rwa sawvr t ONnwaa Our Homage to the Past % An Historical Address Delivered at Founders’ Day Celebration Nq^, of Illinois Woman’s College Jacksonville, Illinois October 13 1910 '*Y or *1% 0 /$ l, bh, 19 j 6 By H iram Buck Prentice Kenilworth, Illinois Printed by order of the Board of Trustees Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Alternates https://archive.org/details/ourhomagetopasth1910illi Q_ Our Homage to the Past Rev. William Swain Prentice, D.D. May 21, 1819 June 28, 1887 Rev. Hiram Buck, D.D. March i, 1819 August 21, 1892 Our Homage to the Past In treating this theme it shall be my aim to have it apply principally to the men known as the “Founders of 1862,” and incidentally to such other men and events of the nearby years as seem necessary to give to it the proper setting. First I should say that most of what is said about persons is intended as a collection of per- sonal impressions, gained not fronj observations at the time, but from a subsequent knowledge of these men, with most of whom I came in contact in later years, and of course I speak with greater confidence and fullness of such as I have known. By no means is this intended to be an historical essay, but rather a short cursory comment descriptive of the times in which this crucial period of the college’s history was laid, of the atmosphere and conditions that surrounded these times, and enough of facts to warrant the conclusion that we do well to honor these men of the past. YOKE FELLOWS. But before taking up the theme proper I shall first discharge that part of the duty laid upon me by President Harker, of saying something specially about the two men of this number whom I knew best — my father, William S. Prentice, and Hiram Buck, whose lives and labors as ministers were so closely linked together ; realizing, how- ever, my utter inability to adequately perform this serv- ice and speak of them as they should be and could be spoken of. These two men were born in the same year — 1819. They were entirely unlike, and yet from their first ac- quaintance, which was after they had both entered the ministry, their natures seemed to blend into one and throughout the remainder of their lives they were to each other as David and Jonathan. Young Buck was brought up in New York state on a farm and at the age of sixteen came west to Illinois, where he shifted for himself, clerking and working at whatever he could find to do. He was studious, mostly his own teacher, and what he learned he learned well. He was converted and entered the Illinois conference in 1843, slK years before Prentice. He rose rapidly and always measured up to the responsibilities of the larger fields that opened to him. He became presiding elder at the age of thirty-three years and was in that office twenty- three years. Dr. Buck was a man large of stature, large of heart. Everybody loved him and he loved everybody. With children he was a veritable Kriss Kringle, with his breth- ren a jovial companion, and with the people, who “heard him gladly” and always welcomed his coming, a genial and trusted friend. As a preacher and orator he was a Boanerges — a “son of thunder.” Sin and Satan, treason and disloyalty trembled at his powerful and impassioned utterances. He was a man of fine sensibilities, with a high conception of honor and of propriety in all things. He loved poetry, he loved nature in all her ways, he loved a good horse, and in that day this was the itinerant’s chief means of rapid transit. But above all he loved the right, he loved the people, he loved Methodism, he loved the world, he loved God. His services were in great demand during the war, and by voice and pen he labored unceasingly to promote the cause of the union and the overthrow of secession. Had he entered the field of politics his mag- netism and oratory, together with his sterling qualities of head and heart and his love for the people, would have made him a popular idol. An instance of his loyalty to the church and to his high calling was shown when he declined the office of postmaster at Decatur, 111 ., which was offered to him by President Johnson in recognition of his patriotic services during the war. Dr. Buck believed in education and had strongly at heart the interests of the schools affiliated with his own conference. He was a good money raiser and in great demand for dedication occasions. He served very effi- ciently as financial agent of both Illinois Conference Fe- male College and Illinois Wesleyan University. He gave $1,240 to the fund of 1862, when he was receiving a salary of $800 as pastor of West Charge, Jacksonville. The last years of his life he turned over to Illinois Wes- leyan University at Bloomington land valued at $27,500 conditioned upon the university raising $55,000 addi- tional for its endowment fund within a specified time. The conditions were met and the university got the land. He made a similar offer to the Illinois Female College in 1892, offering to deed to it 160 acres of land valued then at $16,000 (and now worth double the amount), pro- vided the college would raise $40,000 additional for the endowment fund by commencement day of June, 1893. It is greatly to be deplored that for some reason no serious efforts seem to have been made to comply with the con- ditions and this munificent gift was thus lost to the college. A knowledge of this outcome would have been a great grief to Dr. Buck, but death spared him this, as he was taken shortly after making the offer and months before the