Temple University - Templar Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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“Firs! a soldier, then a newspajicr man, an emigration officer, a lawyer, an organizer, a leader of young men, a minister, an educator ' said Laura H. Carnell of Russell Herman Con-well Lorn in Massachusetts on February l.», 184, $, and educated at Wilbraham Academy, Vale I niversitv. and the Albany Law School. At the age of 11) Conwell responded to a call issued by 1 resident Abraham Lincoln and enlisted with the “Mountain Boys from the Berk-shires. a group of whom he captained in the war between the States. On numerous occasions lie risked his life as he fought side by side with his men. Perhaps the best-known story concerning him is the tale of Johnny Ring, who gave up his life to prevent Captain Con well’s sword from falling into the hands of the enemy. Johnny Ring inspired Russell Con well’s faith in life. man. and religion. In the black days of the C ivil War when brother fought brother. Con-well thought he was an atheist and pretended not to believe in the Bible. Johnny Ring just l(i and small in stature—wanted to fight for the I nion. He became Russell Conwell ’s servant, but Indore he crossed the Mason and Dixon line to go into the fight, he promised his dying mother he would read his Bible every day. Johnny never broke his pledge. Though Captain Conwell laughed at him and ordered him to put the book away, he kept his faith and prayed in secret—for himself and for Conwell. for young Johnny loved his captain. Soldier friends had presented Captain Conwell with a costly gold sword, too beautiful to see service in battle. It was one of Johnny’s chores to keep the sword shining, and he guarded that symbol of his leader’s greatness as a mother guards her new-born bain . Russell Conwell often told of the change which Johnny’s undying faith in him and in his “gold sword” made in his life and his character. Conwell was away from camp one afternoon getting his soldiers' pay when a band of Confederates swarmed down from the surrounding hills in a sudden, surprise attack forcing his company to l eat a hasty retreat across a long railroad bridge which spanned the nearby river. When the I'nion troops, already battered by the pursuing enemy, crossed the bridge safely, they fired it to prevent pursuit. As the flames bit into the wooden structure, Johnny Ring rememl ered his captain’s sword, left behind in the excitement of the skirmish. Without asking leave, the boy rushed back across the flaming bridge, passed through the Confederate lines, reached the tent on whose center-pole the sword glistened in the sun, and, after clasping it tightly to his chest, darted breathlessly back in the direction of his comrades. By now the bridge was a mass of flames and THE DEDICATION OF CONWELL HALL

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University's first building on P3rk Avenue Dr. Conwell said those words not once, but every day in his lifetime. He believed and fought for and preached about the brotherhood of man. And we're fighting with Conwell, following in his footsteps, keeping true his wish to educate the poor as well as the rich. The story of Russell Herman Conwell and Temple I Diversity reflects the theme of his immortal “Acres of Diamonds. Dr. Conwell said: Seek your riches and your wealth and your knowledge in your own backyard. Dig there and you will find your success. Do not wander aimlessly over the bigness of the world in your quest. It is before you to find. The values represented by that story still exist today—a story that a fighting Conwell left to a fighting world. Do it now ! loday! “Accomplish things under your present opportunities—or lack of opportunities. Take advantage of today. Do not be discouraged even though you are a man or woman of one talent.” And he practiced what he preached. The story of Temple is a story of grow th. It is a story of the struggles and the character of a man—a man with faith and a dream. It was Dr. (’onwell’s interest in youth that inspired Temple’s founding. He saw in education and in the spread of education—a remedy to Philadelphia’s jjoverty and lawlessness. So in 188i when a young printer. Charles M. Davies, asked Dr. (’oilwell to teach him and six of his friends courses in Latin and Creek he readily agreed. The second meeting of the class was attended by forty. The class continued to grow. From one room in the basement of Grace Baptist Church, it lie-canic a regular organized evening school with several volunteer instructors. Then in 1888. Temple College was chartered by the City of Philadelphia. Five hundred and ninety students were seeking a “broader education.” A three-storv brick building on Park Avenue became Temple’s first home. In 1893, with the laying of the cornerstone, the building of College Hall was begun. In 1907. charter changes created Temple I Diversity and Founder Russell II. Conwell became the first president. And so ConwcIPs dream of a lifetime saw the light of day. The first seven students were only the incentive for an idea that had long burned within him. It was the “wretchedness” of a Philadelphia street scene that inspired Temple’s founding. It was his fighting faith in a principle. “The ills of the poor,” Conwell once said, “can only be cured in a more useful education. Poverty . . is wholly that of the mind. Want of food, or clothing, or home, or friends, or morals, or religion, is the lack of the right instruction and proper discipline. The truly wise man need not lack the necessities of life, the wisely educated man or woman will get out of the dirty alley . The only great charity is in giving instruction.” That was the creed, the gospel of Russell II. Conwell. And he practiced what he preached. 11

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15 College Hall—the first University Building smoke. The Confederates poured lead after the fleeing hoy. Flames singed his hair, blistered his face, burned his clothes. To plunge through tin roaring blaze meant almost certain death. To surrender meant loss of the sword. He charged onto the blazing bridge. Firing on both sides stopped as they waited, friend and foe alike, hoping the boy would come through. And lie did. Clothing aflame, the breath of lift-all but gone from him. Johnny King collapsed in his comrades’ outstretched arms the sword held tightly in his seorced, clenched hands. Two days later he died. Russell Con well standing by his cot—standing there with a new fighting faith, a faith that saw the subsequent founding and building of a great Temple University. As Captain (’onwell looked down on the face of Johnny Ring, he vowed that, until his death, he would work sixteen hours every day—eight hours for himself and eight hours for .Johnny King, who had died for him. For 60 years, until he passed away in 1925 at the age of 83. he kept that vow. Before the war ended Conwcll was advanced to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel by President Lincoln, who |x rsonally admired the young soldier. Conwcll saw action in the Battle of Kenesaw Mountain where he was seriously wounded when bursting shell fragments riddled his body while he led a charge against the enemy. Given up as dead bv his comrades, he lay bleeding all night on the cold, wind-lashed mountain side until rescued the following morning, more dead than alive. But the spirit and hope in his heart kept him alive. Conwcll loved freedom—freedom of speech and of religion, freedom from fear and from want. “Freedom is every mail's heritage, every man’s birthright.” And he practiced what he preached. After the war Conwcll. at 23, finished liis law studies and took the next train west to Minneapolis where he set up a flourishing practice. There faith and a fighting spirit went with him. And there he was baptized. But Dr. ConwelFs war injuries remained with him. His strength began to fail. Conwcll seemed to In- dving when a surgeon located the trouble and removed a bullet lodged in his lungs. 16 Conwcll’s son, sword, and favorite chair