Millsaps College - Bobashela Yearbook (Jackson, MS)

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From the C(|uation of his hfc, 1im wvct. w c must chmiiiau- ilu- foihk-s of the village savant. Somehow cohere in-vmiity invented no niekname tor him, and it is worthy of note that the most I ' l tlh ' ekinL; im i ,d df tlu ' e( lIe,L;e wit ne ei- attributed to him anythin.L;- that w as hltle or low. In the srhi ol-r( » mii. on the campus, on chuy or at leisure, he was always the same; kind, rarn i, di nilied. simple, candid, a man who knew what iie thought and meant what he said. The limit assig-ued us leaves no room for detailed aecdunl i his hovhood and student life or of his services in the ministry and in the several schools in which he taught. His later career is thus summarizt ' (l in (,ui- College catalogue: A.B., Southern University, 1880. and . ..M., 1SS7; member of the Alabama (, ' 011- ferencc, 1881-94, and of the Mississipj)i Conference since 181)4; I ' rot ' essor of Mathematics, Southern I ' niversity, T883-i8t;4: I ' h.l)., Illinois sK- an I ' liiver- sity. 1888. To this may be added. Professor of Mathematics in .Millsaps C(»l- leg-e, 1894-1908. The filling of this outline ma - be taken for granted. It w as at i)ical Amer- ican life, one fully possible in no other land than ours. . bra e. ambitious, single-minded country boy, inspired by high ideals steadfastly adheied to, grew normally into the successful college student, the faithful ])astor. the accom- lilished teacher, the honest, honored, trustwortlu ' man. Special mention should be made of Dr. Moore as a Christian. In this char- acter, though skeptical to the last degree in matters of science, his faith was like that of a little child. T( ) him God ' s Word wa.s the word of God, authoritati -e and final; the cardinal doctrines of Christianitv were sacred truths, not mere |ue-- tions for debate. A peculiar interest attaches to the judgment passed b - a student budy ujion a teacher whom they have known for many vears. . n occasional lap.se may provoke passing criticism; peculiaritv of dress, or s])eech. or manner may chal- lenge college caricature and both may express themsehes in extra aganl ways, but in the long run, he who stands the test of college scruiin and receives the stamp of college approval, may be trusted anywhere. Before this court Dr. foore stands unim])eaclied, and the ctiUcge -erdict is: ] rark the perfect man and behold the ui)right, for the end of that man is i)eace. In the keeping of this court his good name will be secure, and none the less if judgment should be rendered in terms he used so often, and he should be re- membered among us as one whose character was a constant ' in all manlv vir- tues, and his life an increasing variable whose limit was the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. While Millsaps College .stands, the memory of Dr. .Moore will be honored ar.d revered. In the hearts of his old j)ui)ils lie will have his own place always, and in College tradition he will stand out a ligure distinct in every lineament, himself to the tinger-tips, nor Launcelot nor another.

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Dr. J. A. Moore. AN APPRECIATION. » » So many worlds, so much to do. So little done, such things to be. How know I what had need of thee. For thou wert kind as thou wert true. This tribute to his lamented friend by England ' s great laureate comes easily to mind in view of the present death of Dr. J. A. Moore, our honored Professor of ] Iathematics. We cannot conceive of him otherwise than as fill- ing the right place and doing with his might the right thing, to whatever sphere God niav have called him. Like a true W ' esleyan he was never unemployed, never trifiingly emploved. ' So single was his aim in life, so constant his devo- tion to duty, and withal so unique was his personality, that he is become an integral part of the history of Alillsaps College. In an important sense it mav be said that he was the founder of our Department of Mathematics, for while not one of the original Faculty, he signed the diplomas of our first graduating class, and left the impress of his strong individuality upon their successors for a period of nearly fourteen years. The ordinary terms of obituary writing would not be appronriate in this appreciation of our subject. To say that a figure long familiar upon our cam- pus and in our college halls has disappeared ; that a teacher of rare equipment and distinguished service has been lost to the educational work of our State and Church: that the voice of a faithful minister of the gospel has been hushed in death ; that a kind neighbor, a true friend, a good citizen, a devoted husband, a wise and tender father has ceased to live — would all be true ; but those who knew Dr. Moore well would hardly think of these things as necessary to be said ; they fall naturally into the scheme of a life like his. It would be in doubtful taste, however the facts might justify it, to speak in terms of fulsome oraise concerning one whose dominant characteristic was simplicity and exactness. And yet he will, in college tradition, be always asso- ciated with the love and rememberable teachers, real or imaginary, that are met with in our reading of Ene-lish or other literature. He was not - Dr. Arnold, but Dr. Arnold himself had no greater gift of rectitude, no loftier stand- ard of life, personal or professional, than he ; he was not a counterpart of the master we read of in The Deserted Milage. and yet Goldsmith ' s genial dom- inie inspired no truer devotion, no more loyal admiration than did Dr. Moore among those who from time to time came under his tuition.

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William Belton Murrah, D.D., LL.D., President.