Olivet Nazarene University - Aurora Yearbook (Bourbonnais, IL)

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pmnrH Herbert Thomas, A. B. 1453 Harding St., Detroit, Alichigan Major - History Dependable Herb, Senior Class President, has done everything from fire the furnace to edit the Aurora of ' 31. Like his classmate, Charles Brough, he too grad- uated from the Olivet Academy and Bible School. Some may remember Herb as the thinker ; some may consider him and Jack the Amos ' n Andy of the senior class; but we think of him as honest and unselfish Herbert — one with a serious purpose and a sympathy as broad as the sky, and as deep as the ocean. Throughout his entire school life Herbert has been a hard and willing Chris- tian worker, journeying night after night to nearby towns and preaching in revival meetings. Many are the souls he has won. Believing that He that winneth souls is wise he has been showing wisdom with diligence. His is a life of prayer and deep devotion. A careful apprentice, a hard worker, a humble Christian, and a promising pastor is our Tommy. l ' a(;e T ccjit ■.■■seven V

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aomar . oar IHiatorg of dPltu t (EnllpgP In presenting this history of our school we do not attempt to give all the material avail- able. Nor do we wish to tire the reader with detail. It is our purpose to give the interesting facts about the school and trust that you will be a sympathetic reader. Dr. E. F. Walker, in nineteen hundred preached in Danville, Illinois on the need of holy, fully consecrated young people, fitly prepared for Christian service, both as ministers at home and missionaries to the heathen. This message stirred the hearts of the holiness people of this section of the country to prepare their young people for such a life. But where were they to he trained? Zealous, holy, evangelistic yoimg people can be developed only under the instruction of zealous, holy, evangelistic teachers. ; Ir. O. A. Nesbitt, feeling this Imrden, traveled from Illinois to Colorado in search for a good location for such a school. In larch, nineteen hundred and seven, plans for a holi- ness school were made in Georgetown. In October of that j ' ear the school opened with fifty- six pupils, with I .Iiss ] Iary Nesbitt as teacher. Surrounded with difficulties, handicapped by lack of equipment, and scoffed at by outsiders, this faithful band prayed in money, prayed over difficulties, and moved forward, trusting in God. During the first year plans were being made. A farm was purchased by Air. Nesbitt, the founder and business manager of the school, at Olivet. A short time later the adjoining farm was purchased by F. E. Richards, and it is around these two farms that the history of Oli- vet College has centered. Forty-six acres were set apart for a campus, and the adjoining grounds were divided into lots to be sold, and the monej paid into the school. A small three- room frame school house was l)uilt directly across from the Old Lincoln House , and in the fall of 1908 school opened in Olivet. God blessed the undertaking. The faculty was increased to five memliers. The Old Lincoln Hou e was used for a dormitory, and housed twenty- five teachers and students the first year. The school was run on prayer and faith ; only saved and sanctified teachers were hired. It was truly a school where God ' s workers could be trained for Christian service. The vision of a great school at Olivet seized upon its founder and followers, and designs for a large campus and buildings were made. (See diagram of campus, page 67). The first building, the present dormitory, was designed and Iniilt in 1909 by J. F. McCoy of Danville, at a cost of $30,000.00. The organization liecame incorporated and obtained a charter from the state of Illinois as Illinois Holiness LIniversity on May 25, 1909. Dr. A. M. Hills was hired to take charge of this growing institution as its first president, and a faculty of ten teachers was hired. The college of lilieral arts was added this year, great- ly increasing the educational standing of the schocil, and also increasing the jiossibility of a large student l)ody. The present dining hall was used for chapel and classes w ' ere held in various rofims. A large tent was used for a dining hall and kitchen, and on arious occasions ihe communily dogs and cats visited the tciU, causing many humorous and pallictic incidents. (Coniinucd on page 04) !lf%. 51 r l ' (i( ,- ' I ' tvcnlysix

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■■ ■ ' , ,::.,€S t£f vii j 0 niinra W Fonda Field 705 E. 9th S:. Muscatine, Iowa Major - Science Fonda carries with her all the vivacity of a summer ' s storm. She puts life into any undertaking in which she is interested. Her hobby is science. On a fall or spring day it is a common occurrence to see her dashing among the flowers and grass trying by means of an insect net to capture a butterfly or odonata. Seldom do we see a girl interested in both science and music, but Fonda is the exception. She is a faithful, true-hearted worker who grows in one ' s estimation as her capabilities are discovered. We were sorry to have her leave us in January, and her smile and pep have been conspicuous for their absence. We trust that she will be a great bless- ing to the world as she pursues her course as a nurse and social worker. ■ . . [ h Pniic Tv ' cniy ciijht