Westminster College - Blue Jay Yearbook (Fulton, MO)

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assuming in his manner, and his record is worthy of the highest commendation, as he stands forth an excellent example ofthe selfmade man. -A Ross Albert Wells, A. M. Professor Wells was born in Belmont county, Ohio. After a preparatory course in the Bridgeport COhioJ High School, he taught for two years, and then entered Frank- lin College, Ohio. He graduated from that institution in 1898 with the degree oi A. B., having the year previous obtained the Ph. B. degree. During his last two years in Franklin College, he was assistant instructor in Mathematics and Chemistry. From 1889 to 1900 he was principal of the High School, Athens, Ohio, and in 1900-1901 principal ofthe High School, Cadez, Ohio. The ibllowing year he was elected to the chair of Mathematics in Franklin College, which he resigned, after serving one year, to accept the chair of Mathematics in Bellevue College, Neb. In 1904- he was called to the chair of Natural Science in Westminster College. Franklin College conferred upon Prof Wells the degree of Ph. M. in 1900, and the degree of A. M. in 1901. Professor Wells IS a good disciplinarian and a thorough teacher, and under his tuition, his classes make fine progress. Himselfa student, he keeps abreast of all the latest discoveries in his department. ' E Willis Holmes Kerr, A. M. Professor Kerr was born in Jamestown, Pennsylvania. In 1900 he graduated from Bellevue College, Nebraska, with the A. B. degree, 1900-1904, he was Registrar and Instructor in Economies and English in Bellevue College, in 1900 he was winner in the Nebraska Collegiate Oratorical Contest 1901-1902 was Assistant on the Library Staif, Columbia Universitygis a member ofthe American Library Association, and Second Vice-president ofthe Missouri Library Association. In 1904 he was elected Principal ofthe Academic Department of Westminster College, and later placed in the chair of Philosophy, and appointed Librarian. Profj Kerr is a man of varied parts, and possesses good administrative ability: He thoroughly understands the organiza- tion and conduct of a Library, and under his hand, the past two years has seen a wonderful change in the College Library, and it is 11ow a department of which the lriends of the college are proud. In 1902 Columbia University conferred upon Prof Kerr the A. M. degree. Benjamin F. Farber, A. B. Mr. Farber was born in Thorntown, Indiana. His preparatory education was obtained in the Frankfort CInd.J High School. He graduated from Hanover College, Indiana in 1905 with the degree of A. B. In the fall of 1905 he was appointed Physical Director in Westminster College, and also assistant Instructor in the Academic Depart- ment, both of which positions he has Hlled during the past year faithfully and with marked ability. He is a member of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. . 13,11 hir. .Av If W? 4 .J F 11'

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John Flemming Cowan, A. M., D. D. D1'.JOhIl F. Cowan, theoldest member of the faculty, was born of a Pennsyl- .vanian family, in Washington county, Missouri. His father, the Rev. john F. Cowan, a clergyman' of the Presbyterian church, was for more than thirty years a prominent minister of southeast Missouri, and for a long time a member of the Board of Trustees of Westminster College. ' ' The younger Cowan, himself desired to enter the sacred calling, in which his father become so prominent, and with a view to preparing himself for the Seminary, entered Westminster, graduating in 1857. Directly from college he went to Prin- ceton, New Jersey,and there entered the Theological Seminary,graduating with the B.D. degree in 1861. At the conclusion of his course, Dr. Cowan returned to Callaway county, and has, during his entire ministry of forty-tive years, been pastor of the Aux- vasse Presbyterian church. . In 1881, Westminster conferred upon him his Divinity de- gree. For years past Dr. Cowan has been President ofthe Board of Synodical Female College. bDr. Cowan, having served as a member of the Board of Trustees for many years, entered his present Held of activity, as Professor of Modern Languages and Hebrew, in the year 1888. As a linguist he has few equals, 'speaking with great fluency most of the modern languages,and being a master ofthe dead tongues. He is a man ofsuperior general culture, -and as a theologian, his views are considered of great weight. I-Ie is a logical and very interesting speaker, his rhetorical ability being of the highest order. Daniel Shaw Gage,.A. M., Ph. Dy ' The subject of this sketch was born at Calvay, now Robertsville, Franklin county, Missouri. His father, moving from Missouri to Ohio and thence to Illinois, Dr. Gage was reared on a farm near Macon. Having obtained a thorough foundation in the public schools of his county, at the age of eighteen, Dr. Gage entered his Freshman year at'Westminster. In college he made a record surpassed by few, always being a diligent and judicious student and manifesting from the first a keenness of intellect and shrewdness of perception. While in college, he captured the Latin, Bibical Essay, and Scholarship prizes. He graduated in 1889. I ' ' In the fall of the same year, he entered McCormick Seminary,'Chicago, and was there oneuyear, At the end ofthis time he was elected 'to the chair of Greek Language and Literature in Westminster, being only -twentyfseven years of age. Since that time he has continued in the position, and has constantly kept his department up to a high standard, so that today it is considered among the best in the central west. To say Dr. Gage thorough in his department, is putting itulightly. As a teacher he is ex- tremely iclear and precise, and makes his department one of the best possible mind- trainers. Dr. Gage,ias Chairman ofthe Home Missions Committee of Missouri Presby- tery, has for years, past done valuable service for the church. He was moderator of the Synod of Missouri in 1905. In 1900 Wooster University conferred upon him the Ph. D. degree. , l 4 . . As a man, Dr. Gage is a thorough,consistent Christian gentleman, quiet and un- ' - . 12 ' Y

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's 4 i The inauguration oi Dr. Kerr N the 31st of last October, Rev. David Ramsey Kerr, D. D., 259 was formally inaugurated President of Westminster Col- gft. lege, and from far and near friends of the institution l ' gathered to participate in the festivities and to give , honor and dignity to the ceremony. It was indeed an auspicious day in the history of old Westminster and one long to be remembered by those Whose privilege it was to be present and to witness the ceremony and hear the addresses delivered. The following Was the programme: THE INAUGURATION .College Chapel, two o'cloch p. in. A cadefnic procession forms at Reunion Hall, one-forty-five T he Oath of Office Greeting hy the Moderator of the Synod of lllissouri, Pres- byterian Church in the United States Greeting hy' the Moderator of the Synod of llhssouri, Pres- byterian Church in the United States of Annerica Ten-minute greetings from Students, A luinni, Faculty, Citieens of Fulton, Unibersities, Colleges Greeting from Board of Trustees, T hos. S. McPheeters, .' LL. D., President ' ' Inaugural Address Address, Governor Joseph W. Folk' Greetings, Letters ' p Item 1. The day was threatening and the wind blustered While to the stirring notes of a stately march played by the Fulton band, that old soldier, Dr. E. H. Marquess, led the long line of students in wind- ing procession through they beautiful campus to the entrance of Re- union Hall, and opened the ranks for the President, the guests, the representatives of the Alumni, the Trustees and the Faculty to pass to the Chapel Building. Clad in their robes of oihce, We noted the im- posing igure of Chancellor Chaplin of Washington University, the P14 '. sg ' M' li'