Unknown County GaArchives Church Records.....Georgia Baptists Bethel Female College, Cuthbert Copyright Date 1874 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 January 29, 2005, 3:13 pm BETHEL FEMALE COLLEGE—CUTHBERT. In the spring of 1851, the author, then residing at Lumpkin, Stewart county, was invited to a meeting of the executive committee of the Bethel Baptist Association, which was held at the residence of Rev. Thomas Muse, for the purpose of holding a consultation on the subject of establishing a female college somewhere within the bounds of said Association. There were in attendance on that meeting, if he remembers rightly, besides himself, only three others—W. L. Crawford, B. Graves and Thomas Muse. The result of that meeting was reported by that committee to the Association at Benevolence church, Randolph county, the ensuing fall, in the following language: "The committee have taken under consideration, since your last session, the important subject of erecting a female college or high school, to be the property of, and under the control of, the Association; and, finding the denomination and the people generally desired such an institution built up at some eligible point, the committee called a Convention of the churches, to lay before them the expediency of taking immediate action in making efforts to raise funds to accomplish the design. The Convention met in Lumpkin on Friday before the fifth Sabbath in August last, and highly approved of the project. They passed resolutions commending it to the patronage of the denomination and the public generally; and also recommending conditional subscriptions, payable in four annual installments, commencing at January next, be taken for those places desiring its location; and should the Association approve of the enterprise, to locate the same at its present session. Your committee have made extensive inquiry, and have reason to believe that such an institution is greatly needed in this section of the State, and, therefore recommend the subject to your most prayerful consideration." Whereupon, the following preamble and resolutions, offered by Rev. F. F. Seig, were adopted: "Having had under consideration so much of the report of the executive committee as relates to the establishment of a female college within the bounds of this Association, heartily approving of the action of that committce3 fully satisfied of the great importance of the subject, and that the time has come for action; therefore, "1. Resolved, That this Association do look upon the cause of female education as inferior to none other. "2. Resolved, That we approve of the action of the committee upon this subject. "3. “Resolved, That we agree to adopt this enterprise, and to prosecute it with all the means within our power; and we hereby heartily commend it to the prayers, liberality and patronage of the friends of education generally, and of the denomination in particular. " The amounts of the subscription for the school at the several places desiring the location were announced. The subject of its location was then taken up, and, after much discussion, Cuthbert, Randolph county, was unanimously selected as its location." It might be inferred from the foregoing record that Cuthbert had the largest subscription, but that was not so. The largest subscription announced was for Lumpkin. The writer, who then resided at Lumpkin, was in favor of that place, as the railroad then extended no further than Oglethorpe, and it was uncertain, when extended, whether it would go by Cuthbert or Lumpkin. But "God seeth not as man seeth," and he has long since been convinced that Cuthbert is the most favorable site for the institution. Under resolutions offered by Mr. James Clark, of Lumpkin, the Association proceeded to name the contemplated institution "The Baptist Female College of Southwestern Georgia." Agreed to elect a Board of Trustees. Directed said Board to have the college incorporated, and requested the executive committee to employ an agent for the building up and endowment of the institution. The Board elected were J. H. Campbell, Jas. Clark, F. F. Seig, William Janes, E. W. Warren, R. Q. Dickinson, J. W. Wilson, William H. Wade, Joel W. Perry. The Trustees reported to the Association, in 1852, that they bad purchased forty-one acres of land, within three-fourths of a mile of Cuthbert, on which there was a large house erected for a school building, and other improvements, for which they had paid $1,875 00; that they had engaged Rev. Thomas Muse as agent for the collection of funds; that Rev. A. T. Holmes was acting as President of the College; Rev. J. H. Luther as assistant; Mrs. Amanda C. Clark as music teacher; and that, owing to the rapid increase of pupils, Miss Mary Wilson, Miss Georgia Pride and Mrs. Bozeman had also been employed as assistants. The college had been incorporated by an Act of the Legislature. They claimed that the location they had secured was one of the most desirable in Georgia; excellent health had prevailed among both teachers and pupils, and, altogether^ the prospects of the institution were most flattering. In addition to the buildings already on the premises, they had contracted for another, to comprise rooms for chapel, music, apparatus, etc., for which they were to pay $8,500 00. They had purchased three pianos, but had not yet obtained an apparatus, and the treasurer reported $12,500 00 as having been raised. There were ninety-three pupils in the various departments. This was certainly a most prosperous beginning for an institution which, two years before, had not been thought of. The next year, 1853, the college had one hundred and thirty-eight pupils, two new professors had been secured, the main building was nearly completed, an apparatus costing $600 00 had been