Elon University - Phi Psi Cli Yearbook (Elon, NC)

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HISTORY OF THE COLLEGE During the fifty jears since her founding Elon College has known a varied and dramatic history. Her progress has been exceptional, and events which seemed disastrous have made way for the development of a greater school. We deem it fitting, therefore, to review briefly in this Golden Anniversary Edition of the Phi-Psi-C ' li the outstanding incidents and achievements of this history. The story of Elon College is a constituent i)art of the historv of the Christian Church in the Southeast. In 1794 the Reverend James O ' Kelly and a group of dissenters from Wesleyan Methodism met at Lebanon Church in Surry County, Virginia and agreed to found what was the first democratically governed church to arise on American soil. They named the church Christian, to the exclusion of all party and sectarian names. They were interested in Chris- tianity, not as a system of theology or a bod} ' of doctrines, but as a way of life. It was on this basis that the church has grown to its present status. From the early beginnings of the church in North Carolina and Virginia there had been a demand that there be established a college for the denomination. The demand grew with the church, and in September, 1888, the Southern Convention met in extraordinary- session in Old Providence Church, Graham, North Carolina, to hear the reports and recommendations of the Committee on Schools and Colleges. The Convention appointed a jjrovisional Board for the ])roposed college, authorizing the Board to choose a site for the college and to make the necessary legal and financial transactions. The Board was composed of Dr. W. S. Long, Dr. J. Pressley Barrett, Hon. F. O. Moring, Col. J. H. Harden, and Dr. G. S. Watson. Dr. W. S. Long, a pioneer in higher education, had opened a school in Graham in 1865; this school, which later developed into Graham Normal College, became the active forerunner of Elon College. Led by Dr. Long, the Board finally chose a site at a village then known as Mill Point, six miles from Graham. A tract of twenty-five acres of land at Mill Point was given by the Hon. W. H. Trollingcr of Haw River. The citizens of ] Iill Point donated twenty-three acres additional, and four thousand dollars in cash. In consideration of these donations the college was located at IVIill Point. Two outstanding donations to the early college were the gifts of ] Ir. John A. Mills, an officer in the Southern Convention, who gave the lumber foi- the oria-inal l)uildino-, and Slv. Trollinger who g-ave in

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JoHX UutiFART Newman Professor of Biblical Language and Literature A.B., University of North Carolina; Ph.D., Chicago University Litt.D., LaGrange College; D.D., Union College With keenest appreciation of the spirit in which he lias won the devotion and admiration of ever} ' Elon student, of his unusual style of teaching, and of his long and untiring interest in our activities, we loving- ly dedicate this twenty-fifth volume of the Phi-Psi- Cli to Dr. John Urquart Newman, who, since the founding of our College fifty years ago, has en- gendered in us through his matchless character, charming personahty, and rare erudition, ideals which challenge our utmost efforts.

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addition to the tract of land tlic hrick used in the Administration Buildino- and East Dormitory. The Provisional Board preferred other names, but owing to the predominance of stalwart oaks on the site, selected the name Elon, the Hebrew word meaning oak. On March 11, 1889, Elon College was chartered and incorporated by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina, and the school began its career as a ])ublicly recognized in- stitution. In keeping with the charter provisions, the original Board of Trustees numbered fifteen: W. S. Long, J. W. Wellons, W. W. Staley, G. S. Watson, : I. E. Hurley, E. T. Pierce, W. J. Lcc, P. J. Kernodle, J. F. West, E. E. Holland, E. A. Moffitt, J. M. Smith, J. H. Harden, F. O. IMoring, and S. P. Read. Dr. I ong was elected president of the college, and six additional members of the faculty were elected : Dr. J. U. Newman, who is the only member of the original group still serving on the faculty, Miss Bcrta : Ioring (Mrs. J. W. Roberts), : Iiss Lena Beal (Airs. W. G. Farrar), Dr. E. L. MofHtt, Professor S. A. Holleman, and Dr. J. O. Atkinson. Two buildings were erected during the year at the site at Mill Point : The Administration Building, a large three-story brick building housing the library, laboratories, the administrative oificcs, society halls, and classrooms for all departments; the other, Flast Dormitory, a residence hall for girls. After four years. Dr. Long was succeeded as president in 189 ' 3 by Dr. W. W. Staley, then })astor of the Suffolk, ' irg■inia, Christian Church, iio served as non-resident ])resident without salary. U})on Dr. Staley ' s resignation in 1905. Dr. E. L. INIoffit was elected to succeed him. Dr. Moffit served six years, during which time two additional buildings were erected on the cam- pus. A larger dormitory for girls. West Dormitory, was built, and East Dormitory was given over to the boys. The new dining halls, kitchen and the girls ' gymnasium were built adjacent to West Dormitory. In addition, tlie power liouse was erected, jjroviding electric ])ower and steam heat for the college buildings. In 1911, Dr. Moffitt resigned as ])rcsident, and Dr. W. A. Harper, then a member of the faculty, was elected and began the longest term of office in the history of the college. In 1912, a larger boys ' dormitory and gymnasium combined was built and financed through the Elon Alunmi. It is ]n-opei-ly known as Alumni Building, l)ut students have always known it