Hampden Sydney College - Kaleidoscope Yearbook (Hampden Sydney, VA)

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to both. His administration was one of sustained vigor. The number of students increased until, in 1301-2, it reached 155, the largest enrollment ever recorded for the college proper, that is. apart from the Academy or the Medical Department. The curriculum was broadened and strengthened. The endowment was enlarged. The teaching force was added to in the person of graduate tutors, the system being intro- duced in 1836 and continuing through the session of 1004-5. Prize scholarships were established with the session of 1888-0. In the Science Department another professor was added. The Memorial Hall, a beautiful and commodious structure providing Chapel, lecture-rooms, and halls for the two Literary Societies, was erected at a cost of 525.000, and substantial improvements were made in other parts of the plant. In addition Dr. Mcllwaine was carrying on his work as a teacher, performing here, no doubt, his largest service for the youth committed to his trainingg and further, in ad- dition, he supplied for some years the College Church, after the death of Dr. Charles White and until a regular pastor could be secured. The service of these years was made larger by the hospitality of a home in which the students received always a gra- cious and helpful welcome. Hundreds of his old students scattered through the South felt that one of their number spoke for all in the letter of Mr. Robert Henning lVebb CA. B. of IQOI and A. M. of IQO2. now a student of Harvardl, written on the retirement of Dr. Mcllwaine. It so well summarizes the inlluence of the man that it merits quotation all but in full: lVIy Dear Dr. IWcIlwaine:- Ever since I read in the papers the account ofyour resignation from the presidency of Hampden-Sidney I have been intending to send you a few lines expressing my sor- row at this change in the old and familiar regime. You have been connected with the college for so long and have been so intimately concerned with its interests and affairs that you seem to me a necessary and integral part of the whole place, and the dear old college, which I love so well, will never seem the same to me without you as its official head. I only hope your successor will be willing to devote to it such hard, persistent, and loving labor as that which it had the good fortune to receive at your hands, I feel sure that there is not one of your old boys who does not share my feel- ings in the matter. We all owe you a great deal, and we are all grateful for yourin- fluence upon our lives. By your ability as a teacher, by your counsels as a friend. by your admonitions as our spiritual adviser, by your interest in us collectively and in- dividually, as students and as men, in the classroom and out. by many other means, you endeared yourself to us and made for yourself a place in our lives which seldom falls to the lot of men to make in the lives of others. In short, you proved yourself a friend we shall not soon forget or cease to love and revere .... It is a great pleasure to me to feel that I shall carry with me, through all the successes and disappointments of life, your kindly interest and good wishes. In 1901 Dr. IVIcIlwaine, without seeking it in any way, was elected delegate from Prince Edward County to the Constitutional Convention of Virginia, it being under- stood that if he would consent to serve, the opposing party would put no candidate into the field. The Board of Trustees also recognized his eminent fitness for this public service and consented to his release for such time as the Convention might hold in session, which proved to be a year. The Convention was composed of the leading I7