limitation of time expired, during all of which time, however, his widow stood ready and anxious to carry the offer into effect. It was through his sagacity and foresight in entering land from the government at an early day at $1.25 an acre and holding on to it that he was enabled to make these generous offers. Mrs. Buck, who was his faithful helpmeet and companion for forty-six years, still survives, bright and vivacious in spirit and kindly of heart. She abounds in interesting reminiscences of the days of long ago and still retains a lively interest in the affairs of the church which the sac- rifices and long service of an itinerant’s wife have made dear to her. William S. Prentice was raised in Illinois, attended the country school, began clerking and at twenty he and my uncle constituted the entire clerical force of the state auditor’s office, then located at Vandalia. He moved with the office to Springfield in 1839. He was a lieuten- ant-colonel in the state militia and participated conspicu- ously with Douglas and Lincoln, both of whom he knew well, in the gaieties at the new state capital. He became a good business man, his last secular employment being that of clerk of the circuit court of Shelby county, Illi- nois. It was at Shelbyville that he was converted and licensed to preach. He joined the Illinois conference in 1849 at the a g e of thirty. He was a tall, slender man, having a fine head, a kindly face, an intelligent eye and a tender heart. He advocated and possessed himself the homely qualities of justice, honesty, frankness and fidelity. He was modest and unassuming and always had a wide and intimate acquaintance with public men and men of affairs. He was firm as a rock when need be and always so when a question of principle was involved. He had a superior mind, was a logical reasoner, analytical and thorough in the treatment of every subject. Granting his prem- ises, his conclusions were irrefutable, and he had the rare faculty of making his statements and expositions stand out with such clearness that they seemed to take animate tangible form before your eyes and always made a last- ing impression. There never was any question as to his meaning or of ‘‘what he was driving at.” He al- ways arrested attention, because he always had something to say and the young and old, high and low, learned and unlearned, understood him. He never felt more highly complimented than to have the children go home and tell what he had preached about. Dr. W. H. H. Adams, of blessed memory, likened his sermons to those of John Wesley for lucidity of state- ment, logical reasoning and practical application. James Leaton, the historian of Illinois Methodism, said of Dr. Prentice : “He was a natural presiding elder. It is no dispraise of others to say that he possessed the presiding elder instinct in a larger share than most men. * * * and he was ecclesiastically and morally one of the best administrators of discipline in the Illinois con- ference. His intellectual quality was very rare ; his mind was of a practical quality and cast. * * * His ana- lytic power was remarkable. His mind was incisive and went to the core of the subject. He looked upon every- thing from a practical standpoint, and not from a theoret- ical, thus causing his judgments to be almost infallible. There was no cant about him, no stage effect, no attempt at display, but there was clearness of statement, logical development of his subject, and a copiousness of illus- tration that made him really on his plane a preacher of surpassing power. He seemed to seize upon the salient points, the very essence and marrow of the truth, and so present it that everyone who heard him could not but take hold of it and appropriate it. There was an under- current of pathos in his preaching which sometimes, when his heart was warmed, would burst out in great foun- tains of feeling that would move his audience and melt them to tears. He was a true man, honorable and up- right in everything, a man of action, and having a great contempt for meanness in every form.” So said Dr. Leaton. In traveling the district (and he was twenty-four years a presiding elder) my father’s coming was always looked forward to with pleasant anticipation by the preachers and the families with whom he stopped. He put good cheer into their lives and was a welcome guest equally with the children and the grown-ups. He had a strong sense of humor, was an admirable story teller and when with a company of his brethren for a social time, he was the center and leader of jovial good cheer and merrymaking; that is, unless Crane was also pres- ent to share the honors. And who ever saw men who could have a better time than a set of Methodist preach- ers a generation ago? They seemed to be bubbling over with good cheer. It was always at the surface ready to be tapped upon the slightest provocation. When they met the very fact of looking into each other’s faces was sufficient cause for a hearty laugh, and at the “drop of a hat’’ they would break out into a roar, and when some- thing uncommonly funny happened — which it always did on these occasions — the clerical hilarity became so boister- ous as to very nearly make every one of them a proper subject of arrest for disturbance of the peace. My father, like Dr. Buck, was also a strong believer in the church school and his interest lay principally with the two conference schools, the Illinois Female College and the Illinois Wesleyan University. I have in my pos- session my father’s memorandum book, which has an account in it called “College Debt.” It refers to this very indebtedness which was raised in 1862 and reveals something of how these preachers raised the ready cash with which to pay their large subscriptions. This ac- count shows that he borrowed $1,100 from Judge Thomas at 10 per cent interest and in 1865 the account was still running, having been reduced to about $500. How many years it took to pay off this balance I cannot say. In 1862 he was forty-three years of age, presiding elder of Jacksonville district receiving a salary of $750 with a family of six to support. These men were not afraid to undertake large things and to aid them in carrying out their undertakings they were not afraid to borrow money and others were not afraid to loan them. Buck and Prentice — what a team they were. What one could not do the other could, so by joining together they seemed to be able to accomplish almost anything. One has said of them that Prentice molded the bullets and Buck fired them. True it is that they were born leaders of men, not by self-assertion, for they were both too mod- est and loyal for that, but by common consent they were chosen such by their brethren, who looked to them for leadership, and with men of their mold it would have been so in any walk of life. They belonged to that remarkable coterie of men whose strength of administration and lead- ership is still an abiding force and a living inspiration as well as a cherished memory. Their counsel was sought by bishops, editors and high church officials as well as by those high in state. They commanded universal respect and confidence and had no small share in giving to the Illinois conference a standing and prestige that were rec- ognized throughout the entire connection as among the very highest. These two men were boon companions for nearly forty years and their lives were so welded together that one seemed a part of the other. Had Buck had a son he no doubt would have named him William Prentice just as Prentice named his son Hiram Buck, little realizing the impossible task which was thus imposed upon the in- nocent subject of properly maintaining in later years the dignity of their combined great names or of represent- ing all that they stand for. Beecher said : “In friend- ship your heart is like a bell struck every time your friend is in trouble.” Their friendship was this and it was more. They stood by each other at all times whether it be in joy or in sorrow, in health or in sickness, in tri- umph or in distress. They were inseparable — a beautiful friendship that made them one in purpose, one in heart, typifying the blending of spirits in the realm beyond to which they have gone and, whither, let us trust, our footsteps too are tending. Shall we ever see their like again ? THE TIMES. And now to the days of ’62 and something about the conditions then existing. This period was not only a period of dark days for the college, but of dark days for our country — the darkest through which it has ever passed — for during four years of this decade the great civil war was raging and for the remainder of the dec- ade the country was struggling to recover from the pros- tration brought about by the war. The census of i860 gives Illinois a population of 1,711,951, Chicago 109,260, Springfield 9,320 and Jacksonville 5,528, so that com- pared with today the state was sparsely settled. Abra- ham Lincoln was president and Richard Yates was war governor. The war was the absorbing topic of the times and party feeling ran high. Cartwright, Buck, Prentice and Crane were Democrats, and although differing in politics from the great majority of their brethren they were accorded continued leadership by them throughout this trying period. They were “war Democrats” and no more loyal and effective service was rendered than that given by these men in their efforts to maintain the union. Crane went out with U. S. Grant as chaplain of his regi- ment. The others by their speeches and influence were untiring in their efforts to hold Illinois true to the union — and it is a well known fact of history that there was a time when Illinois was trembling in the balance with the impending danger of becoming a state divided against itself. At this time Prentice, who had long been a close EDMUND J. JAMBS friend of Stephen A. Douglas, sent word to the senator at Washington urging him to come out to Illinois and use his influence to stem the tide of disloyalty that was setting in. Senator Douglas at once went to see the president. Mr. Lincoln advised him to go. He did so and with patriotic fervor urged the people to support the administration and rally round the flag. They were obedient to his call. The state was solidified for the union and never thereafter was the loyalty of its united people called in question. This was in 1861. Other well known members of the conference whom I call to mind and who attained distinction in the field are Jesse H. Moore, J. F. Jaquess, the first president of Illinois Female College, and Allen Buckner, each of whom com- manded a regiment. W. J. Rutledge, R. E. Guthrie, E. D. Wilkin, Preston Wood and quite a number of others went into the army as chaplains. The conference minutes of 1862 show a decrease of membership for the year of 725, the total membership of the conference being 26,800, as against about 85,000 now. This decrease no doubt reflected the deleterious influence of the war excitement and evidently applied not only to the church, but to schools, trade, commerce and industries of every kind. These facts about the war I mention principally to show the distracting, prostrating and blighting influence that the founders of 1862 had to encounter in their endeavors to carry on the work of the church and of its colleges. They were up against stern realities, and things had come to such a pass that they were facing the question not “how much can we advance and go forward this year,” which is always the slogan of the Methodist preacher, but “what can we do to keep things together and hold our own.” Truly they were beset by “fightings without and fears within,” and because of this that which they accom- plished was all the more noteworthy and remarkable. FOUNDERS AND CONTEMPORARIES. And now something of other characters who made up the life and entered into the activities of these stirring and historic days. Who were they? I cannot hope to mention all, for this would mean to call the roll of the entire conference at that time. I can only give a few, and these such as most of you, with me, will remember either from acquaintance or by reputation. First and foremost, of course, comes Peter Cart- wright, claimed by all Methodism, then seventy-seven years of age and presiding elder of the Springfield dis- trict. He continued in active service until 1869 and died in 1872. His was a remarkable career. When we con- sider that he was born six years before John Wesley died, and that most of us were born before Cartwright died, and today are witnessing and enjoying some of the harvest of his planting, it seems to bridge over the seem- ingly far stretching expanse between us and the great founder of Methodism and to make us feel a little nearer to him, and as it were, to feel the touch of his spirit, which was ever concerned for the welfare of education, and which spirit Cartwright and his contemporaries so faithfully cherished and passed on down to their succes- sors even to the present day and hour. In 1862 Peter Cartwright gave $1,000 to the college. His salary for the preceding year was $500. Then comes Peter Akers, at this time seventy-two years of age. He was not then a member of the Illinois conference, having transferred some time before, I think to the Southern Illinois conference, but transferred back to the Illinois conference later. He was an original founder of the college and probably was the most noted member the conference ever had, excepting Cartwright, He was profoundly learned in the Bible and had a church- wide reputation as an expositor of the Scriptures. He is credited or rather debited with preaching sermons three and four hours long. What was a credit in this respect in those days is a decided debit in these. At this time Dr. Charles Adams was president of the college. He held this position from 1858 to 1868. He was a talented, courteous and genial Christian gentle- man and at this time was fifty-four years of age. Rev. George Rutledge was a lovable man, a good preacher and stood high in the conference. At this time he had just been assigned to the Bloomington district. His salary for the preceding year was $642 and he sub- scribed in 1862 $2,000 to the college. Rev. Collin D. James at this time was fifty-four years old and was just finishing up a year’s service as financial agent of the college. He is credited with giving $1,400 to the college in 1862, and that year was sent to Old Town, Bloomington district, where the salary paid the year before was $600, so it is an easy problem in mental arithmetic to figure that he could not pay his subscription that year. Then there was W. D. R. Trotter, presiding elder of Paris district, at that time fifty-five years of age. He was an original founder, but not on the list of 1862. He was an able man, a genial companion and a fine preacher. He was the first editor and publisher of the Central Chris- tian Advocate, which enterprise, however, caused him financial los*s from which he never recovered. The laymen who were among the founders of 1862 are Judge William Thomas, John Mathers, Mat- thew Stacy, John A. Chesnut, Thomas J. Larimore, James H. Lurton and Judge William Brown. John A. Chesnut was a Springfield man, formerly of Carlin- ville, and the others lived in Jacksonville. These men all evidenced their loyalty to and interest in the college by giving liberally to the fund of 1862 : Thomas, $5,100 ; Mathers, $3,225; Stacy, $2,700; Chesnut, $1,750; Larimore, $1,600; Lurton, $1,400; Brown, $1,600. I am of the impression that these Jacksonville laymen were the great financial power back of the college movement. Judge Thomas and John Mathers not only gave lib- erally themselves, but must have underwritten a large part of the preachers’ subscriptions. I am led to think so because I have among my father’s papers an old can- celled note given by him to Judge Thomas which John Mathers had signed as security. Judge Thomas, if not then, became afterwards the foremost layman in the conference and as such was sent as a lay delegate to the general conference of 1872, the first to admit lay dele- gates. His colleague was Joseph G. English of Dan- ville. John A. Chesnut stood high as a layman and was a rare Christian gentleman. He was elected a dele- gate to the general conference of 1876, together with Judge W. J. Henry of Danville. In those days the con- ference was only allowed to send two lay delegates, so that the honor was of much higher import than at the present time. Then there is Rev. Newton Cloud credited with $700 to the fund of 1862. That year he was sent to Roches- ter, where the salary was $425. Newton Cloud was a man of more than ordinary ability and prominence. He had been president of the constitutional convention of 1847, whose acts were adopted by a vote of the people of the state of Illinois in the following year and known as the constitution of 1848. James L. Crane in 1862 was sent from East Charge, Jacksonville, to Springfield First church, at the age of thirty-nine. The salary was $1,000, the highest in the conference, but with a family of five husky, ravenous boys to feed, whom I knew as brothers, he could not have saved very much towards liquidating his subscrip- tion of $375. The very thought of James L. Crane pro- vokes a smile of tender regard with all who bring his kindly face to mind. Looking down the long list of noble names that grace the history of Illinois conference his name looms high up among the greatest and the best. He was the embodiment of tact, humor, gentleness, and of forceful efficiency, and with Buck and Prentice formed a trio of genial spirits whose close companionship became a center of consecrated good fellowship, from which radiated influences that brightened and cheered, and gave to their brethren a relaxation from the sterner duties of the itinerancy, adding a zest to the preacher’s daily task that stimulated and inspired them to their best efforts. Then R. W. Travis gave $500. He was then forty- three years of age and presiding elder of Decatur dis- trict, a good preacher and a man of great force. W. J. Rutledge gave $500, was then forty-two years of age and chaplain of 14th Illinois Volunteers. He was an original founder, a jovial man and true, always bris- tling with ideas which seemed to be dancing and prancing, impatient for utterance, until they came tumbling over each other from his ever ready lips. J. C. Rucker gave $500, about $100 more than his salary at Waynesville, where he was sent. W. H. H. Moore, presiding elder of Danville District, gave $400. He was then in his prime, forty-eight years of age. William H. Webster, now a revered father in the conference, was then a young man of twenty-seven and moved this year from Island Grove to Champaign. In the last year he had received a salary of $253, but sent up $40 for the fund of 1862. W. N. McElroy, destined later to become a leader in the conference and its historian, was then thirty yeafs of age and that year was sent to Naples to get rich on $450 a year. Preston Wood at thirty-seven had returned from the army and was sent to Clinton. Another genial soul and sterling character with unusual gifts as a presiding elder and one who served the conference faithfully and well in all the varied duties imposed upon him. William McK. McElfresh, the lovable, who had the esteem and confidence of all his brethren, was then thirty-seven years of age and stationed at Waverly, re- moving that year from Winchester, where his salary was $520. F. W. Phillips, the superb, was then thirty-five years of age, but did not transfer into the Illinois conference until some years later. W. F. Short, afterwards the honored president of the college, was then thirty-three years of age and that year was moved from Waverly to Winchester with his wife and little brood of three children, where they lived happily on a salary of $500. His name is not recorded in the list of ’62, but it is a matter of historical record that he afterwards gave eighteen of the best years of his life to the college and lives today in the lives of scores who have gone out from its doors with his bless- ing into all parts of the land. Reuben Andrus, the second president of the college, in 1862 was sent from Springfield to Bloomington sta- tion, where the salary was about $700. The list of 1862 credits Joseph Capps with giving $100. If this represents in full his aid to the college at that time you may rest assured that this is all he was able to give, but the host of his posterity that have risen up to call him blessed have been no small gift to the church and to the world, and his influence and presence through them are still with us. Besides, the wheels of industry which he set in motion are still running, giving to the scores who watch over their workings the blessings of contentment and happy homes ; and the fruit of the looms are also being distributed broadcast over the land to comfort and to bless. Verily may it be said of such, “their works do follow them.” Wesley Mathers' name is not on the list of sub- scribers to the fund of 1862, and yet will any one say that he was wanting in any good word or work? If at this particular time his name is not in evidence there is cer- tainly some good reason for it, for he and his brother, John, were always faithful and true and liberal to all good causes. Then the name of Jonathan Stamper does not ap- pear, yet will any one say that this godly man and great preacher was indifferent to any of the church’s enter- prises? And then what about the wives of these preachers who had mortgaged years of the future in order that the college might be saved, and who through all these years, loyal helpmeets as they were, stinted themselves and uncomplainingly accepted plain living and scant cloth- ing for themselves and children ? And what of the wives and mothers who had willingly, though sorrowfully, hand- ed their loved ones over to their country, to march off to the field of battle, while they remained at home to look after the farm and the little ones, and whose prayers and pennies, being all they had to give, cast these into the treasury even as the widow who gave her mite? These cannot be excluded — they must not be — but rather would we, if only their names were known, place them high up on the list of those whom we are gathered today to honor. The true founders of any good cause born in adversity and trial are not made by printer’s ink nor are they cre- ated by any line or standard of monetary demarkation. True, a rich man may give a large sum of money for the founding of a very worthy object, a thing to be commend- ed and encouraged, even if it does sometimes seem to be like buying a monument, but where, as in 1862, it has taken tears and prayers and hardships and denials as well as money, then none who have contributed any of these are to be excluded as founders, for it took all of these things to make the foundation sure. So to- day we would open wide our arms to receive all such of the days of ’62 without distinction, and bid them make merry with us, as we rejoice together in the work that they have done. WHAT THEY ACCOMPLISHED. As with some books, it is necessary to devote most of the pages to a description of the environments and setting in order to bring out the full force of the teach- ing or story, so I have found it necessary to describe with some detail the conditions existing fifty years ago as a preface to the brief application which I shall make of my subject. Having shown something of the unusual and trying conditions of those days and something of the men who were on the scene of action then, it only re- mains, before entering upon an application of the sub- ject, to inquire what it was that these men of 1862 ac- complished to make their deeds worthy of special com- memoration and celebration. I know of nothing that will more fully and fittingly answer this inquiry than the report of John Mathers, treasurer of the college at that time, and which was regarded as so eventful that it was ordered printed in the conference minutes of 1862. It is as follows : REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF ILLINOIS CONFERENCE FEMALE COLLEGE. I take great pleasure in being able to announce to the Illinois Conference the pleasing fact that the college is out of debt On the first day of October, 1861, the liabilities of the institution, principal and interest to that date, amounted to nearly thirty-six thousand dollars. It was supposed that the available assets or notes belonging to the college would, if collected, reduce the indebtedness to thirty thousand dollars. Shortly after the ap- pointment of Brother James as agent, a meeting of the trustees was called, at which time the pecuniary condition of the institu- tion as above stated was presented for their consideration. The questions then and there discussed were, shall we sell the college? or shall we make one more effort to save the institution to the church? The final conclusion was in favor of the effort to save, and with a view to this the board proposed, and urged upon the treasurer, to agree to pay or assume all indebtedness of the col- lege over thirty thousand dollars, in consideration of which they would assign to him all the notes due the institution. The treasurer, though reluctantly, accepted this proposition. The trustees then agreed to pay two-thirds of the remaining thirty thousand dollars, provided the additional ten thousand could be secured by the sale of Ashland lots, or otherwise, prior to the first of October, 1862. The agent and treasurer during the past year exerted themselves to raise the desired amount prior to said date ; but as the year passed away it became evident that this could not be done outside of the board of trustees, and knowing that the twenty thousand dollars and additional small subscriptions obtained would all be forfeited on the first of October unless the whole amount was secured before that date, three different meetings of the board were convened during last month, and after a hard but united effort on the part of the trustees, the much desired sum was finally secured by contri- butions and sale of Ashland lots, as follows, and by the following persons : (Here follows a list of subscriptions of 35 names aggregating $30,180.) It will be seen upon examination that those who have been and are now trustees of the college, and who are personally bound for the debts of the institution, have contributed the whole amount of said $30,000, except $1,230. It will also be seen that a few members of this conference have contributed over nine thousand dollars of this debt, a number of whom will not be able to meet their obligations except at the sacrifice of nearly everything they are worth. Now, Brethren, is this right? Why should they suffer so much? Does the institution belong to them? Certainly not. By the official act of your body and the legislature it is the “Illinois Conference Female College.” The trustees have been appointed by this body. They have acted in good faith, without fee or reward, as your agents ; and you are as much bound, in a moral point of view, to pay your proportion of this debt as they are. And now, Brethren, I close this report by asking, will you stand by and see the members of your own body suffer without lending them the least assistance? I hope not. All of which is respectfully submitted. John Mathers, Treasurer. WHY THEY SUCCEEDED. It should be remembered that this was only one of the burdens these men had to carry. Other colleges were