Syracuse University - Onondagan Yearbook (Syracuse, NY)

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Former Chancellor, Charles N. Sims Thi' l0ll0WiHg llddrcss, published by request, was one of the addresses given in the First Methodist Episcopal khurch ol Syracuse tllr. Sims' last pastoratej during the hour when the funeral obsequies were being held at Lihertv. Indiana. BY DEAN FRANK SMALLEY 'li is a service of love to speak of Chancellor Sims in any capacity, but it is especially so for one of his associates in the University to speak of him in relation to his administra- tion. Doctor Sims came to Syracuse in the fall of 1881 as the successor of Chancellor E. O. Haven who, after six years' incumbency of the office, was elected bishop in 1880 and left after the Commencement of that year. There followed an interregnum of one year during which Dean French took executive responsibility. Doctor Sims was our third Chancellor, and his tenure ofthe ofiice was almost twice those of his predecessors combined. For more than twelve years he was head of the University. At the Commencement of 1893 he felt that the time had come for him to lay down his work and tried to beurelieved, but the trustees did not share his: convictions and insisted on his remaining. He wavered for a time, but at last determined to sever his relations with the University, which he did in October of that year. He served, how- ever, as trustee from the year IQOO until his death. Chancellor Sims was in his physical and intellectual prime when he came to the University., He had just passed his forty-sixth birthday, and came fresh from very successful pastorates in some ofthe most important churches in the denomination. He was in demand, and any person who knew him in those .days would never be at a loss to understand why. He came to us not an entire novice in the executive work of a college. In his young man- hood he had served a sort of apprenticeship for two years as the head of a small college in ln- diana. But years of pastoral work in great churches had intervened, and when he came to Syracuse he was in a receptive state ofmind and advised most frankly with his board and facul- ty, and especially with that wise and dignified man who shared with him executive responsibility.. The condition of the University in 1881 was, in some respects, deplorable. This fact Was- not externally apparent. It was ten years after the doors were first opened in this city. The number of students had gradually crept up from forty-one, at the opening, to three hundred twenty-two, including quite a number that were non-resident. The era of rapid development had not yet arrived and was not to come for some years. XVhile the growth thus seemed healthy, if not vigorous, there was an internal weakness of which Chancellor Sims was keenly aware and the apprehension of which clearly determined for him the problem of his administration. That weakness was financial, and so serious was it that Chancellor Haven said quietly to his successor that the institution was doomed and any effort he might make to save it would be unavailing. That was not a very inspiring prospect for the new Chancellor. And these words came from a man of wide experience, of long service in University management in three different institutions. It would seem to he an appalling I

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CHARLES N. SIMS 4 I I Q , L4 ! ,la T1 Y . ,L fffli l'2. fff' YW! T37 X'J 'y. li X N Pu .M U XM gf

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' ' ource. But DoctOf Sims Situation to fncev even for 21 man of great Courage and femhty of lifib Chancellor Haven nor never flinched. It should be said that the situation was not create y 1 fd b d fear. The trustees and faculty had . . ' ' ' ' h become conscious, as never before, of the insatiate demands-of abgrowlng Un1v6fT'fY, Viqjegore , , o 1m erative ca 6 times were not propitious for securing the generous hnanclal ald S P Y those who best knew the facts as if the very necessities for cont1nu1ng 1 ' n could he have prevented 1t. It was a time o OU t H :Xml so it did seem to existence would fail. S. . - - - ' ' ' t 'th a confi- Lhancellor Sims studied the situation calmly, said little about his plans, bu W1 . . , . . - ' ced his dent smile upon his face and a cheery manner that was irresistibly contagious and evin optimism and his buoyant faith he entered upon his great work. What was that work F For the first half of his administration it was to keep the University in existence, to keep its head above water. Manywarm friends,and even graduates-of the Col- lege, residing in this city did not then know,Mnor have ever realized, the extreme peril of those days. Chancellor Sims did not talk it. I doubt if he 'let 'himself-seriously feel it, at least so far as to allow it any anxious contemplation. He was a prodigy, a compound of nervous energy and faith which sent him forth with tireless industry and unfiinching purpose to realize the prayers and prophecies of the founders. These six years would have broken any ordinary man, and they were not without effect upon the Chancellor. Then he saw that the time had come for further material development, and he entered upon this new phase of his Work with the glee of a child with a new toy. The friends that had stood by him all along with counsel and with financial support now enabled him to realize this new ambition. Foremost among these was Mr. Erastus F. Holden. No ,University ever had a better friend or counsellor. , He Was ra Wise-man, too, and a man of Wide reading and high thought. l-le was interested in Astronomy, and erected in 1887 the Charles Demarest Holden Observa- tory and equipped it with the best appliances. To Mr. Holden belongs the honor of being the first patron of the University to increase its facilities by the donation of a college building and apparatus to make it useful and practical. His example has been fruitful, and the first fruit was the John Crouse College which -was erected two years later, in 1889. Chancellor Sims had won the confidence and admiration of Mr. Crouse and skilfully led him, entirely willing, to the construction of one of the most beautiful and valuable college buildings in America. One who witnessed these triumphs of the contagious faith of our Chancellor could but wonder at the contrast which eight years had brought in the situation and prospects of the University. No one any longer doubted that the Institution would go on in its great Work, developing in a material w ' ' - - - - - . i I al' 215 Elnecessary, but, above all, quickenlng thought, lnvestigating truth and build- lng ciara t . ' ' ' ' - - cv d F Cf 121I1C6ll0r Suns rejoiced in the prosperity, but was too wise to boast, for he reap ' - - h I :Zi tiatdother tunes of depression mlght come and other dangers beset. However, real- 'zinvt ie ' - . . ' eu I Tchs of the College he solicited the means for the erection of a library building, and we a 'ia t ' ' ' - - . l I I C tgsiiltisfactgon of witnessing 1fS completion and occupancy 1n the same year as the - O ln l'0uS6 0 eve 1 8 l ' ' . Scripts together eg h9 In th1S WHS now stored the precious Von Ranke books and manu- wit f ' - . l 2 S W HE Was the beginning of an excellent, 1f rather small librar I-I realized that bo k h ' ' Y' e 0 s are t e tools of the scholar and labored hard to be in that lar - ll N ' 3 yvork that must UO f- ' 8 gel co ection, o 5 n orever. Three years later Doctor Sims . had the satisfaction of 2 .