Thus equipped, Randolph-Macon College entered on its career--a career full of unforeseen trials and difficulties. It was to a great extent a new experiment, and the great need of the College, without which few, if any, have ever lived beyond a sickly existence, that is, a proper endowment, was a _desideratum_ unprovided for at this time. The funds on hand and subscriptions did not suffice to supply the buildings necessary and other outfit. Other colleges of the Methodist Church in distant States had entered on the same course. They had gone down or were soon to go down. This one now to be launched, under the good providence and blessing of God, was to survive the chill of poverty and the disasters of war--cast down often, but not destroyed. After over a half-century of struggle it was to anchor in a safe haven. Hope kindly blinded the eyes of those who launched the ship and prophesied a prosperous voyage. Faith sowed in tears ofttimes, and after many days gathered in the precious harvest. It was to be indeed _Alma Mater_ to many sons, and daughters, too, and a mother of many other Methodist colleges, blessing every State in the South, some of them surpassing in outfit and endowment the mother. As a loving mother rejoices with and in her daughters, so does Randolph-Macon rejoice in the colleges of the church she has lived to see grow and flourish. Before proceeding further, let us look at the location and outfit of the College at the opening day. The first College building erected stood on gently rising ground, one mile west of the village of Boydton, in the centre of what had been a race-track. On the north was an "old field," once cultivated, but now partially covered with pine and broom-sedge, a part seamed with gulleys. One splendid sweet-gum tree fronted the west wing. On the south there were small oaks of second growth, just large enough to furnish partial shade. Outside of the campus further on were thickets on both sides of the avenue leading to the Clarksville road. The campus contained about four acres, and was enclosed by a heavy wooden fence. The style of the building is shown on the opposite page. [Illustration: RANDOLPH-MACON COLLEGE. _Main Building, 1832._] The centre building contained the chapel on the north side--a room about fifty-two feet by thirty-two, with galleries on all sides but one. The other parts of this building were arranged for lecture-rooms, laboratory and halls for the literary societies. The wings of the centre building contained each twenty-four dormitories, each large enough for two occupants. Until the Professors' houses were built there was not a dwelling-house nearer than Boydton. Soon after the College was built, an avenue was opened from it to Boydton, bringing the College building and the village in sight of each other. Clarksville, a town of some importance in the tobacco trade, was twelve miles distant. Here was a bank and mercantile and tobacco houses.