Practical Bible Training School - Theologue Yearbook (Johnson City, NY)

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REV L HOLD He being dead yet speaketh I Cor I5 57 But thanks be to God whlch glveth us the vlctory through our Lord Jesus Chr1st On May I7 1945 Rev Francls L Holden faculty member and beloved class teacher of the Class of 46 of Practlcal B1ble Tra1n1ng School answered God s roll call to enter a hlgher sphere than one of earthly serv1ce for h1s Lord and Master On May 5 1884 Mr Holden was born at G1lbertsv1lle N Y He grew up and recelved h1s educatlon there In early l1fe he was called to the mmxstry tak1ng h1s tralnmg at Pract1cal Bxble Tra1n1ng School whlch was then located at Lestershxre When the Old Whxte C1ty was purchased by Dr John A Dav1s Mr Holden took charge of transformmg the amusement grounds mto the pre ent Practrcal Blble Tramlng School Blble School Park N Y In 1934 he moved to Bnble School Park and took h1s place on the faculty as teacher of Old Testa ment H1story and B1bl1cal Theology On February 1 1944 Mr Holden was selected by the Class of 46 to be thexr class teacher He accepted the class as part of Gods w1ll for h1m and because of h1s great mterest devoted h1s t1me and energy for the welfare of the class Hrs chxef concern for each member of the class was that we mlght have V1ctory Through Chr1st by bemg found 1n God s absolute w1ll The chapel hour each week was a spec1al bless1ng to us as Mr Holden then gave prec1ous lessons on the w1ll of God from Gods Word and h1s own exper1ences H1s prayer l1fe too was a source of strength to us Wh1le on h1s slck bed he would ask for the prayer requests of the class and he and Mrs Holden would pray for them It was Wlth deepest regret that we learned of h1s ser1ous 1llness and return 1ng to school 1n the fall of 44 we were shocked to find h1m 1n such poor health However Mr Holden 1ns1sted that he could go on w1th h1s regular classes On Get Acquamted N1ght he was present although requ1r1ng great effort We were gladdened to have h1m w1th us and 1mpressed by h1s dauntless sp1r1t and never ebbrng sense of humor He never hked to m1ss an opportun1ty to be w1th the students and especlally was thxs true at the leave tak1ng t1me for vacatlon It was then he entered IHIO and shared thelr joy and antlcrpa 1on of gomg home Mr Holden suffered mtensely durlng h1s long 1llness but d1d not want It known to those around h1m We however could not help sens1ng h1s dxstress and our hearts went out to h1m ln h1s weakness and pam H1s determ1nat1on to carry on desp1te the agony was an 1nsp1rat1on to us because we knew that h1s one des1re was to serve Chr1st h1s Master The follow1ng words often repeated by Mr Holden truly character1zes the l1fe work m1n1stry and teachmg of our beloved teacher as he was con stantly look1ng for that Blessed Hope the return of our Lord for H1s Sa1nts I hope to lzve tzll jesus comes Ill meet you rn the sky someday Back to thzs earth agarn When earthly tnals are oer And catches up Hrs chosen brzde And should I dze before that tzme A thousand years to rezgn And you re ahve that day But should I dre before that t1me just look for me for I zntend I know the empty clay To be there anyway' Wzll be caught up to meet the Lord Ill be there anyway Praise God for thrs blessed hope That cheers me day by day So farewell frzends rf we should If Im not caught up ahve part I ll be there anyway On earth to meet no more MARY L STEPHENS The child of God lives not m t1me s short span but m eternal years Page Nme . F . . E N na - as , . ' H . . . . . , , ' 99 9 s ' - 1 , . . . . , . . . , , . , . . - 1 . . . , . S v v - - s 1 x r - . , . . u ' ' as ' ' v ' . , . . . r 1 ' 4. . . , . . , . . cc ' ' ar ' ' - r a , . a - v 1 1 v - ' 4: ' n ' ' , , . U . , . , . l . . . , , . Q . , . , i vs , . . - 1 . . , . 1 J J ' va , T . . . . , . , .

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Page Emght fm 741 LOVING REMEMBRANCE AN APPRECIA TION He struggled up the stormy herghts To reach the useful plazns He knew not ease by day by nzghts Intent on hrghest gains He gave to God the best he had The world h1s debtor made The sad of heart he helped make glad Rare skill he oft drsplayed Twas hrs to rouse the sleepzng souls He blessed the worlds unnumbered goals He blessed Ins fellow man Today he knows the hezghts of God Today the Ureat Drvrde No more for hrm earths weary plod Hes at hrs Saviours szde JOHN R CLFMENIQ May 17 1943 5 30 PM 1, ' I 1 I ,. I ,. , . . Of myriads as he rang . N -1 J. , . . u 7 . , . I . . . , . . 2 AY .,, , ', :V . .

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HE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT f'For the Lord God will help meg there- fore shall I not be confounded: there- fore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. Isa. 5o:7. Rev. john A. Davis, D.D. The Rev. john A. Davis, founder of the Practical Bible Training School, was a man of clear vision, simple faith, deep consecration, unselfish spirit, and great determination. His character was shown, and is yet seen, in what is being accomplished for God in the lives of students who are impressed and benefited by the fruits of his labor. John A. Davis accepted Christ as his Saviour during an evangelistic cam- paign which was being held in the village of Afton, New York. After much prayer and consideration Mr. Davis felt a definite call to train for Christian Service. On April 19, 1893, he enrolled at the Chicago Evange- lization Society, now known as the Moody Bible Institute. Rev. John A. Davis accepted a call to the pastorate at Hallstead, Pennsyl- vania. After five years of successful work, he was led of God to go into the evangelistic field, so in his implicit obedience to the will of God, he resigned his pastorate and embarked upon a course of evangelism. God's seal of approval upon this humble ambassador's work can be traced into every field of service where ever he held a campaign. At Hazelton, Pennsylvania, Dr. Davis received a vision to train young men and women for the Lord's Service. He organized a Bible Class at Lester- shire Cnow johnson Cityl New York. The first sessions were held from June to August, 1900, in rented rooms. In the summer of 1901 a school building was erected. However this building was soon too small for the many students who applied. In 1911, God, in answer to prayer, opened the way for the Prac- tical Bible Training School of today. On March 17, 1934, after forty-one years of service to God, Dr. Davis laid aside his earthly duties and entered abundantly into the Eternal Glory. Psalms 116:15, Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints. -FRANCES S1PEs. Eternity is God's lifetime. Page Ten