University of the South Papers Series A, No1

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VICE-CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE, } UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH, } Sewanee, Tenn., July 4, 1887. }

The following papers, containing an account of the ceremonies, &c., at the laying of the corner stone of the University of the South, Wednesday, October 10th, 1860, at Sewanee, Tenn., were ordered to be printed by the Board of Trustees.

TELFAIR HODGSON, Vice-Chancellor.

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LAYING OF THE CORNER STONE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH.

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EIGHT BISHOPS, TWO HUNDRED PRESBYTERS AND FIVE THOUSAND PEOPLE Assembled on top of the Cumberland Mountains.

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ELOQUENT ORATION, BY THE HON. JOHN S. PRESTON, OF SOUTH CAROLINA, ORATOR OF THE DAY.

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GREAT BANQUET,

AND SPEECHES BY

COMMANDER MAURY, U. S. N., PRESIDENT BARNARD, of Mississippi, BISHOP SMITH, of Kentucky, HON. JOHN M. BRIGHT, of Tennessee.

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DOMAIN OF 10,000 ACRES OF LAND.

PROSPECTIVE ENDOWMENT OF $3,000,000.

PLAN OF THE UNIVERSITY, &c., &c., &c.

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NOTE:--The above, in the handwriting of Rev. Jno. F. Young, D. D., afterwards Bishop of Florida, was among the papers to be printed.--T. H.

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A CARD.

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The required preliminary arrangements having been made, the Chairman of the Executive Commitiee of the Board of Trustees hereby gives notice that the Corner Stone of the principal building of the UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH will be laid with appropriate ceremonies, at University Place, Franklin County, Tenn., on the 10th day of October next.

Jas. H. Otey.

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LETTER FROM THE RT. REV. JAS. H. OTEY, D. D., LL. D., BISHOP OF TENNESSEE, TO REV. JNO. F. YOUNG, D. D., THEN ASSISTANT MINISTER OF TRINITY CHURCH, NEW YORK.

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UNIVERSITY PLACE, } FRANKLIN COUNTY, TENN., } Sept. 5th, 1860. }

DEAR SIR: The Executive Committee beg leave respectfully to call your attention to the accompanying card, and to tender you an invitation to be present on the occasion of the proposed ceremony.

The route for reaching the University Place is by the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad to Cowan, thence by the Sewanee Railroad to the University Depot. At the Depot conveyances will be in readiness to take you to lodgings prepared for your accommodation.

Respectfully, Your ob't se'v't, JAS. H. OTEY, Chairman.

P. S.--An early answer is requested.

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An Account of the Laying of the Corner Stone, by the Rev. J. F. Young, D. D., from the Church Journal, Oct. 24, 1860.

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THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH.

[Correspondence of the Church Journal.]

Messrs Editors:--Being honored with an invitation to be present at the laying of the cornerstone of the University of the South, we left New York by rail by way of Washington, Alexandria, Lynchburg, and Knoxville, arriving at Chattanooga on the morning of Oct. 6th, after some forty-eight hours of continuous travel. Here we met to our great pleasure the Bishop of Alabama,* and several clergymen from Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. with whom, after breakfast, we took the Nashville railroad, winding around the base of Lookout Mountain, at one time passing under its tremendous and threatening cliffs, and at another skirting the banks of the beautiful Tennessee. We were fully occupied during the half day's ride to Cowan, in viewing the bold and striking scenery, often changing, as it did, from the near to the more distant, from the towering peak and yawning chasm, to the quiet and far-stretching river and valleys. A little past noon we arrived at Cowan, where we left the Nashville road, to take the cars of the Sewanee road, which pass through the University grounds. And had we had any doubts of there being abundant provision made for the large concourse of people that might be expected on such an occasion, (doubts which many years' residence at at the South, however, altogether precluded), the twenty-nine negroes, cooks and

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NOTE.--*Rt. Rev. N. H. Cobbs, D. D., &c.--T. H.

