Montreat Anderson College - Agape / Sundial Yearbook (Montreat, NC)

Page 8 text:

A HERITAGE . . . Montreat--beautiful, majestic, and lovely--for thirty-eight years for thee we have prayed, planned, labored, and sacrificed. These are the words of Dr. and Mrs. R. C. Anderson, and they express the love which these two people shared through the years for our beloved college. Montreat stands as a monument to their genius and energy. Montreat , a shortened form of Mountain Retreat, began officially in 1916 as Mon- treat Normal School, planned mainly with the idea of training Christian teachers. Dr. Anderson's home was the scene of the first trustee meeting, and he was elected a com- mittee of one on finances. The first fifteen years marked great progress in the college, with special emphasis placed on spiritual growth. Students were carefully selected on the basis of their native ability and character. The spiritual life of the faculty was particularly stressed, for the administration realized that it was the life of a teacher which strongly influenced his students and taught them how to live. In 1933 the school became a junior college, and was renamed Montreat College. During the next several years, through the dedicated efforts of the Andersons both in planning and in donating funds, significant buildings were erected on campus. Montreat became a four-year college in 1945 and had its first graduating class in 1947. Then in 1959 it assumed its present status as a coeducational junior college. Its new name, Montreat-Anderson College, reflected that of its long-time friends and bene- factors and was an expression of the tribute owed them for their contributions over the years. In Montreat's half-century of history, the college has had the leadership of three capable men. When Dr. Anderson was eighty-three, his resignation was received with deep regret, yet with appreciation for all he had accomplished. Dr. J. Rupert McGregor assumed Dr. Anderson's duties as President, Treasurer, and the sole member of the Finance Committee. Dr. C. Grier Davis became president of Montreat in 1959. The story of Montreat is one involving sacri- fice, yet joy--the joy of Christian service. The Andersons were extremely modest about their part in the forming of Montreat and humbly gave all the praise to their Lord, whom they called Montreat's Master Builder. In the words of Dr. Anderson: Through the years God's richest blessing rests upon the work. All is a monument to His goodness ... we are supremely grateful for what He has done, and we trust the work will con- tinue to grow under His blessing stronger, larger, and better from year to year.

Page 7 text:

1963 MONTREAT-ANDERSON COLLEGE MONTREAT, NORTH CAROLINA 3

Page 9 text:

... IN MEMORIAM Montreat was saddened by the death of Mrs. Robert Campbell Anderson on October 3, 1962, in her ninetieth year. Mrs. Robert Campbell Anderson was born in Mocksville, North Carolina, on August 10, 1872. She was named Sadie Gaither, the only child of Thomas Hall Gaither and Bettie Kelly Gaither. She was educated in Charlotte Female Seminary. In 1896 she was married to Reverend Robert Campbell Anderson and for sixty-six years, ’’adorned the teaching of God our Savior, as a minister's wife, the hostess of the Manse, and the First Lady of Montreat. Mrs. Anderson took an active part in the establishment of Montreat College in 1916. Her home was always open to students and faculty, to whom she was a gracious hostess. The college came to be her first love and primary concern. She shared with Dr. Anderson a vision of a strong Christian institution of higher education in Montreat, the home of the General Assembly. In 1959 the Board of Trustees changed the name of this institution in honor of Dr. R. C. Anderson, her first president, and Mrs. R. C. Anderson, her chief bene- factor. We humbly thank God for His servant, Mrs. Sadie Gaither Anderson, for the radiance of her Christian life, and the steadfastness of her faith, and we offer a prayer of thanks- giving that by His Grace, she endured to the end and received the Crown of Life and achieve- ed the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 5