Wofford College - Bohemian Yearbook (Spartanburg, SC)

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DR. JAMES H. CARLISLE. JAMES H. CARLISLE was born in Fairfield County, S. C. He received his elemental training in Winns- boro and Camden, and in 1842 entered South Carolina College. Half of the college year was gone, and the young Sophomore was ill prepared to take up his work at that time, but he proved himself equal to the task that was before him, and soon made a reputation for thorough and efficient work. In 1844 he graduated with second honor in his class. This entitled him to deliver the Valedictory. He chose for his subject the poet Shelley, and delivered a masterful speech. The students of Carolina, especially members of the Euphradian Literary Society, of which Dr. Carlisle was a member, refer to the oration with pride, even to the present day. Dr. Carlisle was a born teacher, and soon after his graduation began his career as Principal of the Odd Fellows ' Institute in Columbia. Here he remained for four years, at the end of which time he accepted a position at the Columbia Male Academy, and taught there for five years. At the close of this period the Methodists of South Carolina, through the gift of Rev. Benj. Wofford, had established Wofford College, and Dr. Carlisle was called to take the Chair of Mathematics. To the infant institution he came and began pouring in the wealth of his intellectual and moral powers, a process which has been increasing throughout the years. To mention Wofiford, is to suggest Dr. Carlisle. Many noble lives have contributed to the success of the Institution, but none for so long a time, or in such marked degree, as that of its President Emeritus. Dr. Carlisle was elected President in 1875 — a position which he held until his resignation, tendered the third time was accepted in June, 1901. Although feeling that his health would not permit him to continue the active duties of President, Dr. Carlisle continues to teach Bible, Ethics and Astronomy, and so the students of Wofford are still permitted to sit at his feet and drink in the richness of his mind and heart. Honors of both Church and State have been thrust upon Dr. Carlisle, but he has persistently turned away from those that would in any way divert his attention from the College to which he had consecrated his life. Worldly emoluments have no charm for him, but rather he chooses to give himself to the youths placed under his care, and to follow the path that seemed to offer the greatest opportunities,— that of moulding the

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J AS. H. CARLISLK, Lt,. D.

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thought and character of Carohna ' s young men. It is this humble devotion to duty that has made his hfe such a bulwark of strength and power. Dr. Carlisle has been a member of every General Conference of the M. E. Church, South since its separation from the Northern Church, except the last.. He has contributed much to literature, especially the literature of Southern Methodism. It is hard for one who has been permitted to sit in Dr. Carlisle ' s class room for four years to restrain his pen when writing a sketch of this kind. But knowing Dr. Carlisle ' s mod- esty, we will close with these words taken from a similar publication issued by the students of his Alma Mater. Speaking of Dr. Carlisle ' s work, the Garnet and Black says: But one hesitates even to try to estimate these achievements, for two reasons : One is. Dr. Carlisle utterly abhors anything like the sounding trump of eulogy; and the other is, that after one has done one ' s best, there stands the beauty of Dr. Carlisle ' s char- acter, and the power of his influence, to shame the inadequacy of words. The South Carolina College has wrought greatly in the history of this State ; her sons have shaped history according to her teachings. But none has caught more clearly or held to more firmly ' the deeper teachings of her mystic tone, that manhood, grounded in a vigorous, sure morality, and striving for the best ideals of pure living and high thinking, is the thing that counts for most in the making of men and of States. Such a conception of the mission of a college has given unity to Dr. Carlisle ' s work as a teacher, and such conceptions of life he has made singularly beautiful and attractive by his own daily living. Thus what he is, is the most efficient element in his power. 9