Westminster College - Blue Jay Yearbook (Fulton, MO)

Page 18 text:

SAJIIUEL SPAHR LATVS, D. D., LL. D I2

Page 17 text:

F. Cowan, D. D., Professor of Modern Languages, 1333 to the present time, Rev. D. S. Gage, A. M., Professor of Greek, 1890 to the present time, Rev. E. C. Gordon, D. D., Professor in the Bible Chair and President of the College, 1393 to the present time. The College has had to contend with great financial hindrances. Its original plan of endowment was by scholarship notes. Mainly by this plan the endowment was raised nearly to ElS100,000 before the civil war. VVhen the war closed, many of these notes were found to be worthless, and the College became seriously involved in debt, in part by the board borrowing from its permanent fund to maintain itscontingent fund, and partly by borrowingfrom other sources. Vigorous efforts were made through financial agents to increase the endowment and remove the debt. Among these agents who did faithful and successful worli may be mentioned Rev. John Faris and Rev. Robert Morrison. It was by the heroic toil of the last named that a burdensome debt was removed and the College started on a new financial career. At various times and from various sources the College has received financial gifts of considerable value. Among these may be mentioned that of Abraham VVayland, valued, at the time, at E1S20,000, from Mrs. E. E . Le Bourgeois, for her father, Mr. Joseph Charless, S20,000, Mr. Edward Bredell paid off a debt of 56,000 on the College property, Mrs. Mary McPheeters left the College El56,000g Mr. C. Trigg Campbell gave 34,2703 Eugene .Taccard gave 33620, Miss .lane A. Thompson left the College 32,0005 Mrs. Cyrus McCormick, of New York, and Mr. NViIliam Thau, of Pittsburg, each gave the College fliI,OOO. It is, however, to Mr. XVm. Sausser, of Hannibal, Mo., that the College owes its largest gift, that of SI25,000. The College has now, as endowment, about SB2oo,o00. It has buildings and grounds valued at S50,0oo. These last it owes almost entirely to the citizens of Fulton and Callaway county. The College has aided in the education of some thousands of young men, and has graduated 175, many of whom are to-day occupying high positions in every department of life. II

Page 19 text:

SAMUEL SPAHR LAWS, A. M., D. Di., M. D., LL. B., LL. D. BORN in Virginia, his ancestors of Southern blood for generations back, educated at Miami University, of'Ohio, graduating valedictorian of his class in 18483 taking next the theological course of Princeton Seminary, serving for a short period in the regular work of the ministry, as pastor in St. Louis, then holding for one year the chair of physical sciences in VVestminster College, then called to its presidency, which post he filled with distinguished success, resigning soon after the breaking out of the Civil Wrarg spending the next few years in Europe in studyg then returning to New York, vice-president of the Gold Exchange, and showing as much ability as a business man as he had formerly displayed as a scholar and educator, in 1876, called to the presidency of the State University of Missouri, which place he held for thirteen years, the greatest period in the history of the University, resigning in I889, and spending the next few years in semi-retirement in Kansas City, then elected to the Perkins Chair of 4'Natural Science in connection with Revelation, and Christian Apologetics in the Theological Seminary of Colum- bia, South Carolina, which position he is now holding. Such is the bare outline of the life of this remarkable man. But few lives have been more diversihed in experiences. He is of remarkable physical strength, and still greater mental ability. The world has been his book. He has gone through the whole range of the sciences and philosophy. He has graduated-from both law and medic'al'sch0ols, pursuing both these lines of study, not professionally, but with a View to mastering what they had to say on the great questions of thought. U Besides his remarkable and versatile abilities, his chief characteristics are great self-confidence and an over- mastering will. He was president of Westmiiistei' College from 1855 to 1861. During this time the College took a high rank among western institutions for thoroughness, breadth, and high standard of scholarship, which reputation it has ever maintained. This high and ambitious beginning was due in no small degree to the wide extent of Dr. Laws' own scholarship and his great executive abilities. The State University of Missouri, under his administration, leaped from the rank of a second-rate school to that of one of the great institutions of the country. The number of students increasd from about 300 to 850. In every direction courses of study were widened, greater thoroughness, and a higher standard of work were obtained, and the general tone of the institution was improved and developed. His students all bear test?mony to his unusual qualifications as a teacher. Some of Westminste1 s most honored sons were graduated under his administration, His bow still abides in strength, and many useful years, let us hope, are still before him. I3