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Page 33 text:
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PRESIDENT JAMES H. FAIRCHILD, D.D., LL.D. A Sketch by President Iolm Henry Barrows. existed Thus said President Fairchild 111 his memorial sermon june 30, 1876. We may 11ow add that if james H. Fairchild had not lived and labored, Oberlin would 1lOt have been what it was and is. No other life is so completely identified with the history of the College. He is not only the last of the great pioneers, but the wise master-builder of this academic structure. As one names over those who have been the pow- erful friends and leaders of Oberlin, he realizes very clearly that among all these a peculiar and preeminent place belongs to President Fairchild. He came to Oberlin in 1834, a boy of sixteen, only a year after the first settlement here, and before Finney and Mahan had set foot in the town. He died in his eighty-iifth year, revered and beloved by the College and the community with a reverence and love that are rarely given to any one. He was of New England parentage, born in the beautiful town of Stockbridge, made famous by the distinguished Field and Hopkins families. He was brought by his parents to Brownhelm when only one year of age. As a boy he walked to the classical school a half a mile away from his father's house 3 he began Latin at the age of thirteen, and for two years studied in the Elyria High School. When he entered Oberlin in 1834, it was without the slightest anticipation that his was to be the great life in the history of the College. Young Fairchild worked his way through Oberlin College, paying his tuition by toiling in a saw-mill four hours a day for live cents an hour. He entered the seminary under the tuition of Finney, Morgan and Cowles. While a student he taught the freshman classes in Latin a11d Greek, and became instructor in Hebrew. He occupied the Chair of Languages from I842 until 1847, the Chair of Mathelnatics from 1847 to 18583 a11d the Chair of Theology and Moral Philosophy for more than forty years. He was President of Oberlin from 1866 until 1889, and then resigned, though continuing his instruction in ethics and theology several years longer. His qualifications for the College presidency were almost ideal. With his wide knowledge in several great departmentsg with his love of clear thinking, with his invariable refinement, with his patience and willingness to waitg with his disposition to do justice to all sides of a complex question 3 he made an ideal administrator in a period of change. Dr. Lucien C. Warner writes: He is the best instructor that I ever had. Ex-President W. G. Ballantine, who was associated with him for F Charles G. Finney had not lived and labored, Oberlin could not have 33
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Page 34 text:
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eighteen years, has said: He was the ablest thinker with whom I ever came in contact, indisputably the greatest moral philosopher and theologian that America has produced. Such mental power could not fail to excite ad- miration. But what drew out unbounded love was the wonderful combina- tion of graces in his heart. He was so simple, so modest, so noble, so cour- ageous, so patient, so full of humor, so free from sarcasm, so companionable, yet so exalted in all his motives, so serious, and yet so free from cant, so free, too, from the least taint of selfishness and vain-glory, so genuine and natural in all things. President Fairchild believed that whatever the changes inevitable to growth, this College should remain an aggressive force for righteousness in the sphere of Christian education. Righteousness with him was diffused with the light of love. The beauty of holiness was ever shining in his face. Such a life as his connects our earthly landscape with the sky. His world was that of the spirit. Outward things were not contemmed, but they seemed utterly subordinatel We feel in him the dignity of plain living and high thinking. From the passing days he took not their poorest, but their best gifts 5 not a few herbs and apples, but the stars and kingdoms of the soul, and the sky which holds them all. We are deeply thankful for the career of him whose simple manhood is the chief glory of a College founded not upon money, but upon God. LINES TO PRESIDENT FAIRCHILD. As in the dim and leafy forest aisles One walks through solemn rows of lofty oaks And gets but glimpses of cerulean sky, While all around the sombre shadows lie, So walked this servant in his quiet way, Apart from clang and clamor of the world 3 Content to fashion for a little while The lives that came beneath his kindly smile, Nor dreamed of tiring of the commonplace, Nor growing restive 'neath the daily round Of lowly service. He but greater grew The more of calm his tranquil spirit knew 5 And, since he had his vision of clear sky, Thanked God for toil, and counted duty high. PAUL LEATON CORBIN. 34
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