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notification, at once a tribute to Dr. Mcllwaine and a model from one of the most graceful of letter-writers, must be given in full. Postmarked Richmond and dated April 14th, 1883, it reads: K My Dear Dr. Mcllwainez- ln these days when telegraphic news is flashed all over the country you heard of your election to the Presidency of Hampden-Sidney College long before it could be communicated to you by letter. But no telegraphic dispatch, and not even a letter, Could convey to you a full impression of the unanimity, the cordialitv and the enthu- siasm of our Board of Trustees in the discussion which preceded andthe action which resulted in your election. The important work in which you have so long been engaged cannot have been entirely congenial to you, though it has been one of' eminent usefulness. VVe trust that in the new sphere to which you are summoned your duty and your inclination will meet, and that you will be as happy in your work as we believe you will be useful. It would be to you a return to old and dear friends, to a place associated with some of the INOSI hallowed memories of your life, and to an undertaking connected with the highest interests of our church. '4The Trustees believe that you would be instrumental, under God, in building up the fortunes of the College, in filling it with students and in so conducting it as to make it a blessing to the country and the church. They are prepared to give you all the cooperation in their power, and they believe that all the old friends of the college when they hear of' your election will take heart and rally round you with the deter- mination to aid you in all the plans you may propose for the upbuilding ofthe college. It will be greatly gratifying to us to be assured that we may proceed to make all the necessary arrangements for your inauguration at the Commencement in the month of June. Vie remain, Yours, most respectflilly and sincerely, Moses D. Hoes, Chairman of the Committee. As President of Hampden-Sidney, Dr. Mcllwaine was to do his greatest and most lasting work. He brought to it unusual qualifications. He was a son of' Virginia and of that part of it in which the college was located. He was connected by kin- ship with a number of its leading families. He was an honor graduate and a loyal alumnus of Hampden-Sidney. He had held important pastorates at three points in the Southside. He had won a wide acquaintance through the South in his position as Secretary of Missions. ln all positions he held the confidence of all, and, entering upon his work in entire consecration, he could not but bring it wide success. Dr. Mcllwaine was inaugurated in the centennial year of the incorporation of the college, a fact touched upon in the inaugural address, which, practical, hopeful, was like the man. In this address the history ofthe college was dwelt upon and its present needs were fairly discussed. The fidelity then pledged to the interests of the college marked all later service. Entering upon his twofold work as President ofthe College and Professor of lN'Ioral Philosophy and Bible Studies, Dr. Mcllwaine brought efficiency 16

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men of Yirginia, the Honorable .lohn Goode, of varied and distinguished service, being President. Dr. Mcllwaine, in his work as Chairman of one of the most im- portant committees, that of Education, as well as by his readiness and resource in debate on the lloor of the Convention, was soon recognized as one of its foremost lig- ures. He vigorously opposed the Grandfather Clause among the qualifications for suffrage and nepotism in the conduct of the public schools. Unwise legislation was more than once prevented and wise measures more than once adopted by his strong influence and earnest work, his service for education throughout Virginia being especial- ly noteworthy. On the conclusion of his work in the Convention the people who had sent him as their delegate assembled in mass meeting and by unanimous vote ap- proved his attitude on the various questions brought before the body. Two years later, in IQO4., Dr. Mcllwaine retired from the Presidency of the College, holding the esteem and honor due to a man whose whole life had been spent in infiuential work. Touching his work and his position TlwCfnrm1 PfF.ff7.X'fffIiH7l, under date of July 27th, IQO4, was constrained to say: The bulletin which tells of the alumni of Hampden-Sidney who are now doing the highest and best educational work is a paper which surprises as well as gratilies the reader. College presidents and professors, seminary principals, masters of high schools, and teachers of all high grades, are in this list. Yet this bulletin gives onlya section of the men who in all professions and positions are among the highest in the land. Especially has it filled the ranks of the Christian ministry. The history of Hampden-Sidney makes a powerful appeal. A signal event in its history has just occurred-the retirement of the President, Dr. Richard Mcllwaine, after twenty-one years of faithful toil. No man is more honored in Southside Virginia than Dr. Mcllwaine. His career in the ministry, in the ofhce of Secretary of Foreign Missions, in the Constitutional Convention of Vir- ginia, and in the Presidency of the College, has been such as is rarely attained by any man. He retires the first citizen of the whole Southside of Virginia. Dr. Mcllwaine was honored with the degree of D. D. from Stuart College fnow the Southwestern Presbyterian Universityl in 1373 and in IQOO Davidson College conferred on him the degree of LL. D. Since his retirement from Hampden-Sidney he has made his home in Richmond where with pen and tongue, as opportunity has offered, he has continued his work for civic righteousness and the regnancy of Chris- tian character. It is eminently fitting that this volume should be dedicated to Dr. Mcllwaine. Its editors, chosen representatives of the whole body of Hampden-Sidney students, honor themselves in doing honor to a man whose life as citizen, minister, educator, Christian, has at all times and in all weathers rung true. HAMPDEN-SIDNEY, VA., February 27th, IQO7. 18