Furman University - Bonhomie Yearbook (Greenville, SC)

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A. Brief History of Furman University TUI ' record !• urmnn I niversii' is that of struggle, sacrifice and triumph. In exulting er ’hr splendid triumphs one iiinv In- inclined !«• form ? the strenuous struggles and silent .saeriliee. ilia have placed Furman whore site now stands. Then patiently attend, kind reader, while we present the p«ran unr events transpiring, which have developed statist by stage the grand oh I in l it uf i »n which we all love to call Furman University, Twotr v-‘ . years hefore tin- writing of the I cc)ura?iou of American I ndopmdt nee tin re was a man nanud Oliver Hart, who went from place to place speaking and working: tor a Baptist school in Smith Carolina. Alter his earthly eaiver was ended the agiiatiin for an educated ministry was taken up I I)r. Bichard Furman, who migrated with his parents from New York. Doctor Furman will over he remembered as iho first president of the Triennial '••uvention of Baptists, the founder of Mere r University of Georgia. and llaniilte.ii Fniversitv of New York. For a number of years this faiihful. ilevmtt man pleaded and worked for a Baptist institution of learning in South Carolina, hut he did not live to see it- real ineeption. However, the dreams and plans of this earnest worker pu-sed into the heart- of others, who in the year IS27 founded al the old F.dgetield eoinihouse the institution that lias ever home hi- inline Furman Academy and Theological Institute. The Academy l«gau its eventful course with onlx otic man at its helm. Tin fill ore looked dark and gloomy, and for two long years the institution I ingem! • u l»e verirc of disbandment. At this impending crisis if was -uggested l» Basil Manly, Sr., then tin- influential young pastor • ; the Fdgefield Baptist Church, that the Academy lie moved to a place not lar trom the Savannah Biver. 'Tlie convention, believing that they could secure the c H»peralion of the Georgia Baptists, according!.' removed 'lie school to a location near the Georgia line. The results were not SO good as expected and in IS. )!) the (‘onveiition deeidi d to take the institution to the High Hills ot the Santee. Here with discouragement on all side dames Hartwell and Samuel Turman lively opened the treasury of their minds to a few thirsty young men who had been given -eholnrshins at the institution. For four years these generous-hearted instructor- foiled and strived in order to keep llu door ot the Academy open. But the scheme of the M'holarships proved futile, and in lS3f the doors were closed and tin students sorrowfully made their way toward home. 20

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ainni Clearer Trnk: “Creation. hy Haydn .Mount:• in City i- her home. 'iK ’intaiii iivi r law- ln r . from I.n ci.isis her children ciuiic. An»l crown her ! row with dower- -wcot; And ‘neat It her -hade they re.-t -«ome. Am! drink from wisd m - fountain- pure. Am! rally, loyal sun- and tine. Humid our dear Alina Mater. A siiip of royal make i- -lie. And Ininas her treasure from alar: Her truth it i- that make- u- lire And gleams her heucou like a star. T vns l' urmau‘- hand that laid her keel. And .lud- n - Iiei rih,- of .steel: The Knthers, prayerful foi our weal. I.aiiuriod our dear Alina .Mater. A mother gentle, fair and wi e, Ami grave with weight of -toried lore, Sin- greet- u- with h've’- patient eye-. And chains out heart- for evermore. Old Kurinan! grateful son- are we. Our hive, our live- we give to thee: W 'll keen faith .- o v t -er e hut thee. Our own dear Mina Mater.

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As ;« partial result of this failure there was a cessation for about two years. Then on a bleak morning in .Ianmiry. 1 it was whispered half timidly, half hopefully around in the town of innsl orough that I'rot. . K. Bailey would open at that place on the first Monday in February a Manual Labor (’iassieal School. The morning arrived and with it were brought back to tlie hearts of many the bright hoj cs of former days. But just as the sun of their fondest hopes was scattering the last drifting mist from their hearts a cloud suddenly rose and hovered heavily above them. In May the academic building was burned. In the following year, however, Dr. W. Hooper of North Carolina was chosen president of the Theological Department and thus the work of educating the ministry was continued even through days of gloom and discouragement. And in those dark days of struggle were instilled in the hearts of many noble young men thoughts and ideas that have blest South Carolina in after days. In the vear 1S|0 Doctor Hooper was succeeded in the presidency hv Dr. J. L Reynolds, and in the course of four years he was in turn succeeded by |)r. .1. C. Furman. This eminent teaeher had as his co-worker Ucv. .1. S. Mims. Professor of Systematic 'Theology, and Rev. Peter C. Fdwards. Professor of Hebrew ami Biblical Kxegesis. Fnder their skilful guidance the institution began to flourish in a more marked degree. Indeed, after a few years an invitation was sent from Greenville asking that the school Ik- moved into her borders. 'The news of this soon spread to all (ptarters of the State, and the enlargement of the institution and removal to Greenville was the general topic in Baptists circles. T bring the proposed change to a reality. Doctor Furman, in |s4S, was successful in securing $7t ,00o for Furman Fniversity with the understanding that it he located at Greenville. ‘Three years later the proposed change was effected, and again, under the leadership of Dr. James C. Furman, the door- of Furman Academy and Theological Seminary were opened, and about sixty students found their way into her sacred rooms. Twelve months more witnessed the birth of the Standard College of Liberal Arts. This year also marks the arrival on the campus of that eminent man and teacher. Dr. Charles Ilallette Jnd on. Alter the death of Professor Mims in I.n.m, James P. Boyce assumed charge of the Theological Department of the Fniversity. He had as his worthy associates in the Seminary John A. Broad us, Basil Manly, and William W iHiatus. 'This famous quartet did much in promoting the cause of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. 2!