CHAPTER XI

HIS MONUMENT 159

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

CHARLES LEWIS COCKE _Frontispiece_

FACING PAGE

CHARLES LEWIS COCKE AND SUSANNA VIRGINIA PLEASANTS, ABOUT 1840 30 THE VALLEY UNION SEMINARY, 1842-1852 36 THE FEMALE SEMINARY AT BOTETOURT SPRINGS, 1852-1855 46 HOLLINS INSTITUTE 60 MRS. CHARLES L. COCKE 70 "GOOD MORNING, 'GYRLS'" 92 CHARLES L. COCKE 132 MRS. CHARLES L. COCKE 142 MRS. ANNE HOLLINS 150 JOHN HOLLINS 154 HOLLINS COLLEGE 160

INTRODUCTION

This biographical sketch of Charles L. Cocke has been written with fine appreciation and sympathy. It brings before us an exceptionally strong man, who after years of struggle against discouragements realized, in large measure, the ideals of his early years. It is a story of heroic achievement that can not be read without emotion.

Hollins College stands today as a fitting and permanent memorial of its founder's indomitable will and noble aims. But there was something still finer connected with his years of struggle and toil. Long before the end came, he had made the noblest achievement of human life, bringing from its disappointments and conflicts, not a cynical distrust of his fellow men, but a courageous, hopeful and invincible character of righteousness and love. He learned to look upon the tumultuous world with a serene and benignant spirit.

It was my privilege for many years to serve as one of the chaplains of Hollins College. The hours spent in Mr. Cocke's office after the evening service are among my cherished memories. Our talk, often protracted till nearly midnight, turned chiefly on educational, religious, and social subjects, which always made a strong appeal to his vigorous mind and earnest nature. He loved the truth; but in the expression of his opinions there was sometimes a delightful touch of exaggeration that lent a peculiar charm to his conversation.

Beyond any man I have ever known he possessed the power to call forth noble sentiment and stimulate intellectual activity. This quality explains, in part at least, the loyal devotion of his co-workers and the grateful affection of his students. It made him a great teacher. It endowed him with a sort of divine right to leadership; it crowned him with the glory of perennial, unconscious beneficence.

In the quality of his intellect he was distinctly Roman. By the law of resemblance he easily conjures up before our minds the dignified and sturdy personality of a Cato. Without the gifts of Attic versatility, his strong intellect and sound judgment set him apart for substantial practical achievement. We are fully warranted in believing that he would have won in any industrial or political field the same distinguished success that he achieved in education.

The religion of the New Testament was a vital element in his character. Its dominant feature was not emotion but conscience. To him the call of duty was imperative and final. It was in obedience to this call that he entered upon his work at Hollins. The materialistic science of the latter half of the nineteenth century left him untouched. He recognized the Divine agency in the lives of men no less than in the destiny of nations. This profound and dominant faith habitually filled the future with hope, and imparted to him, as to all who cherish it, unfailing courage and strength.

A massive intellect, supported by a deep sense of religious duty, made him an independent and fearless thinker. He had the force to break the trammels of tradition. With the vision of a true pioneer he saw the need of a better intellectual training for American women, and with the resourcefulness of a strong nature he led the way in its attainment. His aims and efforts were manifestations of real greatness. It is men of like vision and resourcefulness who are raised up from time to time to lead the forward movements of our race. It is no reproach to say that Mr. Cocke would hardly have been in full sympathy with the feminist movement of recent years. No man can live too far ahead of his time. But he helped to prepare the way for it by his pioneer insistence on a richer culture and larger opportunities for women; and it may justly be said that no other man in Virginia or the South has a higher claim on their recognition and gratitude.

He was fortunate to recognize in his early manhood his vocation as a pioneer educator. The call was clear, and his consecration complete. Few men have ever labored with greater singleness of purpose. As Tennyson dedicated his life to poetry and Darwin to science, so Mr. Cocke gave himself to the work of a nobler culture for the women of Virginia and later of our whole country. Without this singleness of aim, which gave unity to his efforts for more than fifty years, he could not have brought his great life-task to a triumphant conclusion.

