Practical Bible Training School - Theologue Yearbook (Johnson City, NY)

Page 12 text:

V E 5 D A V .Presenting the story of the iiTWENTIETH CENTURY M1RAcLE',- Old things are passed way and all things are become new as the history of Practical Bible Training School has progressed and is progressing. THE OLD WHITE CITY HOTEL Back in the early 1900's, just outside the city limits of Binghamton, N. Y., there was a notorious amusement park known as the White City. The drunkenness and debauchery of the place was unspeak- able. Residents of the neighborhood feared to ride on the street cars going to and from that section because of the undesir- able characters so often crowding the cars. John A. Davis was residing near this section and was familiar with the condi- tions. Realizing the possibilities of this place if it could be secured, he one day paid the admission fee and visited the grounds. He saw the beautiful oak trees, the elms, the evergreens, and visualized the possibilities of the place as a permanent home for Practical Bible Training School. As he walked about the grounds he hap- pened to glance into the bar-room and saw the men and women lined up three-deep around the bar. As he turned to leave, he vowed to himself, With the help of God I'll smash this place. As he passed out- side the gate he knelt and prayed to God to give him this place for His work. This brewery-backed resort was a sep- arate organization for the purpose of sell- ing liquors, and any effort to obtain the grounds for other purposes would natur- ally meet with the determined resistance of those financially interested. There was many a prayer and many a struggle. For two years John A. Davis waited for the manifestation of the hand of God. Finally, because of a fight within the amusement organization, the White City corporation was thrown into the hands of a receiver. A Binghamton business man, interested in the School, though not aware of Mr. Davis' hopes, secured a short term option on the property and asked him if he would be interested. Within three hours he had secured the option, which gave them title to the property with all the buildings on it, one of which was a large and roomy hotel. Expect great things from God. -Carey. Page Ten

Page 11 text:

Chicago, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Seattle, Binghamton, and smaller cities and towns such as Altoona, Scotdale, Connellsville, Uniontown, Monongahela, Dubois and Punxsutawney in Pennsylvaniag and towns in New York such as Corning, Norwich, Sherburne, Earlville, and Walton. After forty years memories of these campaigns are recalled with enthusiasm by older members of these communities. The impact and spiritual vitality of those glorious meetings still abide, as we have noted fre- asked to sing, following a message on Prayer, and selected the hymn Unan- swered yet? Believing that he was per- fectly familiar with it, I whispered the title to him as I rose to sing. He said, Wait a moment. Let me look at it. He gave a swift glance at the music and nodded. I noticed during the rendition that he changed one or two of the harmonies of the song, otherwise thought nothing was amiss. When I finished and sat down he said, Mills, don't do that again. At least A Tabernacle Used During One oi Evangelist Davis' Campaigns quently in recent years. Much credit for the excellent music pro- duced in our meetings is due to the excel- lent musicianship and skill of our talented piano accompanist, Mr. George H. Carr. He was well trained in the resources of his instrument and prepared to respond instantly to the spiritual mood of the moment, adapting his accompaniments to the exacting demands of solo, choir or congregational singing. He quickly memo- rized the contents of our hymnbook, Songs of Redemption and Praise, and my near- ly one hundred solos. Seldom had he the music before him, but played from mem- ory, improvising as he played, many beautiful obligato melodies and nuances that greatly heightened the spiritual values of the music. His unusual ability may be illustrated by this incident: I was Now let me burnout for give me a minute to look a new one over. I never saw that hymn before! He was an excellent composer of hymns. Both lyrics and music flowed from his pen, some of which have achieved wide popu- larity, such as You Can Win the Victory Through Christ, The Old Book and the Old Faith, We're Here to Win, and Choose the Best. The hymn God Will Take Care of You was first used in Davis and Mills meet- ings. We were the first to use this hymn for it was composed for Mr. Davis by Rev. and Mrs. W. Stillman Martin at the old Bible School in Lestershire, to be in- corporated in the new song book he and John Clements were compiling. Singularly and fortunately, Mr. Davis selected this particular hymn to dedicate to his devoted CContinued ofn Page 126, God. -Henrv Martvn. Page Nine

Page 13 text:

TDDAY L. PRESENT MAIN BUILDING The transformation which immediately took place on the grounds of the White City has been well named a Twentieth Century Miracle. The old White City Hotel became the present Main Building, to which have been added wings on either end-one known as the Annex and the other Crowell Hall, which includes Crow- ell Chapel. The old Beer Garden became King Hall, the old Merry-go-round shelter formed the basis for what is now a young men's dor- mitory, housing about forty students, and the jail was rebuilt into a cotta-ge, now occupied by Dr. and Mrs. Gordon C. Davis. The United States Post Oiliice today is housed in what was the moving picture hall of the old White City. Other buildings were renovated and made usable. A hospital building has been added and another building with dormitory facilities known as the League Building. Another important building on the campus is Friendship Cottage, the home of Mrs. John A. Davis, which was built by friends as a tribute of love to Dr. and Mrs. John A. Davis. A slope of ground at the extreme west end of the campus, overlooking the Sus- quehanna River, has been set apart and named Sunset Knoll. It is on this knoll that the body of Dr. John A. Davis now rests. The Faculty consists of a number of instructors of high rank and training, not only in the knowledge of books, but in the knowledge of God and His Word. The student body is made up of men and women who have heard the call of the Lord jesus and have obeyed it. At present there are approximately one hundred and sixty students living in the dormitories and tak- ing the three year Divinity or Theological Course. These students widely represent the states of our Union, some of which are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, the State of Washington, Maryland, North Carolina, the Virginias, Arizona, Michigan, Minne- sota, as well as New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Canada is also represented. The way of the cross is the way of the crown. -Davis. Page Eleven