Taylor University - Ilium / Gem Yearbook (Upland, IN)

Page 17 text:

iiii ' iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiilliiiiiiniiiiiiiiifTTnTmn il Mr. Henry Kline of Upland had the contract for making the brick for the main building; also the contract for the running of the dining hall for the first year, at seven cents per meal. In 1897 the present dining hall was erected. The Life of Samuel Morris, a consecrated African student of the institution, was written and published by Dr. Reade, soon after the trans- lation of Samuel Morris in May 1893. It was the means, in God ' s hands, of bringing hundreds of students to Taylor, even from other lands. In the early years natural gas from nearby wells was used for heat and light and each room had its little stove and gas-jet. This gas was hard on lace curtains, the leather of books and purses but rather easy on the inside of the pocket book. In the year 1911 the present heating plant was built. The great desire in Dr. Reade ' s heart was to found an institution where earnest young men and women, for some reason denied an oppor- tunity for an education, might be able to secure one. The student body was thus largely made up of earnest, faithful young people, many of them past their early youth, who felt an urgent need of an education. Vision and the spirit of sacrifice were not in the heart of Dr. Reade alone but they were kindled or intensified in the faculty and many of the students. The president took no note of hardship and knew no defeat; loving, yet firm, he could not be moved a hair ' s breadth to sacrifice principle for any man ' s wealth or influence. He once took the carpet off his own floor and put it on the floor of a poor, sick student that he might be more comfortable. A few teachers came with the school from Fort Wayne- Among them were Miss Grace Husted of the English department and Miss Mabel K. Seeds of the Latin department. These devoted women gave many years of faithful work to Taylor. Miss Seeds later went as a missionary to Japan, where she has since labored. The first year of the school in Upland, John H. Shilling came as a student, graduating in 1895 with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. After two years in the Theological Seminary, Atlanta, Ga., where he took his Bachelor of Divinity degree and served as instructor in Vocal Music in Gammon Seminary and Clark University, he was called to the chair of I 5C5 OLD CHAPEL NOW THE MUSEUM iimuumnii ii ii j yj iii M

Page 16 text:

! IS FT. WAYNE COLLEGE Historic Department BRIEF HISTORY OF TAYLOR UNIVERSITY Mrs. Mary 0. Shilling. The institution, now known as Taylor University, was founded at Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the year 1846, under the name of Fort Wayne Female College. The first president was the Hon J. A. C. Huessis, who served till 1848, when he was succeeded by C. R. Rounds. The Rev. H. C. Nutt became president in 184D. In 1850 Mr. Huessis came back and served until 1852, when he was succeeded by S. T. Gillette, who served but a few months. Then come the Rev. S. Brenton who was president from 1852 to 1855. The Rev. Robinson, D. D. was president from 1855 to 1872. The Rev. W. L. Yolum followed from 1875 to 1888. The Rev. H. N. Nerrick was presiding officer from 1888 to 1890. The institution was united with the Fort Wayne Collegiate Institute in 1852- At that time it was thrown open to both sexes. In 1890, dur- ing the presidency of Dr. C. B. Steman, its name was changed to Taylor University, in honor of Bishop William Taylor who prayed for the school three times a day. Thus did more than 13,000 prayers ascend to the Throne of Grace for Taylor University from the Great Knight of the Dark Continent. Bishop Tavlor reached the Throne himself, May 18, 1902.. The next president was the Rev. T. C. Reade, D.D., LL.D. On July 31, 1893 the institution was re-chartered and moved to its present location, Upland, Indiana. The first year the school was held in the emp- ty store rooms in the town while the buildings were in course of construc- tion. The people in town very kindly opened their homes to the students, some seventy in number. In the fall of 1895 the institution occupied the main building, Sam- uel Morris dormitory and some rooms in the new residences near the cam- pus at that time. The first office was where the Holmes ' grocery now stands. mmn j yj l iiniH™ IMUMWIII

Page 18 text:

lllllliiliiiiliiiNiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiir II 1 Hebrew and Systematic Theology in Taylor University. The failing health of Dr. Reade made it necessary for him to have relief, consequent- ly Dr. Shilling was made Vice President. When Dr. Reade passed away July 25, 1902, Dr. Shilling became Acting President, serving in that ca- pacity until June 1903, when on account of failing health, he was granted leave of absence. He died Nov. 1904. Prof. B. W- Ayres, who had followed Dr. Clippinger, a greatly beloved teacher and Dean of the institution, now became Acting President of Tay- lor University. In 1906 Dr. Ayres was called to the Central Holiness University at Oskaloosa, Iowa and later accepted the presidency. Re- turning to Taylor University in 1910 as Dean of the institution, he has served the administrative interests of the school most faithfully. As a teacher he has been instrumental in stamping lasting ideals of Chris- tian theory and conduct upon the student body. His influence circles the globe todav. The Rev. Charles W. Winchester, D. D., of Buffalo, New York, was elected president of Taylor University in November, 1903, resigning in 1907. Rev. A. R. Archibald was Acting President for a few months. Rev. Monroe Vayhinger, D- D., became president of the University in 1908. Under the auspices of this consecrated man Taylor University has stead- ily grown through the years. Rich in faith and love, though constantly hampered for funds to re- alize its ideals, the institution has, never-the-less, succeeded in making valuable additions to its possessions. Among the buildings the Music Hall and Swallaw-Robin dormitory and the Central Heating Plant have been added. The seventy acre farm adjacent to the Campus has also been purchased. Perhaps the best thing of all has been the steady adherence of President Vayhinger, Dean Ayres, and their faithful faculty to the early religious standards of the school. Its vital principle — Holiness un- to the Lord, has never lost its power, but is still one of Taylor ' s accepted tenets. One can scarcely close this article without mentioning the name of the president ' s gifted wife, Mrs. Culla Johnson Vayhinger, who by her work for the cause of prohibition, both in Indiana and the nation, has shed lustre on the institution over which her husband has presided for thirteen years. Were I to mention the names and good deeds of all those who have made Taylor University the great institution that it is, time would fail me. Bound by the limitations of space I must be content to recommend them to the Father of us who will say to each of these some glad day, Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things ; enter thou into the joys of the Lord. s° 2 T. U. IN EARLY DAY