Illinois State Normal University - Index Yearbook (Normal, IL)

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l page 15 The INDEX justly he claimed that Mr. lidwards gave the school a second birth, at least that he started it upon its present basis, and first introduced the science of pedagogy. He found times hard, a heavy debt, the main concern the war, the students few. He re- mained at its head for thirteen and one-half years, and then retired to the regret of all who knew him. XVhen he commenced, very many thought it an unwise use of public funds further to support it, when he laid down the burden, that contention had passed away. The school had become known by its successes. It is quite possible one of medicocre attainments or of small ac- complishments might have wrecked the institution. From the start, the student body steadily and rapidly grew, both in num- bers and scholarship, it scattered among the schools in the state, raising them to a righer plane, and the school itself. under him, gained a reputation second to none in the United States. lVho can estimate the good this man- has done? I should be glad to go somewhat into details, and state incidents that would be of interest, but want of space forbids. His active, versatile mind, his unwearied industry surmounted every obstacle, and was al- ways seeking for something better. He was unwearied in learn- ing and growing as long as he lived. After leaving Normal he filled Owen Lovejoy's pulpit at Princeton, he accepted that position because he felt called to preach, then served for a time as the agent for Knox College, was for four years State Superintendent of Public Instruction, then was president of Blackburn University for two years, and then spent his remaining fifteen years in honored and scholarly retirement, but not in idleness. He was constantly busy in doing all the good possible. If a small church called upon him for a Sunday service, he willingly accepted, he did not deny his pres- ence with the sick or the dead, he gave frequent addresses. Everyone who has gained any considerable degree of success in life attributes it to the shaping influence of a few men or women, often to a very few teachers. Hundreds give this credit to Dr. Edwards. They reverenced him, and he was glad to meet them. Two or three years before his death, he spent a winter in California, and there met 350 of his former pupils, whose names he wrote in a book he carried with him. He made careful in- quiries about each, and said afterwards the chief joy of his life was, that as far as he knew, of all the boys and girls under him, during his many years in the school-room, but one had turned out other than a reputable and useful citizen, and many had won high distinction. He imparted instruction not only, but charater, his blameless and creative example will bless the years to come. CHARLES L. CAPEN.

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FACULTY