Knox College - Gale Yearbook (Galesburg, IL)

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Professor Herbert E. Griffith H AN APPRECIATION By H. V. Neal Wlien, in 1897, President Finley invited Herbert E. Griffith, B. S., Northwestern, to take the headship of the new department of chemistry in Knox Co-lfege, he fully appreciated that the man is more important than thie degrees affixed to his name-that personality and teaching power count for more in a college, if not in a university, than produc- tive scholarship. Ten years of effective teaching had brought Professor Griffith to the head of the chemistry department of one of the best high schools in the State of Illinois. He had done post-graduate work under Remsen at johns Hopkins. His scholarship was -evinced by his Phi Beta Kappa key. His character suited the fine Knox tradition. In choosing Professor' Griffith out of more than a hundred candidates, Dr. Finley showed that rare judgment of men that has brought the College of the City of New York from a position of ob-scurity to one of promi- nencie in national education. ' Th-e dominant traits of Professor Griffith are his idealism and his moral courage. Like a true man of science, he loves the truth, and, what is m-one important, is willing to workor, if need be, to fight for it. Wlieii his duty is clear, no labor or sacrifice is too great if needed to effect his purpose. More than once when a college emergency has arisen de- manding a clear head, an ability to organize and administer details, and a wise leadership in sympathy with student sentiment, both students and faculty have turned to Professor Griffith for assistance. Thus he has been brought into effective touch with nearly all phases of Knox life. Wheii the college nieeded alman to reorganize the demoralized athletics of the college, the faculty chose Professor Griffith to be its representative on the board of control.. Largely through his personal influence the col- lege took an advanced position in the regulation of athletics which has been tardily follow-ed by other colleges of thie interior. The administra- tion of the rules adopted was a matter of no small difficulty,'and credit for the absence of friction must be given to him. Gf his moral courage evidence has been repeatedly given, perhaps none more striking than his recent appieal to the student body to repudiate the anonymous publica- tions which for years hav-e menaced' the welfare of the college. It is not 'often that a college teacher acquires a reputation for ad- ministrative ability as well as for teaching capacity. As the successor of Prof. Churchill at the head of Knox Academy, Professor Griffith thoroughly reorganized the curriculum of the school and its methods of 7

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I administration and initiated plans for keeping ,Knox College in closer touch with the s-econdary schools of the state. Later, when a member of the Knox faculty in close touch with the Alumni was needed to help in the endowment campaign, Professor Griffith was the natural choice. and his ability to think the problem through and to administer the details of a large movement like this largely contributed to its success. Professor Grifhth is, however, first and foremost, a teacher. His interests in all phases of college life, athletics, debating and the rest, springs from, his perception of their influence upon the class room work and upon the educational, ideal. All his students testify to the interest of his class roo-nm quizzes, the lucidity of his explanations and his ca- pacity to get a student to think for himself. No instructor in the college feels greater concern in relating his cou.rses to the life work and to the individual needs of his students. He has little sympathy with the idea that all students, whatever their preparation or natural capacity, shall be ground through the saine m.ill+-that the college product shall be uni- formp His own quick perceptions, intense earnestness and high stand- ard-s of scholarship 'make him somewhat intolerant of student slowness andineffectiven-ess, but his severity is relieved by a lively sense of humor and a great personal interest in th.e students, welfare. . Professor Griffith came to Knox College when Dr. Bateman and the Knox Triumvirate were still-living' and when their influence pervaded the college. He has 'caught the spirit of these men and with unusual effectiveness has been able. to transmit to the undergraduate the strong religious conviction, theviidealism and the moral zeal that characterizes the Knox tradition. It issuch men as Professor Griffith that have given Knox College its reputation and influence in the state and nation. C0 if K W7 ,r ' V if P .f-,,,14,-:sas xci:t:'1'r'11'g i- frm - f'--- M..- x'.i:-ff-sl ' Wxflfg -' f ' ,:':.-'izeffff -ff:--. ,, A -,. F ,gr ,.,., -ggxgl-Y ,.,. f ,. - I V . rw gf, f1f,.4,.::.---'fr ...-, . K , . y - A. ' -l sw ' Htl?-5 ., -- X25-1: ' 'nli' .Q i Y 'PK' , .. V, S