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

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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

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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

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574124 jf game U0 ggaaa . It was in the early summer of 1900 that Rev. John A. Davis sent a notice to the various churches in Binghamton and vicin- ity to the effect that he was about to or- ganize a Bible class which would meet evenings in a hall room over a store, at the corner of Arch and Main Streets, Les- tershire, New York. Between eighty and ninety people came to this first class. Mr. Davis was the only teacher for the first term. The subjects taught were How to use the Bible, Book Summary, Personal Work, and some introductory studies in Doctrine. The attendance grew until there were about one hundred and twenty students in the class. The selection of the name for the insti- tution is interesting. Many urged that it be called The Davis Bible School, but Mr. Davis was determined that the school should not be named after him. He insist- ed that what he wanted to give was a prac- tical working knowledge of the Bible to the young people, which would enable them to be of unusual service in their res- pective churches. Finally, the school was named The Practical Bible Training School as Mr. Davis wished. The school was incorporated under the membership laws of New York State in the year 1900. The School rapidly grew and it became necessary to seek larger accommodations -. wk. DAVIS HALL, NOW KING HALL At the close of the first term, the class permanently organized and the feeling be- came general that a permanent school building should be obtained and a Bible School established. Land was donated for a school building on Harrison Street, Johnson City. The need was presented by organized groups of stu- dents. Everywhere they went with the enthusiastic message, We are going to build the school. Plans were drawn and the building was quickly completed. The first certificates of the completion of in- troductory studies were issued on Sep- tember 1, 1901. and campus facilities. Mr. Davis became interested in the grounds and buildings of the White City described on a preceding page. The transition from Harrison Street to the present site was accomplished in June of 1911 by the students. It was said by one of the students present at the time that the furniture moved from the wagon to the new building just as rapidly as things usually come out of a burning building. The first instruction on the grounds took place in Davis Hall, now known as King Hall. fContinued on Page 1255 Better bum for Christ than turn from Christ. -Davis. Page Twelve