Furman University - Bonhomie Yearbook (Greenville, SC)

Page 11 text:

Page Xine

Page 10 text:

Page Eight

Page 12 text:

 BOMhOniE IE Historical Sketch of Furman University E. M. POTF.AT 6 M EPSON said, an institution is the lengthened shadow of a man. Furman University is the lengthened shadow of a towering man, Richard Furman (1755-1825). Ilis name is written in letters of light over all the early history of the Baptists in South Carolina. From the beginning of his public career he was an aggressive promoter of Education and ol organized denominational effort with a view to larger efficiency. As early as 17!H he brought before the Charleston Association a plan by which the churches might unite in aiding young students for the ministry, and when in 17112 the plan was ratified, his name is first in the list of signatures. He remained Chairman of the General Committee of the Charleston Association for educational work for thirty-three years. And it is significant of his influence in this interest that the white membership of the First Baptist Church of Charleston averaged about two dollars per mcml er for thirty-six consecutive years for education. In 181-1 he was elected at Philadelphia the first President of the Tri-cnnial Convention and in 1817 the theme of his presidential address was Education. Says Prof. II. T. Cook in the volume just cited: “Columbia College grew out of this sjmmmIj as well as divers colleges in the states” (p. 22). In the History of the First Baptist Church of Charleston, Dr. James C. Furman, the distinguished son of a distinguished father, says of this great Philadelphia address by his father: His own views contem- plated a central institution at Washington, with institutions preparatory to it founded in separate states, where lower grades of culture might he obtained.” And this great address grew out of an experience of twenty-six years during which the preacher had been educating young men. Richard Furman died without seeing the fruition of his far-sighted plans. But two years after his death, 1827, the Baptist State Convention opened “The Fur-Watervillc and Hamilton were probably the direct outgrowth of the original plan. So were Furman Institution in South Carolina and the institution at Penfield, Ga., now Mercer University. Furman Institution became Furman University and then gave up its Theological Department that it might become the Southern Baptist Seminary. Newton, in Massachusetts, it is believed, originated from dissatisfaction with the bad management at Washington. Indeed the whole later denominational movement in favor of education, originated from this impulse. 1 have given this much space in the brief sketch here undertaken because a clear sight of origins is essential to full comprehension of the growth of an institution. And in what has now been said it will be seen that Furman University is the heir and depository of the finest sentiments and insights and enthusiasm of as noble a pioneer as ever breathed. Page Ten