Colgate University - Salmagundi Yearbook (Hamilton, NY)

Page 11 text:

3 THF: S.-u,M.aoUNn1 long abide, though he himself is gone. As ai man, he was true to t.he r-ore, superbly unselfish, singly, simply, and in ai most exemplary manner 21 Chris- tian. All his relations here manifested his fidelity, loyalty, and unselnsh devotion to the work which he had undertzilcen, In manners simple yet dig- nified, possessed ot' elevated and refined tastes, himself an example ot' vulture derived from study, t1'nrel, nnd nssovintion with the wise and good, he was in his person an influence for vulture, and wisely encfoumged as well :ts un- conscfiously exemplified in all the relations of University life at worth and dig- nity of tone whit-h even solid merit too often lacks. On the material side of University ziffnirs, there wus large and cfonstant advance during his ndministration. The first work to which -he devoted himself was the tasteful renovation ot' the College Chapel formerly so hzrrreng and the first- gift whir-h he secured was the cfhnpel organ, Iininediuitely upon his coming, Mr. James B. Colgate erected the I'resident's House, Soon utter followed the gift of our admirable zxitliletiii- field, named for its donor, the Whit- nall Field. Two years ago, Lathrop Hall, with its admirable facilities for the depzirtinents ot' physivs, geology, und hiology, was vompleted: and al- most Simultaneously the Laboratory was douhled in size and fitted for pres- ent demands in the department of c-hemistrv. During these yezirs, the work of campus improvement has gone steztdily forwfirdg and some of this worlc, the-setting out of much of the Shruhhery, has been pec-ulinrly due to the Presi- dent. In the Stedman Memorial Pollen-tion of Casts, more than 21 heginning has been made for nrt c-ollevtions. Lust of ull, President Merrill saw the erection of ai cent-ral heating plant, sufficient, when fully equipped and con- nected, to heart :ill the huildings upon the c-nmpus. The htting up of in social room in West College some years sin:-e wns intended hy him as :ii heginning of the remodelling ot' that venerable pile into n modern dormitory, the need ot' which he saw long before most others, und upon the ziccomplishment of which his heart wus strongly set. His life was well livedg his work was l'nitlil'ully and nohly done, :ind will long aihideg and we gladly honor his memory. IJ.-win Fos'l'ic1e. ld!-1'l'l'IS.

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QEOR QE EDMANDS MERRILL X1 EORGE EDNIANDS MERRILL, D. D., LL. D., late honored President of Colgate University, to whose memory this volume is dedicated, was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, December 19th, 18465 was graduated from Harvard College in 1869, from The Newton Theological institution in 1872, and received in 1895 from Colby University the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity, and in 1901 from the University of Rochester the degree of Doctor of Laws. Ordained to the ,Bap- tist ministry in 1872, he served the First Baptist Church of Springfield, Massa- chusetts, until 1877, and the First Baptist Church of Salem, from 1877 to 1885. Obliged by ill health to resign this church, he went in 1885 to Colorado Springs, where he remained until 1890, serving as pastor of the Baptist Church there for two years. In 1890, he became pastor of the Immanuel Baptist Church of Newton, Massachusetts, and continued its pastor until he became President here in 1899. After an illness of many months, his life quietly closed at his home on College Hill, June 11th, 1908. When President Merrill was called to Colgate, almost exactly a decade had passed since the death of President Dodge. Although during this time the' University had had the services of a president less than two years Cthe brief term of office broken by the fatal illness of President Smithl, the insti- tution had not been standing still during this period. The Library and Gym- nasium had been erected, the former testifying exclusively, the latter mainly, to the generosity of Mr. James B. Colgate, who had also, after the death of President Dodge, established by a single gift of a million dollars the Dodge Fund as a memorial to him. In many ways, both College and Seminary had been responding to the demand for progress, but there was urgent need of president who should confirm the University in the position it ha.d reach- ed, should so represent it before the public as to make it more widely and favorably known, and should still further advance its varied interests. President Merrill came to Colgate without direct experience of univer- sity life and affairs, but he brought to his new task not only his own manhood and intelligent scholarship, the beauty of his ripened character, and the strength of his matured powers, but also a wide reaching and manifold ex- perience with churches, boards of trustees, and men in general. Of the many things which have come to Colgate through President Merrill, the greatest single contribution was his gift of himself-a gift which, in its effects, will

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'PR OLOG UE O you, students of Colgate, to you also, alumni and friends, we pre- sent this record of our work. We hope that it will please you, that it will bring not only a transient smile but will be the means of reviving in you many happy memories of your college days. If it meets with your approval, say for us a good Word-it will be our best rewarcl. If it does not merit your approbation, close the book in silence, for Whatever its faults, We have done our best.