Syracuse University - Onondagan Yearbook (Syracuse, NY)

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completing another building on the campus, the Gymnasium and Christian Association Building. 'lihis has been an exceedingly serviceable building, notwithstanding the fact that our numbers are now such as to demand greater facilities for physical culture. Thus, four buildings stand on the campus as a monument to immortalize this noble man. Doubtless, had he remained much longer at his post, others would have followed, for the constant development of the work revealed ever new needs and necessitated further expansion. Growing pains had possessed the institution, but harder times were just ahead and there was considerable difficulty in satis- fying an appetite which grew as it was fed. The material progress h.alted for awhile, and when it next began, the financial crisis of 1893 was well over and additional benefactors were found. The number of students had more than doubled, however, between 1881 and 1893. If ever a man in the world was stimulated by difficulties, and prevailed by sublime faith and heroic endeavor over every obstacle, that man was Charles N. Sims. For it was not alone the financial problem that confronted him. As we look back over those days and take in the full situation, that problem actually seems almost the least of all. It was his duty not only to keep the breath of life in the institution, imperative as that was, but he must develop the plant, he must transform it into a University that should offer large facilities for instruction in every educational department, that should be up with the times and keep pace with the developing conception of the scope of such an institution. He must himself understand fully, through personal investigation and study, all that was going on in the educational world, and seek to realize that at Syracuse. He must pit, in this effort, the slender resources at his command against the history, the prestige, the wealth and the experience of century-old colleges, and must make a showing that would bear rather crii ical comparison. Professors were here, capable men, ready to do lasting work, provided the needed facilities could be afforded them, and critically impatient of delay. Such facilities demand immense outlays and usually come slowly. Not only so, but the last quarter of the nineteenth century witnessed a marvelous advancement in University education, not alone in methods, but in en- larged conception, in expansion of departments and courses, in multiplied' facilities and to some extent in new alignments. This magnified the difficulties that were normally almost insur-V mountable. Then the tongue of criticism was busy. No executive can satisfy everybody. We all have more or less crude theories of how a great enterprise in which we may have some part, or of which we merely have some knowledge, should be handled, and if the man who is chiefiy responsible acts up to his conviction, based on a fuller understanding, we criticise. It is human nature. There was criticism that sorely tried Chancellor Sims. But his heart was in the University, his faith in its future was strong and unwavering, he had a vision of the greater things he could do and would be glad to do if within the range of human possibilities, but which he knew must come in a future time and with ampler means. He knew the needs and it was no fault of his that they must wait for satisfaction. As for that, they will never be fully satis- fied, for such is their nature that they grow always beyond the present supply. We suffer a similar lack today and shall to the end. In the midst of the strenuous activities demanded of the Chancellor, Doctor Sims felt that he must add another task which appealed to him both as a dutyand a pleasure. He had class work assigned to him, and he did admirably the work of instruction. His mind was richly 3

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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 .

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stored with information and he loved to impart it. He also long gave chapel talks on Wednesday mornings that were elevated in thought, beautiful in diction and apt in illustration, and were especially helpful to every student seeking high ideals. Meanwhile, he was living in his satchel, and was so prodigal ofhis strength that his most intimate friends feared he would suffer nervous prostration. There is no doubt today that his life was materially shortened by the assiduous devotion to his great work and that burning zeal that consumed him day and night. And in the midst of it all he was easy of access to the humblest freshman, ready to hear the story of privation and hardship, freely giving from his own pocket to assist the struggling student, and pouring out the sympathy of his own great heart to those in distress. He was as gentle as a child and as true to principle as the sun to the law of its being. I canuthink of no person of my acquaintance who more perfectly illustrates the great principles of Christianity, love of God, love and charity for his fellowman, unqualified devotion to truth, consecration of life to a great purpose. Had it not been for Chancellor Sims we would not have a great University in this city to- day. It must go into the pages of its history that he rescued it from utter collapse and put it on the highway to a great career. That, in itself, is a life record worthy of the ablest and the greatest. But we must add what is immeasurably greater and the glory of the true educator, the influence of his spotless life and loving spirit and the stimulus of his active mind on the students ofthe University and on those who knew him best. That is our priceless heritage. We bring him the tributeof our admiration and our love. He was a strong man an able Chan- Q - n , eellor, a devout Christian. 4- i