Westminster College - Blue Jay Yearbook (Fulton, MO)

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PRO POSED NEW LIBR ARY

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F Mr. B. F. Edwards. Benjamin Franklin Edwards is fifty years old and has spent all his years in St. Louis. His father, General Albert Gallatin Edwars, entered the Federal army during the Civil War and became an officer of rank. After the war General Edwards was appointed internal revenue collector for St. Louis, which position he held until 1887. He became one of the most active, best beloved, and best known of the ruling elders of his city. In 1887 General Edwards retired from the internal revenue office, still a poor man, and with no business before him. His oldest son, Ben, had completed his school days in the high school of Kirkwood, and had secured a position at the bottom in the National Bank of Commerce, St. Louis. By his industry and trustworthiness he soon attracted the attention of Williain H. Thompson, the president of the bank. By 1887, at the age of 28, Ben Edwards held the position of assistant cashier. At this juncture he resigned his position for his father,s sake, and formed a partner- ship with his father. They established the firm of A. G. Edwards Sz Son, brokers, with a capital of 5E2,000. Later, two younger brothers and others were taken into the firm, which exists .still under the name of A. G. Edwards 81 Sons, one of the strongest brokerage Hrms west of the Mississippi. E ive years after establishing the firm of A. G. Edwards 81 Son, in 1892, Mr. Ben Edwards was called back to the Bank of Commerce to the position assistant cashier, at probably the largest salary ever paid to a cashier west of the Mississippi. His promotions came rapidly, first to a vice-presidency with very large responsibilities as to management of the bank's forces, then to the iirst vice-presideny, and a year and a half ago to the presidency of the Bank of Commerce, St. Louis, the. largest banking institution west of the Mississippi. V Mr. Edwards is an elder in the VVashington and Compton Avenue Pres- byterian church, St. Louis, and has done mission Sunday School work through all his active life. He plays golf, and is an enthusiast over base ball. Mr. Edwards has accepted the presidency of Westininsteris Board of Trustees because he believes in Vifestminster College. ' 6

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Thomas S. Mcljheeters. Wfestminster College sustained a very great loss by the death of Thomas S. lVlcPheeters, LL.D., the honored president of its Board of Trustees, who departed this life October 5, 1909. Mr. lVIcPheeters became president of the Board in january,i'1904, following'ithe death'of 'Judge John A. Hockaday. He thus servedrnearly sixi years in that capactiy, though he was a member of the board for many years more. ' ' A -A s A From the day he became a member' of the board, the evinced the deepest interest in all the affairs of the college, and it was largely through his iniiuence and efforts that the endowment fund of 95100,000 was secured in St. Louis. He was indefatigable in his efforts to build up the institution., ,Upon the Hoor of PresbyteryNfand.Synod, andiin the leading pulpits of the State, his voice was frequentlyfheard pleading the cause of Christian education, and he never lost an opportunity in social gatherings or private conversations to press the claims of Westmiiister. ,He had much to do with-ibriiigingabout the re- union of the two synods in the control of the college, and' in recognition of his solid worth and of his untiring labors ,in behalf of Christian education, the Board of Truitees. atthe semi-centennial of the college in 1903! conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. : ,'qp ,Q lr' But not alone '3.SV'.'EllC efficient president of the Boardof Trtisteespof VVest- minster College will Mr., McPheeters be fremembered. He -was foo -L big and broad a man to be limited- to one sphere. of activity. .For manyiyears he served as a ruling elder in the ,Grand Avenue Presbyterian, church of St. Louis, in the Sabbath ,School of which he long taught ,an adult Bible classg and for nearlyftwenty-five 'years he was either presidentor-vice-president of the St. Louis Young Men's Christian Association, and for thirtyyears chair- man of the State Executive. Committee of the- Young Mens Christian Asso- ciations of Missouri. , s ' - 'A He was a devoted teacher of the Word' of God, a strong evangelistic speak- er, and an earnest personal worker. He laid all his ,splendidipowers of heart and mind at the Mastg-:r's feet,,and 'resolutely turned aside fromipolitical pre- ferment and IUOUCY makiligi iii Oirfler that he mightlserve God and his genera- tion. His memory will be cherishediby multitudes Hwhoiknew him but to love him, and by a host to whom he was a friend indeed. He rests from his labors and his works follow after him. 8