Bethany College - Bethanian Yearbook (Bethany, WV)

Page 18 text:

By training and choice of life work our president was a minister of the gospel. Hence, his vital interest in ministerial students. He was always concerned over the proportion of prospective ministers in the total enrollment. During my period of study here Dr. Goodnight began to teach courses in New Testament criticism. Many times since I have referred to my notes on the Synoptic Problem and the Pauline Epistles. The same systematic, logical thoroughness found in all of his work was carried into the class room. He patiently opened up the field of biblical criticism thus preparing us for intensive and comprehensive work later. He believed that men could learn how to preach by preaching. Appointments for student preaching were secured through his untiring efforts. Frequently he would stop a student on the campus to inquire as to the problem faced and the progress made. One was forced to marvel at his memory and depth of interest in personal problems. President Goodnight believed in a thoroughly trained ministry. His own training vas complete. He encouraged men to go to graduate school for more complete study. Our desires and hopes were stimulated by his own remarks and by addresses and con- ferences with leaders from theological schools. I recall a visit to our campus by Dean Brown of Yale in the spring of 1927. The dean spoke in chapel in the morning. Personal conferences were arranged for all men interested in graduate work. Our president converted his office into a conference room. A number of us settled the question that day as to where we were going to continue our preparation. Nor did Dr. Goodnight forget his boys when they entered graduate school. Letters preceded our registration. He visited the Divinity School once a year. The dean and members of the faculty welcomed him enthusiastically. He established a precedent through his visits not excelled by any other college president. His addresses to the entire student group were received heartily. One of the best meetings of the Campbell Club each year was that at which our president spoke. He knew the problems facing our men. He tackled the vital issues fearlessly. Questions were hurled at him. Discussion was free and frank. We were lifted from our place of isolation back into the heart of our brotherhood. We were introduced once more to the clearer under- standing of the message that the Disciples of Christ have to give to the cross-currents of religious thinking. If there was any wavering or doubting in our minds before, he pointed the way out. We can never forget those personal conferences arranged by Dr. John Clark Archer in Day Mission ' s library. Every moment of the president ' s time was taken up. He did not limit his interest to Bethany men only. All Disciple students found him to be a friend. He took names and addresses and those personal conferences were followed lip by an extensive correspondence. Those days of transition from school into the pastorate were his concern also. He did his best to place men in churches. The churches trusted his judgment. His honesty and frankness stimulated this confidence. But Dr. Goodnight ' s shepherding of his boys did not stop when positions were secured. Personal visits, preaching, letters, and conversation, all of these cemented the bond of friendship. When one would least expect it he would ask, What are you reading? A man ' s library was his chief concern. By precept and example he had demonstrated the value of worthwhile books. Who can ever estimate the value of his life? Like the Christ whom he knew and served, He gave his life for his sheep. He was a true under-shepherd. Representing the Student Body Mr. Ben Hamilton President, Student Board of Governors I have been granted the opportunity to express the feeling of loss experienced by the student body in the passing of our president. This chapel service has been dedicated to Dr. Cloyd Goodnight, friend, fellow student, and gentleman. We, of the student body will not, I believe, remember Dr. Goodnight as a scholar, nor in his capacity as the president of the college, but rather as a friend. The ability to make friendships is partly native and partly acquired, in this instance Dr. Good- night ' s native talent in this sphere was augmented by his genuine interest in those with whom he came in contact. Many men in capacities such as his, requiring so much of their time remain aloof from those who cannot by their position make a contribution to their work. 14

Page 17 text:

