TRINITY.
This is a critical time in the history of the College and a suitable time, in the judgment of the editors, to give a short sketch of the institution in the past, a summary of facts incident to important changes in the present year, and an outline of plans proposed for the future. This edition of The Archive is especially addressed to the Methodists of North Carolina, the patronizing Conference, and to the Alumni. We bespeak for the three following articles a careful perusal.
TRINITY’S PAST.[1]
The following facts have been gathered from authoritative sources.
By an act of the Legislature in 1859 Normal College was changed to Trinity. The connection with the State was revived and the institution became a regular denominational college. Increased prosperity was the result of this arrangement. From 1859 to 1862, the average number of matriculation annually was 204; the gross income, seventy-five hundred dollars per annum, losses three hundred and eighty dollars, gratuitous tuition, eight hundred and thirty dollars.
During the whole time, expulsions five; deaths, three; conversions, one hundred and sixty-five. These were by far the most prosperous years the College has ever had; current expenses were more nearly met than at any time in the following 20 years, opposition had died away, agents appointed by the Conference were readily securing ample funds for elegant and commodious buildings. Some gentlemen were proposing to inaugurate a handsome endowment, every thing was favorable for a secure foundation of prosperity. By the war, all was changed.
During the war, the exercises of the institution were continued with a variable but constantly decreasing number of students. In 1863 Dr. Craven resigned as President, and was stationed for two years at Edenton Street church, in the city of Raleigh.
Prof. W. T. Gannaway was placed in charge as President pro tempore, and continued with a small number of students until the arrival of General Hardee’s corps in April, 1865. Dr. Mangum pays Prof. Gannaway the following tribute: “He has been toiling with great fidelity and usefulness for over thirty-two years. He has stood by the struggling school throughout all its vicissitudes. For 27 years he had the enormous work of eight full recitations a day. His chairs of Latin has sometimes been loaded with Greek, sometimes with History, sometimes with French. But he has carried his burden over the long years most nobly and heroically. Emory and Henry did a blessed work for North Carolina when she sent Trinity this accomplished christian teacher. What a debt we all owe him.” After April, 1865, the exercises were suspended until the following January. In the fall of 1865, Dr. Craven, the former president, was re-elected, and having been requested by the Conference to accept the position, he proceeded immediately after Conference to repair and re-open the institution.