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

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1W enrehng World Wcr I, McChesney decided ro deloy his fund-raising effons. Afrer rhe war. rhe college's enrollmenr began ro cimb; by 1920, 116 srudenrs strained rhe campus' Smired fodliries. by 1921. 135 srudenrs were enrolled. Thar year, McChesney asked rhe Board of Trust- ees for an endowment and bUdmg pro- gram. Announced by rhe Cedorviile Her- cld. he Punched a successful $200,000 campaign for rhe school. He oppeoled ro rhe crizens of Cedarvifie and Greene Coun- ty. rhreorening rhar rhe college would hove ro dose down or move if ir did nor rose needed funds. During his early years as president. McChesney continually urged rhe trustees ro meer rhe srare of Ohio's rrvnimum stan- dards. Satisfied by rhe school's efforts ro meer these srandords, inspectors for rhe Ohio Store Association and Deportment of History 23

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THE McCHESNEY DAYS Wilbert McChesney, 2nd President (1915-1940) When David McKinney resigned in 1915, Reverend Wilben Ren wick McChesney was unanimously elected rhe second presi- dent of Cedorvle Co8ege. Teoching for 21 years, McChesney hod been rhe first fccvi- ry member hired by rhe college in 1864. He was an ordained mirnsrer and skied pu!pir oraror bar hod spent his enrire career in rhe classroom reochng sutjecrs such as Greek end sysremoric rheology. Devoring his life ro rhe college, he also served as Vice Presidenr In 1909 ond Dean in 1913. One of rhe mosr serious problems McChesney foced when beginning Ns presidency was rhe college's lock of re- sources, porncularly financial. In Ns nougu- rol address, he promised o mqjor fund- raising drive. However, as rhe United Stores become more ond more alarmed about 22 History

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Public Instruction even coled Cedorville one of rhe besr smol colleges in rhe stare. In spire of rhis ocodemsc success, rhe college's finondol problems grew worse. In 1928, rhe General Synod of Reformed Presbyrerion Churches gove up oil conrrol of Cedorville,- rhus, rhe college losr irs sup- porting consriruency. The Presbyrerion Church in rhe U.S.A. gradually filled rhe openings on rhe Board of Trusrees, bur rhe college was unable ro win rhe support of rhar deaominonoa in rhe students or dona- tions. In rhe midsr of rhese financial problems. o dissident group of alumni seriously chal- lenged McChesney's leadership, question- ing Ns abliry ro handle rhe college's funds. McChesney remained presidenr afrer o narrow 6 ro 5 vore of rhe Board of Trusr- ees, bur rhis division in rhe bocrd severely damaged his position Then, in 1934, McChesney losr rhe sup port of McKinney, rhe friend wirh whom he hod worked unceasingly throughout rhe hisrory of rhe college. Following rhe death of Ns wife, McChesney offidoty re signed os presidenr in 1940, and Reverend Walter Smirh Kilporrids was chosen ro fi his office. 24 History