Butler University - Carillon / Drift Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

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kJkdJ« JUnn. IJb l«iU. «U .« ? .. J i ' a , .ir. Mi SCHOOL OF RELIGION BUILDING

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AS PROOF OF THE PROGRESSIVE ATTITUDES OF THE BUTLER BOARD OF DIRECTORS WE PROUDLY PRESENT THE NEW

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I he efforts of sixteen years of careful planning came to fruition wfien the new religion building opened its doors at the beginning of the second semester. A campaign was instituted in 1925 under the direction of J. W. Atherton, executive and financial secretary of Butler University, to raise funds to finance a building to house the then newly organized College of Religion. Over half of the $275,000 cost of the building was obtained at that time, hlowever, further plans were arrested because of the economic depression and the removal of the school to the Fairviewcampus. In 1940 the Christian Foundation donated an additionol $125,000 in order to complete the building fund. In Septem- ber of that year the task of ground breoking was promptly begun. Due to the pressure of priority contracts arising from the war situation, construction work was delayed during the winter months of that year. The cornerstone was laid June 8, 1941 by William G. Irwin, treasurer of the Christian Foundation. This was a memorable day in the history of Butler ' s progress. The interior of the building compares very favorably with the beautiful exterior Georgian architecture. Modernly furnished offices of spacious dimensions with an inter-communication system hove been provided for faculty members. Seven major seminar rooms with their special tables, chairs and library equipment ore a special feature of the new plant. In the main hallway at the entrance are objects of special interest. These are four bronze plaques designed and executed by Dr. W. E. Garrison of the University of Chicago, former President of Butler. The four figures chosen to be immortalized in bronze are the four chief promoters of the Restoration movement: Thomas and Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone and Walter Scott. A room of special interest is the beautiful Sweeney Chapel which is named in honor of the former Rev. Z. T. Sweeney for his efforts on behalf of the establishment of the College of Religion. The library in the South wing is unique in that it contains probably the most complete col lection of books of the Disci- ples movement in existence today. Over 2,500 books ore numbered in the two-floor stacks. Many of its volumes are original manuscripts and ore not duplicated any- where else in the world. Several manuscripts of special interest are on display in the museum v hich ocoted on the second floor. Excellent facilities for research have been provided. Five private booths, technically called carrels ' hove been installed for the convenience of students workina on theses.