions of the state.
The year about to begin promises much for the
future of the institution as (he enrollment of stu
dents taxes the capacity of the buildings and others
yet are knocking at the door.
In a sketch of this h ngth it is almost impossible
to fully portray the work of a great institution, but
it is hoped that what Ims been written here may
at least indicate the presence of a great force for
intellectual and spiritual good which is centered in
Monroe College, as well as to show the public what
may be accomplished by consecrated and determined
effort. Surely it were success indeed to triumph
over such difficulties as have beset the path of this
institution and yet to he able to offer at last to its
earnest students the great gift of perfect mental
training coupled with that far greater achievement,
a full and vital spiritual growth.
S. T. Dalsheimer.
The Cold Shoulder.
In France in the days of long ago, it was custom
ary for a host to place a shoulder of cold mutton
upon a. table before a guest who had stayed until
he had worn out his welcome. The guest at once
understood ami took his depart lire. Prom this cus
tom originated the saying to “give the cold shoul
der.”—The King's Own.
An incident worthy of serious attention recently
occurred in New York City ami its mere recital
thrills the American heart with pride of its peo
ple. A wagon, loaded with coin, was being driven
through the streets to the Sub-Treasury when a bag
containing a thousand nickels fell to the ground.
The coins were scattered in every ■■ irectum and were
eagerly scrambled for ami gathered up by the crowd.
An officer from the Treasury Depar: meat who had
accompanied the vehicle explu "d to the people
that the money belonged to th 1 nited States gov
eminent and that he would be grateful lor a return
of the nickels. Slowly at first ami then more rapidly
every one of the scattered coins was handed back
until the whole thousand were counted! It is good
to think of an incident like this where mere hon
esty prevailed, for it would have been impossible to
trace those who might easily have made away with
the widely scattered money.
3