Cedarville University - Miracle / Cedrus Yearbook (Cedarville, OH)

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The Inauguration of the Rev. Wilbert Renwick McChesney, Ph. D., D. D. THAT the inauguration of a college president is no ordinary event wits felt by all who were privileged to be present at the exercises on Friday, Nov- ember 12, of last year. An unusual spirit of enthusiasm filled the town, the college students, the visitors of the day and all who had had any part in making the event the splendid success that it was. That spirit first made itself manifest in the ringing notes of the song which opened the morning session at the Opera House. At this session. Rev. John J. Wilson. ’03, presiding, introduced the speakers who, as representatives of the various organizations with which Dr. McChesney has been connected or with which he has come in contact, came to pay their tributes to the man who in various capaci- ties has so well met the needs of the college and community. For the citizens of Greene county, Mr. Oscar Bradfute brought congratulations to Dr. McChesney for the honor which had been given him, to the students for the privilege of having such a president, and to the county for the splendid citizen it has in him. Rev. J. S. E. McMichael represented the citizens of Cedarville in an optimistic address on the outlook for unusual future co-operation, between college and community. Prof. F. M. Reynolds reviewed the splendid results of the contact of Dr. McChesney with the teachers and pupils of the public schools of the county. J. Merle Rife'1(5, brought a tribute of love from the students of the college in his address. The congratulations and best wishes of the Alumni were carried by Dr. John Wilson Bickctt of New Concord, Ohio, and the greetings from the faculty were presented bv Prof. Jurkat. The trustees of the college were heard from thru Mr. Joseph A. Finney, ’06, of Xenia, Ohio; and General Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church sent its commendation and approval thru its representative, Dr. James j. Chesnut. Each one present felt that years worth while had passed in Cedarville College, but that the future held more in store than there was ever dreamt of when the first few students gathered under the leadership of the first professors and that the future successes would be due to a great extent to the hopes and prayers and work of the last twenty years of Dr. McChesney’s life and to the future service that was opening up before him. The chief address of the morning, “The Function of the Christian College,’’ which was most ably presented by President J. Knox Montgomery, 1). I)., of Mus- kingum college, added an inspiration to the spirit of the day in the picture of the first college of students which was organized under the leadership of the Great Teacher. The morning session filled as it was with tributes of appreciation, enthus- iastic cheers from the students, congratulatory applause from the audience, and a pervading spirit of good will and best wishes, set the tone for the whole day. 19

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An opportunity for the visiting Alumni to meet old friends, for the visiting delegates to meet the members of the college and community more intimately was afforded at the Inaugural Luncheon, which was held in the Methodist Church dining rooms at noon. Over two hundred and fifty met together about the tables, which were artistically decorated with'gold and blue shaded candles and with graceful bouquets of gold and white chrysanthemums. At the close of the luncheon Rev. J. Alvin Orr, ’07, of Pittsburg, Pa., as toastmaster, rose and after a personal tribute to Dr. MeChesncy called on the representatives of colleges and a number of other distinguished visitors, who responded with splendid messages of good will and good cheer for Cedarville College and Dr. MeChesnev. Those heard from at this time were: President W. 0. Thompson, of Ohio State University, Prof. William E. Smyser, registrar of Ohio Wesleyan University, President Walter G. Clippinger, Otterbein University; Dr. William P. Johnston, President Emeri- tus of Geneva College; Dr. II. J. Christman, Central Theological Seminary. Dayton. Ohio; E. E. Brandon, Dean and Vice-President of Miami University; Dr. W. S. Scarborough, President of Wilbcrforcc University; President J. Edwin Jay, of Wil- mington College; Dr. Joseph Kyle, President of Xenia Theological Seminary; Prof. J. II. Dickason, of Wooster College; Judge Charles II. Kyle, of Xenia. Ohio; and Representative W. B. Bryson, of Xenia, Ohio. After the luncheon, all those in any way connected with the college as visiting delegates, alumni, students, and officers, marched in academic procession from the college to the Opera House. It was an unusual and interesting sight, with the serious garb of the academic costume, the bright mingling of the different class colors, the long file of over one hundred and fifty loyal friends and members of the college, as the procession passed thru the interested crowds of spectators to join those waiting in the Opera House for the important events of the afternoon, which were the climax of the events of the day. As the crowd assembled, and the visiting delegates, faculty, and trustees took their places on the platform which was decorated in palms, ferns, cedar, and yellow and white chrysanthemums, the college orchestra, which furnished the music for the day, played an overture. Dr. McKinney, the retiring president, had charge of the exercises of the afternoon. The action of the Board of Trustees was read by the president of the l oard, Mr. James II. (’reswell, after which reading the formal inauguration of the president by the retiring president occurred. The inaugural prayer, which was offered by the Rev. James L. Chesnut. I). I)., was followed by the charge to the president by the ex-president. In his sketch of the college Dr. McKinney revealed the splendid service that had already been given by Dr. Mo Chcsney in loyal co-operation and untiring devotion to its best interests, and in his personal address to him lie pledged his heartiest co-operation. As retiring president he charged him to be true to the office in deed as in name, to decide for himself the problems brought to him for solution. In response to the charge and the greetings of the day. Dr. MeChesncy spoke in terms which revealed his depth of appreciation of the honor which had been made 20