Franklin College - Almanack Yearbook (Franklin, IN)

Page 22 text:

DR. W. T. STOTT

Page 21 text:

Department of Philosophy LEAR, consistent, independent thinking is one of the best achievenients of any student. T o assist hini in this, one line of intellectual train- ing is pursued through the year, the first terin being given to psychology, the second to logic, and the third to the history of philosophy. The other line consists of a study of Ethics the first terin, Political Economy the second, and ZEsthetics the third. More stress is put upon the inastery of the subject than upon the niere text. Supplementary reading is required on all these subjects in so far as our libraries furnish the literature. The class-rooni discussions are considered indispensable to a liberal view of the particular subject in hand. Recitations are daily throughout the year. No one who enters these classes can fail to see that, after all, inere reason is very feeble, and back of all is the guiding hand of Hini who niade the very laws of Ethics and created the wonderful reasoning power of inan. . Sonietiines a student will enter a class in this department, feeling that he has inastered all that great niinds have thought ont, but when the professor assigns soine outside reading and says you inay have to read it over fourteen tiines before you begin to understand it,7' he is inade to realize that a great big senior U est nihilf' VV. T. Stott, D. D., L. L. D., has been at the head of our beloved college for over thirty years. There are few churches in this State which have not felt his influence. His life is being lived in many parts of the world by those who learned not only the text which he teaches, but the things which inade hini the grand Christian nian that he is. As professor in the Department of Philosophy, Dr. Stott is next to none in this part of the country. He was born in Jennings County, near Vernon, May 22, 18336. He spent his boyhood on the farin, and while there learned the lessons which gave hini the foundation for his genuine character and true Christian nianhood. He entered Franklin College in 1857, and was graduated with the fanious class of 1861. .-Xt this tinie the whole country was lost in the thought of war. Dr. Stott was one of the Franklin students who becaine 'L a boy in blue. He was mustered out in 186-1 with the rank of Captain. The three years following the war he spent in the Theological Senii- nary at Rochester, N. Y. He labored as a pastor for one year and then becanie a teacher in the college. In 1872 he was elected president of the college, and has filled that place ever since. He is a ineinber of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

Page 23 text:

Mathematical Department LASSES come and classes go but the Mathemat- ical department remains a constant quantity. lt is diiiicult to conceive that it shall ever be other- wise, for mathematical studies looked at from a prac- tical point of View underlie so many intelligent pur- suits and employments as to render an acquaintance with them of great importance, while looked at from a theoretical point of View they afford a fine mental discipline, as they demand from the student earnest voluntary exertion. Few students attain much success in mathematics unless willing to sub- mit themselves to steady and continued discipline. No other line of studies demands greater self-denial, patience and perseveranceg and this at a period in life when restraint and application are peculiarly valuable. It.will appear then that the aim of the department is three-fold : mental discipline, develop- ment of character, and knowledge. The methods employed vary with the different sub- jects treated, and to some extent with indiyidual students. Wliatevei' the method used, clearness, ac- curacy and careful expression of thought are de- manded. The mathematical rooms are large with eastern and southern windows. A small but yaluable library renders much assistance in the various lines of study. The blackboard space is too limited for the Freshman class but allows about twenty to write at the same time. Dryuess and drudgery are terms often connected with this department, but all is not dryness though it must be admitted dust is fiying much of the time. He will be a benefactor to teachers who inyents a dustless crayon. The drudgery, too, is enliyened now and then by the introduction of matter not con- templated by the makers of the text-book. Exami- nation papers sometimes reyeal original defmitions, as for instance, 'tGeometry is the means by which we imaginef' After all, where is the imagination more needed than in the study of geometry? The student who spoke of the conjugal diameters of an ellipse was perhaps taking lessons in campustry, while he who is classifying logaritlnns changed hyperbolic system to ' 'diabolic system unconsciously expressed his aversion to adyauced algebra. The teacher sus- pects, however, that the youth who gaye the Cussoid of Dioclesl' for the Cissoid of Dioclesn was one who sought out many inventions. Close study and much study usually bring to the student of mathematics rewards in the quickeued perceptions, in the conscious ability to meet difficult problems, and in the mastery of mental powers. These are possessions which may be made available in many directions. ' Professor Rebecca J. Thompson has had charge of this department for oyer twenty-five years. She is one of the best in the country. The students loye her as a teacher and a true Christian lady.