Lees McRae College - Ontaroga Yearbook (Banner Elk, NC)

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William H. Wilson, Moderator of the 197th General Assembly, Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., ad- dressed a capacity crowd in Hayes Auditorium and told the honored guests, faculty, trustees, and stu- dents that he wanted to offer a better understanding for the total church which is now called the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. The church is a peculiar in- stitution, Wilson stated. A lot of you out there, no doubt, have noticed this peculiarity, its strange- ness. But beyond these, and just as peculiar, the church is also unique among institutions to which we belong. I want to hold before you this uniqueness. When we keep well in mind the special character- istics that set us apart we will be far more faithful unto the Lord and more useful to the world. The church is called to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to work for justice and peace. We can't be the church, finally, without doing these good works. But this is not what makes the church unique? Wilson compared other organi- zations and groups that share these goals and ideals and stated that the church cannot claim these ethical commitments as something that makes it unique. But, instead, what makes the church unique is the Gospel, the Good News. It is in God's grace that we are loved, we are forgiven and that God will use us to make a difference in the world. The Gospel, which is the uniqueness of the church, is what we need today. After illustrating the ways the church is called to announce to its people to use their gifts, Wilson stated that, Basically we are to proclaim the Good News about what God has done and is doing with you and me and each and all of us, that we are giftedhborn ser- vants and children of God, who in God's forgiving grace can make a difference. The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church is a person who is elected by the Presbyterian Church to serve as its head as far as moderating the work of the church during its needs. - O'dell Smith Wilson concluded, All these summons to service, to work for justice, and all the rest will fall on deaf ears and dead hearts with- out that Gospel. Even if we do respond with good works we won't last long. Weill burn out. But with the Gospel at its center God makes us unique, held in the spotlight of our attention and the church can be a splendid service used in the full range of gifts that God has pro- vided to do His kingdomis work, to build up the body of Christ in love so that we move out toward Christ who is our future. 10 - Inauguration S erving The World Emphasized Berea College President John Stephenson, who nominated Crain for the presidential post, said, Edgar Tufts built a school here before Avery County was founded, at a time when the illiteracy rate in the North Carolina mountains was only exceeded by that of Eastern Kentucky. The winds of change continue strong in this high place. The population of the area is now utterly changed and with all the change Lees-McRae has changed, too, and will continue to change. The only question is how to remain true to its sense of mission. fcontinued, page 14j I Winds of change continue strong in this high place . . . Lees-McRae has changed, too, and will continue to change. The only question is how to remain true to its sense of mission. , -John Stephenson ff J Dr. Crain, Moderator Wilson, and E. O'dell Smith who introduced the speaker and presided over Symposium on Christian Higher Education.

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Fi, Ei ould you allow me to borrow a phrase from scripture? We read: KThere was a man sent from God whose name was John.' As we look at so many important happenings in the providence of our God we realize that we can borrow that phrase, there was a man sent from God to Banner Elk who wrote, 'When 'twas the Holy Spirit cameflnto my heart with quick 'ning power!And set aglow a sacred flamefl cannot tell 1 the day or hour,!But this I know: the work begun!BS' Thee will never cease nor wane,fAs long as God 's immortal SonfAs King of Kings, shall live and reign' Edgar Tufts, after one year of seminary and training at Hampton-Sydney, came to this area in 1895. M'And who of us, looking back over the ninety years since that time, would not agree there was a man sent from God whose name was Edgar Tufts. It's amazing how he, with his Miss Bessie, formed a team, obedient to the grace and will of God, where dreams became a reality, and the nudgings of God, and the response of that servant of God, are seen about us: a hospital that was needed, a church toproclaim the word of God, a children's home reaching out to say We care, an institution of learning that was later to be- come our beloved Lees-McRae College, The College That Cares. And we believe also in God's providence which is still at work. We believe that this college's most recent Presidential Search Committee and the Board of Trustees will agree that God is at work and was and is at work in the choice. There was a man sent from God whose name was Brad. And to his family, to Brad himself, welcome. May God's rich blessing' accompany your pilgrimage as president of this institution. - Angus R. Shaw, representing the Edgar Tufts Memorial Association ... HHN -we if W tai' we . . - V' Q, irrrg 'sp-'i ' -an Af! i, , ,J f -N A .V I , xx t w . , at 1, E, 'HK Hitt Wilson cifgiiaffgl, f 1, . ., Ex I My f J ,1 ,, lg . 5 , A ' ii 1. Melton i l t is my personal honor and privilege to bring greetings from those institutions known as founda- tions. On this day, foundations throughout the land rejoice with this college community on the occasion of the inauguration of Brad Crain as the tenth president of Lees-McRae College. Those foundations committed to the support of the highest quality of education appreciate the commitment of this institution to those same intrinsic qualities of excellence. My knowledge of Dr. Brad Crain, having served with him in years past, gives me the assurance that this excellence in all aspects of the educational process will permeate every aspect of his leadership and his administration. With his commitment to excellence, his deep and abiding Christian faith, and his love of students will serve this institution well. On this particular day of rejoicing and celebration, however, there must also be a time for selective admonition. President Crain, it is almost a certainty that your knucldes will grow a ripe, rosy red from repetitious rapping in pursuit of that elusive founda- tion dollar. My admonition to you this morning, Mr. President, is don't despair, someone is there, just keep knocking. Gillespie - Dr. George Borders, representing Foundations Inauguration - 9

