High-resolution, full color images available online
Search, browse, read, and print yearbook pages
View college, high school, and military yearbooks
Browse our digital annual library spanning centuries
Support the schools in our program by subscribing
Privacy, as we do not track users or sell information
Page 15 text:
“
A History of Cumberland ! HE year 1826 is the true birth year of Cumberland, for it was then that the C J Cumberland Presbyterian Church established Cumberland College at Prince- njRR ton, Ky. The infant institution was founded upon promises, and we are told GoS that the first buildings and lands were purchased with money that the hopeful Trustees had borrowed. These first buildings were not at all like the large brick struc- tures that we know; they were log houses with clapboard roofs. The campus was a five-hundred-acre farm, containing many dormitories. In spite of the fact that every student worked two days a week on the school farm, the Trustees were soon perilously involved in financial troubles; so in 1842 the General Assembly voted to move Cumberland from Princeton, and invited oft ' ers from towns wishing the advantages of a college. Lebanon made the highest bid, and took the newly acquired institution into its care at once. A charter was obtained in 1843, and 1844 found Cumberland College well situated in a new building, with the more dig-nified name of Cumberland University. It is interesting to know that the first official publication was a twenty-one page rule book, issued in 1843. Such regulations as the following may seem strange to the mod- ern mind, but they are actually found in this first bulletin : Chapter VII, Section 7. The President, a professor, or a tutor shall have the au- thority to break open and enter any college chamber or study at all times, at his dis- cretion. Section 10. If any student shall ring the college bell, except by order of the Presi- dent, a professor, or a tutor, he shall be punished at the discretion of the Faculty. Chapter XIV, Section 8. Every student boarding within the town corporation or within three-quarters of a mile of the college building shall attend morning prayers in the College Chapel at sunrising. Peculiar rules! But they must have been popular, for the number of students grew steadily. The first year ' s work was launched with forty-five students; sixteen years later (1858) the enrollment had reached a total of four hundred and seventy. Other signs of progress had also shown themselves — an endowment fund, a larger corps of able professors, and that prestige which is more precious to a school than any amount of endowment. This wide growth in every direction demanded more departments, and they were added from time to time. The Law School was established first, in 1847, under the direction of the Hon. Abra- ham Caruthers, with seven students. An increase of students the next year caused the addition of two more professors, the Hon. Nathan Green and the Hon. B. L. Ridley, both illustrious in the legal history of the State. The entire list of law professors is filled with names of well-known and well-beloved men whose achievements have helped to give this department its hundreds of students and its enviable reputation. In 1855 the Theological School was launched, with the Rev. Richard Beard, D.D., at its head. This department was highly successful and a most worthy unit. Its discon- tinuance came in 1910 — not because of any lack of merit, but as an indirect result of the union between the Cumberland and the United Presbyterians. We can see that there was every indication of success to crown the eventful story of Cumberland ' s life. Then the Civil War came, sweeping away endowment, buildings, all the fruits of forty years ' toil. What could be done? The indomitable spirit ex- pressed in E. Cineribus Resurgo manifested itself with vigor, and work was resumed less than six months after the end of the war. To discuss the great men who have given Cumberland glory is a task that would de- mand more space than the present edition of the Phcenix can oflrer; so that is forbid- den us; but we can at least review the Presidents, as Cumberland has been so remark- ably fortunate in her selection of them. The Rev. Franceway Ranna Cossitt, D.D., was the first President of the University. He was a graduate of Middlebury College, in Vermont, and a writer of considerably ability, being the editor of the Banner of Peace and the biographer of Finis Ewing.
