J

James Edward Dickey.

AMES EDWARD DICKEY, D.D., son of James Madison

Dickey and Ann Elizabeth Thomas, both of Revolutionary stock, was born in Jeffersonville, Twiggs county, Georgia, May 11, 1864. His earliest paternal ancestor in this country was John Dickey, who coming from Londonderry, Ireland, settled in North Carolina in 1753; while, at a yet earlier date his maternal ancestor, William Few, coming from England, made his home in Maryland. We find the name of John Dickey among the members of the Council of Safety in Rowan county, North Carolina, 1775-76. Benjamin Few, son of the abovenamed William Few, and a Colonel in the patriot army during the War for Independence, was great-great-grandfather of Dr. Dickey, while his great-great uncle, William Few, was representative from Georgia in the Constitutional Convention of 1787, and after the adoption of the Constitution of the United States and the organization of the government thereunder, was one of Georgia's first two Senators.

James Madison Dickey, the father of Dr. Dickey, was an itinerant preacher of the North Georgia Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Hence young Dickey had during his boyhood several homes. From his eighth until his thirteenth jear he attended the Atlanta Public Schoools and high schools at Gainesville, Elberton and Calhoun. His father's health having failed, he spent the year 1878 on his grandmother's plantation in Richmond county and worked in the field. Being strong and healthful, he was fond of hunting, fishing and horseback riding, and these have continued to be his favorite modes of relaxation and exercise.

In October, 1878, he suffered a severe bereavement in the death of his father, whose genial good humor, natural eloquence and fervid piety had won the love of all who knew him. It had been the purpose of his father to send him to Emory College, and then to the University of Virginia; but during his protracted season of ill health he was forced to spend the amount accumulated for this purpose.

In January, 1879, accompanied by his mother and brother, young Dickey, then nearly fifteen years old, went to Atlanta, where for nearly nine years as clerk, shipping-clerk and bookkeeper, he worked, never losing hope that he might yet obtain a college education. The memory of his father's counsels, and the holy influence of his mother, who kept his home life sweet and cheerful, enabled him to overcome all obstacles. Since his thirteenth year he had not attended school. Yet after such preparation as he could make by studying at home during the evenings when his engagements permitted, he entered the Freshman class at Emory College at the age of twenty-three, and was graduated with second honor in the class of 1891. Obeying the call of God, he resolved to enter the ministry, and was licensed to preach in Hay, 1891. In June of the same year he was elected Adjunct Professor of Mental and Moral Science, and in June, 1896, was elected to the Chair of Economics and History.

In December, 1899, he was sent as pastor to Grace church, Atlanta, and in July, 1902, was again called to Emory College— this time as its President. In 1903 he received from Kentucky Wesleyan College the degree of Doctor of Divinity. Since 1891 he has been a member of the North Georgia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and is at this time President of the Board of Missions of said Conference.

During his student life he became a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity, upon which he has ever reflected honor. Being a minister of the Gospel, he has never taken any public part in politics, but has always affiliated with the Democratic party.

On September 9, 1891, he was married to Miss Jessie Munroe, a graduate of Wesleyan Female College, and a lady well worthy of the honored lot of a Methodist preacher's wife. Their union has been blessed with six children, five of whom are now living.

Dr. Dickey is a good example of what a young man can accomplish by diligence and fidelity to duty. He has more than fulfilled the promise of his energetic boyhood, and no doubt feels that he has surpassed the ambitions of his youth.

As a public speaker and preacher he is strong and attractive; while there go along with his utterances that which convinces men of his sincerity and earnestness. The literary tastes of his Younger life have wrought in his style a classic purity and elegance. The confidence he cherishes in the verities of the Christian religion is marked in all his public address. These two properties, together with an ample store of historic information as the fruit of his work in the professorship of history and economics, place him among the leaders in the Methodist pulpit, South.

Not leas pronounced and successful has been the later and present work of Dr. Dickey's course in the presidency of Emory College. There are reciprocal honors in this relationship; the man honors the institution through his personal fitness and ability; and the college also honors him by its distinguished history and usefulness. It has at different periods since its foundation in 1837 been under the presidency of such men as Bishop George F. Pierce, Dr. A. B. Longstreet, Dr. Alexander Means, Dr. James R. Thomas, Bishop Atticus G. Haygood and Bishop Warren A. Candler. Its records include among its alumni many names of good and distinguished men, cherished types of whom are Hon. L. Q. C. Lamar, once in the President's cabinet and late of the Supreme Court of the United States; Hon. W. A. Keener, of New York, and Dr. Young J. Allen, patriarchal missionary to China; also three Bishops of the M. E. Church, South,

Haygood, Key and Candler. At the head of the institution, with such prestige and honorable fame, is the worthy present incumbent, whose success honors the occasion of his later opportunity.

In the lecture room, in the faculty, in the responsible tasks of college administration, in the Board of Trustees with the accounts of his management in hand, and before annual and other conferences as well as before the general public he has appeared always a college president, progressive, conservative, practical, and withal disposed to hold up the highest and most heroic ideals and hopes that pertain to the education of youth. His administration of the affairs of Emory College shows a clear insight into every real need of the institution, as well the financial as the intellectual and moral. Never were the business matters pf the college in better form and order than in the hands of the present executive. At the same time, by a most rare combination of properties, an admirable culture and scholarhip are exhibited in the educational and representative labors of its head. The president is an exponent of both business ability and intellectual character. He has thus stood in singularly fortunate relation between trustees, faculty and students on one side and the people on the other. His work in this position marks a distinct and well recognized advance in the history of the college and a great improvement in her affairs and fortunes.

Joseph T. DERRY.