various types of literature to promote the school, and have some sort of printing or off– set printer of our own to prepare this Ii terature."o The trustees appointed the chairman and secretary of the Board to formulate a definite proposal to be presented to Jeremiah. In compliance with those instructions, a plan was prepared by which Jeremiah was offered a promotion from vice president to "acting president" for one year. Since several trustees had been absent from the June meeting, it was not until late in July that the Board finally made the proposal to their vice president. When the Board reconvened in September 1954, Jeremiah was in Decatur, Illinois, representing the college at a youth banquet. Because he could not attend the Board meeting, Jeremiah addressed a letter to the trustees in response to their invitation to become acting president. He expressed his appreciation for the offer, but indicated that he and Mrs. Jeremiah, after prayerful consideration, had no peace about accepting the position. Their reservations had nothing to with the desperate financial plight of the college. Instead, they related to the title of "acting president." Jeremiah understood why the Board preferred this title: All of us have gone through enough during the past year to make us afraid to trust anyone for a place of permanent leadership in the school. Undoubtedly it is wise to select an act– ing president, rather than a president for the college. If he succeeds he can always be made president. If he fails, then he has been only a temporary expedient anyway. Then, too, if a better prepared man comes along, we are in a position to elect a president who can give a higher standing to the college. All of that is sound reasoning and I would not for a moment seek to deny it? At the same time, however, Jeremiah saw certain drawbacks to the proposal: The title "acting president" suggests the idea of a temporary arrangement. The Cedarville community and our churches across the coun– try are bound to get this impression. Mail con– tinues to come to the school addressed to two former "acting presidents" of the college. For a number of years the townspeople have been aware of the temporary leadership given to the college. This unfavorable reaction of the people in Cedarville was recently expressed to me by one of the leading citizens.8 Jeremiah went on to explain to the Board his conviction that "the college will not be well received in our churches if we do not let them know we are going forward with a permanent organization." He reminded them "the entire Association is watching. They want to know whether or not we are going to make a success of the college. Certainly any indication of doubtful planning on our part will be received by our churches with misgiving."o In light of these concerns, James T. Jeremiah rejected the Board's offer to become acting president of Cedarville College. After writing the letter declining the Board's offer, