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

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a spiritual awakening with his sincerity, his simple faith and divine endowment. He loved his studies and he loved this country, but always his activities were fervered with the desire to get back to his people and tell them of Jesus. He took a severe lingering cold in January, 1893, which he bore patiently in spite of pain and disappointment. He knew that the Lord was calling him home, and when asked if he feared death, replied, Oh no, since I ' ve found Jesus, death is my friend. With this spirit he went home to glory. The memory of Sammy Morris endowed Taylor with a spirit that makes her unique in the educational world. Her students, inspired by his entire consecration, have gone to the four corners of the earth, carry ing the blessed message of full salvation to all people. Miss Grace Husted of Green- field, Indiana, a former professor at Taylor University, is the only living teacher of Sammy Morris. On a visit to Upland Dr. Reade was shown some territory in this vicinity and negotiated an agreement with the Land Company to donate ten acres of land and $10,000 toward a building fund. Hence Taylor was officially moved to Upland and chartered anew as Taylor University. The trustees of the new organization hoped to get some money out of the old building at Fort Wayne, but when it was torn down and sold, there was nothing left but one boxcar of old furniture, Plans were drawn for an Administration Building, and as soon as these were completed, work was begun on the present building. Mr. T. W. Wil- liams donated some of the lumber and gave much financial support from time to time. From the clay on the campus Mr. Henry Kline made the brick that went into the structure. Before the building project was fin- ished, the panic of 1893 made the con- tinuing of work impossible for a time. Short winter classes were held in churches or available rooms, and the student? stayed with the people of the town. The Administration Building having been completed, additional funds carne in and the school prospered. The Sammy Morris building was constructed at the same time and used as the dining hall and rooming hall. A little later the build- Samuel Morris. 1he most outstanding student of Taylor University ing now used for the post office and gro- cery store was constructed as a boarding hall and girls ' dormitory. That made it possible to convert Sammy Morris into a boys ' dorm. Soon after this came a bequest that made possible the building of Sickler. The National Association of Local Preachers gave the responsibility of the operating expenses to Dr. Reade, who The building erected in memory of Sammy Morris

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XEZD. The celebration of the Probation Oratorical Contest by James S. Newcomb of the Methodist Episcopal Church; the school became Taylor University, named in honor of Bishop William Taylor, at that time a preacher of world-wide fame. The Association took charge of the school, regulated its financial and educa- tional policies and elected as president Dr. Thaddeus C. Reade, after a short ad- ministration of Christian B. Stemen, M.D., as acting president. It is only proper that we tell something about Sammy Morris, whose spirit-filled life left its stamp upon Taylor University. This African boy, who found Jesus through the endeavors of missionaries on that dark Continent, yielded himself wholly to God, received the fullness of ihe Holy Spirit and became an exemplar of Taylors ' em- phases. He came to the United States and was under the influence of Stephen Mer- ritt of New York City, who made arrange- ments to send him to Taylor University for his education. Dr. Reade, president when Sammy entered the college, once said, To me this simple black boy is a daily wonder, a visible miracle of the ut- most grace of Gcd. Upon arriving at Taylor University Sammy Morris greatly influenced those of the town and of the University, bringing Thaddeus C. Reade, President of Taylor University when Taylor was moved from its site in Fort Wayne to Upland, Indiana

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The school farm — adjoining Ihe campus aided the school by writing books and preaching throughout the country. He wrote an account of the life of Sammy Morris and with the money earned from this, built the Sammy Morris Building, now used as apartments for married couples. Had Dr. Reade not been able to see a new and glorious day for Taylor, with his prophetic eye of faith, he would surely have given up many times in despair. But Dr. Reade toiled until his death, and was denied the privilege of seeing the ac- complishment of his dreams. What he built, he built well, working with that ceaseless energy and clear vision of which few are capable. It leaves one breathless marvelling at this man, who braved well the hunger, danger, hardship and suffering — all for the love of One, who also had suffered and willingly died. The call came to Dr. Reade to give and he gave himself; the call came to go, and he went everywhere spreading happiness; the call came to come and he came to Taylor University, giving freely of all he had to offer. His life was a shining example to all those with whom he came in contact, and his memory has lived on in others whose lives were inspired by his testimony. Then came the day in the year 1902 when the workman had to lay down his tools, and the weary, burdened soul slipped away from under the load into the waiting arms of Christ. He was buried on the campus of Taylor University, where a memorial to this great man was erected in the year 1924. His uncompleted task was left to other hands. At the death of every great man, some- one arises to take up the falling torch and carry it forward. With Dr. Reade ' s failing health, Dr. John H. Shilling was made Vice President and took over a large share of the administration, and after the death of Dr. Reade became acting president until the close of the scholastic year 1902-03. Desiring to further his own education, Dr. Shilling was granted a leave of absence for two years of study in the East. Here he also served a pastorate, and while hold- ing revivals on this charge he became sud- denly ill, which illness resulted in death at the age of 32 years. Dr. Shilling, a tire- less worker, was the personification of push and punctuality. One of his expres- sions was, It has to go. We ' ll make it go. In his busy life he still found time for poetry, and he wrote a number of poems himself. Between the close of Dr. Shilling ' s Ad- ministration and the coming of Dr. Charles W. Winchester in January 1904, Dr. Burt W. Ayres was acting president and dean. There was an interim with Dr. Albert R. Archibald as acting president in 1907-08. In those difficult days when the school was trying hard to get on its feet, an able leader was found in Dr. Monroe Vay- hinger, whose faith in God and persever- ance in his work was a tremendous help in the building of a greater Taylor. Plans were made for the enlargement and beautification of the campus. In the spring of 1909, the first concrete walk was laid from the door of the Administration Building to the north entrance of the cam- pus and then to Sickler Hall. The date may still be seen in the walk east of Sickler. After the gravel and cement had