”
Page 16 text:
“
X.VX It was during the administration of the Rev. T. C. Anderson, D.D., that Cumberland rose to great prominence in the State. Dr. Anderson had been a professor in this in- stitution in its days as Cumberland College and also after it had been moved to Leb- anon. He had served as Secretary and Treasurer of the Board of Missions of his church. The Rev. B. W. McDonnold, D.D., LL.D., was Cumberland ' s third President. He was a professor in, Bethel College, Professor of Pastoral Theology in Cumberland Univer- sity, and President of Bethel College. He will be remembered as the author of a history of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Judge Nathan Green, LL.D., was one of the grandest figures that ever graced Cum- berland and the only President to be known as the Chancellor. He held this position for thirty years, but was closely connected with the University for seventy-five years. ; . j. He was Dean and Senior Pr ofessor of the Law School, President of the Alumni Asso- i elation, a ruling elder of his church, and the author of The Tall Man of Winton and ' - of Sparks from a Backlog. David Earle Mitchell, the next President, was Cumberland ' s youngest President. He was graduated from the Southwestern State Normal School, of California, Pa., in 1893; was called to the principalship of the Roscoe (Pa.) High School in 1894; and began editorial work at Uniontown, Pa., in 189.5. Then he entered Cumberland, and upon graduation was elected President. Mr. Mitchell is gratefully remembered as the donor of the Mitchell Library and of several houses used for dormitories. Our own Dr. W. P. Bone, A.M., D.D., was Cumberland ' s next choice as President. He received his A.B. and A.M. degrees from Trinity University, the B.D. degree from Cumberland, and the D.D. degree from Trinity University. He has studied in Union Theological Seminary, the University of Chicago, and the University of Berlin. He has traveled extensively in England, Scotland, Belgium, Germany, and France. He has held pastoral charges in Texas, Alabama, and Tennessee, and for years was Professor of New Testament Greek and Interpretation in Cumberland ' s Theological Department. In 1909 he became President. Since his retirement, he has remained with us as our beloved Professor of Bible and Ethics. He is also the Alumni Secretary and the faith- ful editor of the Cumbeiiand Ahimmis. The sixth President was Dr. A. S. Coile, whose recent death has brought sorrow to many Lebanon friends. He was pastor of the local church for many years before be- coming President. At the time of his death. Dr. Coile was pastor of the McCausland Avenue Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, Mo. He had also been pastor of the Presby- terian Church of Maryville, Mo. He was highly effective as a speaker. Edward Powell Childs was the next President. He was a student in the University of Michigan, Denison University, Harvard Summer School, and the University of Wiscon- sin, receiving- the M.A. degree from this institution in 1917. As a teacher, Mr. Childs had been connected with the following schools: Fargo College, Denison University, Pueblo (Col.) High School, University of New Mexico, the Newark (Ohio) High School, and the University of Wisconsin. He has worked as President of the Normal and Collegi- j jgsi ate Institute, of Asheville, N. C, and as Field Superintendent of Mountain Schools un- I gj der the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. ' ' ' = Our present President, Dr. John Royal Harris, was born in the adjoining county of Rutherford, and is an alumnus of Cumberland. He is most widely known as a re- former, but he has done pastoral work in Lewisburg, Tenn., and in Pittsburg, Pa. He .. l has been Secretary of the State Anti-Saloon League, Superintendent of the Dry Feder- ' ation of Pennsylvania, and Southern Secretary of the National Reform Association. From log calDins to brick buildings, from one department to six, from forty-five stu- dents to moi ' e than seven hundred — such is the honorable record of Cumberland Uni- versity. Elizabeth Habris, ' 27. iii ■ m
Are you trying to find old school friends, old classmates, fellow servicemen or shipmates? Do you want to see past girlfriends or boyfriends? Relive homecoming, prom, graduation, and other moments on campus captured in yearbook pictures. Revisit your fraternity or sorority and see familiar places. See members of old school clubs and relive old times. Start your search today!
Looking for old family members and relatives? Do you want to find pictures of parents or grandparents when they were in school? Want to find out what hairstyle was popular in the 1920s? E-Yearbook.com has a wealth of genealogy information spanning over a century for many schools with full text search. Use our online Genealogy Resource to uncover history quickly!
Are you planning a reunion and need assistance? E-Yearbook.com can help you with scanning and providing access to yearbook images for promotional materials and activities. We can provide you with an electronic version of your yearbook that can assist you with reunion planning. E-Yearbook.com will also publish the yearbook images online for people to share and enjoy.
