Lenoir Rhyne College - Hacawa Yearbook (Hickory, NC)

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The I ' fe of Dr. Cline is a concrete example to the -oung of what can be :lone where there is vision and landab ' .e ambition backed up hv persistent, relentless toil and sacrifice. Beginning life at the close of the war nnder most serious handicaps, he wrung an education out of apparently impossible conditions and l.)uilt h ' mself into a man of prominence and great usefulness. His work as teacher, preacher and leader has been largely pioneer work — organizing, founding, Ijiiilding. Xever satisfied with present conditions, he was always ready to spend and be spent for what he conceived the best interests of Church, town or community. Hardly another man in our Southern Church has done so nnicli haril work for so little ] )ay. Well informed as to history, govern- ment, law and ])olitics. Dr. Cline has always taken a wholesome interest in such matters. 1 Through h ' s work as teacher, as organizer of congregations and builder of Churches, as founder of Lenior College, of the Lutheran F ' ublication House, and of the Lowman Home, h ' s life is being nniltiplied ami his inlluence will be k ' nown and felt from generation to generation. He that loscth his life for iiiv sake — shall saz ' e it: MvB. m. p. m m JULIA CATHERL E CLINE, wife of the Rev. Prof. W. P. Cline, D.D., and daughter of Major Joseph and Mary Bost, was born near Newton, N. C, August 22, 18. 4, and departed this life September 16, 1916. She was the mother of eight children, three of whom died in infancy. ( )ne son, Kemp l.Sattle, died at the age of four years and eight months. The four still living are : Jul ' a Ethel, now Mrs. W. E. Kleckley, Columbia, S. C. ; the Rev. William Preston, pastor of the First Lutheran Church, Birmingham, . la. ; Erances Xaomi, living with her father; and Robert Benjamin, student in Lenoir College. During her married life .Mrs. Cline was the devoted and pat ' ent help-meet of her husband in all the arduous labors and obligations of his educational and ministerial work. She was the highest type of the faithful, courageous Christian mother — never losing an opportunity to comfort or help. She gave herself unsparingly and most unselfishly to her home dut ' es, to the boarding of students and to the entertaining of friends, always taking a deep interest in the work of the Church and the school — exemplifying in her daily life a beautiful blending of the characteristics of Sarah and Mary and Martha of old. She was a kind mother not only to her own children but to the many students who were so fortunate as to board in her home in those early days of the College. She, too. was one of the founders of our College, and is worthy the honors and appreciation due the noblest of these good souls who consecrate their lives to the service of their fellow-men. . s pastor ' s wife, as professor ' s wife, as friend, as mother, She hath done a ' haf she could, and wherever serve the lives she has touched and blessed, wherever goes the influence of old Holly Grove Academy and Lenior College, there will be the fruits of her faithful life as a memorial of her. Pa r . ' •iix

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Ik - 1 1» a number of young people, a g ' oodh ' nunilier of whom have risen to prominence in Church and state. In 188 ' ' he was called to the chair of Latin in Concordia College, Conover, X. C, but did not accept. The same year his Synod resolved to raise $10,000 for the improvement of Concordia College and elected him financial agent. He entered upon this work early in 1890 and secured subscriptions to the amount of $5,500 till the latter part of the year, when Capt. Walter Lenoir ottered to donate -Highland School property. Hickory, X. C, provided Synod would raise $10,000 for the improvement of the same. This offer caused such a division of opinion among the people that the Rev. Cline considered it useless to prosecute his can- vass further, and, being president of Synod, called a special meeting of Svnod just after Christmas, 1890, to settle the matter. After a two davs ' session it was decided by a bare majoritv to leave the college at CVmover. The more progressive element of Sxiiod not being satisfied, after some delib- eration, accepted Col. Hall ' s propositii.in, and each of four pastors, Drs. R. A. Yoder and J. C. ] Ioser and Rev. W. I . Cline and A. L. Crouse, ga e his note endorsed by some of his friends for $2,500 to fulfill the $10,000 obligation of Col. Hall ' s offer, and the work of building Lenoir College was entered upon with vigor and determination. The Rev. Cline was chosen Professor of Latin and Historv and i Financial Agent for the College. He repeatedly canvassed the Xorth Carolina Conference of his Synod, paying his own expenses exce])t that fcir a few months while he canvassed the eastern part of the X. C. Conference and the Virginia Conference, his exjjenses were jiaid and he received a conipensatirin of $30.00 a month. During his nine years connected with the College he contriliuted persrmally near $1,500 to its funds and did an immense amount of gratuitous work for it. In 1901 he resigned the chair of Latin and History and was elected chairman , of the Board of Trustees, in which capacity he served five years, taking a leading i part in planning and erecting Oakview Hall and developing the College. ( The Rev. F ' rof. W. P. Cline is one of the founders of Lenoir College. U ' iili- oiit him it would not and could not lun ' c been built. His sanguine, indomitable spirit : his persistent, untiring labors, especially in financing the undertaking — his liberality of heart and hand and purse — were indispensable. In 1907 he accepted a call at St. Michael ' s pastorate, Lexington Co., S. C. The same year he was appointed a member of the Southern Lutheran Board of Publication and soon was elected president of the same. In this position he labored for five years with Dr. W. H. Greever and others in the Ijuilding up of the Lutheran Publication House in Columbia, S. C. He is still a member of this board. At the close of 1911 he resigned as pastor of the St. lichael ' s charge and accepted the call to beci.ime superintendent and treasurer of the Lozcnian Home ' fo)- the Aged and Helpless at JUiite Roek. S. C. In this capacity he is laboring with his wonted zeal, energy and self-sacrificing spirit in the upbuilding of another noble institution to serve and bless his Church and his fellow-men. During his ministry the Rev. Cline has organized the following congrega- tions and aided in building their houses of worship : Holly (jrove, Davidson Countv, X. C. : It. Hermon, Iredell Co., X. C. : St. Martin ' s, Maiden, X. C. ; Emanuel, Lincolnton. N. C, ; Bethlehem, Catawba Co,, X. C, and St. Andrew ' s, Hickory, X. C. May 21, 1913, the Board of Trustees of Lenoir College, upon the recom- mendation of the Faculty, conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Diiinitx in recognition of his ability and worthiness. Pa e Five

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