Furman University - Bonhomie Yearbook (Greenville, SC)

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in its initiation of indomitable purpose, a type of mind admirably fitted for a great construction engineer, if be had not chosen rather to become a great Latin scholar. Very ably did Dr. Montague begin the great building regime of which we now see so brilliant a climax. In 1903 Dr. E. M. Poteat became president. If our faith is to be strengthened by the realization that Providence has had great influence in the choice of Furman’s presidents. it receives further inspiration here. With a great and brilliant scholar at the helm, old Furman made wonderful progress. Himself irked by the petty details of administrative routine. Dr. Poteat gave his faculty opportunity to exercise and grow. His own brilliant scholarship gave every encouragement to erudition, and Furman quickly assumed a place calculated to set the pace in South Carolina educational circles. To this administration belongs the adequate and woefully necessary strengthening of institution finance. I o his determination and large influence among liberal contributors belongs much of the credit. He himself deeply religious, there seemed to come upon Furman a revival of the days of the Furmans. His old students will never forget his chapel talks, their powerful grip, their inspiration, their affection. No history of Furman, however brief, can adequately portray the atmosphere and inspiration, the will to success and progress, the undercurrent of love and affection, all of which make Furman a tender spot in the memory of a Furman man, that docs not give special space to Dr. Charles H. Judson. It is quite safe to say that, having come in contact with more students during his long professorship of fifty-five years, his sweetness of character and splendid genius will never be forgotten. To many in this generation of men Furman and Judson are almost synonymous. The interim of 1918-1919 was admirably administered by Dr. S. E. Bradshaw, our professor of Modern Languages since 1904. Of the brilliant beginning of the most promising period in the history of Furman under the fine leadership of our new president. Dr. W. J. McGlothlin. we shall not write. The old State and its Baptists’ hosts are expecting much, and with the loyal support of heart and dollar that they are giving us. they shall not be disappointed. James Leland Vass. Page eighteen

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THE BONHOMIE, 1920 Furman—A Background Sketch 1IE historical background of Furman contains many bold splashes of color, in many moments of tragedy changing into hours of golden climax, so much that is typical of the path of our splendid heritage of culture, that a reminder is always in order to prevent any future triumphs from overshadowing this great past. The South has ever stood forth as a culture pioneer in this country. I he history of Baptists in the South will show that they were very conspicuous in the front line of these pioneers. In South Carolina this splendid leadership did not fail, and among the foremost was Dr. Richard Furman (1755-1825). This -first president of the Triennial Convention of Baptists, the founder of Mercer University, and Hamilton University of New York, dreamed and worked, graciously prepared the soil, planted the seed, but did not live to see the results of his work. In 1827. at Edgefield, S. C., Furman Academy and Theological Institute began the scries of visible developments leading from Dr. Furman's dreams all the way to our own great present. A few years after its origin the school moved to Winnsboro, further developing its literary department, and adding a course in agriculture. Several years passed and the attractiveness of Greenville drew the school here, whereupon its name was changed to Furman University. In 1852 Furman qualified as a Standard College of Liberal Arts” under the able administration of Dr. James C. Furman, “the distinguished son of a distinguished father.” The university idea continued to prevail, and, despite the imminence of war. with a rapidly growing student body, with a faculty of vigorous, cultured, highly erudite young men, Furman was passing through a brilliant period of her early history. With the announcement of the necessity of defense of the State in the face of secession, two hundred and sixty Furman students went forth for their beloved Southland, to battle for her traditions and their heritage. For four years there was practically an hiatus. Then came four years underlaid mostly by shadows of failure with the fearful background of reconstruction looming large. However, 1869 saw a firmer grip, and from then until 1881 the denominational support offered Dr. Furman gave poise to the school and the situation. In the period from 1881 to 1897 the warm-hearted and gracious Dr. Charles Manly began the laying of the cornerstone of a greater Furman in the minds and hearts of our people. Those were days great in our estimation because they prepared the splendid and firm background against which more brilliant colors may show to advantage. Pioneer ideas were set in motion, upon which only later years can reali .e: but history will find much in Dr. Manly’s administration. From 1897 to 1903 the story of Furman passes into a new epoch. It became a great period of construction. The handicaps of reconstruction having been successfully met under Dr. Furman; the hearts of South Carolina Baptists softened and completely won under Dr. Manly: the administration of Dr. A. P. Montague was singularly happy Page seventeen

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