Agnes Scott College - Silhouette Yearbook (Decatur, GA)

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J IF). (Baines, 2). ID. ¥ ¥ ¥ 51 AS born at Tillico Plains, Monroe County, Tenn., July 25, 1S52, and was graduated from Cumberland University, literary course ' June, 1S70. After graduation he read a course of medicine and attended lectures, but trie study of medicine was soon dropped, and in September, 1873, he entered Cnion Theological Seminary, Hampden Sidney, Va., from which institu- tion he was graduated May, 1S76. In September of the same year he was ordained to the ministry by Ebenezer Presbytery, at Hopewell church, near Paris, Va., and from that time until 1896 he was regularly engaged in active duties of his calling. During this period, from 1S76 to 1896, he had five pas- torates, one in Kentucky of about eighteen months, and two in the valley of Virginia of about five years each and the fourth at Decatur, Ga. Dr. Gaines took charge of this last church in December, 1888, and continued in the pasto- rate until June, 1S96. These eight years were prosperous ones for the Decatur Presbyterian church and it soon so grew in members that a larger place of worship had to be built. But while the church itself increased in membership, there quietly grew up under its care, and by the gift of one of its members, an institution which has since become known as Agnes Scott Institute. Dr. Gaines was President of the Board of Trustees of this institution from the very beginning and has ever since been intimately connected with the school. He was instrumental in gain- ing the first teachers, these being Miss Hopkins and Miss Cook, of Virginia. He formed the Bible curriculum and held that chair, and has besides had general charge of affairs. In May, 1896, Dr. Gaines ' s duties in connection with the school, being considered by the Board of Trustees arduous and important enough for him to devote his whole time to them, he was elected to the Presi- dency of the institution. After due deliberation, he asked for and received his dismissal from active work in the ministry and accepted this position, thus being brought into even closer connection with the school. In Jul) ' , 1896, Dr. Gaines received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Davidson College, and in this same year he published the third number of a series of Bible notes, intended for the use of Bible classes in colleges and in the church, but especially for his own classes at Agnes Scott. The first num- ber had appeared the year before, and the second will probably be published in a year, thus completing the series. To Dr. Gaines, as President and teacher of Agnes Scott, is due a great deal of the school ' s influence for good and for the advancement of the cause of edu- cation, and in every respect has his loyalty, love, and zeal for this institution been unchanging.

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Ipveface ¥ ¥ ¥ |NE afternoon, late in last February, a group of girls was discussing affairs in general, and longing with the rest of the world for something new. This routine of school life becomes unen- durably monotonous, moaned one, and I would give anything for a little variety. We need some point of common interest to arouse the girls from this selfish indifference of theirs, and to draw them closer together, said another. While you are amusing and benefiting us you might be charitable enough to consider the good of the school, chimed in some one else. Whereupon a girl, who always has ideas, electrified her audience by exclaiming: I have it! Let ' s get out an annual. We will enjoy doing it ; it will call forth an untold amount of latent talent, and it will be to the interest of the school. Of course a chorus of objections was raised. We are inexperienced, We are deplorably ignorant, Southern girls have never done it that I ever heard of, We will never pay expenses, We have not time; these and dozens of other obstacles were all mentioned at once, which is probably the reason they had no weight. The proposer of the annual carried her point, and then and there the board of editors was elected, committees appointed, and earnest work begun. Such was the origin of the first annual published by the girls of the Agnes Scott Institute. The Aurora for ' 97 is intended to present life at the A. S. I. from the students ' point of view, and is almost entirely the result of efforts on part of the pupils. However, without the co-operation of Dr. Gaines, Miss Field and other members of the Faculty, the enterprise must have been abandoned in the beginning, and for their assistance we return warmest thanks. We are very grateful to the student body and to the alumni for their interest and valuable assistance. We also desire to thank Mr. Will Larned for his kindness in contributing several pen sketches. The courtesy and efficient aid of our able publishers, The Franklin Publishing Company, puts us under many obligations to them. We now present the Aurora to you, and trust that you will be indulgent in your criticisms. The Editors.

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REV F. H. GAINES, D.D .