Hampden Sydney College - Kaleidoscope Yearbook (Hampden Sydney, VA)

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keeping an appointment. Calhoun bears witness that he was pious, zealous, well versed in theology, plain, simple and earnest. Regarding his influence, it was widespread. Judge Longstreet wrote: The fruits of his vinyard are scattered far and wide through most of the Southern States and long have they been seen in rich luxuriance in the Capitol of the Union. Indeed, it would be hard to name the place of rank which his pupils have not occupied . . . but l do fully believe that, without the impulse which he gave to their talents, many of them who rose to high rank would never have been heard of. Calhoun, Legare, Crawford, McDuffie, Butler, Longstreet, Pettigru! And a son of old Hampden-Sydney taught them! The spirit of Hampden-Sydney was carried by this alumnus to the lower South, there to be the inspiration of the great men of that region. Two sons of Waddell became celebrated and able teachersg one, James Pleasants Waddell, was Professor of Latin and Greek at the University of Georgiag another, John Newton Waddell, was Professor of Latin and Greek at the University of Mississippi and President of LaGrange College. Moses Waddell had another connection with the Prince Edward College-his daughter, Miss janetta Waddell, married Dr. Archibald Alexander, fourth President of Hampden-Sydney. Several of her descendants became great ministers and teachers. What a blessing Moses Waddell has been to mankind. Longstreet said of Waddell's Christian experience: As a Christian his character was unexceptional. I-le was not without the Christian's trialsg and these, for some years after he embraced the Cross, were uncommonly severeg but, as the surges that break over the coral reef only add brilliance to its native beauty, so these trials but added lustre to the 'beauty of his holinessf His piety burned with a steady flame . . . l-le was active and constant in the discharge of his ministerial duties and he shrunk from no labor which his ecclesiastical relations imposed upon him. After Dr. Waddell retired from the Presidency of the University of Georgia he lived at Willington. In IS36 he suffered a stroke of palsy. Three years later he was taken to the home of his son, Professor james Pleasants Waddell, at Athens, Georgia. Here he died, July Zl, l840. Of him how appropriately can it be said: Servant of Cod, well done: Rest from thy loved employ, Thy battle ended, victory won, Enter thy Master's joy. -THE EDITORS. I 22 1

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W, .N :IIT Q 'Cm 'gi X x L iiiaigifulfigspsl.-If , J .. , sf. P, . E, 'X LHM' DE .J ii Qin, Q.. SY a 1 leader, member of lVlonroe's Cabinet, and an unsuccessful contender for the Presidency of the United States in I824g George lVlcDuHie, Governor of South Carolina, United States Senator, eloquent apologist for states rights, and Butler, Calhoun's able colleague in the Senate. What an influence Hampden-Sydney had on political, literary and educational life in the South through these pupils of Waddell's. Think how they must have imbibed that intangible, indefinable something-the traditional l-lampden-Sydney spirit- from this great teacher. Yea, verily, Hampden-Sydney may well claim these great men as her grandsons-these leaders who sat at the feet of that noble alumnus-the C-amaliel of the South. While at Willington, Waddell re- ceived the degree of Doctor of Divinity from the College of South Carolina, in ISO7. l-lis Academy at Willington was in the country, far from town, it was noted for its simple life and strict discipline. ln I8l9 Dr. Waddell entered on his duties as President of the University of Georgia. Dr. Alonzo Church wrote: The circumstances of the University were . . . peculiarly embarrassing . . . They were such as few men would be able to meet, without ultimately abandoning the object in despair. And to the wisdom and prudence and reputation of that good man is Georgia very largely indebted for the respectability and usefulness of her State College. The success which attended his efforts in raising the institution so rapidly as he did to respectability has been, to many, inexplicable. But to those who understand his character that success is by no means surprising. l-le accepted the office after repeated solicitation and only upon the fullest con- viction that God had called him to this field of labor. Perhaps few men, in all the business of life, more prayerfully inquired as to the path of duty, than Dr. Waddell. And by the path of duty I mean the glory of God in the advance- ment of the Recleemer's Kingdom. ln 1829 Dr. Waddell resigned the Presi- dency of the University. This closed his preceptional labors of two score and five years. Alexander H. Stephens paid a glowing tribute to Waddell's ability as a teacher: ln his insight into the character of boys, the constitution of their minds, their capacities and aptitudes and in drawing out and develop- ing their faculties by proper training and discipline and government, he had few, if any, superiors in the United States. After Waddell retired from active teaching he continued in the ministry for several years. While a teacher, he preached regularly. Few Sabbathsf' according to Church, ufound him out of the pulpit. l-le taught because he believed that he could in this way best support the Kingdom of Christ. Punctual he was and diligent. The most adverse weather could not deter him from 1211

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