Mars Hill College - Laurel Yearbook (Mars Hill, NC)

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i 15017- .4 New Start for .llarr Hill 17011 nding of Ihr Literary Societies' there were many outstanding teachers here during this period. Some of these were: john Amtnons, R. Sams, hleriwether Lewis, F. Tilson, and W. P. Jervis. Among the students here at that time some were destined to become great, such as: Judge Jeter Pritchard, who became an eminent jurist and United States Senator. and Hon. john Q. Tilson, who was for many years the floor leader in the House of Representatives. Around the year 1890 hlars Hill got a new start, and signs were visible for a brighter future than the past had been. In this year a line young man, a graduate of Wake Forest, came to take the place of president of the college. Conditions now demanding that the college be placed on a higher plane, Tom Hufham began working diligently, with this as his aim. A little later the outlook was made even brighter by the coming of John E. White. Ever since the days of these men, students have been leaving the lofty hills of Western North Caro- lina to go out into the world and take their places in every walk of life. During the years that Hufham was in charge a building program began. It was neces- sary to furnish more room at the college, and what is now the music building was erected. The trustees were very eager to see the college move forward, yet they were able to do little in providing money. The people here at that time worked earnestly and joined in sacrifices for the college which was destined to become a great Christian institution. Hufham and Vl'hite were both men who were eager to train the students in every possible field. Before this time there had been an old debating society in which many took part. The debating had not been made a great attraction, however, and did not furnish sufficient interest. Hufham and White had been members of the literary societies at Wake Forest and knew that societies, run 1: I 'H' - - l 1 I -1- -Q .. ' I 1 U ' 'V' if ' . I V X- il l ' . 29.1, f ji 9, jpg? 3-32 Q, gt g A QT - A ll-Xi: A SJ. 5 , r F ' .. ' 1 -Q V, 1-1. minima Niall'fillii'nli1E5E?lsiiiiiihmiWlilllkiillillilEllimimlilfliililiiiilfiillflliii' it I

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I i vw-urn .'l'E1N I':l:1'ln!lhu.g-1-ge -I-r w 2 et 1 , W 5 . wiht t lu , MH Mm.. -dt.. ..A.. - - Cf W Ffi I .- , 7 .X L....,:,,: f G ' . 4 41,9 . 1 ' A ,, -1 -' M 5 N21 L3 V , .M kt .. f - L-7, , V J.. J , 3 f all nfl? as f l f Hg' ,I - -5 J teaching and discipline. The school was very successful under his management. At the time this was the most prominent Baptist school in Vllestern North Caro- lina, students coming from counties as far east as Guilford. During this term two other wooden buildings were erected. In the year 1859 the school was chartered by the General Assembly of North Carolina, and the name was changed to Mars Hill College. This char- ter gave the college the power of conferring all such degrees and marks of literary distinction as are usually conferred in colleges or seminaries of learning. This power has never been used, nor has it been taken away. It was very unfortunate for the school that the WVar Between the States should break out. During the war it was necessary for the college to close its doors to students. The buildings on the campus were used as quarters for the soldiers, and during the latter years of the war the two wooden buildings were burned. These buildings signified great sacrifices on the part of those who had helped to build them, and the burning of them brought a tremendous loss to the community. As a result of the war the college was left in a very bad condition. This section was shadowed by poverty, and the hatreds engendered during the con- flict were probably responsible for a lack of cooperation. For a period following the war a branch of the Masonic Orphanage of Oxford was set up on this property, and more than thirty children were placed here. After this had proved unwise, the property was turned back to the board of trustees. There was no satisfactory equipment. and the college was unable to furnish anything but very poor salaries for the teachers. Althought the outlook for the college was gloomy. Thr Charter Ci-wr Power of lffifzlrrrirzg JIU Dfryrffir Thr' UYIU' llfffrfffl flif' Sfzifm Rz't'l11I.1ffllfffull Dayr al .Vary Hill ' tr-L ::L j..b, 1.-1:7511 9:5 wv'a':inmeeg'Ar,pFf v f Lk .si an -y ..1 ,. ,ls-ff, ,. ..:4r-,, ig , V -g sw ' , .i .. . - .V r- .vm ,. i . will-' th.-!2d?z!'ii:25vZr!.i. :nl-awe-imatle5 'U1.-ia 1iH1sfJr11sisflleSdn:,i,izliilfkkivm' .f-allfzimslwsliwfifzuiil...:'I ...aa-:' ' . '-JZe5ldll!5fRENiH:alM34l5ilB3Z2i2H'J?-ff.lh'Eira'hfv'uw-9:u21:1r:mnraun-mas

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r -'err-:rl FL1:n1v-:t':rw'm.:I-it .1-s.ei-'wifi . ,, ' :- -.-- - -' nr.mn- , , , ..u,,,,Y ,, . correctly would furnish golden opportunities for those who took part. These two men organized the societies which make up a vital part of our college today. These were named after the Etlzelian and Philomathesian Literary Societies at Wake Forest. Since the organization of these societies they have grown in mem- bership and usefulness. The students of the past few years have used them for the making of friends. and for promoting forensic and literary interests of their lives. As has already been reviewed. the college up until 1897 had experienced years of great difficulty. It had its good years, which were often followed by years of decline. The year 1897 was very significant in the history of the col- lege. In this year Dr. and Mrs. R. L. Moore came to the college. Dr. Moore being made president. At the coming of Dr. Moore, the sun began to shine brighter, and the college got a new start which was to make it the greatest Christian institution for young men and women to be found anywhere. The college was entirely turned over to him to be carried on as he saw fit. From the beginning he has had a never-dying interest in boys and girls seeking to find a means to enrich their lives. Students' tuition and board have since been kept at the lowest minimum possible. Although Dr. Moore was entitled to all profits which were made from the college. he has proved his unselfishness by turning these profits back to the college that it might prosper greatly. During those days. instead of making the profits his salary, he refused to accept more than a small cash allowance. After the college had grown sound hnancially, President Moore turned the general direction back to the board of trustees. Since that time. however, Presi- dent and Mrs. Moore have continued their sacrificial devotion to the college. Time after time the trustees have voted to raise the salary of President Moore, but he has refused to accept a salary higher than that paid other teachers. For years Mrs. Moore worked for the college without a salary. serving in various The Coming' Donor and Mfr. Moore Sacrifiriaf Ur1'nfioz1 1ill7'U11l1j'll the lvrflrr ef as an-u 1. i. .