Atlantic Christian College - Pine Knot Yearbook (Wilson, NC)

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ho was compelled to give up school work. Prof. Kinsey, together with the other trustees and owners, very liberally gave over his interest in the building and entered into the work of establishing Atlantic Christian College. A campaign was made for money to furnish the building and to make needed repairs. I he people took hold of the idea with enthusiasm and earnestness. Dr. J. C. Coggins, a North Carolinian, at that time minister of the Christian Church at Decatur, 111., was called to the presidency. He made a thorough canvass of the State, and created quite an interest wherever he went. The college opened September, 1902, with more students than could be accommo- dated, several had to be refused admission. The trustees began the planning for new buildings. But soon the enthusiasm wore off. There were other disadvantages, and at the close of the second year it seemed that failure was inevitable. A number of mistakes had been made. The people had lost confi- dence in the school, and it looked like the doors would never be opened again. A new president must be found—a man that could tide over the stormy sea. The trustees began to look around. There was only one man whoub-thev thought could redeem the day. That was a man known all over North Caro- lina. A man who had served his State in many ways, in the legislative halls, in the schoolroom, and in the pulpit. A man of such straightforward char- acter and loving Christian qualities that everyone knew him only to love and respect him. A call went out to him, and Dr. J. J. Harper became president of Atlantic Christian College at the close of the second year—1904. Di Harper was a man of action, and had already planned other work for his latter years. He was preparing to write a History of the Christian Church in North Carolina, but he laid everything else aside and threw himself into the work of building up Atlantic Christian College, for the establishment of which he had labored so earnestly, and which he had had the honor to name. He labored against difficulties; he sacrificed every personal interest; his whole thought and ambition was to redeem the college and give to it its rightful position in the educational realm of North Carolina and in the minds and hearts of the people of the State. It was up-hill business, but steadily his earnestness and endeavor brought forth results. The attendance the third year was better than at first was thought it could be. The fourth year it was still better, and the fifth year it was better than ever before, and the buildings were taxed to their utmost capacity. The college was made stronger than ever before. The people gained confi- dence in it. Dr. Harper had done a work which no other person could have done. But the call came to him to return to his first work. He was advan-

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