purchased, also two additional pianos, and the finances of the college were in a favorable condition. Yet the Trustees complain of opposition, which had manifested itself in the form of a Methodist institution, and which was being raised up in the town of Cuthbert. The Methodist brethren, no doubt, saw that, for once, they had been caught napping, and that, unless they bestirred themselves, they would soon lose all influence in Southwestern Georgia. In 1854, the Trustees close their annual report thus: "It is firmly believed by the Board that the institution is on a firmer basis than at any former period of its history." By the following year, the College had become involved in debt to the amount of §3,200 00, and a vigorous effort was made during the session of the Association for its extinguishment, which was only partially successful. In 1856 it was still somewhat embarrassed, but in 1857 we find in the report of the Trustees the following: "At the last Association your Board reported the institution encumbered with debt. But, as was then stated, some brethren of Lumpkin, prompted by a noble generosity, made a strong appeal to the friends of the College to come up and relieve it of this encumbrance. The appeal was not in vain; and it is now the good pleasure of your Board to report the Baptist College of Southwestern Georgia OUT OF DEBT." The report of this year goes on to state that the institution is steadily advancing, that it had one hundred and twenty-five pupils, that a gracious revival of religion had been experienced, during which twenty-four of the young ladies had joined the Baptist church. The faculty as then constituted consisted of R. D. Mallary, President, Rev. J. F. Dagg, Mrs. R. D. Mallary, Mrs. J. F. Dagg, Miss C. Cleaves and Miss Lucretia Mallary. The ensuing year the institution was visited by another gracious revival of religion, and it is recorded that "the institution was never in a more prosperous condition." In 1859, the Trustees, in submitting their report, "take great pleasure in congratulating our brethren upon the success of our institution for the last year." Whole number of pupils, one hundred and twenty. Quite a fine state of religious feeling, and many of the young ladies had embraced the Saviour. The health of both teachers and pupils was excellent. The Trustees say in their next annual report that the institution is still in a flourishing condition under R. D. Mallary, President, and an able corps of assistants; but that "its increasing patronage and growing popularity concur In demanding additional arrangements for the accommodation and comfort of its pupils, and the entertainment of the crowd of visitors who annually attend its commencement exercises." [The buildings thus called for were not erected, in consequence of the war, which soon followed.] In 1861 the Board had to report the resignation of President Mallary, who had served in that capacity six years, and had given "entire satisfaction to the Board and patrons, and to the public generally." Up to that date the prosperity of the College had been uninterrupted, hundreds of its pupils had been converted to Christ, and it had proved a blessing to all that portion of the State, But from that time it began to feel the blighting effects of the war, whose dark shadows were even then being cast across its path. The next annual report of the Board announces that Rev. J. F. Dagg had been elected to the Presidency of the College and had accepted. The small pox had broken out in Cuthbert, causing a temporary diminution in the number of pupils, from the effects of which, however, the institution soon recovered. Another year of cruel and unnatural war entailed still further disasters upon the institution. The Confederate Government had taken possession of its buildings for hospital purposes, and Mr. Dagg, the President, found it necessary to use a portion of his own dwelling for the accommodation of his pupils. It was the best that could be done under the circumstances. The patronage, of course, was greatly diminished. In 1865, President Dagg reports to the Board that the College buildings had been restored to him, but that the number of pupils, owing to the financial embarrassments of the country, was quite small as compared with former years. The following year, 1866, the patronage was still small, owing, as the President avers, in part to want of boarding accommodations. He had served five years as professor and five as President, and now resigned all connection with the institution. In 1867 the College was in charge of Rev. T. H. Stout and Miss C. A. Hansell, as associate principals, with Miss Hattie Platt in the primary department, and Miss A. B. Armstrong teacher of vocal and instrumental music. The plan of this work does not admit of a more extended notice of this institution, which is matter of regret with the author. He trusts that its future historian may have it in his power to record its renewed and increased prosperity and usefulness, under the fostering care of the younger generation of men into whose hands it is fast falling. Mr. William B. Seals, who is one of the best educators in the South, (or anywhere else,) is now President of this College. Under his management it cannot but be greatly prosperous and useful. Besides the foregoing institutions, the Baptists have flourishing schools at Madison, Rome, Dalton and other places. Additional Comments: From: GEORGIA BAPTISTS: HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL BY J. H. CAMPBELL, PERRY, GEORGIA. MACON, GA.: J. W. BURKE & COMPANY. 1874. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by J. H. CAMPBELL, In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/unknown/churches/gbb229georgiab.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 11.9 Kb