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

Page 24 text:

The first men's baseball ream (1896) defeated Xenia and broke even with Antioch. The history of athletics began simultaneously with the history of the college, for, while no athletic organization was sponsored and financed by the college in the early days, neither was it discouraged. The students, inclined to display their skill on the gridiron and diamond, were given all encouragement and the interest which these students had for developing their abilities is manifested by the fact that they were willing to employ a coach at their own expense. In 1902, Mr. W. J. Alford presented the college trustees with the church building and grounds vacated by the Reformed Presbyterian Congregation, and desired that it be used as a gymnasium. It was equipped with complete ap- paratus for physical education and indoor ath- letics. The college boasted basketball teams of both sexes. The Xenia Gazette of 1897 carried these words to its readers: Since basketball has be- come the leading sport in all colleges, both among the girls as well as the boys, the Cedar- ville College classes have organized teams. The college girls . . . play a very lady-like game of basketball . . . One feature of their playing is their clever pass work; another, their accuracy in throwing for goals; in fact, they play the game as it should be played. We will also say that this game will be strictly moral and first class in every respect, and no lady need be backward about attending.” 20 Cedarvillc College women's basketball team of 1898, the first in Greene County. TOP ROW, Left to Right: Anna Orr (Mrs. Robert Wilson), Alice Bromagcm (Mrs. F. A. Jurkat), Bessie Hopping (Mrs. Carl Pauli). SECOND ROW: Bertha Knott, Fanny Townsley (Mrs. Wallace Iliff), Jennie Morton (Mrs. T. R. Turner), Nellie Ustick, Mary Little (Mrs. Frank Murphy). FRONT ROW: Vera Andrew (Mrs. John Harvey), Nelle Lervis (Mrs. Nelson Clark). Alford Memorial Gym, 1902.

Page 23 text:

•J'tr) .sreirf eji rj iwf irvt Ur (f f t Rev. David McKinney, D.D., LL.D., President Rev. David McKinney, D.D., first President of Cedarville College was pastor of the First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Cincinnati, Ohio, at the time of his appointment by the Synod. Dr. McKinney was born in Philadelphia, May 20, i860, and received his education in the Philadelphia public schools, the University of Pennsyl- vania and the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary. In May, 1895, Wittenberg College conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. At the time that Dr. McKinney was elected president, the college was largely a prospective institution. While he continued to serve as pastor of his congregation in Cincinnati, he took hold of the college work with such energy and determination that from a plan on paper it evolved into a reality. His zeal continued through the twenty- one years that he served as president. After his resignation in 1915, he served as Presi- dent Emeritus until his death in 1934. 19

Page 25 text:

PICTURED AT LEFT: Faculty and first gradu- ating class of Ccdarvillc College— 1897. r The Glee Club, 1897. From the earliest days, music has played an impo tant role in Cedarvillc College ac- tivities. Music groups of every variety have provided entertainment and service for the student body, com- munity and interested churches. The activities and curriculum of Cedar- ville College have always been built around the statement by Dr. McKinney in his mes- sage in the 1903 Memorabilia. Above all Cedarvillc College believes that the culture of the mind without the nurture and growth of spiritual life is a mistake. Education with- out morality is a menace to the state. Mor- ality to be deep and abiding must have its springs in religion. Accordingly the Bible is a textbook of the college. No student can graduate who has not taken a thorough and systematic course in it. The professors are all earnest Christians . . . They are glad to assist students in every possible way.’’ Dr. McKinney's interest in Bible training by no means dulled his interest in secular education. Through the efforts of Dr. McKinney and the Honorable Whitelaw Reid, Andrew Carnegie of- fered Cedarvillc College a gift equal to sum it could raise for an endowment. Twelve thousand dollars was secured within one year, and the present library building was completed in the fall of 1908. Architect’s sketch of Carnegie Library. 21