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waiters, just arrived from Nashville, and the freight accompanying them, awaiting the same train with us, and the remark of an employe of the University that they were providing for the entertainment of over a thousand, were quite sufficient entirely to dispel all uneasiness. The ascent of the mountain is very interesting, the grade being one hundred and forty feet to the mile for seven miles, and more than two-thirds of this for the remaining two miles. The train stopped midway to let us view a prospect which suddenly opened through the forests amid which we were winding up the mountain's side. That prospect consisted of a panorama of some thirty miles of country, surpassingly beautiful, as we all exclaimed; but it was only a prelude, as we afterwards found, to far more extensive and enchanting landscapes. Arriving at the University site, we found the families of Bishops Elliott, Polk, and Otey in part, settled, and moving into their newly erected shanties; and several other most agreeable ladies, the relatives or guests of these families And the hogsheads of hams, the barrels, and boxes, and bags of groceries, the cartloads of crockery and glass, the bales of sheeting and blankets, and (acres we might almost say) of straw beds, &c., &c., which on every hand greeted our sight, indicated that Southern hospitality for once had entered upon the difficult undertaking of outdoing itself. These things but betokened, however, the cordial heart-welcome that awaited all, and would make even a stranger feel at once that he was amongst the friends of many years.

On Sunday, Oct. 7th, Divine Service was held, and the Holy Communion very appropriately celebrated, in the morning, in a log building recently erected on the premises, Bishop Atkinson preaching, Bishop Cobbs consecrating, and both administering to the Bishops, clergy, and laity present. In the afternoon, the Rev. Mr. Glennie of South Carolina, preached, the Rev. Messrs. Glennie, Hawkes of Georgia, Mitchell of Alabama, and Young of New York, assisting in the Morning and Evening Prayers. The congregations consisted of persons from the wide district of country lying between New York and New Orleans, Chicago and Charleston; and the earnest devotion with which all joined in the old familiar

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strains of our American Use, was stirring and refreshing indeed.

On Monday, considerable additions were made to our genial company, and Tuesday still larger, and from all parts of the South, including some of the most distinguished men of the land. Greetings, and group-gathering the most genial, rambles in all directions over the magnificent domain, feasting the eyes with magnificent landscapes which open in all directions from the brow of the mountain, varying in extent from twenty to a hundred and fifty miles, afforded occupation and interest to all.

On Wednesday, the 10th, the morning dawned brightly, and a more auspicious day could not have been desired for the august occasion. As early as six in the morning, though the ceromonies were not to commence till noon, streams of equestrians were flowing in upon us from every possible direction. A little latter, wagons, carts, buggies, and omnibuses were added to the scene. Tents sprang up, refreshment stands were erected, and everything betokened the gathering of a crowd. The arrival of the cars at ten o'clock gave us important additions, not the least of which was a very good Band from Nashville.

At about noon the Procession was formed, and marched to the site of the principal or centre building, under the direction of Major A. M. Rutledge, the efficient Chief Marshal for the day.

On arriving at the ground, ceremonies were commenced by singing the Old Hundredth Psalm to its own Tune, which was followed by the reading of several appropriate texts of Scripture, by the Bishop of Florida.

Then followed an exhortation by the * Bishop of North Carolina. After that some Collects, and a very appropriate Prayer, by the Bishop of Alabama.

Immediately after this, the deposit of the articles to be placed in the cornerstone was made by the + Bishop of Georgia. These articles were the Bible, Prayer Book, Constitution of the United States, Constitu-

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NOTE.--*Rt. Rev. Thomas Atkinson, D. D., &c. +Rt. Rev. Stephen Elliott, D. D. &c.--T. H.

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tion and Canons of the Church, a bound volume of the Document hitherto issued respecting the establishment of the University of the South, all the Church Quarterly, Monthly, and Weekly publications; and a Church Almanae for the current year. On depositing the Bible, the Bishop said:

This sacred volume, being the Canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, is deposited, before and above all other memorials, in this cornerstone, to testify to the present generation and to all future ages, that the University of the South recognizes the Word of God as the fountain of all true learning, and as the only source of that knowledge which maketh wise unto salvation.

On depositing the Prayer Book, he said:--

This copy of the Book of Common Prayer is deposited in this cornerstone, next after the Word of God, to testify that the University of the South believes it to be in perfect harmony with that Word, and to exhibit, in its ministry, doctrine, and sacraments, the Church of God, as that Church was founded by Christ and His Apostles.

