Patrick Hues Mell
Encyclopedia
Patrick Hues Mell was born in Walthourville, Georgia
, served as the President of the Southern Baptist Convention
in two terms from 1863–1871 and 1880–1887, as well as served as chancellor of the University of Georgia
(UGA) in Athens
from 1878 until his resignation in 1888. (The head of the University was referred to as chancellor instead of president, from 1860 until 1932).
in 1814. He studied at local institutions until he entered Amherst College
in 1833 at the age of 19. He studied there for two years but did not graduate with his class. By 1841 Mell had obtained a position at Mercer University
as a professor of ancient langues. In 1856 he took a similar position at the University of Georgia. There he was appointed to vice-chancellor in 1860.
and three years later was named president of the Southern Baptist Convention
. He retained both positions until his death in Athens in 1888.
(commonly known today as college fraternities
). The ban had become a major source of conflict between students and faculty that Mell hoped to avoid. As a result of this action, the modern Greek system
that today comprises nearly one-fifth of UGA students owes its existence to Mell.
Another issue Mell tackled was the Trustees' requirement for most students that they live in dormitory
housing provided by the university. Believing this to be a bad policy, Mell informed the Board that he could not enforce it. At his urging, they repealed the rule.
Mell was also involved in the expansion of branch colleges. Branches of UGA colleges were established in Dahlonega, Cuthbert, Milledgeville, and Thomasville with only Dahlonega's still in existence. The school, North Georgia College
, was the first in the state to admit and award degrees
to women. Another branch school that was an issue was the establishment of the School of Technology in the 1880s. Mell was a firm believer that it should be located at Athens with the University's main campus, like the Agricultural and Mechanical School. Despite Mell's arguments, the Georgia Institute of Technology
(founded 1885) is today an entirely separate school located in Atlanta, and is the chief rival
of the Athens university.
By 1888, Mell had become ill and resigned the Chancellor's position; he died shortly thereafter. His passing was met with mourning across the state and by Southern Baptists everywhere. He was 73 years old.
Walthourville, Georgia
Walthourville is a city in Liberty County, Georgia, United States. It is a part of the Hinesville-Fort Stewart metropolitan statistical area. The population was 4,030 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Walthourville is located at ....
, served as the President of the Southern Baptist Convention
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
in two terms from 1863–1871 and 1880–1887, as well as served as chancellor of the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
(UGA) in Athens
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
from 1878 until his resignation in 1888. (The head of the University was referred to as chancellor instead of president, from 1860 until 1932).
Education and early life
Mell was born in Walthourville, GeorgiaWalthourville, Georgia
Walthourville is a city in Liberty County, Georgia, United States. It is a part of the Hinesville-Fort Stewart metropolitan statistical area. The population was 4,030 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Walthourville is located at ....
in 1814. He studied at local institutions until he entered Amherst College
Amherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
in 1833 at the age of 19. He studied there for two years but did not graduate with his class. By 1841 Mell had obtained a position at Mercer University
Mercer University
Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...
as a professor of ancient langues. In 1856 he took a similar position at the University of Georgia. There he was appointed to vice-chancellor in 1860.
Religion
While working as a professor Mell also became very involved in Religious works. He served as a pastor in several churches throughout his lifetime. In 1857 Mell was elected president of the Georgia Baptist ConventionGeorgia Baptist Convention
The Georgia Baptist Convention is an autonomous association of Baptist churches in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is one of the state conventions associated with the Southern Baptist Convention...
and three years later was named president of the Southern Baptist Convention
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
. He retained both positions until his death in Athens in 1888.
Publications
He also published many books on religious subjects:- Baptism in Its Mode and Subjects (1853)
- Corrective Church Discipline (1860)
- A Manual of Parliamentary Practice(1867)
- The Doctrine of Prayer (1876)
Education career
In 1878, the University of Georgia had fallen on hard times. Enrollment and support were in decline, and the school needed a strong leader. Despite his initial unwillingness to take the job, Mell reluctanly accepted the Chancellorship, provided, among other things, that the Board of Trustees rescind its rule barring student secret societiesSecret society
A secret society is a club or organization whose activities and inner functioning are concealed from non-members. The society may or may not attempt to conceal its existence. The term usually excludes covert groups, such as intelligence agencies or guerrilla insurgencies, which hide their...
(commonly known today as college fraternities
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
). The ban had become a major source of conflict between students and faculty that Mell hoped to avoid. As a result of this action, the modern Greek system
Greek life at the University of Georgia
Greek Life at the University of Georgia comprises more than three dozen active chapters of social fraternities and sororities. While most of the groups are chapters of national organizations, including members of the North-American Interfraternity Conference, National Panhellenic Conference and...
that today comprises nearly one-fifth of UGA students owes its existence to Mell.
Another issue Mell tackled was the Trustees' requirement for most students that they live in dormitory
Dormitory
A dormitory, often shortened to dorm, in the United States is a residence hall consisting of sleeping quarters or entire buildings primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people, often boarding school, college or university students...
housing provided by the university. Believing this to be a bad policy, Mell informed the Board that he could not enforce it. At his urging, they repealed the rule.
Mell was also involved in the expansion of branch colleges. Branches of UGA colleges were established in Dahlonega, Cuthbert, Milledgeville, and Thomasville with only Dahlonega's still in existence. The school, North Georgia College
North Georgia College and State University
North Georgia College & State University is a four-year public university located in Dahlonega, Lumpkin County, Georgia. Founded as North Georgia Agricultural College in 1873, it is the second oldest co-educational institution in the state. The university is renowned for its ROTC program, and is...
, was the first in the state to admit and award degrees
History of North Georgia College and State University
North Georgia College and State University began as a branch of the Georgia College of Agriculture and Mechanical at the University of Georgia in 1873.-Early history :...
to women. Another branch school that was an issue was the establishment of the School of Technology in the 1880s. Mell was a firm believer that it should be located at Athens with the University's main campus, like the Agricultural and Mechanical School. Despite Mell's arguments, the Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
(founded 1885) is today an entirely separate school located in Atlanta, and is the chief rival
College rivalry
Pairs of schools, colleges and universities, especially when they are close to each other either geographically or in their areas of specialization, often establish a college rivalry with each other over the years. This rivalry can extend to both academics and athletics, the latter being typically...
of the Athens university.
By 1888, Mell had become ill and resigned the Chancellor's position; he died shortly thereafter. His passing was met with mourning across the state and by Southern Baptists everywhere. He was 73 years old.
See also
- Southern Baptist ConventionSouthern Baptist ConventionThe Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
- Southern Baptist Convention PresidentsSouthern Baptist Convention PresidentsThe President of the Southern Baptist Convention heads the denomination and is elected at the yearly convention. The term is for one year, and a candidate can serve a maximum of two consecutive terms.-See also:...
- List of Southern Baptist Convention affiliated people