LaGrange College - Quadrangle Yearbook (Lagrange, GA)

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THE QUADRANGLE, NINETEEN TWENTY-FIVE History of trie College ITHIN a few years LaGrange College will have celebrated its cen- tesimal birthday. To detail its history from its inception in 183 1 would be to compile a volume, part of which would be cut and dried statistics, but much of which would be inspiring stories of men and women who have left and are leaving glorious records of the greatest self-immolation and heroism. Since space will not allow such a detailed history, I purpose to give here a short account which strives to portray rather something of that spirit which prompted the founders, which has tided the institution over many difficulties, and which is destined to make it one of the very greatest of educational institutions for young women. At a time when there were few such institutions, some person, or some group of persons, had a vision which prompted the founding of a school devoted solely to the higher education of young women, to the building up of the character of womanhood of the country, especially of the Southland, by giving them, under Christian influence, the advantage of the best education consistent with prevailing ideas and ideals. The school grew rapidly and in 1857 ' t began its distinctive work under the Georgia Annual Conference of the M. E. Church, South. In i860, when well established on a career of ever-increasing usefulness, its work was arrested by a most disastrous fire. How- ever, fire was not to destroy the spirit of this institution dedicated to the advancement of Southern womanhood. Because of the enthusiastic rallying of friends, the college was soon rebuilt. Then came the war between the states, and for four years the old college stood, an appealing monument on the lofty hill that overlooked the desolate streets of the beautiful town of LaGrange. At the end of the war the spirit, again in the form of loyal perseverance and indomitable energy of friends, resuscitated, and the college started on a long and successful career which has not since been interrupted. Since that time hundreds of scholarly women who have occupied prominent positions in the various walks of life have gone from out these halls a benediction to state and nation. LaGrange College has never aspire d to be great in size nor in the numbers of its students. It has always sought to meet individual needs of the students and to give to them the benefit of personal contact with the faculty. Therefore, although the num- ber of graduates has never been exceedingly large, the young women whom LaGrange has sent forth into the world have been women of personal charm and mental equip- ment — women polished after the similitude of palaces. As woman ' s sphere has broadened, more or less gradually, to include business and professional life as well as home, church and school, the college curriculum has, of course, been expanded, but it has not been modernized to such an extent of losing any of its refined Christian atmosphere. What of the tomorrow of LaGrange College? We do not fear. Behind her lies a century of glorious tradition ; behind her stand hundreds of loyal alumnae and a host of friends. The. spirit that has guided her thus far will continue to do so; her usefulness will not be diminished, and her glory will never be dimmed. Gertrude Strain, Literary Editor. 16