also having problems which these same preachers must help to solve, then their missionary and benevolent col- lections must be looked after and the work of their charges and districts not allowed to lag. How could they under all these conditions accomplish what they did? In the first place they could do it because they were heroes. In the second place, I am firmly convinced that one secret of their strength and of their ability to cause things to come to pass, lay largely in the fact that they were united in purpose, without jealousies, not self-seekers, and al- ways ready to put forward the one who could best repre- sent them or accomplish the thing at hand ; preserving among themselves a feeling of good fellowship that made EDMUND J. JAMES for happy and effective service, and these taken alto- gether forming a cohesive force that was irresistible, and thus united in spirit and all pulling together as one man, obstacles and difficulties gave way before them as before a mighty army and victory was theirs. OUR HOMAGE THEIR DUE. Having now seen what they accomplished, and under what extremely adverse and discouraging conditions, need anything further be said to show that they are entitled to our everlasting gratitude, homage and praise? Surely their deeds are their sufficient praise, and yet it is ours to do them tribute. As I have thought over their deeds, the word homage in the sense of doing obeisance has ap- pealed to me more nearly than any other as expressing the proper regard due them. And therefore it is that I took for the subject of this paper “Our Homage to the Past.” As the vassal in olden times paid homage to his supe- rior lord — so we, acknowledging the superior talents, for- titude, courage and faith of these men of the “Sixties,” gladly and loyally do homage to them and to the great work they have clone in so heroically battling against the adversities that beset them. As the word “homage” comes down to us ladened with the aroma of feudal days, perhaps the use of a more modernized and Americanized expression would better indicate the thought. I mean that we of today may well “take off our hats” in honor of the men of fifty years ago, and in respectful regard make deferential obeisance to their memory. It was their faith, their tenacity and persistence and their indefatiga- ble labors that saved the day in the dark hours of ap- parent defeat and saved to the future the life of a college which ever since has been pouring forth its streams of blessings into lives and homes all over this land. COLLEGE A WORTHY MONUMENT. A college such as this may well be likened to the sun, constantly sending out its rays of blessings and brightness to purify and enlighten everything that comes within its influence, and that without diminishing in the least its own inherent power. Ever giving, never losing. But, unlike the sun, such a school throws off annually little suns, scattering them broadcast over the land, thus forming new centers from which to radiate the borrowed light of their Alma Mater with which they have been surcharged, and to permeate the world with the benign influences of Christian Womanhood. Verily the fathers planted wisely in planting such a school as this. Did they plant more wisely than they knew? We of today shall do well if in taking up the work which they have laid down, we shall carry it on in a way worthy of them and of their sacrifices, and also worthy of the zeal and devotion and successful labors of those who have followed them down to the pres- ent time ; and yet it is not an unworthy ambition to hope for a future so glorious and so far beyond their brightest conceptions and ours that it may yet be said of all of them, “they budded better than they knew.” And may we not indulge the further hope that, with the past looking down upon us and the future beckoning on, we of the present may so dedicate ourselves to the duties before us that we also may claim to have had some little share and part in earnestly endeavoring to bring about these higher hopes and aims. These men with prophetic vision looked down the vista of the years and heard the cry of the young womanhood of today and of the days to come, and planted here in the heart of the great Central Valley of the nation a school they hoped would meet that cry, and in fulfillment of that hope there stands today this splendid monument to the labors and foresight of these noble founders and their worthy successors. SALUTATION AND TRIBUTE. Looking back into the dim distant past of fifty years ago, we see their heroic forms and faces, their struggles and at times their well nigh hopeless task, their indom- itable courage, their sacrifices, their stern grapple with impending defeat — and across this long expanse of years we wave salute : Brave heroes of departed years, All Hail ! Thy work, though sown in tears, Hath brought a harvest rich indeed, And now full praise shall be thy meed. The precious seed thus sown by thee Are great sheaves now, couldst thou but see. Rejoicing we would now thee greet And lay them at the sower’s feet. The inspiration of thy day Still lingers with us, and we pray That worthy we may be of thee Whose labors spell sublimity. Great souls, great hearts, great men of God, Who quailed not under chastening rod Of hardship’s task, knew not despair, Knew nothing but to do and dare When duty called and God did show Wherein He’d have thy footsteps go, Despising naught but fail of gain, All Hail ! thy work was not in vain. . A ; ' EDMOND J. JAMES