Florida Southern College - Interlachen Yearbook (Lakeland, FL)

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Golden Anniversary — t885- 1035 other friends, and he set out to perform with deter- mination a dreary task. He made his first report to the conference in December, 1895, announcing an enrollment of fifty-eight students. This was less than the total for the preceding year, but he was able to report a larger number of boarding students. The latter were charged $10 a month. Six of the fifty-eight students were preparing for either the ministry or mission work. Twelve others were children of ministers. One year later the college had a faculty of seven and a student enrollment of eighty-five. Among these were six children of Rev. and Mrs. R. H. Barnett — Loulie, R. Ira, Fred T., Doak, Eugene and Henry. The college plant consisted of three buildings. The Hall included fourteen rooms and a large dining apartment. The College Home included thirty bedrooms, a parlor, a sitting room, a dining room, a kitchen, five porticoes and eight halls. The administration building included a chapel, a library, a museum, the president ' s office and seven recitation rooms. Upon the death of Dr. Nolen, the trustees elected as president pro tern, Professor E. F. Herman, a bachelor of arts graduate of Syracuse University, who was then teaching Latin, Greek and German in The Florida Conference College. PRESIDENT LANG ELECTED Thomas Gelzer Lang was elected president at a meeting of the trustees held in Tampa on the after- noon of December 20, 1897. He appeared before the trustees that night in a brief speech of accept- ance. His administration continued until 1902. President Lang was born in Valdosta, Georgia, in 1857. He attended Emory College, and was graduated with first honor in June, 1882, receiving the degree of bachelor of arts. He married on May 16, 1889, and joined the conference a few months later. Before taking up work as a pastor, he served as principal of the Savannah District High School. After a most creditable career as minister and edu- cator, he was superannuated in 1922. He is living in Milledgeville, Georgia. The faculty which served under President Lang included H. C. Morrison, vice-president and pro- fessor of natural sciences; E. F. Herman, Latin, Greek and German; L. D. Kirby, French, English and history; Rev. B. F. Lovelace, mathematics; Miss Margaret Kilbourne, vocal and instrumental music; Miss Fannie Collins, art; and Miss Nellie Miller, primary department and physical culture. Trustees were Rev. A. E. Householder, chairman, Rev. W. F. Norton, vice-chairman; Rev. Edward F. Lev, secretary; George C. Warner, treasurer; Rev. R. ' H. Barnett, Rev. R. L. Honiker, Dr. C. A. Ful- wood, Rev. T. J. Nixon, Dr. J. F. Shands, Rev. J. C. Sale, George M. Lee, Charles W. White, E. H. Swain, J. H. Dorsey, R. F. Webb, G. W. Saxon, W. P. Ward and S. M. Sparkman. Courses offered in the Bible department included soteriology, dispensational truths, the Holy Spirit, doctrine of angels, Christology, harmony of the gospels, canon of Scripture, Bible history, herme- neutics, doctrine of harmartology, inspiration of the Scriptures, eschatology, Messianic prophecies, Christian evidences, Paul ' s life and writings and Bible outlines. New members of the board of trustees during 1899-1900 were Rev. C. A. Saunders, Rev. L. W. Moore, Frank Adams and J. M. Barco. Besides President Lang, the faculty for 1899-1900 included Rev. J. B. Game, Latin and Greek; Mrs. Beulah M. Warner, English and history; Harry Broadwell, mathematics; Rev. Lewis W. Duval, natural science; and Miss Elizabeth Hansbrough, music. In his report to the trustees in May, 1899, Presi- dent Lang said: We are happy to state that the attendance upon this closing term of the college is larger than that of any previous term during the present administration. It has been our sad duty to advise the propriety of the recall of a student home. This was done only after efforts for his betterment extended through several months, and in such a way as to retain the good-will of his family, while maintaining the integrity of the institution and wholesome discipline. We are also happy to report a revival of grace which re- sulted in the reformation of many, the conversion of others and the advancement of others. As to the financial status of the college, we would only report at this time that during the collegiate year the teachers have received a little over $800 from tuition. This was supplemented by collections in the field. Page Tzvcnlv-lhrcc • ■

