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

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as North Dormitory. A year later Ladies ' Hall was erected to take care of an increased enroll- ment of girls. During the ])criod of America ' s participation in the World War, regular enrollment at Elon declined. However, a contingent of the R.O.T.C. was stationed on the campus and temjjorarily greatly increased the student population. Regular class scliedules were adjusted to meet the new demands, but the school continued its usual activities. In January 1923, the Administration Building was destroyed b}? fire. The fire, as it is known in Elon ' s history, is one of the most outstanding incidents in tiie story of the school be- cause of the excitement and terror it caused, and because it brought about a building program much needed by the college. Students and faculty carried on as best they could with improvised classrooms and equij)ment while reconstruction was in progr ess. Five new buildings were planned and erected: The Alamance Building, Carlton Library, Whitley INIemorial Auditorium, Mooncy C ' iu ' istian Education Building and Duke Science Build- ing. Great pride was taken in the erection of the IMooney Christian P ducation Building since it was the first such building to be erected on the cam])us of any college in America. Witli the onset of the depression of 1929-30, the heavy mortgages and a decreased en- rollment combined to bring a difficult situation upon the shoulders of the administration and the trustees. Following Dr. Harper ' s resignation in June 19 ' 31, the College was without a president until Octol)er of that year, and there was grave doubt as to whether Elon would be able to open its doors to students in the fall of 1931. At this desperate moment the Board of Trustees elected as president Dr. L. E. Smith, then pastor of the Cln-istian Temple of Norfolk, Virginia. Dr. Smith succeeded in bringing Elon through the stormy years successfully, and not only recouped the losses in personnel and students, but greatly reduced the indebtedness of the in- stitution and increased the student enrollment. Athletics assumed importance, and Elon now ranks high in college athletic circles outside the conference as well as within the conference group. The curriculum has been improved and special courses added from time to time to care for the demands of students as well as the changing business and professional order. Looking back through the j ears we proudly survey the evidence of success of students and faculty alike, of the binding loyalty of friends, and of deep rooted tradition. 10

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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

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THE COLLEGE SEAL The official college seal was designed by Dr. Walton Crump Wicker, past head of the Department of ]Matliematics, who was an integral part of the college from the date of its founding until his deatli, August 31, 1939. It was completed during the summer of 1908 and submitted to the Administrative Committee and the Board of Trustees for approval, at their annual meeting in September of the same year. Upon its acceptance, it was declared the official insignia of Elon College to be used on all college documents of an academic nature. The minutes of the Committee which included Dr. Wicker ' s interpreta- tion of the seal were destroyed wlien tlic Administration Building burned in 1923. The significance of the various symbols is generally known, since they are of Masonic origin, and the interpretation now given to the seal embodies much the same meaning as did the original. Numen Lumen, the Latin motto of the college, is freely translated New Light. The two columns represent strength, and the eye pictured above the lighted urn and the open book is the All Seeing Eye which shines down upon the Urn of Truth and the Book of Knowledge, rej)resenting the guiding principles upon which this institution was founded. The circle enclosing these figures symbolizes the eternal circle, unbroken from eternity to eternity. Eighteen hundred eighty-nine, the date included in the seal, is the date of the founding of the institution. Wherever the use of color is possible, tlie syniljols are maroon inscribed upon a gold Ijackground, these colors being the traditional colors of the College.