Northwestern Bible School - Scroll Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

Page 23 text:

Dr. Riley passed away December 5, 1917, and Mr. Graham immediately became Interim Presi¬ dent, Three hundred thousand dollars had been set aside by Dr. Riley , but as the work progressed, tre¬ mendously increased costs in construction far ex¬ ceeded that amount. It took a great step of faith on the part of Mr. Graham and the Board to sanction the completion of the building. However, the fall of 1948 found us dedicating Memorial Hall, al¬ ready overcrowded by the student enrollment of that fall. (I shall never forget the parade as the library was personally transferred from Jackson Hall to the new building!) Years before, in the living room of Twin Lakes Lodge, the Riley home, conferences were held about the possibility of a Northwestern radio sta¬ tion, and application was made in December, 1945. In the summer of 1948 the construction permit was granted, and in February, 1949, KTJS was born—after prodigious effort on the part of North¬ western students, both in manual work relative to the actual construction of the tower, and in united financial assistance. But with a constantly increasing attendance we were still in need of dormitories. Hawthorne was purchased in 1949 as a Freshman men ' s dor¬ mitory. Then Plymouth” was leased for married students. For years the Music Department had struggled in the west wing of Fireside, but old 6 South was creaking under the burden of many years and hard use, and in 1950 was finally sold to the First Baptist Church for a parking lot. (Many a sacred memory was stirred as old Fireside was razed to the ground!) Following that. Northwestern pur¬ chased and converted the Unitarian Center at 16th and Harmon into an orthodox Music and Speech building! Mr. Grahams expanded program of evangel¬ ism—Hour of Decision and Television—made it necessary for him in June, 1951, to take the po¬ sition of Chairman of the Board and to relinquish the office of President to Dr. Paul J. Maddox. As we look back over these fifty years, back to the very beginning with seven young people de¬ sirous of further knowledge of God s Word, back to 1902, when one little school, the Northwestern Bible and Missionary Training School, was official¬ ly born and the first property was purchased—one building, 6 South, 35 students, 3 professors, no salaries, no tuition, and back to 1902, with but one missionary and few trained Christian leaders, . . . As we look about us today and sec hundreds of missionaries doing a work for God on every con¬ tinent and the isles of the sea, and as we see pas¬ tors, colporteurs, Christian leaders in ever increas¬ ing numbers. ... As we now view the Northwest¬ ern Schools—Bible College, College of Liberal Arts and Theological Seminary with her 6 dormitories, a Music and Speech building, temporary quarters for the Infirmary and Missionary Medicine de¬ partment, a non commercial radio station (a sta¬ tion that sends out the gospel, night and day, over AM and FM) and to climax it all, the William Bell Riley Memorial Hall, housing the adminis¬ trative offices, chapel, classrooms, radio, gym, cafeteria, library—accommodations for 900 stu¬ dents. . . . As we look back to 1902 with no budget, to 1952 when our yearly budget was over $500,000 and we realize our needs today, how grateful we are for Christian people throughout the land who invest in the preparation of students for time and eternity, here in our needy America and around the world. Surely, what hath God wrought! As we face the untrod future, we cast our eyes ' unto the hills from whence comerh our help” and say, Well praise Him for all that is past, Well trust Him for all that ' s to come.

Page 22 text:

rough yet, with his usual faith he would quote again and again Isaiah 12:2, I shall trust and not be afraid for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song. 5 ’ He was deeply concerned as costs mounted; he pleaded for strictest economy. It was a momentous day when though frail he was able to witness the ground breaking and to dedicate this spot to the glory of God, the spot on which the William Bell Riley memorial now stands. We circled this ground daily as operations began. As they were driving in the piles—he thought fathoms deep—he figured the cost and was irked by any delay. Then came the cornerstone laying. From his wheel chair he wielded the crowd to add cement to put that in place. From then our daily drive was around the advancing construction. Just two days before God called him home, because med¬ icine had given him a better night he asked if I didn ' t think 1 could get him into the car once more to see the progress. That last time the construc¬ tion was up to the second floor and it looked as if Northwestern Memorial Hall was to be a reality. But as interested as he was in the ongoing of the material end of it, his deepest concern now was to find the right man as leader. Night after night he prayed that God would supply the one who would remain loyal to God and to His Word —that the schools might continue aggressively evangelistic, that graduates might have a positive witness. Some years back he had met a young man from North Carolina, not world-known then and God seemed to say, There is your man,” Never could he get away from the thought that this young evangelist of the cross should succeed him. When approached, the Carolinian laughed off the sug¬ gestion and pleaded his youth. But from that mo¬ ment my husband was always inte rested in his go¬ ings and comings; checked everything from his pen; and scrutinized his spiritual life. Then he asked for an interview. Never had my husband prayed more than that night before the last visit. He knew his strength was failing. When Mr. Graham entered, Dr. Riley had the open Bible on his bedside table. He pointed to that passage in Samuel, Thou art the man.” Then taking his fin¬ ger from out the coverlet he pointed it at Mr. Graham and said, Billy, read this; God has made ir plain to me; I shall meet you at the judgment seat with the responsibility of these three schools,” fc At a Board meeting held about his couch in the dosing days, he voiced in no uncertain sound his desires for the future of Northwestern and said, Should we waver one iota from the policy of the schools in militant conservatism for the cause of Christ we would perish.” So forceful was his ap¬ peal to all liis coworkers that without his request they rose as one to pledge themselves that an unadulterated presentation of Gospel truths would forever emanate from the halls of Northwestern. It was a solemn meeting, for all knew their leader was very frail and all meant it.

Page 24 text:

Holding forth the word of life; that that I have not run in vain, neither 1 may rejoice in the day of Christ, laboured in vain. Philippians 2:16