Brandon University - Sickle Yearbook (Brandon, Manitoba Canada)

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THE LATE DR. J. R. C. EVANS , '-4-.gen , N156-

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Eight A TRIBUTE TO DR. EVANS HE WAS THE EMBODIMENT or THE COLLEGE Dr. John Robert Charles Evans, president of Brandon College for the past 31 years, died suddenly at his summer home at Robson, B.C., on July 23 last. He was in his 68th year. Tribute to this remarkable man was paid by Dr. Hugh H. Saunders-on, president of the University, when he spoke at the turning of the first sod of Brandon College's new Arts and Library building on September 9. Here, in part, is what the president s-aid: Although today is a -happy occasion as we look forward to the in- creased opportunities for education which this building will make possible, our happiness is mixed with sadness that Dr. Evans could4n't be here to see this step taken. Someone has said that an institution is only the length- ening shadow of a man. Certainly that is true of Brandon College. For a great many of us, he was the embodiment of the college. Alfred North Whitehead said that a true University education must be guided by an habitual vision of greatness. John Evans had that vision! Perennially short of money in the college, working in a-ging buildings that were too small, dealing with people who found it hard to see the possibilities that were before them, he maintained his habitual vision -of greatness, and those around him gradually caught the spirit which he had. Some might say that this building, and the others that will follow, should be considered as a tribute -to his life work. They certainly were important i-n his plans, but I would think that the bricks and stone and concrete would be a poor tribute indeed without the -maintenance of that high spirit of educational adventure, that desire for academic excellence, a-nd for character development which he cherished for all around him. As this building gradually takes shape, and comes into use, the spirit which he had and the vision of greatness which he maintained will fill its rooms, and make it a blessing to all who work there. My words of greeting and good wishes then, are simply that this new building and all that goes on in it may be worthy of the vision he had for Brandon College. Hundreds filled St. Paul's United Church in Brandon when funeral services were held on July 29. Those present i-ncluded 200 members of the Masonic order from Canadian and U.S. centres, members of the board, faculty and the 1959 graduating class of the collegeg mayors, reeves, pro- vincial government representatives and other dignitaries. Hon. J. S. McDiarmid, lieutenant-governor of Manitoba, in a special tribu-te, said: Dr. Evans was a most kindly man, and -highly respected for his lifelong dedication to his work . . . We have lost a distinguished citizen and educator and a good friend -of the people of Manitoba . Dr. Evans -started as an instructor at Brandon College in 1911, while working on his B.A. degree. He was successively principal of the academic department, professor of geology and dean, before being named president in 1928. He also held 'teaching posts at Chicago Law School and the Uni- versity of Chicago. ' Dr. Evans joined the C.O.T.C., Brandon, in 1914, but was refused for overseas duty because of a physical defect. He commanded the Brandon C.O.T.C. during both the First and Second World Wars. We was awarded the Queen Eliza-beth Coronation medal in 1958 for his outstanding contribution to education in -the British Commonwealth. Dr. Evans is survived by his wife, the former Adeline Monica Bailey, of Carberry, Man., and -a son, J. W. K. Evans. It is in this great man's honour that we dedicate our Yearbook. J' -4

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BRANDCN COLLEGE 60tI1 ANNIVERSARY tReprinted from Feb. 2, 1960, Brandon Daily Sunl One day in 1890 a notice appeared in The Brandon Sun: Old patrons of the Rapid City Academy will be glad to know that Mr. S. J. McKee has decided to open his academy in Brandon on Monday, November 10. This year-1960-Brandon 'College is 60 years old. Its roots go further back. The college has constituted a major cultural force in the pioneering and civilization of the Western Manitoba prairies. This year Brandon College prepares for great chang as. Many of the men who guided the institution through its formative years and through a punishing decade of depression-from Dr. McKee to the late Dr. J. R. C. Evans -will not see these changes. The sweeping college expansion program, calling for the spending of 53,600,000 over the next five years, is largely a result of the dreams and tenacity of a handful of dedicated men. In the late- 1870's Scots and English settlers were pushing ahead of the railway-builders into the rolling country of Western Manitoba. For awhile it looked like Rapid City was going to become the commercial hub of the area. B OPENED IN 'I880 An academy was opened there in 1880 by several Baptist clergymen. It was a denominational, residential school, providing courses in English, mathematics, Latin, Greek, Hebrew and theology. For most of the decade Dr. McKee was director of the school. But the early promise of Rapid City soon faded. Brandon was chosen to be the first CPR divisional point west of Winnipeg, almost guaranteeing that 'the straggling tent town would become Manitoba's second city. Keeping in step with the times, Dr. McKee abandoned the Rapid City operation, moved south and opened his academy in rented rooms above Nation's Dry Goods Store at the corner of Eighth Street and Rosser Avenue. Next year, in 1891, the school was shifted to the top floor of Fraser's Store, now the Cfhrest Block. During the next nine years Dr. McKee's private academy occupied various rented quarters around the town. The school by 1897 had developed into a full-fledged business college, offering courses in typing, shorthand and book- keeping. By 1897 the academy was being called Brandon College. But it was not yet certain whether the Baptists would establish a permanent college in Brandon. The Bap- tist churches of Western Canada were considering three other college sites: Rapid City, Portage la Prairie and Calgary. However, delegates to the convention of Baptist churches of Western Canada in 1899 unanimously voted to set up a college in Brandon. Dr. A. P. McDiarmid was appointed principal. Professor McKee, whose school was merged with the new institution, was made senior staff -member. Baptist board of directors, in the words of Dr. McDiarmid, envisioned a Christian college in the West for the training of young men and women in general, and in particular, for the helping of young men entering upon pastoral and missionary service. First year enrolment was 110 students, 13 of whom were heading towards the ministry. On Oct. 5, 1899, the board of directors approved that permanent college buildings be erected on a parcel of land bounded by Eigh- teenth and Twentieth Streets and Princess and Lorne Avenues. Less than seven months later the conerstone was laid for the five-storey mainbuilding. BUILDING CAMPAIGN During 1900 more than 533,000 was raised by canvassers across Canada. Brandon College in this year be- came affiliated with the University of Manitoba. The dollar went a lot further then than it does now. Residen-ts at the college in the first year of the century paid 331.25 a week for room and board. An addition to the Administrative Building was constructed in 1906 and named Clark Hall after Dr. W. S. Clark, one of the major donors to the project. Clark Hall :became the women's residence. In 1908 the department of theology was established. By this time Arts constituted the maior faculty of the college. Three years later the denominational institution switched its affiliation from the University of Manitoba to Baptist-governed McMaster University, then located in Toronto. After being at the 'helm since the formation of Brandon College, Dr. McDiarmid retired from the presidency in 1912. Dr. Howard P. Whidden, an American, succeeded him. The board, accepting Dr. Mc-Diarmid's resignation, paid tribute to the unconquerable logic and manly cour- agel' he displayed in helping to establish the college with no financial backing, save the faith and enthusiasm of the few Baptists then resident in the West and the esteemed pledges of a few thousand dollars from hon- ored friends in the East. . Ten 1 ... -..fd