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

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Mllllillllll Dm[g its Bt m numbers, but real enthusiasm for effective writing and speaking, was part of the Taylor Spirit. But religion — fervent, heartfelt religion, earnest, evangelical, evan- gelistic Christianity, emphasizing the great fundamentals of Christian ex- perience, as conversion and entire sanctification, with the witness of the Spirit — was stimulated. Revivals were frequently held, and evangelists were brought in who would deepen the spiritual life of the school and lead the saved to perfect love. Dr. Reade took the doctrine of Christian Perfection as a matter of course, treated it as that to which a Christian will com if led on to realize his needs and privileges. He was easy and natural in the use of all the Scriptural terms, and was not a stickler for any form of expression- As far as I remember he did not assume either an attitude of apology or controversy in regard to the doctrine of holiness. A Spirit-filled ministry was the ideal. This kept the school largely free from empty dogmatism and from schism. Added was a strong missionary spirit. His attitude on these various subjects, with a faculty and student body largely standing for the same policies, built up during his administra- tion what might well be called the Taylor Spirit, the Taylor Idea. Only a few incidents can be given to show his disposition and char- acter. In his last illness he went to Battle Creek, Michigan, and was there when the Sanitarium building burned. He got out safe in spite of his weakness, and, though he never told it himself, it was learned by his rel- atives, through letters of gratitude written later, that he went back into the burning building and rescued several persons who could not find their way out. The following incidents connected with his last illness show his sense of humor manifesting itself in an effort to create good cheer even to the last. His daughter, Bertha, seeing his failing strength, looked at him with tears in her eyes and said: Papa, are you going to die? He repli- ed, I don ' t know, Bertha, I ' ve never had any experience, and smiled. On one occasion when he had been sitting up in a chair, and had become wea- ry, he said to one who was visiting him: I think I ' d better lie down ; I talk better when I lie. Dr . Reade was a lecturer and author as well as a preacher and edu- cator. Aside from lectures on special occasions, three lectures might be mentioned, which were delivered a number of times : The Hymns We Sing; The Talking Animal; and The Dutch. Three booklets, The Life of Sammy Morris, St. Barnabas the Good and The Elder Broth- er, have had a very wide sale and have done much good. For a number of years before his death Dr. Reade edited and published two papers, the Taylor University Register and Soul Food. The first was devoted largely to the interests of the University and was sent out each month to the friends and prospective patrons of the school. Soul Food was de- voted to the upbuilding of spiritual life. Dr. Reade wrote numerous poems, many being hymns. His first book, published by the Methodist Book Concern, contains poems written

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The full responsibility borne by Dr. Reade throughout nearly his en- tire administration gave him a free hand in shaping the policies, stand- ards and ideals of the school. In giving the school the name University it is seen that he looked to a future development which would fill the University concept. As a first development toward the University idea he conceived and organized the School of Theology, which, in the litera- ture of that day bore the name Reade Theological Seminary ; and it is the hope of the writer of this sketch that this name may be restored thus ever associating his honored name with the department which was to be the fullest expression of his purpose. The Academy, Normal School and School of Music, found in the organization their proper place. Dr. Reade was compelled by the very limitation of his resources to find teachers who made salary a secondary consideration ; so he gathered about him a group of men and women who were willing to practice self- denial. The same spirit was inculcated in the students. To keep ex- penses down, rooms were small and meagerly furnished, food was plain and course, but the students seemed well nourished. To Dr. C. W. Win- chester, who became President later, this spirit was so evident in the school life that he gave as the motto of the school, Plain Living and High Thinking. In those days we had no gymnasium and baths, but as has been indica- ed, Dr. Reade was ever reminding the students of the proper care of the body. Deep breathing in the open air, bathing, invigorating, but not ex- hausting exercise, and regular habits of eating and sleeping were contin- ually urged- I can not now remember of many cases, if any, of nervous collapse. Believing that foot-ball is brutal, that the exercise is too vio- lent for student life, and that, as a natural result, its place in school ath- letics over-exercises the large and physically strong, and by its violence leads to many casualties for which the school did not wish to assume the responsibility, he set himself immovably against foot-ball for this school. He ruled out intercollegiate athletics on three main counts : First, it tends to the concentration of training on a picked few to the exclusion of the many who need the exercise more than the special few, thus defeating the very aim of physical education for the health of all the students as related to intellectual work; Second, it consumes much valuable time in going away and taking a number of boosters thus affecting class work ; Third, it increases cost to the student, often to the student who is not really able to bear it; and, if he were able to bear it, thus pushing up the expense, and operating against one great purpose of the administration, namely, to keep cost so low that the poor may have an education. The democratic spirit of Dr. Reade fostered the principle of social equality. Labor, even what is called the most menial, was dignified, Moral purpose, genuineness of Christian living, and faithful effort, count- ed for more than wealth or keenness of intellect. The boarding together and finding a common life all through the school fostered the family feel- ing and a Chrisian sympathy made each interested in each other. Teach- ers, too, were brought into close and sympathetic touch with the students. Dr. Reade was an ardent supporter of the Literary Societies. He believed that public speaking should have a place in the education of every student. Literary enthusiasm, not merely society spirit as measured in i We M™ gj(«CT MESH

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iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiimiiiiiiiiiiii ii by himself and by his first wife. The title is Sunday School Concerts. In 1883 he published a small volume of poems, called, from the chief long poem which it contains, Exodus and Other Poems. He continued to write hymns and poems to the last; these were used in his own publica- tions, in other religious papers, and some were used in hymn and song books. The following hymn was set to music by evangelist C. E. Rowley, at one time Professor of Music in the College at Ada, Ohio. Prof, and Mrs. Rowley, both good singers and musicians, sang this great hymn of- ten, and always to the great delight of their hearers. Notice Dr. Reade ' s fine poetic appreciation of God in nature. SK £5, GOD CARETH FOR ME join with the worshipping angels to sing Of God, our Creator, Preserver and King ; Transcendent in glory, in station most high, He dazzles with splendor the Sun in the Sky. All nature proclaims Him ; the outermost Star That hurries away on its mission afar, Chants abroad, as it flies o ' er the wondering Earth, The praises of God in the song of its birth. The sea shouts aloud to the cloud-cleaving hills, The Vales swell the song with the music of rills, The earth is His footstool, and heaven His throne ; God reigneth forever, He reigneth alone- His breath is the wind, and His robe is the light, His voice is the thunder, His shadow is night ; He rides on the tempest, He walks on the sea, Yet feedeth the sparrows, and careth for me. ii iiiiiiiiiminiiBmngnn p ne5ij™jt