Mississippi College - Tribesman Yearbook (Clinton, MS)

Page 20 text:

A MONG the many whom Mississippi College has sent out to bless the world, there is not one to whom we point with more pride than to President B. G. Lowrey, of Blue Mountain Female College. He is one of the six sons of General M. P. Lowrey, being a younger brother of the presi- dent of Mississippi College. He was born just at the opening of the war between the States, near the village of Kossuth, in Alcorn County, Mississippi. His early life was spent on the farm, where, under the guidance of wise and noble parents, a spirit of industry and unselfishness was developed in him, which has characterized his entire life. He attended the public schools of Tippah County and was then prepared for college at B. M. M. A., entering Mississippi as Sopho- more in 1884 and graduating in 1887. As a student, he took his place among the leaders, not only in his class work, but in whatever he undertook, being especially active in the work of the Philomathean Society, to which he still remains loyal. He enjoyed the rare distinction of being elected to a place on the anniversary program for each of his three years in college, serving as anniversarian in his Senior year. After leaving Mississippi College, he taught one year as principl of the Pitts- boro High School, at the close of which he was reelected for a term of five years. Having made up his mind, however, to teach English, he did one year’s special work at Tulane University, receiving the M. A. degree of that institution. He then went to Blue Mountain as Professor of English in that college until called to the presidency in 1898. Under his administration the prosperity of Blue Moun- tain College has been remarkable, having become the largest private female college in the South. With the modesty so characteristic of the man, he insists that his success is due to others, but those who are in a position to know, realize the greatness of the work and the greatness of the man. Wherever is found a Blue Mountain girl, is found an ardent and loving admirer of “ Professor B. G. ” Being an eloquent and powerful speaker, his services arc always in demand, and are never refused where there is a good work to be done. He has always been active in the cause of Prohibition, and to him is due a large share of the credit for the wholesome sentiment now existing over the State against the liquor traffic. He is also a very popular lecturer, though he claims that he only “talks. ” He is prominent in every religious work undertaken by the Baptist denomination, and holds many positions of honor and trust in the local and State organizations of his church. He was married to Miss Mary Lee Boothe, and their home life is an ideally happy one. If giving up one’s entire life to the unselfish service of God and humanity constitutes greatness, the name of B. G. Lowrey should stand near the head of the list of the great men who claim Mississippi College as their alma mater. 22 B. G. Lowrey, ’87

Page 19 text:

T O DO things well is to do them easily? but with that ease with which the giant oak puts out its foliage after years of gathering strength. Those who know T. T. Martin and witness the ease and efficacy with which he is accomplishing his noble work, know that there was and must necessarily have been a growth and ripening of his powers. He is one of that band of consecrated men who have given their lives to evangelistic work, but whose personality and supreme ability fit him for any high calling or profession in life. Excepting brief attendance upon the schools of his native county, Smith, he re- ceived his early education in the preparatory department of Mississippi College. During this time his attention was divided between his studies and The Baptist Record , of which his father was manager. The practical work of the printer at this early stage was as really educa- tional as the work of the classroom. Indeed, certain phases of education are best secured by these practical demands upon the student life. From 1883 to 1886 he was unin- terruptedly in college and devoted himself to college duties and life with that zeal and purpose which have marked his whole career. lie was not of the tradi- tional paleface type, devoting himself to books only, but he entered with breadth and zest into college life as a whole. There wa no part of it that did not interest and enlist him, and there was a sympathy, amiability, and natural force in him that made him a leader and powerful factor in the student body. He was lall orator and Anniversarian of the Philomathean Society, in his Senior year received gold medal for literary excellence, was two years captain of the baseball team, and was graduated with first honors of the Class of 1886. Immediately after graduating from Mississippi College, he was elected to the chair of natural sciences, in Baylor College, Texas, which position he filled with credit and satisfaction until he resigned to enter the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He completed the full course here in 1896. Shortly after his seminary course was finished, he accepted the pastorate of the First Baptist Church of Cripple Creek, Colorado, and continued in this work, doing incalcuable good until the call came repeatedly to enter the Evangelistic field. Where duty called lie never refused to go. He came rapidly to the front in this new field of work, and because of his service and power, multitudes shall rise up in the future to bless him. He has held ten series of meetings in Louisville, Kentucky; three in Wash- ington city, and two each in Atlanta, Georgia; Lexington, Kentucky; Mobile, Ala- ama; Pine Bluff, Arkansas; Denver, Colorado; and Portsmouth, Virginia. A great amount of his work is done in the largest college centers, and his services are in great demand in every section of the country. T. T. Martin, ’86 21

Page 21 text:

I J. C. Hardy, ’89 rT HAS been said that the standard of the schools of a community is a true index to the character of its citizenship. This is equally true of the State. The nature of an institution of learning is not dependent on buildings, equipment, nor enrollment, but on the character of the men at its head. Missis- sippi, with one exception, expends more money proportionally on the education of her youth than any State of the Union, and the four largest institutions of learning within her borders are presided over by graduates of Mississippi College. Our Agricultural and Mechanical College has for the last eight years been under the able direction of John t rumpton Hardy, and under his wise super- vision, the enrollment of that excellent insti- tution has increased from three hundred to over one thousand, and the value of the college property from two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to over eight hundred thousand dollars. ... Born on Christmas eve, 1864. near Newton, ' lssl ssippi, the subject of this sketch, after a very meager education in the rural school entered Mississippi College in 1885. He served for two years as captain ot the M. C. Invincibles, was anniversarian of the Hermenian Society, winner o the Junior Medal, and was valedictorian of the Class of 1889, the first honors having been divided with Doctor F. L. Riley. ,t • At ' U “ r a S eneral postgraduate course at the University of Chicago and Cornell telTchinfhU 7 S ? Faduated in J law from Millsa P s College, but, deciding to make in l88Q g A Pr0l T: m ' acce P ted the pnncipalship of the Carrollton Male Academy • • year later he was elected principal of the Jackson High School and eanacdv 7 ' ' T ' su P eril tendent of the Jackson City Schools, in which capacity he served until 1900, when he succeeded Governor John M. Stone as president ot Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College. President Hardy is a most ardent athletic enthusiast. Understanding that a student must have physical strength to supplement his mental powers, he organized athletics at the A. and M. on its present clean basis, and has since given his hearty cooperation and support towards maintaining it. This explains in some degree Ins remarkable popularity with his students, the athletic field at Starkville being called Hardy Field . 99 h Governor A. H. Longino appointed him one of the Commission to ui d the new million-dollar capitol, hut he resigned on his election to the presi- r wi an Jul y °f the same year he was married to Miss Kate t . Whitfield, the youngest daughter of Chief Justice A.. H. Whitfield. Their home has since been blessed with three beautiful little girls. 23