MEMORIAL EXERCISES 427 



Willits' first appearance at the College in the capacity of president. Tlie 

 student body was in a quiver over the mistreatment of one by others, at 

 the time unknown; wild rumors of intended severe and sweeping punish- 

 ment of suspected students were in circulation and many were of the 

 opinion that affairs had reached a stage where it was useless for young 

 men in search of education to longer remain at the institution where 

 quiet and continuous work was out of the (piestion. The crisis was upon 

 us — would the man be equal to it? It was a crucial test of the new presi- 

 dent, but the outcome of it was a most complete and prompt restoration 

 of the confidence of the students in the wisdom and intent of the faculty. 

 The first chapel exercise settled the whole question whether there would 

 be co-operation or rebellion, and though proper regard for the future 

 caused the susj)ension or expulsion of several students, even their warm- 

 est friends acquiesced in and admitted the justice of the action taken. 



"I have not known another man of such strong views as his who was at 

 heart so tender and merciful. The culprit sentenced by him recognized 

 this and rarely resented the punishment which justice made necessary. 



"This was, I think, the chief secret of his personal hold upon students 

 and alumni. He felt strongly and admired strongly marked personality. 

 In his own words in the address before the College Y. M. C. A. in 1S86, 

 on 'Affirmative Religious Principles,' which, by the way, is worthy of 

 preservation by every M. A. C. student, 'I have no sympathy with a 

 negative. I do not like negative men or women. The world may make 

 something out of a rascal, but out of a fool, never.' And_ yet I doubt 

 if ever a weakling found a more sympathetic or more helpful friend 

 than he. 



''He never permitted the larger affairs of the College management to 

 blot out the remembrance of snuill things, which were essential to the 

 welfare of students, and often risked his health and encroached upon his 

 stock of reserve force in order that he might give his personal attention 

 to little matters which most of us thought at the time unimportant, but 

 which we have since then come to realize the necessity of. If a student 

 was ill at the College, Mr. Willits seemed to charge himself personally 

 with the responsibility for his proper care and attendance, and if, as 

 sometimes happened, death entered the student family, no more sincere 

 mourner followed the bier than he. 



"One of the most vivid pictures of him in my own mind is connected 

 with the death of Gilbert in ^SS, when at midnight with the aid of two or 

 three whom he had notified, he carried the body of the dead boy clown 

 from the top floor of Wells Hall [to Taylor's room], and after ])reparing it 

 for burial, watched with the rest till day dawned. It Avas not more than 

 any one of us would do for his comrade, but how many of us, bearing the 

 heavy responsibility of head of such an institution, would be found at 

 hand in such an emergency I 



"It has always seemed to me that it was this thoughtfulness for others 

 that gave him such a strong hold upon the aft'ections of his students. It 

 -did not cease when the student left college, as manv of our fellow alumni 

 can testify. Nor was it confined to his studcmts, for among his associates 

 •during his last years, in church, business and political as well as in the 

 many and varied educational and scientific organizations with which he 

 was connected, the same grief is felt at his death. 



