The Stetson Reporter

mm* n Loving Memory of Charles Sherwood Farriss 1 HE DTE 1S' TER Third Year—No. 28 DELAND, FLA., WEDNESDAY, APR-L 27, 1938 Z102 Price 5c MOOL MOURN DEAN CARSON ^ ON DR. FARRISS By DEAN G. PRENTICE CARSON My association with Dr. Farriss lasted for forty-sx years, and during a part of that time, my association with him was very close indeed. When he was Acting-President and I Dean of the University we did much work in common, and would meet practically every day to decide upon the proper course for the affairs of the University. I well remember when I first met Dr, Farriss. It was in May, 1892, while he was the Baptist pastor in Orlando, Florida. There was an opening at that time in our Greek department, and when it was discovered that Dr. Farriss was a qualified, well-educated scholar in the Greek language, he was invited to take the chair of Greek. He accepted the position and began his work in October, 1892. He came to DeLand with his wife and one baby son, Carl Vernon Farriss, who visited DeLand and the University during the recent illness of his father. I well remember young Mr. Farriss as an infant of three or four months. His dear mother would take him daily in a baby carriage up and down the Boulevard. By virtue of this acquaintance, I feel that I have known young Mr. Farriss though his entire life. When Dr. Farriss came to Stetson, he immediately gave evidence of his mastery of his subject, and his courses became among the most popular in the University. A warm personal friendship between Mr. and Mrs. Stetson and Dr. Farriss grew up, and until the time of Mr. Stetson's death in 1906, they were the best and closest of friends. (Continued on Page 4) TO DR. FARRISS By GORDON E. KIPP There are some men who are well loved by all, Who toil to make this world a better place; They see the beauty of the human race And make its betterment their life-long call. Then when at last their mighty spirits fall In vales of death, we recognize their grace, And know that we on earth cannot replace These men who scales in life the the heavenly wall. A man like this has gone from us; and we Of Stetson mourn that nevermore his feet Will tread these halls; no more his voice will tell Of love and life; he'll teach no more, for he Has gone above, up there at last to meet His God whom he had known and loved so well. DR. FARRISS By President W I count it an honor that I had the privilege of working with Dr. Farriss for three and one-half years and I count it an honor that I have the privilege of saying a word at this time. He was an inspiration daily to me , as he was to faculty and students. I mention four things that impressed me most: (1) His spirit of encouragement and optimism. There was never a low note nor a pessimistic one. In every plan for Stetson's future he had a word of cheer and praise and encouragement. He must have shown that spirit through all the years because as I have traveled over the State and met Stetson students in almost every community there was al' ways the question: "How is Dr. Farriss?"; and then, "He was so fine and helpful and kind and happy". ^Thali was Dr. Farriss. (2) His simple childlike faith in God. It was shown in his prayers and in his conversation and in his living and teaching. (3) His unswerving loyalty to duty and to the Institution he loved so well. He was on time at class, at Chapel, at Faculty meetings — wherever illiam Sims Allen duty called — and he gave his best for the advancement of the Unversity. His voice and influence were for the progressive movements. I never once knew him to speak or vote on the opposite side. Frail in body he was never frail ■in- the spirit of progress and in vision for the future e-f-iis school. (4) His happy outfook~-Qn__life. Life to him was not cheap and sordid'."' It was filled with hope and cheer and privileges and opportunities to help his fellow men. He was always full of fun and merriment; yet there was no place in his life for the trivial and the petty things. He had the vision to look beyond and above them to the great principles and ultimate goals. We all loved him and appreciated him for himself and for his ideals. His spirit is with God. It is. also here and will be in memory and itifkience.through all the years. I shall miss him at my right hand in Chapel, but I shall feel the inspiration . of his spirit there in the service each morning at ten. We are thankful for the life he lived, for the example he set us, and we will all live closer to the Father because we had the privilege of knowing him,—this friend of man and friend of God. FARRISS VICE-PRESIDENT SUCCUMBS FROM LONG ILLNESS Aged Scholar Long Heiaded Classical Languages Department A.CJTING PRESIDENT Services In DeLand WitrT Interfluent At High Point, N.C DR. FARRISS--A GENTELM AN AND FRIEND PRAYERS OP A GENTLEMAN By DR. IRVING