v ith his host. Some reflections of these associations are too meaningful to be expressed even here. His family life — so full of warmth and devotion — this we must leave in memorial chapel of the hearts of those who loved him most. We would tread softly e en as we pass by. Though he was president of Bethany yet because he was Cloyd Goodnight he was jnuch more than president. He was an interpreter of a whole people to themselves, their shepherd and their guide. Through speech, sermon, oration, and religious journal- ism was this service rendered. A service rich in content, diverse and apt in subject, persuasive and quickening, has it proved to be. His mind was rich and his heart was warm. From these came the philosophy that he applied to the concerns of human welfare. There is no need for me to go further or to dig deeper to find origins for this memorial. My own life here with him for ten years of intimate relationship with every experience drawmg me closer in affection and esteem bears testimony to my own personal feelings. I was the young Timothy of his ministry here and perhaps no single relationship in my whole life has found into my thinking and into my living a richer blessing of fine things. In President Goodnight one understood and felt the fineness of intellectual discrim- ination jomed with swiftness of mtcllcctual movement, delicacy of organization and temperament united with forcefulness of effort, fairness and keen sense of justice welded with a capacity for intense moral Indignation, the principles of the democrat lying close to the taste of the patrician, virility and tenderness made one with per- suasiveness and patience, geniality linked with self-respect, open-mlndedness vitalized with loyalty to high principles, contempt for cheapness and despising of vulgarity inter- woven with deepest human sympathies and, above all, a genuine love, both of heart and will, for the Kingdom of God. President Goodnight died in the prime of life and In the midst of great tasks, but his years were full of achievement and honor, and his colleagues on this faculty have an indelibly happy memory of associations and labors together for the goods of the good life. He was a personality of rare charm and a friend of rare distinction — a Christian gentleman and a scholar. To Bethany College and to each of us personally he gave of his best; ripest wisdom, devoted service, and Christian character. Fading away like the stars of the morning Losing their light in the glorious sun — Thus would we pass from earth and Its tolling Only remembered for what we have done. Shall we be missed though by others succeeded, Reaping the fields we in springtime have sown? No! For the sowers may pass from their labors. Only remembered for what they have done. Only the truth that In life we have spoken. Only the seed that on earth we have sown; These shall pass onward when we are forgotten, Fruits of the harvest and what we have done. Solo- — The Heavenly Song Gray Frank Greskovlch Rl PRl SrNTING THT CoLLI£GI£ AlUMNI Mr. Donald M. Salmon Past President of Alumni Association Bethany College has always emphasized the training of men for the Christian ministry. That objective was uppermost in the mind of Alexander Campbell when he founded this institution. He, himself was a master thinker and preacher. With such leadership at the beginning It does not seem unusual that each president has been a man of deep religious insight and conviction. President Goodnight carried forward this sacred trust. He understood thoroughly the place that Bethany has had In the development of the Disciples of Christ. He was convinced that the college would only fulfill its mission today In so far as it developed leadership for the churches of our brotherhood. Many of us have heard him express this .sentiment in conversation and in public addresses. 13

Page 19 text:

Those of us who have been here three or more years, and to a shghtly more limited degree those of us who have sf ent only one or two years in Bethany, have had the pleasant experience of meeting on the corridor the man upon whose shoulders rested the major portion of the responsibility for the continued operation of this institution during these most trying times. His greeting was personal and warm and we left him with the impression that here at least was one to whom our successes were a source of pleasure and in whom our failures struck a sympathetic note. Genuine friendliness was the first characteristic of Dr. Goodnight ' s nature to impress itself upon a stranger and will be the last to be forgotten by the student body. None of us, I am certain, have anything but respect for this man, who engrossed as he was in many problems, would willingly and even eagerly lay them aside to discuss our plans and activities. His mind as well as his time was at the call of any of us who would carry our problems to him. Dr. Goodnight ' s hearty support of student activities, whether athletic, dramatic or otherwise, was a source of inspiration and encouragement to those who took part. Further enlargement upon this facet of his nature to you who have known him so well would be sheer ambiguity upon my part. Such friendships are exhilerating to experience but extremely difficult to describe or eulogize. Much has been said concerning Dr. Goodnight ' s ability as the leader of the college, vc also realize that his splendid work has been and will continue to be, for it is difficult to think of him in terms of the past, a definite contribution to the art of higher education. His work was of that peculiar type that is inspired by a )Outhful mind and tempered by the wisdom of experience. We as students conceive plans which we believe if allowed to materialize would revolutionize the entire sphere in which we think. Place that ability or gift of youthful enthusiasm in the mind of a person having years of training and trial with which to govern it and the unquestioning confidence of those in whose hands rests the execution of these plans and their ultimate success is assured. As a leader in the field of education, both here and elsewhere. Dr. Goodnight was a recognized authority. I do not believe however, that many of us could have defined his field of interest. It was through his progressive and inspirational chapel talks on national and international topics that most of us maintained contact with the world in general. Considering these things which constitute a very brief and incomplete summation of a student ' s characterization of President Goodnight would it not be appropriate to .ipply to him that time honored eulogy He ever bore without abuse the grand old name of Gentleman. CnoiK oi Bl riiANV Mimorial Church He Lcadcth Me, O Blessed Thought Br.NEDICTlON Mr. W ' tymon Parsons Ministerial Association Gracious God, in whom we live, move and have our being: We thank Thee for the privilege of honoring in this memorial service one whom we loved sincerely. May such service help to instill within each of us a memory of this noble servant of Thine. Grant that the things he did, the words he spoke and the influences which he set in motion may continue to inspire our living in such a manner that our lives may speak the most eloquent benediction of his life. Ill the name of Jesus. Amen. String Ensemble — L ' Argo Handel IS