Roanoke College - Rawenoch Yearbook (Salem, VA)

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ERA OF RGANOKE COLLEGE Part I , s..iim t DR. SMITH,S INAUGURATTON The Roanoke College of 1920, viewed externally, was not too different from the Old Roanoke of today. Seventy-six years of its life had slipped quietly by, leaving the buildings aged and worn but still willing to open their doors to those who sought for knowledge. Already clothed in tradition, the campus rested in its quiet seclusion, looking out upon Salem and the world from behind its seven and a half decades of existence, much as it does today. Yet the student of 1949, set back suddenly in the midst of the campus then, would have missed many things. Immediately he would be struck by the absence of several buildings. Upon careful analysis he would find those which were here to be poorly cared for and in bad repair, and the grounds unkempt and neglected. Besides the physical difference, he would also shortly discover an intangible something missing which would not be immediately definable. Yet if he were alert, it would not take him long to discover it, for him, spirit or Roanoke would not be the same. The Roanoke Family would be unknown. Students and faculty alike would seem discouraged and disinterested to our transported Maroon. The source of this un-Roanoke-like spirit would scarcely be hard to trace. Roanoke, 1920, faced the gloomy prospect of becoming a second-rate school, or of closing entirely for lack of endowment. The atti- tude of the surrounding territory toward the College was hostile. Scarcely any of the hundred-odd students were drawn from the vicinity, most of the student body were apathetic, and spirit was at a low level. The lack of endowment was the most serious difficulty to be faced. If the buildings were in disrepair it was because there was no money to repair them. If the grounds were neglected it was because there was no one to tend them. lyfuch new equipment was necessary, the presidency was vacant and the lack of leadership was felt everywhere. Literally a drastic change had to be made or the College could not con- tinue to operate. Faced with a hopeless-seeming future and without a president, it was no wonder that the Roanoke Spirit, so valuable to the College, seemed on the verge of permanent deterioration. It was to the vacant presidency of this Roanoke that the Board of Trustees called Dr. Smith in IQZO. He must have left the New York church, Holy Trinity, of which he was pastor,with mixed feelings. Roanoke had been his Alma Mater. He had come here as a rat, worked, studied and played like all good college students, graduating in 1901. Now his Alma Mater THE LIBRARY or ZQ YFEARS AGO had called him back again to serve her in her need. It was a great need, and it called for a great person. There was much work to be done, and the future, of course, was doubtful. Yet, if Dr. Smith doubted, he did not show it. There was work to be done, someone must do it, why not he? In June, 1921, at the 77th Commencement, Dr. Smith was inaugurated as the fifth president of Roanoke College. From that date a new era for her began. 5 4 E 1' fl .c .gms 112-eg ffL1i't.? rv--lQf...i .A 5.1 . -,.. xi... 14l.f:?Nwing Mi Lwii-s-HZ: sh, x, 3 ak. ' . A. 5 xg ,fbi-pi 51' .l Hai - .:5:.5f:i32gF'J --..-1' .A Y - Q if. . T':f 'K fx 1 . N -I- l Y'

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DR C ARLES J. SMITH The same vear Dr. Smith entered Princeton Cniversitv and received his KLA. from that institution i11 IQO2. He studied the next four years at the l,utheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, graduating in 1905. Ordained as a minister, he received his hrst call from the Church of the .'Xdvent, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, which he served from 1905 to 1908. From there he went to Holy Trinity Church, New York City, where he filled the pulpit until 1920 and gained wide recognition for his gift of oratorv. ln blune of 1913, he married the former Nliss Xlarv lileanor Price, of New hlarket, Virginia, who has later played an active role in civic allairs and college activities. In 1920, Dr. Smith accepted thepresidencv of Roanoke College. A following portion of the IQAXVHNOCII is dedicated to the task of giving at least a brief account of the contributions Dr. Smith made during his twentyanine-vear tenure of oflice. Dr. Smith received his D.D. degree from Roanoke College in 1915 and was elected to membership in the Phi Beta Kappa chapter at the College of VVilliam and hlary in 1931. He was honored with an LLD. from Gettysburg College in 1931. In january of this year he was presented the 'gOutstanding Citizen of the Yearn award by Southwestern Virginia, Inc. BOTTOM Row: Dr. Smitlz with clzildrfzz anal with lllif jirft facufty, in that oralfr. SECOND Row: LEFT: Dr. and Jllrr. Smith and baby, and Criglztl, Dr. Smith when paftor of Trizzzity Lutlzerazz Clzurrlz. I1v11v113D1ATELY ABOVE: MU-.f. Smitlz on tfzf porch of Ron' Lawn, and Ctop riglitj, Dr. Smith with pref- mztfaculty 'qiw 'Q st, . its l 1' . F 1' A ' 1 'T' . ' r- af, . 1 ,L fm -1-nfl ' 'f' Q '5- DM .9 O- m.,,,.J?-4 7 M J

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