But his great mind and heart were not so utterly absorbed in this work as to exclude from his thought and effort other important interests. Before the present movement for social betterment had been inaugurated, he labored unselfishly for the material and moral improvement of his community and State. He was interested in the establishment of schools for boys. He was a recognized leader in the extension of the Baptist Church in Southwestern Virginia, and his foresight and wise counsel contributed in no small measure to the vigorous life and growth of that denomination.

Yet he was not narrowly sectarian. His broad outlook on life welcomed every agency that contributed to moral and religious advancement. To his mind denominational differences of creed were of secondary importance as compared with the great fundamental agreement in the work of establishing the kingdom of God in the world. He cultivated friendly relations with all branches of the Christian Church, and invited their ministers from time to time to conduct services in the Hollins Chapel. His chief requirement was a helpful message supported by an upright life.

He delighted, it seems to me, in what we might call intellectual athletics. He welcomed a disagreement of view, and enjoyed measuring strength in an argument. The enjoyment, I think, was independent of the outcome of the discussion; it was found in the pleasurable exercise of a vigorous brain. Defeat in argument yielded him scarcely less pleasure than did victory. The warmest discussion never ruffled in the slightest degree his self-possession and friendly courtesy.

In the massiveness of his character he was exempt from the foibles of smaller natures. In his striving after truth he was unswayed in his judgment by petty prejudices. His broad benevolence and warm interest in the welfare of others shielded him from envy and jealousy. While sternly intolerant of wrong-doing, he was gently patient with the wrong-doer, being less anxious to punish than to reclaim. Though he was doubtless conscious of his strength, as are all truly great men, he was too sensible and honest to feel the inflation of egotism. His natural stately dignity forbade familiarity; but to those in need he was uniformly kind and helpful. It is the memory of his kindness and helpfulness that has enshrined his image in many hearts.

The life of so rare a character deserves to be recorded in permanent form. It will thus stand as an inspiration and guide to others. As biographer Dr. Smith has performed his task worthily; and I esteem it a privilege to write this introduction and pay this tribute of admiration and affection to one of the greatest men I have known.

F. V. N. PAINTER.

SALEM, VA., September 2, 1920.

CHRONOLOGY

1820

_February_ 21 Charles L. Cocke was born at Edgehill, King William County, Va.

1836

He entered Richmond College.

1838

He entered Columbian College at Washington, D. C.

1840

Graduated from Columbian College, and accepted a position at Richmond College.

1840

On _December_ 31 married Susanna Virginia Pleasants, of Henrico County.

1840-1846

Connected with Richmond College.

1845

Called to take charge of "Valley Union Seminary," a co-educational school, Roanoke County, Va., at Botetourt Springs.

1846

_June_ 23 arrived at Botetourt Springs to take charge of the school.

1846

_July_ 1 the first session under Mr. Cocke's superintendence opened with 36 boys and 27 girls.

1852

Board of Trustees discontinued the department for boys.

1852

_July_ 20 the session 1852-'53 opened for girls only, under the name The Female Seminary at Botetourt Springs, Va., Mr. Cocke, Principal, Registration 81 girls.

1853

_September_ 4 the session of 1853-'54 opened with increased faculty and registration of 150 girls.

1855

Mr. and Mrs. John Hollins of Lynchburg, Va., donated funds to the institution, and in their Honor the name was changed to _Hollins Institute_.

1855-'61

Average attendance 106.

1861-'65

Doors not closed during this period. Average attendance 134.

1865-'71

Average attendance 73.

1871-1900

Buildings, enlarged to accommodate 225 students.

1901

_May_ 4 Charles L. Cocke died.

CHARLES LEWIS COCKE

FOUNDER OF HOLLINS COLLEGE

I think I would rather have written a great biography than a great book of any other sort, as I would have rather painted a great portrait than any other kind of picture.

PHILLIPS BROOKS.

CHARLES LEWIS COCKE