Lipscomb University - Backlog Yearbook (Nashville, TN)

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DAVID LIPSCOMB COLLEGE S 1 HAVE AOU WT scream THE One wintry March day in 1892, five months 16, found ourselves wading 18 inches of snow FIRST after David Lipscomb and James A. Harding on the way to the school building located on DECADE had opened in Nashville a Bible school, my Fillmore Street. We had just a few days earl- younger brother Edwin, aged 12, and |, aged ier come up from Florida to enter the new school. Trudging through snow was rather a bitter experience for two lads fresh from the land of sunshine. As far back as | can remember | had want- ed to be a preacher. | had been ‘’cut out’’ by my parents for the ‘’ministry’’ and had grown up with no other calling in mind. They had expected to send me to Brother Larrimore’s school at Mars Hill, Alabama, but before | was old enough to go, the Mars Hill College had closed its doors. We had learned, however, through James A. Harding, an evangelist of national reputation, that he and Brother David Lipscomb were contemplating the establishment of such a school in Nashville. So when the school had become a reality, arrangements had been made for Mother to come with us and put us in the new school. We had rooms at Aunt Sally Baugh’s in South Nashville near the old Peabody campus only a few blocks from Fill- more Street. Aunt Sally was an interesting character. With palsied head she threatened, should any- One dare to bring an organ into the newly es- tablished South College Street Church, to take an ax and demolish the thing. She was the mother-in-law of Tom Ryman, the famous steamboat captain, who had recently been converted by Sam Jones, the revivalist, and had poured the whiskey from his boats into the Cumberland River. He built a big auditorium and named it Sam Jones Tabernacle, now known as Ryman Auditorium. This building and the College Street church figured largely in the early history of the school, the latter as our place of worship and the former as the place to hear lectures, concerts, and recitals. Theater- going (there were three theaters in town) was outlawed by strictly religious people. The new school had no official name, though the announcements of its proposed opening in the Gospel Advocate had referred to it as ““The Bible School.’’ Shortly after the opening, Brother Harding published an article under the heading ‘’The Nashville Bible School,”’ and this became the prevailing name. The school building, located almost adjoining the Tennessee School for the Blind on the present Hermitage Avenue, had been a large brick residence. Upstairs were rooms for a few boarding students. Brother Harding's The first faculty and student body. (Top row, left to right) Two unidentified students, A. D. Rogers, William Taylor, Will Logan (deceased), William Sisco (deceas- ed), John Hayes, O. L. Trahern (deceased), and three family lived in the rear rooms downstairs. In the base- unidentified students. Seated center: Harding, David and ment was the dining room. Classes met in the two William Lipscomb, and Paul Hays (deceased). Front large front rooms, which were separated by a cold hall. row, Eugene Houston, Leon Harding, O. T. Craig, Dan Somehow, the schedule of classes for the three teachers Gunn, and an unidentified student. was adjusted to these two rooms. Grates were used for

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OU Serind OF BibLt tOUGHTIO Al Hislory of Dauid Lipscoml Cattege

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heating the building. Old-fashioned school desks were used. One of my desk-mates was W. A. Woodroof, who still lives near Nashville. My teachers for the three remaining months of the year were William Lipscomb and Harding. | had Latin under William Lipscomb, over sixty years of age, pol- ished, and scholarly. His flowing white beard and dig- nified bearing made an impression upon me that | shall never forget. David Lipscomb, brother of William, was the third teacher. A little younger than William, he had reached the three-score mark himself. It would be difficult to describe David Lipscomb. He had a massive frame and an unusual brain. Beneath his plain and rugged ex- terior was a heart of gold. Apparently stern, he was kind and sympathetic. The students were fortunate in the early days of the school to know this man of God. He taught two classes in the Bible, one in the Old Testament and one in the New. This was his daily schedule as long as he taught in the school. His method of teaching was simple and didactic. With the open book he read and explained the text verse by verse. He and his brother William were both graduates of Frank- lin College. J. A. Harding, a graduate of Bethany College, was 43 years old at this time. He was a handsome man, ruddy in face, with dark hair and beard. He was fiery, emotional, and inspirational. His magnetism and driv- ing power were incentive enough to his students. In describing his Bible classes in the first session Harding wrote that his students became expert in memorizing whole chapters being ‘‘repeated readily in both English and Greek.’’ His faith and zeal impressed every stu- dent that came under his sway. He was father to his students and especially to some of us who had obeyed the gospel under his preaching. Harding was an ideal evangelist. From 1876 to 1891 he conducted three hundred revivals, seventeen of which were held in Nashville. In 1889 during one of these revivals, he stayed in the home of David Lipscomb and it was then that these two men discussed plans for the opening of a school where the Bible as a textbook would be taught along with other branches of study to every student. Owing to Harding’s preaching engage- ments the opening of the school was delayed until 1891. The first definite notice of the proposed school written by David Lipscomb appeared in the Gospel Advocate in the early part of 1891. In part it read as follows: “It is proposed to open a school in Nashville Septem- ber next under safe and competent teachers, in which the Bible excluding all human opinions and philosophy, as the only rule of faith and practice will be taught... . The aim is to teach the Christian religion as presented in the Bible in its purity and fullness; and in teaching Isaac Sewell, one of the early benefactors, who willed all of his property to David Lips- comb. lie og «gi Sa at ieee Be iar f © A group of teachers and students in 1901. Harding, Lipscomb, and Grant are seated. C. R. White and Paul Hays are seated next to Grant. Leon Harding stands immediately behind his father, and next, right, are S. P. Pittman, Bob Allen, Robert Pruett, C. E. W. Dorris, Sim Jones, John Hayes, O. T. Craig, Dan Cook, Edwin Pittman, an unidentified student, and G. W. McQuiddy. this to prepare Christians for usefulness in whatever sphere they are called upon to labor. Such additional branches will be taught as are needed and helpful in understanding and obeying the Bible and in teaching it to others. We desire at once to hear from all who feel an interest in establishing such a school and especially from such persons as are desirous of attending.”’ The response to this first definite notice was dis- couraging. About thirty-five young men wrote of their interest and desire to enter the school but most of them had no means. No one else seemed to be interested. Not a single member of the church volunteered aid other than those whom the proposed founders had al- ready seen personally. In July Lipscomb announced that the school would open October 1. A tuition fee of three dollars per month was to be charged those able to pay. Studies that were listed other than the Bible were English, Latin, Greek, and mathematics. In September Lipscomb wrote, “The school is not especially for preachers but to teach the Bible and all the branches that will be useful and helpful to the student.”’ On the morning of October 5, the day announced for the opening, nine young men enrolled. They ranged in age from eighteen to twenty-three, and all planned to become preachers. Four of them were from Tennes- see, one of whom lived in Nashville; two from Texas; one from Arkansas; one from Kentucky; and one from Alabama. No auspicious opening exercises were held. No announcement appeared in the Nashville papers. A few of the 32 students of the first session had left the school before | arrived. | never had the pleasure of knowing them, but well do | remember many of the other old students. There was Will Logan, who bade fair to be one of the leading evangelists of the church, O. L. Trahern of Kentucky, a brilliant student, and his genial companion, A. D. (‘‘Anno Domini,’ we called him) Rogers. Then there was the old bachelor, O. T. betel, ” bai ” a ¢ o.