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As Dr. Crain Inaugurated X , QF, . . . is Dr. Cynthia Tyson, keynote speaker for the Symposium on Christian Higher Education. In the background is Symposium emcee O'dell Smith. The Symposium on Christian Higher Education had an array of distinguished panel members who are con- stantly on the ufiring lines of Christian higher educa- tion. Clyde Robinson did his undergraduate work at Davidson College and his graduate work at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He is the Administrative Coordinator of United Ministries in Higher Education. Mr. Joseph Grier is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Harvard University. He is an elder in the First Presbyterian Church in Char- lotte. He is chairman emeritus of the Board of Trustees at Queens College. John Kuykendall is a graduate of Davidson College, Union Theological Seminary in Vir- ginia, Yale Divinity School.and'has his Ph. D. from Princeton University. He is President of Davidson Col-1 lege. Richard Ray is a graduate of Dartmouth College, Union Theological Seminary in Virginia and has his Ph. D. from St. Andrews University in Scotland. The keynote speaker, Cynthia Tyson, came to this country as a Fullbright Lecturer at the University of Tennessee. Her degrees, including her Ph. D. in English Literature, are taken from the University of Leeds. She is President of Mary Baldwin College. Higher education in many forms towers over every other enterprise in the church's mission as the place where more people and mission dollars are invested every year than any- where else outside of congregations. We are in colleges that historically have a purpose, have a mission, and it is that education is essential to the nature of the church. In the institutions of higher education and among the people who labor there, the church must attempt to make sense of Chris- tian faith to women and men whose vocation is the light of the mind viewing and interpreting knowledge from a Christian perspective, and, in faith seeking to understand the physical world, human nature, in the mind of God. -Dr. Cynthia Tyson At left, delegates assemble for inaugural'ceremony. Lower left, CRAIN FAMILY AND RELATIVES fl-rj: Sandra Mintz, Frank and Dorothy Rhinehartg C. J. and Inez Rhinehardt, parents of Alice Craing Arlene Pritchett, mother of Dr. Crain, Brad and Alice Crain, Emily and Bruce Crain, Basil and Salene Preas. . . . We want to assure you, Dr. Crain, that we will work with you, we will work for you, watch you work . . . our future is not behind us and, above all, we welcome you. J - Mrs. Jean Williams, representing the Board of Trustees I Mr. President, I speak as the Executive of the Synod of North Carolina and on behalf of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., as we trust to you, sir, this treasured college which is an important part of the mission of our church. I bring greetings, also, from President Dan West of Arkansas College who is President of the Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities, representing the seventy colleges related to our denomination, and we greet you in their behalf. Graduates of Lees-McRae have given significant leadership in the world and in the church. In turn, our intention is to support your leadership here. , - Dr. John D. MacLeod, Jr., representing the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. Inauguration - 11