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Golden Anniversary — 1 85 - lO. ' iJi REMOVAL TO SUTHERLAND EELING that the college would be able to expand more rapidly in some other community, members of the board of trustees, meeting in Leesburg in May, 1900, adopted a resolution urging the conference to take steps toward removal. Rev. C. A. Saunders and W. K. Zewadski were appointed to present the resolution to the conference. James P. DePass, chairman of the board of education, recommended removal, and steps were taken to advertise for bids. Quincy, represented by A. L. Wilson, W. M. Corry and E. C. Love, offered $8,000 and ten acres of land. Orlando, represented bv Rev. L. W. Moore, offered $1,500 and land valued at $1,500. White Springs, represented bv Rev. C. A. Saunders, offered $1,000, thirty acres of what was then known as the Hoboken property and city lots valued at $1,000. The Sutherland Land and Improvement Company offered $5,000 and 440 acres of land for $2,000, in addition to two large buildings. Acceptance of this offer was voted by the trustees and the confer- ence in December, 1901, and the following were appointed trustees for the new property: J. P. Hilburn, I. S. Patterson, R. M. Evans, R. F. Mason, H. A. Hodges, W. M. Poage, W. N. Shears, H. H. Sassnett, L. E. Roberson, H. W. Long, I. S. Gid- dens, W. C. Richardson, D. W. Stanley and D. A. Cole. Rev. R. M. Evans and Dr. W. C. Richardson represented the community of Sutherland and the Sutherland Land and Improvement Company. Mr. Evans was also appointed agent for the college at a salary of $50 a month. PRESIDENT WALKER BEGINS Dr. Shade Wilson Walker, a brilliant, energetic young man, with commanding endowments of personality and impressive executive ability, was elected president of the college when the trustees met at Sutherland on the afternoon of March 27, 1902. His salary was fixed at $1,000 a year, and it was voted to board him and his family in the dormitory for $300 a year. Selection of the faculty was left to President Walker and the executive committee of the board of trustees. Dr. Walker was born in Fayetteville, Tennessee, July 18, 1871, a son of Stephen and Julia Walker. He attended Hopewell Academy and Fayetteville Presbyterian College, and did special work at Harvard University. Southern College has hon- ored him with the degree of doctor of divinity. He married Miss Lottie Patterson, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. W. G. Patterson, in 1892, and joined the conference in 1893. St. Augustine Mission was his first work. His first wife was drowned in April, 1904, when the boat in which she was riding capsized a few miles from the mainland of Sutherland. She and several other persons, in- cluding Dr. Walker, were returning from a picnic at Anclote lighthouse. The boat was capsized by a squall two miles off Hog Island, shortly after one o ' clock in the afternoon, and it was ten o ' clock the following morning before rescuers arrived. Four persons besides Mrs. Walker lost their lives. Six children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Walker during his first marriage. They are Mrs. Walter O. Ropp, Howard Walker, George Walker, Mrs. H. R. Laing, Mrs. W. E. Blount and Shade W. Walker, Jr. Dr. Walker married Miss Grace Parker in 1905. She died in 1927, and he married Miss Lillie Mullins in 1929. They have one child, Patricia. Known as one of the most capable pastors in the Florida Conference, Dr. Walker has served with distinction. He is a man of strong intellectual and spiritual power. He has read widely and inten- sively, and he still spends much time among his large collection of books. His messages have always been received as stimulating and original contributions from a positive personality. He is now doing outstanding work as pastor of First Methodist Church, Jacksonville. His brilliant record includes St. Paul ' s Church, San Jose, Cali- fornia; Johnson Memorial Church, Huntington, West Virginia; First Methodist Church, Sanford, First Methodist Church, St. Petersburg; and the presiding eldership of the Tampa District. He has been a trustee of Southern sixteen years, one of which he served as chairman of the board. He has also been conspicuously successful as an evan- gelistic speaker. Just past thirty when he accepted the presidency of the college which had been placed at Sutherland, Dr. Walker, aware of greater possibilities for the institution, set to work with an enthusiasm that quickly spread among Florida Methodists and caused them to take a more active interest in their school. Pastors and parishioners alike began to talk with more conviction about their school, and it was not long before expansion began. It was Dr. Walker ' s task to reorganize the school and start it anew. Aided by loyal trustees, he planned carefully in starting at Sutherland an institution that was to increase in academic strength, prestige and enrollment. To his judi- cious efforts during those early days in a new loca- tion is due much credit for the sustained prosperity which the school enjoyed in that community for nineteen years. NAME CHANGED Upon being removed to Sutherland, the school became known as the Florida Seminary. The trustees later voted for incorporation under the new name, and this was done in 1904. Page Twenty-five • ••• ♦