McKendree University - McKendrean Yearbook (Lebanon, IL)

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THE McKENDREAN, 1931 Tte Chapel and the Bell OF all the buildings on McKendree ' s campus possibly the most interesting is the chapel building, the second oldest structure on the grounds, whose tall clock- tower is to be seen as a landmark in the surrounding community. The present building was completed in 1857, taking the place of the original all- purpose building which was destroyed by iire in 1856, during the third term of Dr. Peter Akers as president of McKendree. The chapel auditorium is approximately forty- five by seventy feet in size and was, at the time of construction, the largest hall of its kind in the state. It was heated by two large stoves until 1898 when the heating plant was installed. The original seats in the auditorium were long moveable benches with backs, one of which may be still seen in the balcony. The hall has a seating capacity of slightly over four hundred. Possibly the most interesting portion of the chapel is the belfry that mounts to a considerable height above the roof, for it contains the historic bell that is rich in tradi- tions which are dear to the hearts of McKendreans. The spire rises one hundred and forty-five feet above the walk in front of the building, and is surmounted by a broken weather-vane. Originally the arm of the vane was nine feet, and the gilded globe on which the vane rests is three feet in diameter. For many years it was an annual prob- lem for the students in the trigonometry class to measure the height of the spire. Until recent years most of the history connected with the bell was traditional, hut a record left by the Rev. Thomas A. Eaton, a graduate of McKendree revealed some interesting facts. According to the record the bell was brought to St. Louis in the eighteen fifties by some Santa Fe traders who had found it in a deserted Roman Cath- olic Mission somewhere in New Mexico. Dates and names on the bell show that it was cast in Spain in the eighth century and recast in the fourteenth. It was brought to Florida in the sixteenth century and by some means found its way to New Mexico. It was recast when it was brought to St. Louis and from there it was taken to the State Fair at Centralia, Illinois, in the fall of 1858 for exhibition and sale. At this fair it was purchased for McKendree College by Dr. Cobleigh, then president, and Professor Risdon M. Moore, instructor in mathematics. It was placed in the tower of the new chapel, and has since been in continual service. It has called seventy-two graduating classes to graduating exercises, and will evidently fulfill that service for years to come. On two occasions the chapel bell has been rung without ceasing all night. The first occasion for such a performance was the receipt of the first $100,000 of the endowment fund in April, 1905, during the administration of Dr. M. H. Chamberlain. The second night of celebration came during March of this year, when McKendree was admitted to the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. V3gs,5 - 5 3 iv5:=S: ?=32g

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THE COLLEGE

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Chapel