Lipscomb University - Backlog Yearbook (Nashville, TN)

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but there is no evidence in his writing to support such a conclusion. He declared that the Nashville Bible School was already full and could not be enlarged sufficiently for all who would like to attend a Bible college. It was never his purpose to build a school of gigantic propor- tions; a small school, dominated by the spirit of Christ, and then a number of smaller schools, scattered over a vast area, represented his program of Christian edu- cation. The opportunity came to establish a school in the outskirts of Bowling Green, Kentucky, similar to the Nashville school. This was made possible by the gener- osity of C. C. Potter and wife. The Potter Bible College continued to operate until near the outbreak of the World War, although Brother Harding had to resign after ten years of service. Harding’s personality led about one-half of the stu- dent body of the tenth session to follow him to the new institution. He made it plain that he did not intend to induce any student to leave the Nashville school for the Bowling Green college. He took with him from the fac- ulty his son-in-law, J. N. Armstrong. | decided to re- main with the old institution and have never regretted my decision. Mention must be made of some of the outstanding men who were connected with the school during the first decade. John T. Glenn came to N. B. S. from Cornersville, stayed a while, and then attended the University of Kentucky for a term. He returned to Nash- ville, saying that he wished to become a Christian and he found the atmosphere at the Bible school more con- genial. He became a student-teacher in the school, and soon developed into one of its most valuable instructors. His long connection with the Louisville Male High School attests his superiority as a teacher. E. E. Sewell gave up a good position with a large firm in Memphis to come to the Bible school to prepare to preach. He became a painstaking pupil and a tire- less worker. He never became a preacher, but remained to grow into a scholarly teacher of English. For many years he remained with the school as head of the English department. O. W. Gardener, whose father had been partly rear- ed by Tolbert Fanning, taught mathematics for a number of years. Gardener was one of the most enthusiastic advocates of Bible school work. When he left Nashville, he became connected with the Western Bible and Lit- erary College at Odessa, Missouri. From there he went to California and was greatly responsible for the estab- lishment of Santa Rosa and the Pacific Bible schools. S. R. Logue, who came as a student, became a teacher in the intermediate department, and his wife taught primary grades. Logue was one of the handsomest men ever connected with the institution. He was quiet, gentle, and capable. | must mention several foreigners who attended dur- ing the first decade: W. Sakakabara and H. Makita, Japanese; Kh. B. Yohannan, Persian; and G. Paul, Armenian. Sakakabara afterwards went to the Univer- sity of the South, and became an Episcopal minister in his native country. Makita made a physician and in- ered An English class of 1897-98 poses on the steps of the old Garrett building. S. R. Logue, the teacher, stands at the right. J. P. Sewell, who later became president of Abilene Christian College, stands in the center background and A. B. Barrett sits in the center foreground. He is now a member of the board of directors, but when this picture was made, Ben Harding was just a student talking to his girl friend at a dormitory window (of all things!) . The student of 1941 is advised to take notice of the example. Mary Fanning and Lura Atkins in their dormitory room in 1898 read letters from home. On the dresser are pictures of Professor Bryan and A. B. Lipscomb (now deceased).

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The faculty and the students of the session of 1900- 01. Beginning with James A. Harding and reading to the left are: Lipscomb, Dr. Ward (with his son, Truman, on his knee), J. N. Armstrong (with his daughter Pat- tie on his knee), John T. Glenn, R. H. Boll, E. E. Sewell, Germon, French, English, and natural science. All students were required to study sight-singing. It was about this time that the instruction in instrumental music was offered. Elocution was introduced into the curricu!um two years before. There was a fair nucleus of a library, consisting of 300 volumes. 120 students enrolled during the year. At the commencement four or five received diplomas, each representing six years of work. The year that | returned to the school saw a further gain in enrollment, the highest in the first ten years. There were 94 boys, 43 girls, and 12 teachers. The students came from Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, lowa, Tennessee, Texas, Ind- ian Territory, Canada, Persia, Syria, and Turkey. | found among the students William J. Bishop, who went to Japan as a missionary, Jesse P. Sewell, later president of Abilene Christian College, R. H. Boll, now editor of the ‘‘Word and Work,’’ R. C. Bell, well-known Bible educator, E. A. Timmons, and Porter Ward. Three of the Dunn brothers, Ed Cullum, L. J. Jackson, J.K. Hill, |. B. Bradley, D. Northcutt, and E. C. Fuqua had come during my four years absence. It was at the close of this session that Grant and Bryan resigned. In spite of the efforts of Dr. Ward, who conducted a summer campaign for students, a further decrease in enrollment took place in the session of 1899- 1900. The teaching staff centered their efforts upon an excellent quality of work. Some students were dis- missed because they did not do their work well. An example of diligent work is found in the Greek classes where three to four hours were required for the prepar- ation of each lesson. Superintendent Harding declared that as a result of the high standard of work, graduates of the Nashville Bible School were leading their classes in institutions of higher learning throughout the South, a record which the college, now in its fiftieth year, still claims. The tenth session was the last conducted under the superintendency of Harding. During this year 106 stu- O. W. Gardner. Behind Gardner and to his left is Mrs. Fothergill, matron of the boys’ dormitory. Immedi- ately behind Glenn is Miss Ruth Murphy, music teacher. Absent were S. P. Pittman and Mrs. Ida C. Noble, art teacher. dents were enrolled. The total cost per student, including board, room, tuition, a nd fees, was $99.00 for boys and $108.00 for girls. The faculty for the year was as follows: Lipscomb and Harding, Bible; Armstrong and John T. Glenn, Greek and Latin; Robert H. Boll, French and German; O. W. Gardner, mathematics; E. E. Sewell, English; Ruth Murphy, music; Mrs. Ida C. Noble, art; J. S. Ward, natural sciences; and S. P. Pittman, elocution and sight singing. The operation of the college was made possible only by great sacrifices of the teachers. During the last two years that Harding served as superintendent he received no money at all from the school. He wrote freely in the Gospel Advocate and in his new religious journal, ‘The Way,’’ about the school, its plans, progress, and aims. “We make no distinction,“” he wrote, ‘‘between minis- terial students and others; males and females, church members and non-church members....are put in the same classes and taught the same way... .The school is under the control of no church except as its teachers are controlled by their respective congregations.”’ Harding declared in 1899 that the board of trustees served only as advisors and custodians of property, but that the faculty did not consult the board concerning anything. The school operated loosely in a free-lance sort of way and Harding’s ability as an administrator was often being questioned. In order to put the school On a sounder footing and bring its finances in line with the accepted method of the day, it was decided to incorporate it. A charter was issued on February 2, 1901, naming David Lipscomb, W. H. Dodd, J. R. Ward, C. A. Moore, J. C. McQuiddy, and W. R. Chambers as incorporators. The charter stated that the school was “for the purpose of teaching the Word of God and various other branches of useful knowledge, commonly taught in institutions of learning.’’ Harding did not believe that the school should be incorporated. That spring Harding decided to resign as superin- tendent. It is natural to suspect that his resignation was a result of a change in the organization of the school,