On depositing the Constitution of the United States:--

I next deposit in this cornerstone the Constitution of the United States, the time-honored bond which binds together the States of this Confederacy, to testify that the University of the South, while it holds itself superior to the State in all strictly spiritual matters, acknowledges itself subordinate to it in all matters of Government and Law. Esto perpetua!

As soon as the articles had been deposited, the lid secured, and the stone properly adjusted, the Bishop of Louisiana (the projector of the Univorsity,) explained the cornerstone as symbolizing strength and stability, the union of the intellectual and spiritual natures of man, the emblem of Christ, the sure and tried Cornerstone, the Wisdom of God, and the Power of God. Then striking the stone three times, he said:--

In the Name of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Three Persons, One God. Blessed forever, Amen. I, Leonidas Polk, D. D., Bishop of Louisiana, on this 10th day of October, in the year of grace 1860, do lay this cornerstone of an edifice to be here erected as the principal building of the "University of the South," and Institution established by the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, for the cultivation of true religion, learning, and virture, that thereby God may be glorified, and the happiness of men be advanced. Other foundation can no man lay, than that is

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laid, which is Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and forever: God over all, blessed for evermore, in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.

Then followed immediately the Benedicite omnia opera Domini to the viii. Gregorian Tone, 1st Ending. Two priests in surplice, standing on opposite sides of the circle formed by the multitude about the cornerstone. sang alternately the first half of the verses, the people joining in the chorus. The effect would have been very admirable but for the sorry though well meant attempt of the band to accompany the chorus.

Immediately on conclusion of the Benedicite, the procession was again formed, and escorted by the band, marched to the immense shelter prepared for the accommodation of from three to four thousand persons. As soon as the multitude had taken their places, the orator of the day, the Hon. John S. Preston of South Carolina, was introduced by the Chancellor, the Bishop of Tennessee. The oration was worthy of the occasion in style of delivery no less than in subject matter. The speaker was continually interrupted by applause, and the apostrophe to Bishop Polk, "the Founder of the University of the South," convulsed the auditory with tears, and elicited tremendous applause.

A recess of about half-an-hour followed upon the oration, when the playing of the band summoned all to a beautiful collation, in a similar building to that provided for the oration, and equally as large. Grace was sung in Doxology, "Praise God from Whom all blessings flow," to the Portuguese Tune, the band accompanying.

The speakers for this occasion, together with the principal invited guests, were on a raised platform across the end of the building. Dinner being over, the Chancellor introduced Commander M. F. Maury, of the National Observatory, Washington, whose address was remarkably happy, in its clear assertion of the unity between Nature and Revelation. His illustrations of the uses of physical geography were exquisitely beautiful: and at his final climax, showing that Christian science was really singing that same Benedicite that had just been sung by a thousand voices, and was continually

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calling on showers and dew, and winds and fire and heat,--the round world and all that is therein--to "praise the Lord and magnify Him forever," the overwhelming applause of the whole vast assemblage was such as could not be surpassed.

Next was introduced President Barnard of the University of Mississippi, who cordially gave his adhension to the great principles adopted for the conduct of the University, and endorsed the wisdom with which the site had been chosen.

Then Bishop Smith of Kentucky was introduced, who made a brief address, contrasting the scene before him with its solitude as known to the Indians of old, and setting forth the Mission of True Religion and Learning in union with one another, for the elevation of the human race.

The next and last speaker introduced, was the Hon. Mr. Bright, of Tennessee, who specially enlarged upon the necessity of bringing in science to further the immense agricultural interests of the Southern States.

Other speakers were on the programme, but the conclusion of the last speech brought us literally to the shades of night; and as we had no means of lighting our vast dining-hall, the exercises of the day were brought to a conclusion. The speaking was all admirable, and enthusiastically received. The band alternated its enlivening airs with the speeches, and everything connected with the exercises of the entire day passed off to the satisfaction of the projectors of the University, and the admiration of invited visitors and friends.

I would like to say a great deal more, but dare not add a single word, lest the length of this communication should exclude it altogether. Indeed, I am sure it is quite too long already; so you must take the fullest liberty in abridging and adjusting it to the space you may have to spare. J. F. Y.