Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

3326 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANSary of Southern Authors" (Volume XV of the Library of Southern Literature), "Historical Sidelights" (Volume XVI of the Library of SouthernLiterature) ; "Georgia's Land-Marks, Memorials and Legends," a work intwo volumes, and has just completed for publication his masterpiece, a workof six volumes, entitled: ''A Standard History of Georgia and Georgians."He has also published a number of monographs.Mr.. Knight has been honored with membership in many learned bodies,among them, the Phi Beta Kappa Society, an organization of honor men representing the various American colleges and universities; the American Association for the Advancement of Science, The American Historical Association, and the National Geographical Society. He is also a member of theChi Phi Fraternity, which he joined when an under-graduate student atAthens. Mr. Knight is planning at the present time to organize for the state.a permanent Department of Archives and History, and to create a new StateHistorical Association with headquarters in the state ca.pitol. He expectsto accomplish both of these undertakings within the next twelve months. Heis one of the charter members of the Stone Mountain Memorial Association,and also the Official Historian. The design of this movement is to createof Stone Mountain one of the greatest memorials in existence by earvingheroic images in its living rock.Mr. Knight has three times served his Alma Mater, the University ofGeorgia, as commencement orator. He delivered the literary address in 1895,the alumni address in 1908, and the Phi Beta. Kappa address in 1916. OnOctober 19th, of this year, 1.916, he delivered two addresses in Wallingford,Connecticut, one at the unveiling of a granite boulder to Dr. Lyman Hall, asigner of the Declaration of Independence, on the site of the old patriot'sbirthplace, the other at the laying of a cornerstone of the Lyman Hall HighSchool in the Town of Wallingford. Mr, Knight has delivered addresses invarious parts of the South, on great commemorative occasions. He takeshigh rank among the orators of Georgia, a state noted for its eloquent sons.Mr. Knight was married in 1895 to Edith Nelson, daughter of Levi B.Nelson, one of Atlanta's leading men of capital. From this union sprangtwo daughters, Frances "Walton, and Mary Lamar. Mr. Knight is a memberof the Presbyterian Church, in which he is an elder. In political affiliationshe is a democrat. Thoroughly Southern to the core, he possesses, at the sametime, a patriotism broadly comprehensive in its scope, and embracing allAmerica.But these are mere biographical details. Mr. Knight comes of gentle stock.His features bear the impress of the patrician, and from his dark brown eyes,there radiates the light of a genial spirit. But those of us who know himbest realize that, back of his genial countenance, there is a fearless spirit, readyto assert iisejf should occasion call it- forth. His own characteristics, likethose of his distinguished family, suggest the lines of Bayard Taylor :i! The bravest are the tenderest,The loving are the daring."In his intercourse with the people, .Mr. Knight has a most attractive manner. Ever tolerant, considerate and polite, his engaging personality is oneof the rare gifts with which he is endowed, casting a glow of pleasure overall with whom he comes,in contact. If care and sorrow have come to him,these have only deepened bis spiritual culture he keeps them within hisown bosom, but shares with generous sympathy and gracious tenderness, themisfortunes of others.His life has been one of polished a,nd refined simplicity, with a deep reverence for religion in all of its varied forms, and with an abiding faith in theunseen realities. It was a keen disappointment not only to Mr. Knight himself, but to his hosts of friends, that ill health forced him to abandon the Pres-