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tended to become a medical missionary, but death from tuberculosis cut short his work. Yohannan went back to Persia and did missionary work there. His son after- wards came to the school. Paul became medical mission- ary. It is said that he died a victim of the World War. | sometimes think of Makita’s mistake. He had done something to exasperate the matron at the school on Spruce Street, Mrs. Fothergill. When the exacting matron demanded of Makita an apology, he meekly submitted, and approached her with these words. ‘’Mrs. Fothergill, | come to get you to apologize me.’’ Needless to say this made matters worse, but it left Makita wondering. During this period the first attempt was made to establish a literary society. There was opposition. The word “‘society’’ reminded them too much of a “mis- sionary society,” and of course that was out of the question in the church of Christ. The question was vigorously discussed, pro and con, and finally it was agreed that it was legitimate to have a “‘society’’ that was purely literary. Ten years of history demonstrated the practicability of such an institution as the Bible School. It proved, too, that good men could work together in harmony, even with divergent opinions. Friendly discussions were held at times, notably one between A. McGary and David Lipscomb on the rebaptism question, and one between G. G. Taylor and David Lipscomb on the civil government question. It was apparent that the school could not be static. A degree of flexibility was needed. Changes were bound to come. In order to be stable, it had to be mobile. Yet it is believed that the same spirit of sacrifice and loyal- ty characterized the school at the close of the period that prompted its establishment. IN THE EVENING OF LIFE One of the last pictures made of James A. Harding, with his overcoat on his arm and his bag beside him. His posture here was characteristic of him throughtout his life. He never sat,’ writes one of his children. He was vigorous and dynamic in his active life. His later years were spent in At- lanta, where his wid- ow still lives, and where he wa s well provided for when he no longer had full command of his men- tal powers. He died in 1922. S. P. Pittman, extreme right, and a group of teachers and students in 1901. Il. ANDERSON THROUGH ELAM It was no easy task to find a man to take the place of James A. Harding. It was feared that the school could not carry on with the enthusiasm inspired by that magnetic man. In the early summer of 1901 Brother Lipscomb, acting for the trustees, employed William Anderson, of Maury County, to succeed the out-going Anderson, 52 years of age, was a Reared on a farm, he superintendent. graduate of Franklin College. was a lover of nature and he had keen insight into human nature. Having been a school teacher for many years he was an ardent lover of youth. He loved to associate with young people and enjoyed teaching them. Anderson was a leader of men and a peacemaker in the community in which he lived. Harding wrote of him in ‘The Way,”’ ‘‘Brother Anderson is a very sup- erior man. He is a teacher of much experience and skill. ...he is a preacher of splendid ability... . may the school under his leadership continue to grow and prosper.’ Through vigorous correspondence carried on by J. S. Ward, diligent preparations were made for the opening of the eleventh session. The results were encouraging, the enrollment totaling 100, only six short of that of the preceding year. The fact that two schools only 75 miles apart opened so auspiciously in the fall of 1901 was proof that the Bible school idea was rapidly gain- ing ground. Lipscomb’s comments upon the progress of the school during Anderson’s first year were favorable. The same standard of work that had existed under Harding was maintained by his successor. Sewell, teacher of English, succeeded Armstrong in the teaching of Greek. O. W. Gardner continued mathematics, John T. Gleen in ancient languages, and Dr. Ward in science. J. Paul Slayden, a graduate of Kentucky University, a school- man of ability, was added to the faculty and remained during Anderson’s administration. Anderson himself took Brother Harding’s place in Bible. As a matter of course, his method was not the same as that of Hard- ing’s. By this time younger men were sufficiently de- veloped to assist in the teaching of Bible. At the closing exercises of the school five received degrees, the first to be given by the school. During this year the school received its first gift of any size— $12,000 from the estate of Mrs. Fannie Pond. This