C. STOVER Whenever the students and faculty members spoke with mellow inflections of "a gentleman," "a perfect Southern Gentleman," "a Gentleman of the Old School," pr "a kindly spirited man," we recognized at once that the subject of their conversation was our good friend, Doctor Charles Sherwood Farriss. Among the many memories of our association though the years, perhaps the one I will treasure most is the impressive manner in which he so frequently conducted our chapel services. Time and time again he would select the Scripture lesson from the first part of the fifteenth chapter of Matthew, which teaches that purity is an inward, spiritual (Continued on Page 8) THE HEART OP A GENTLEMAN By DEAN CHARLES G. SMITH The heart of Dr. Charles S. Farriss was the heart of a gentleman —full of tenderness and kindness. He had the frame of mind and the dignity and elevation of spirit peculiar to a courtier. He consistently avoided anything which might cause a jar or jolt in the minds of those with whom he was thrown. He delighted in fineness of quality where- ever it appeared. The word "gallantry" strikes the keynote of his life: there was nothing of the low nor mean in him. He had true in- tellectal and moral courage and a rare sense of honor. His sparkling humor was always refreshing, and his optimistic, Christian spirit never lagged. OUR FRIEND, DR. FARRISS . By DR. WARREN S. GORDIS . As during recent weeks we have looked at the vacant chair on the Chapel platform, we have, in mind, seen occupying it our friend of the beautiful white locks and distinguished features, hoping that we might in the future see him again occupying it in person. Now the vacant chair is a reminder of the loss that we have sustained and the rich memories that we cherish and shall cherish as long as we live. I first met Dr. Farriss in the early nineties, before he joined the Stetson faculty. It was at a session of the Florida Baptist Convention, which he was attending as pastor, I believe, of the Orlando church. It is characteristic of his distinctive (Continued on Page 4) The death of Dr. Charles S. Farriss, vice-president of Stetson University, April 14, has left a vacant place that will be hard to fill. The well- loved old scholar, who has served Stetson faithfully since 1892, died at his home in De- Land during the Easter holidays. After an illness of three months, Dr Farriss succumbed at his home at the age of 81. He is survived by his wife and a son, Carl V. Farriss of Durham, N. C. Dr Farriss came to Stetson in 1892 as professor of Greek. In 1904 he became acting president of the institution, and then was made vice president, in which office he has served except for a few months in 1933 when he again acted as president. Dr. Farriss received his A. B. degree from Wake Forest College, in (Continued on Page 4) DR. FARRISS I count myself honored that, as Editor of THE STETSON REPORTER, I may record the tributes of Stetson University to the memory of beloved Dr. Charles Sherwood Farriss. The pleasure of a personal acquaintance with Dr. Farriss was not mine, but, despite that, I have not missed altogether his spirit. For his spirit was reflected in the attitudes of the students whom he taught, and so it will go on, undiminished and undying. It will be re- EDITORIAL taught wth unmitigated beauty. J The nature of the man is ably revealed in the regard of his asso- | ciates, and in this respect Dr. Farriss has real claim to fame. He was i loved and respected by youth and [age alike, a test for any personality. j Particularly impressive was his youthfulness as expressed in ideas which were beautifully tempered by understanding and wisdom. He appealed to all men as a scholar, friend, and teacher, whose life was exemplary of his teachings. If Stetson has not been ostentatious in its grief it is because such a demonstration would have been unwelcome to Dr. Farriss. We realize too the singular blessing which has been ours in having him at the University for such a long period of time, and know that the eternal rest into which he has entered was earned and anticipated. So, with a grief and sense of loss too deep for expression in words, we pen these mild tributes to the memory of Charles Sherwood Farriss. By SAMUEL S. GAYLORD I shall remember long that he was kind, This teacher of a keen and kindly mind; I shall recall his friendship- for great books. His love of beauly, fields, and running brooks; I shall think often of his gentle ways, And his alvlit->- to find some ground for praise; I shall consider too, his kindly air, And shall remember he was ever fair. Nor shall I call to mind that he was frail, He from whose greatness limitations pale, Nar shall it be to me that he is gone, \\ 'iom memory will call to mind anon, R.calling kindly word and patient smile, To lighten veary hour and iouely mile. ^.i~'.-. -.-: £