Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 3243undeviating consistency with whieh he has adhered to the Agnes Scott ideal,refusing to compromise an ultimate goal to secure a temporary patronage orto achieve an immediate success. This, ideal was printed as a booklet andwidely distributed. It was also reproduced for years in the catalogue, andwas kept constantly before students and teachers. Its influence in formingthe character of the college has unquestionably been great.The college has passed through many crises and overcome many greatdifficulties. In meeting these and in developing the scope of the institution.Doctor Gaines has been the recognized leader. His unfaltering courage andhis sound judgment have met every test. These have been pregnant in everycrisis and have never failed him once. He has employed nearly all the teachers, has assumed'the responsibility for the various changes in its upwardgrowth, and has presided over its fortunes since the beginning. The collegenow has a faculty of twenty-eight, and a staff, including faculty and officers,of thirty-four. It has a campus of eighteen acres, twelve buildings, includingthree elegant brick dormitories, Science Hall and Carnegie Library, both ofbrick. Its total assets are estimated to be worth $650,000. It is a member"of the Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools of the Southern States.It is one of three colleges for women in the South placed in Group I by thespecialist in higher education of the United States Bureau of Education.Its graduates are admitted without examination to such graduate schools asColumbia University as candidates for the master's degree. It draws studentsfrom all the Southern states and from the East and West.Burdened with the weight of great responsibilities, Doctor Gaines has notenjoyed the leisure requisite for sustained literary work; but his sermons arecharacterized by a rare charm of diction and by a vigor of original thought.He has also published in three volumes an outline course of study in the Bible,with copious, rich and illuminating notes. Before entering upon his educational work Doctor Gaines was a successful pastor. In his two Virginia..charges and in the church at Dccatur his success was pronounced. He wasand still is a preacher of compelling force and attractiveness. Davidson College of North Carolina has conferred upon him both the D. D. and LL. D.degrees, the latter to quote the exact language of its president for eminentservice rendered by him to the cause of education.The following appreciation of Doctor Gaines is from the pen of Hon. MurpheyCandler, chairman of the State Railroad Commission of Georgia, anelder in the church at Decatur and a trustee of Agnes Scott College: "AgnesScott College is and will continue to be a monument to three men Dr. Gaines,Colonel George W. Scott and Mr. Samuel M. Inman. Its character as aChristian college of recognized high standing is testimony of Dr. Gaines'great part in its conception, development and upbuilding. For twenty-fiveyears its growth and work have been in his heart and hands. His great partin the great work of organizing and developing a great college has emphasizedthese distinctive traits of character, to wit: vision, resourcefulness, the abilityto make and execute great plans, consecration, singleness of purpose, faith."Dr. Gaines, as much as any man I have ever known, lives in his work;he never generalizes in his efforts; he settles upon one thing at a time andupon its accomplishment he puts all of heart and mind and physical strength,with unquestioning trust and faith that God will bring it to pass, should thework be for His glory. He is a man of positive faith, of humble trust, ofundaunted courage, of great singleness of purpose, of whole consecration. Ihave known him intimately as pastor and educator. His marked success ineach work has been, I am sure, largely due under divine favor to these distinguishing traits of character."AGNEW H. HILSMAN, M. D. As taken aside from the distinctive successand prestige which mark Doctor Hilsman as one of the able and representative