Lenoir Rhyne College - Hacawa Yearbook (Hickory, NC)

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BOOK ONE Q ' he College

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f -lACkVs 1 92 1 ■rr ' T.- ' i l : ' fm LOOKING BACKWARD ONCORDIA HIGH SCHOOL was established at Conover, N. C. in July, 1877, by the Lutherans of western North Carolina. This institution was converted into a college and chartered as Concordia College in 1881 by an association of pastoi ' s and congregations of the Lutheran Tennessee Synod. Synod took the college under its care in 1883, and it remained in this relation till 1892. Dr. R. A. Yoder was principal of Concordia High School, and then for about ten years president of Concordia College. In 1890, the beautiful site now occupied by the college was offered to the Lutherans by Col. J. G. Hall, special trustee for Capt. Walter Lenoir, but was not accepted. Early in 1891, four pastors — Rev. A. L. Grouse, Dr. J. C. Moser, Dr. W. P. Cline, and Dr. R. A. Yoder — supported by a large following of substantial laymen, accepted the offer of Colonel Hall. The new college was opened in the Highland Academy building on the campus, September 1, 1891, as Highland College. The institution was incorporated January 4, 1892, as Lenoir College, in honor of Capt. Walter Lenoir, who had deeded to his trustee, Col. J. G. Hall, the large campus and thirty-eight acre lots adjoining for such purpose. Prof. R. L. Fritz, then a young man, was a co-worker with the Big Four in all this work of founding the college. In 1895, the Lutheran Tennessee Synod took under its care Lenoir College as its institution; and in August, 1899, it assumed the financial obligation of the current expenses of the college. Dr. R. A. Yoder was president of the college from 1891 to 1901. During his administi ' ation, the main building was erected, the institution was given foundation, policy, and character, and great good was accom- plished in the education of a large number of young men and young women for superior service in home, church, and state. Only the Lord and a few intimately associated with the Big Four will ever really know the full measure of hard toil, sacrifice, and devotion yielded this college by these faithful men. Lenoir College .- and -Hhall be, because Cline, Yoder, Grouse, Moser, and Fritz labored as they did and when they did. Dr. R. L. Fritz, an alumnus, was president from 1901 to 1919. Dur- ing his administration, the material equipment, attendance, and teaching Seven .. mmmm m