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

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.Mm JOH A. DAVI .fmfrwbntyalkfuwt . JOHN A. HIS FAITHFUL WIFE Mag 500449194 .Spend audi Aid We have missed him during fhese past sixteen years hut his home-going was not a door which shut out his life, but one which opened into a larger life. His last words to his Faculty, Staff, Students and Alumni were carry on, carr on. During my twenty-five years spent in ghristian service it has been my joy to meet many of the outstanding Christian leaders of the world. I count it one of the greatest privileges, in all of my Christian ex erience, to have known intimatel one whom God saw lit to use in such a great way-Dr. ,liohn A. Davis. We met here at the School in 1923 and our friendship ripened into an attachment which I enjoyed during the remainder of his life, and which I cherish in memory now. When the Lord called Dr. Davis home, instead of mourning, we looked up and addressed him in the words of the poet: Thy da has come, not goneg Thy sun has risen, not setg Thy life is now beyond The reach of death or change, Not ended-but begun. M. C. Patterson Sponsored through courtesy of UNION GOSPEL PRESS, Box 6059, Cleveland l, Ohio Publishers and Distributors of Christian Literature for All Departments. Illustrated S. S. papers and attractive Quartet-lies for Bible teaching. Samples free on request. 6 family aliens Mound Me fha -

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.l0ll .DAVI neue tyzlfwfaon HL C. Paterson I We often slpeak of our friends who have departed as though they were swept out of existence. It is difficult in the hour o grief to conceive that they have simply changed relations. We say of the sun at evening, It has gone. Gone where? It has simply faded from our vision to shed its light on some other part of the globe. We sa of the ship that gradually sinks front sight, It is gone. Gone Where? It is just wending its way across Y pathless waters to find a harbor and to shtne tn another realm. ' ' l' I I' st heard of Dr. .Iohn A. Davis and of his great workg but it It was during my early boyhood days t tat ir was not until a few years later, when entered the Practical Bible Training School as a student, that I came ' ' C d d ' the twelve years that it was to know'him personally. I was deeply impressed by tlns great man of ,o uring ' ' h h' both as a student and then later as a co-laborer in the School. mg privilege to be closely associated wit im, . T rough my close association with Dr. Davis, I soon learned why he was the great man that he was. His spirit was born of the Master s love for htm aml his love for the Master. ll took God at His word and claimed His promises. Prayer was I knew Dr. Davis as a great man of prayer. e the secret of his great success as a Pastor, Evangelist, and Educator. He learned early in his Christian experi- ence that frequent sessions of secret rayer were necessary in his walk with Cod. Another characteristic was his perlget sincerity. Surrounded by the discouraging and difficult influences of life he never displayed, in the years of our acquaintance, the least wavering from that high and pure purpose, ' ' ' ' ' f' st. To all of this sincerity of purpose, i from that manly and sincere hfe which characterized hnn from the very ir ' ' dd d ' : ra e a nersistency, hidden but indomitable, planted in his without fear and without reproach, he a e a tou g , I life, and enduring even to the day the Lord called him home. Dr. Davis was a genius and a hard workerg there were never enough hours in thc day for him. Ile was in his office or out making contacts for the School from early morning until, often times the wee hours of the morning. Many a time he came and tapped on my bedroom window late at night, saying, Patterson, I need you. Can you come to the office? The ends that other men gained by round-about methods, he sought in absolute direct- ness. He saw things with clearness, believed in them with ardor, uttered them with fearlessness, and labored for them with intensit . Ile had small patience with any service that seamped or was slovenly. He himself ' - ' Wh' ever th hand findeth to do, do it with obeyed, and he wantedyothers to obey the Bible command, also y ' ' ' ' e Isa. 5017. For the Lord Jehovah will help me:, therefore thy might. He hved out his favortte Scripture vers , have I not been confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. Never a man lived who was more unselfish, thoughtful, and who lived for others as Dr. Davis. The motto of his life WHS, Cod first, others second. and then .Iohn Davis. ' ' ' ' ' h' f 'de. To him and his faithful wife, who was both his, He loved his hottie He found his inspiration at is trest ' ' -h ' home these devoted parents reared a loving helpmeet and conripanion, that home was a sacred spot. In sur, a ' ' ' are now thinking of this ideal ofa true home, where the thoughts . . . . m k family, two sons. heir friends who are many, andwork of Dr. and Mrs. Davis were one because they had the same bright visions which they sought to ma e rea ities. Dr. Davis was a noted preacher and teacher. He used the expository method of preaching, using a great many illustrations out of his life experiences. Through his ministry thousands of souls accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and hundreds of young people have gone out into definite Christian service. Behind every work is a man of vision. Someone has well said. God's method is a man. The Scriptures declare, Your young men shall see visions and our old men shall drea.m dreams. Acts 2:17. It is the young ' ' ' ll ' ' ' e the vision fully materialize. Dr. Davis was a men who see visions for it usually requires a ful hfe time to se d h faith never faltered, whose energ-ies seemingly were never exhausted, . . f man whose vision never dimme , w ose ' and whose prayer, faith and sacrificial efforts have been rewarded in the establishment of an institution o ' ' ' ' for christian servtm. What a beautiful monu- learning through which many you ng people are receiving training 'l b se of the vision God gave him. The heritage of a pure and upright hfe. ' th in- ment he left! A structure but t ecau A bronze tablet placed over the grave of Dr. Davis by his. family may crumble and be forgotten, ut e fluence of his good deeds will continue like the waves of the might ocean, rolling on until they break upon the further shore. Dr. Davis often expressed the thought that he didynot want a monument erected on his grave. but rather, just a simple marker pointing toward the School with these words: There stands my Monument. ' d these could not but have been pleasant to himg Dr. Davis did not seek honors, though he won many, an but be was seeking that which was above honors, with which he could enrich his life and strengthen himself for bearing his part in enriching other lives Continued next page Sponsored through courtesy of DR. and MRS. M. C. PATTERSON and CLARE Bible School Park, N. Y, 5

