By 1899 the situation within the United Church had been clarified to such an extent that St. Olaf was again officially adopted by the church and joy reigned on Manitou Heights. Strength was added also by the action of the church in transferring to St. Olaf the academy and college departments of its theological Seminary, hitherto located in Minneapolis. This brought a large reinforcement of teachers, students and equipment. The presidency of Dr. J. N. Kildahl began at this time, and during the fifteen years of his leadership the college enjoyed a rapid growth. Concentration by the church on one college, profound confidence in the integrity, ability, and piety of its president, sympathy with the cause of the college won through the years of struggle, and the loyalty of students and alumni wie significant factors reinforcing the efforts of a hard working faculty to build a substantial co ege. The college plant: was increased by the erection of Ytterboe Hall, in 1900, a residence for the president, now Manitou Cottage, 1901, Steenslancl Library, 1902, Hoyme Chapel, 1906, the hospital, 1908, and Mohn Hall, 1911. An endowment fund of 352501100 was raised in a campaign conducted personally by President Kildahl. Internally the period was marked by the establishment, in 1899. of a scientific course in addition to the classical, and in 1908 were added a classical-scientific and a literary course. These courses yielded in turn to the group system in 1914. A ln his profound influences upon students and teachers in the direction of devotion to solid scholarship and consecrated Christian living, President Kildahl left to the college a legacy, the value of which can never be measured. Professor L. A. Vigness was President from 1914 to 1918. During these years the college made steady progress. ln 1917 occurred the union of the Norwegian Synod, I-lauge's Synod, and the United CllLl1'Cll, resulting in the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America, and St. Olaf College came under the auspices of this new body. The articles of union removed the academy department to Red Wing Seminary and the college department of Red Wing Seminary to St. Olaf. Witli the wider field opened up to the college in the larger church body, attendance grew steadily. ln the midst of 'the world war, Professor L W. Boe was called to the presidency and faced immediately the difhcult task of organizing the college on the S. A. T. C. basis. An armory was urgently needed and modified plans gave the college the present gymnasitun, in 1919. The close of the Wo1'lfl War brought an influx of students beyond the capacity of the college to handle. The situation became serious indeed when the heating plant was badly damaged by fire in 1922, and Hoyme Chapel was destroyed in the fall of 1923, depriving the college of several class rooms in addition to the chapel auditorium. ln the meantime there had been left to the college, by the death of Mr. Harald Thorson, the bulk of his estate. This large gift enabled the college authorities to think of future building opera- tions on a new scale. Following the plans of the college architects, Coolidge and Hodgdon of Chicago, a heating plant, distinguished both by its architecture and its efficient equipment, was completed in 19244. Following the burning of Hoyme Chapel an appeal was made for funds for a new building, and the response from faculty, students, and supporters of the college was so generous that the handsome new Administration building could be dedicated June 5, 1925, without debt. The venerable Dr. H. C. Stub, who p1'esided on the opening day of school fifty years ago, performed the act of dedication. The summer of 1925 saw also the beginning of the erection of a new music hall, more adequately in keeping with the place that music has come to hold at St. Olaf. For several years it has been necessary strictly to limit the attendance, but in spite of the efforts in that direction the year 1925-26 bids fair to pass the thousand mark. There isn't room in these Bits to speak of many important things: the pervading Christian spirit of the institution, the growth of the ideal of scholarship, the quiet work of faculty and students, the achievements in literature, forensics and athletics, the work of Dr. Christiansen and the St. Olaf Choir, the record of the Band, the' business management of Professor Holland. the beautifying of the college campus, the achievements of the college farms-but certain it is that could Founder Muus revisit the Hill today, his thoughts wottld find expression in some such words as these: lt is the Lordis doingg it is marvelous in our eyes. MAIITIN HEGLAND. Eighteen
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i Lsns W. BOE, D. D., LL. D. President of St. Olaf College A BETTER ST. OLAP The idea that catches the imagination nf ther American public more easily than any other, is the itlca of Uhignessu --il' I may he permitted to use thc word. As a people, we are comparatively young. We are living in thc midst of things that are truly big. The country ls hig. The possibilities along practically every line nre big. So the idea of Uhignessn grips us. From time to time at St. Olaf wt- imtke utlvttnevxs. uurl the atlvance is always lmiletl as tm indication of a Bigger St. Olaf. And we rejoice in the vision of tx St. Olaf big enough to measure up to the mngnificent opportunities round about us. St. Olaf, however, is hit: enough fur the present. What a future generation may do n prophet can foretcll. What we need to stress totlay is a f'Better St. Olaf. The directing the development of the institution the next ten or liftecn years, should be to it can adequately care for the attcntlunce it now has. After all, it is not quantity, but it comes to the question of a Bigger St. Olaf, thc students can contribute something, many respects it is tnercly a question uf money. Wlien it comes to a Better St. O l with the College, none but aim and purpose of those put it in such shape. that quality that counts. When though not very much. In af. every student, faculty member, and friend, can contribute, liccausc the Better St, Olaf is not necessarily tied up to thc material atlvanec- ment of the College. In most instances we -shall lind that the contributions toward a better college lic within the realm of the spiritual and intellectual. Let us become propagnndists for this idea. We do not need a bigger world. We want one that is better. W'e do not necessarily want to see our country bigger, but us loyal citizens we do wish to make it better. As to St. Olaf-it is not the quantity, but the quality of the work done the next ten years that will tell the story. Ttuenty
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