Albion College - Albionian Yearbook (Albion, MI)

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PROF ROBERTS -23- .AVANN

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'R 'I R J I7 ASHLEY, By Fuoivms MARTIN. Dr Ashley was born in P1862 in Stokoe-on-Trent, England. At the age of Sixteen he Came to this countly and located in Brooklyn. Later he removed to Zanesville. Ohio, and afterwards became a student in Ohio Wesleyan University. During his college days, he was known as a diligent seeker after truth. He was honored with the Presidency of the Y. M. C. A., and that of the Euteyrean Musical Society. He knows Ohio Wesleyan as the place where he formed many friendships of a lasting character. 1+ rom O W. U. he went in 1890 to Boston University and there as valedictorian took the degree of S. T. B With this came an appointment to a traveling scholarship. Then from the classic halls of the New Woild he went to seek the treasured lore of the old. Dr Ashley studied at Jena, Leipsig, Berlin- and Oxford. His instructors at the first institution were at Oxford Laird, Fairbairn, Wallace and Sanday. i - In 180-L he returned to Boston to receive the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. In lSSl5 he became president of the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, Limll, N- Y. There he spent three years of successful admin- istration V ' In January, 1898 he came to Albion College. He brought the breath of the Atlantic with him. He has the power both to administer and to inspire. He comes with the newest methods in teaching and with a sound system of philosophy. His classes are full of interest. His talks are replete with forceful anecdotes and powerful iifrures As a preacher and lecturer he is widely known. He is now lecturing on an average of four times a week. His themes, 'Savonarola, ' 'l he Saint of the Middle Ages, 'Boomerangs and Mirrors, University Life at Home, ' University Life Abroad ' The Making of a Man, and Axiom No. 10 are treated in his own masterly Way. Here it might be added that Dr. Ashley is a member of the Political Science Section, also of the 4 v 0 O 0 LR ' , . in . - , V 1 ' 7 1 . . K' ' , . Eucken, Liebmann and Reing at Leipsig, Wundt, Hiense and Wulker, at Berlin, Pfleiderer, Paulsen and Weis, Q . Q T , D ' QU K i 4 as 4 N 7' G it , , U as cc vs D Psychological Association and is president of the College Department of the State Teachers Association. Since coming to Albion he has wrought great changes. The arrangement of the buildings has been changed from basement to roof and all for the better. And while these improvements have been progressing, funds have been pouring into 'the college coffersg endowments for new chairs have been received and a valuable library has been bequeathed to the institution. Surely Dr. Ashley is the man for the place. He is a ripe scholar, a forceful orator, a wise administrator and withal a congenial christian gentleman? For him and for the college there remains a bright career. His maxim is, Live out your best. Hear, Old Albion, heed the word! -,7- X

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CCD ERT S. EiWIllNllNl, By FREDERIC S. Gooukicr-1. It was with deepest feelings of personal bereavement that the friends of Professor Robert S. Avann learned, on Saturday morning, Dec. 3rd, 1898, that his heroic struggle with death had ended, and the patient heart was still. The memory of such a life is a benediction and a priceless boon to all who knew him. To know him was to love him, but those who knew him best realized most thoroughly the unfailing tenderness, the sturdy conscientiousness, the brotherly affection, and the Christian spirit which constantly animated him. He was born in Tenterden, Kent, England, July Gth, 18-18. His parents came to this country when he was but six years old. The influences surrounding his early life were genuinely religious. He manifested a most heroic spirit in his attempts to secure a higher education, working his way through college, often suffering privation, yet never faltering in his determination to reach the goal of high and accurate scholarship. He was converted while a student at Baldwin University, and thenceforth he was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision. After his graduation in 1873, he taught three years in the Upper Iowa University. In 1877, he graduated at Harvard University, winning the highest scholarship for proficiency in Greek, and standing sixth in a class of 177. His appointment as Proctor followed. He continued to hold this office and to carry on graduate work until 1880, when he received the degree of M. A. The following year he studied in the School of All Sciences, Boston University, where he received the degree of Ph. D. He married Ella Torbet, Aug, 18th, 1880. In 1883 he was elected Professor of Latin in Albion College. He resigned this position in June, 1898, by reason of the progress of his disease, and his increasing weakness and suffering. , Less than a year before his death, in consultation with high medical authorities, he was told that he, had but a few months to live. He went on with his work, however, with the utmost fortitude and courage. Again and again he said, It is all right. Religion, always real to him, was never more real than in those last months. In his college work he was, in the truest sense, a scholar in instincts and tastes. He was painstaking and accurate, and thoroughly devoted to his work. Full of loyalty to the college, his interest in it never flagged. Full of love for the church, his devotion to it was unceasing. Full of enthusiasm for everything that he counted right, his conscientiousness and adherence to principle were patent to all. His devotion to the cause of temperance was one of the most marked characteristics of his life. His love for humanity made him an implacable foe of the liquor traffic in all its forms. This meagre outline of a rich and fruitful life will be filled in, by those who loved him, with the picture of a man inspired bv the highest ideals, actuated by the purest motives, and filled with the spirit of Him who went about doing good. The memory of the' just is blessed. The funeral services were held on Tuesday, Dec. Gth. As far as possible they were in accordance with the wishes which Professor Avann had expressed. After a prayer service at the house the remains were taken to the chapel, where they lay in state. The chapel had been decorated by the ladies of the Faculty. The floral offerings were numerous. Professor Avann's chair was masked with flowers sent by Dr. L. R. Fiske. Rev. A. E. Craig presided at the service. Scripture lessons were read by Rev. P. J. Maveety and Rev. W. T. Jaquess, and Rev. Washington Gardner offered prayer. Remarks were made by Dr. Craig and Professor Delos Fall, and a message was read from Dr. Fiske, who by reason of sickness could not be present. The closing address was given by President Ashley. Several selections were sung by a quartet composed of Professors Fall and Barr, Mrs. Martha Armstrong and Kate Calkins. At the close of the service the congregation united in singing God be with you till we meet again. The Faculty acted as a guard of honor to escort the remains to Riverside Cemetery. ...,9..