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Dr.Mmam1...w., Why do students have to go to Chicago for Bible training? Why isn't there a Bible School in the East? These were the questions many Christians were asking in the days when Moody Bible Institute was the only school of its kind in America. These questions glijlpped the soul of thevyoung evangelist, Rev. John A. Davis. While a student at oody, he had been r. Moody's personal attendant. Now a successful revivalist himself, Mr. Davis was in a campaign in Hazleton, Penna. While in prayer, a vision came to him that he should found a Bible School in the East. Receiving a letter that same evening, he discovered that it contained a dollar bill and a brief note: I am a washerwoman in Horseheads, N. Y. God has placed a burden upon your heart-this small gift is for that ose Believing this to be a sign from his Lord, Mr. Davis dedicated him- purp . A h self to this great undertaking. ' ' ed in 1900' in rooms over a store in Practical Bible Tramin School open Lestershire Qlohnson Cityg, N. Y. Soon these rooms were too small and even a new building they were able to erect was outgrown, so Mr. Davis began thrusting about for larger quarters. The ideal spot Quin God's chosen place j presented itself in the form of The White Cityf, a nearby amusement park of vile repute. The conversion of this place into P.B.T.S. was accomplished in 1911. Space prevents the mention of but a few of the early Faculty Members. Mr. John R. Clements was the first President, and not many ears thereafter, Rev. Ernest G. Crabill was chosen as Vice President. Rev. William Pike be- came Dean, and Prof. H. S. Miller and Miss Mary Scotten were revered teachers of,many blessed memories. No teacher ever imparted more to the Students than Dr. John A. Davis himself. The Golden Jubilee finds the School in the best lposition of its history. As of 1950 the Alumni Association numbers 1241 Gra uates. Their fields of labor ' ' d nd the mortgage of Q52,500 encircle the Globe. Buildings have been enlarge a ' A t dent of thirty years ago would never recognize the has been liquidated. s u course of this Anniversary Year. P.B.T.S. stands upon the sure foundation of these fifty trying et triumphant years, and dedicates herself anew to the unfinished task of fixrther service, assured full well that He which hath begun a good work in us will Tzform it until the day of Jesus Christ. M. L. we ohn A. Davis the First Dollar to Mrs. Crossan:--She Gave ,I Start Bible School. Sponsored through courtesy of KRUEGER-DENCE EVANGELIS TIC PARTY, 316 East illater Sr., Elmira N Y 7 ot G0 P L TRAINING fir... -dk