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

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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.

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ADMINISTRATION DR. M. O. ROSS Acting President Dr. Maurice O. Ross, acting president of Butler University, has achieved wide recognition in educational circles and in the field of economics. Dr. Ross come to Butler in September, 1938, as dean of the then newly organized College of Business Administration. A native of hiillsboro, Kentucky, acting president Ross received his A.B. degree from Kentucky Wesleyan College in 1917. Besides recognition as an all-state tackle in football, Dr. Ross also earned letters in baseball and basketball. Immediately following graduation the acting head of this school entered the Naval Air Corps soon after America was plunged into the World War I. Dr. Ross, himself an aviator, served as a machine-gunner in a naval air unit that patrolled the coasts of Florida and Cuba. This unit was credited with sinking on enemy submarine. After the close of the war Dr. Ross received his M.A. degree in Economics from the University of Chicago. Twelve years later, Dr. Ross was awarded his Ph.D. degree from the some institution. Dr. Ross went to Earl- ham College in 1925 as a professor of economics and seven years later was appointed college dean, a position he held until 1937. During his stay at Earlham, Dr. Ross also served as head foot- ball coach, hie went to the University of Tennessee in 1937-38 as a finance professor, and in the fall of that year Dr. Ross began his tenure here at Butler. At a time when America has again be- come embroiled in world conflict we are indeed fortunate to have a man as our leader who possesses such a rich store of experience and who has such superb intellect and superior capabilities.