Earlham College - Sargasso Yearbook (Richmond, IN)

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Prof. Cyrus W. Modgin lUUGUArmCAI, SKliTCII Prof. Cyrus W. Iludnin was born Ft-bruary 12, 184J, and bfgaii teacbiiig in ly ' jl. in lladlcy ' s i ' rivate Academy in Rich- mond, Ind. ' Ibis was followed b ' a year in tbo puljlic schools in Randolph County, after which be taught for tliree ' ears in the public schools in Henry County. He graduated from the Illinois State Normal L ' niversity in 1867. The year 1868-69 was spent as principal of the Richmond High School. He was pro- fessor of history in the Indiana State Xornial School 1872-1881. He was superintendent of the Rushville (Ind.) City Schools 1882-1883. He came to Richmond, Indiana, as principal of the Richmond Normal School in 1883 and continued until 1887, when he accepted the position of professor of history and political economy in Earlham College, Richmond, Ind., which position he has held to the present year. He was on a leave of absence 1892-1893 pursuing graduate work in the University of Chicago. He has lectured a great deal on educational topics, temperance, peace and arbitration. He has done a great deal of work in teachers ' county institutes, and during the years 1896-98 be was in charge of the history work of the Chautauqua Correspondence School. . s an antbiir, in 1880, he published . n ( )utline of a Course of .Study in Inited .States History ; in 18 ' )I, as a supplement to Dole ' s . nierican Citizen, Outline of Civil Government in Indi- ana : 1893, Indiana and the Nation ; 1893, A Study of the .- merican Commonwealth , joint editor with Prof. Woodburn ; 1897. Sketch of the History of Indiana , for the Indiana edition of Lossing ' s F,ncycIo|).-edia of United States History: and about two years ago a ketcll of the History of Indiana for the Indiana edition of Redway ' s Lnited States History. AN Al ' PkECIATION c think of him first as a teacher. Teaching was his chief work, and his first regret when he healized that death was near, was that be was not to be permitted to fill out a half century in the school room. He was himself a conscientious scholar who at- tained knowledge by painstaking labor ; and was not tempted to that impatience with plodding minds which often unfits brilliant men to lead others to knowledge. He bad an unfailing enthusi- asm in his work. He did not shrink from the drudgery of ad- ministrative details: a schedule of recitations or examinations wlieii it came from him was a work of art, and the routine ex- amination of theses and quizzes was done with unfailing thor- oughness. When he read Blessed be drudger to us in chapel, it fell on our ears as a ])hilosophy of life. He had a quiet cheer- fulness and enthusiasm that was medicine to the sold. To him a truth never lost value because it was old, nor did be change his courses of study or forsake his friends for the sake of novelty. 1 le took a personal interest in his .students and felt an unfailing joy when he led one to see the meaning- and laws of human historx ' and to catch a glimpse of its divine goal. If he erred in his deal- ings with his students, it was through over-confidence in their sin- cerity and integrity ; but I feel sure none ever took advantage of his faith, who did not feel the nieannos of baying betrayed a sacred trust. I do not now recall a single scholar of national eminence that he trained, but in nearly every community where I go I find men and W ' men who speak with enthusiasm of the love of truth and the transfiguration of life ' s common tasks that came to them when Cyrus Plodgin was their teacher. Prof. Hodgin was in all things a practical idealist. He called

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3ltt iE mnrtain HODGIN I kiifw him well. Ami ever at his task Carving ideas out of life and story. And walking close to them himself, lie wore the teacher ' s crown of glory — Xot noisy fame that blows about the world The bubble of some great perfection — r.ut the crown that daily service won ( )f students ' trust and students ' deep affection. I knew him well. And ever at its need He laid his life on Friendship ' s glowing altar; . thousand knew his read - help And no one ever knew him falter. A kindly, gentle life was his. That beamed on all the life around him. As true and steadfast as a star To every soul that found him. I knew him well. A carver at the block That held his one imprisoned beauty. For forty years and more — the last stroke. Like the first, armed with zeal and duty ; But the angels, looking, said — It is enough. And sent the fairest one of all the blest To hold his hand back from the stroke. And now he is at rest. Wii. N ' . TRUEr.Loor). t I $ T,itcn from the Earlhamll.

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himself a iiicliorist: a pessimist as to present comlitions but an optimist as to possibilities. His idealism did not make him lose touch with the common things. He was not blind to earth ' s wrongs and men ' s sins of life. I le knew how far awaj- the vision was and patiently followed the windings of the only paths to it. He was, until a year ago, president of the Peace Association of Friends in America and one (if the founders of the Intercollegiate Peace Association. He wa a member of the peace and temperance committees of Indiana Yearly Aleeting and chairman of the Wayne County Prohibition Central Committee. He was chairman of the Wayne County Historical Society and a prominent member of the State Historical Society. He knew the prohibition of the liquor traffic must wait on public conviction and hence agitated the ques- tion. He believed in world peace but knew it could only come with justice. He believed in free trade among nations, in co- operation in industry, in Christian socialism as the final form of human society ; but he knew these could only come as the spirit of Christ brought righteousness and brotherhood to the hearts of men. His religious faith was sincere and simple; his trust in the love and goodness of God, deep and abiding. The sufferings and loneliness of his last year only strengthened it. In theologv he was tolerant and progressive. In days when doctrine and emo- tional experiences filled the pulpits he was a preacher of personal, civic and social righteousness. The church ' s recognition of his gift came tardily, but a few years ago he was recorded a minister of the gospel. This, and more, is the man we knew and loved. — the practical idealist, devoted patriot, true friend, painstaking scholar, en- thusiastic teacher, preacher of righteousness. Our best expression of gratitude shall be our lives wliich show that he did not live, love and labor for us in vain. Elbert Russrll. Tlie Comrade in the Dome In Memori.vm Prof. Cvri ' s W. Hodgin ( Sometimes, in the silence of the night-time, one may hear the tiny hanmierings of the comrades at work up in the dome — the com- rades that have climbed ahead. — Charles Rutin Ki-niu-dy.) .And .so, today, with listening ear. Beneath the crystal dome we stand And seem, from far aloft, to hear The joyous hammerings of his hand. There where the heavenly arches go To crown the living dome of love. This one, so loving here below, Is given his gracious task above. ' ' ith golden rivets, beam to beam. And arch to arch, he welds in place : The while a happy smile doth seem Like sunshine to illume his face. His angel helpers seem to know The jov-light of that radiant mien, . nd bend with him a look below To earth ' s familiar home and scene. They know, what we are slow to see. That death is no dividing bar : That now as never they can be With us though still on earth we are. They know that over there, as here, Thev still may work for those they love : nd watching o ' er earth ' s comrades dear. Prepare for them the home above. —Clarence Mills Biirkholdcr.