Rhodes College - Lynx Yearbook (Memphis, TN)

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QAD ll 00 from the four supporting Synods. Southwestern purchased a rock quarry at Bald Knob, Arkansas, for building stone and work began. Palmer Hall went up in 1923 in memory of Dr. Benjamin Palmer, for fortyffive years pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of New Orleans, and one of the original founders of the college. It was Palmer's efforts which made Southwestern the first col' lege to include the Bible as a required textbook. The people of New Orleans were the major contributors toward Palmer Hall. A short time later contracts were . let for two dormitories, Robb and Calvin Halls, a dining hall, kitchen and science building. In September, 1925, at the age of seventyfseven, Southwestern at Memphis officially opened its doors in its new location. With years of achievement behind her, and with a new faculty, facilities, students, funds and friends, her use' fulness in the new location seemed unlimited. MAIL IS NOT A NEW THING A St. Louis banking house lent S700,000 to the college which in 1917 had less than 2B500,000 total assets in Clarks' ville. Mrs. Hugh M. Neeley gave S100,000 in memory of her husband and the dining hall was named for him. This started the movement and Mr. William R. Craig of Yazoo City and his brother Robert Craig of New Orleans both contributed 5B100,000. Mr. T. Lupton of Chattanooga offered S5 0,000 and by July, 1930, the debt was paid. What an advance from Montgomery Masonic College with a deficit of 59,000 to Southwestern at Memphis worth more than 5IS400,000! The Memphis College of Music was am algamated with Southwestern in 1943, and Faq IN

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H00 Stewart Building was built in 1878 in memory of the beloved professor who had died the previous year. By this time the boundary lines of the synods had changed so that Arkansas and Texas were separated, leaving Southwestern to the synods of Alaf bama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. From 1885, when the School of Divinity was added, until 1893, the chair of Theology was occupied by Joseph R. Wilson, whose son, Woodrow Wilson, absorbed the heritage of Southwestern and later carried it on into international politics. The great Presbyterian theologian, Robert Alexander Webb, an alumnus of 1877, taught theology from 1892 until 1908. In 1888 Dr. Waddell retired and was succeeded by Chancellors C. C. Hersman, J. M. Rawlings, George Summey, Neander M. Woods and William Dinwiddie. Dr. john R. Dobyns was called to become president in 1914. Dr. George Lang, then professor of hisf tory and economics, became acting president. Lang now serves on the Q , .fs faculty of the University of Alaf bama. Dr. Charles E. Diehl, pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Clarksville, assumed the presidency in August 1917. Born at Charlestown, West Virginia, graduate of ,Iohn Hopkins and Princeton Seminary, this fiery man of conviction had already served the churches of Crescent Springs, Kentucky, and Greenville, Mississippi. In 1919 he ref turned to Greenville to marry Miss Katherine Ireys. Now for thirty years the students of Southwestern have felt the power of his firm rhetoric and the wisdom of his keen mind. In 1922, an extensive campaign to move Southwestern to Memphis was climaxed by an offer of half a million dollars and a 100facre location next to Cverton Park by the Ivlemphis Chamber of Commerce and nearly a million dollars in contributions E gh!

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IICODO the curriculum was further broadened in 1947 by relation with the Memphis Academy of Arts. In this centennial year Southwestern's friends may well pause to proudly consider what her accomplishments are and what they are to be. The words of her alma mater best express this: Dear Elma Mater, kind the fate That links our lives with thee, For Goavs Own power that made thee great Ts the truth that makes us free. Thy torch has touched our hearts with flame. Our yearning souls repinej Through thee we learn the higher aim And train the truer mind. Oli, leader to the larger light, Southwestern, 'neath thy wings, Thy sons in reverent love unite, find each his tribute brings. rind dreams such dreams as old men dream find visions young men see Keep lighted in our hearts the flame, Once kindled there of thee. James Roper, class of '47, is the third student to win a Rhodes Scholarship during Dr. Diehl's presidency. One of the other students, Earle McGee, will join the .faculty of Southwestern next year. Page Ten Southwestern's architecture is Collegiate Gothic, an adaptation of the style def DR. RHODES DR. HARTLEY as a gay young blade Wifh No Gray in His Hair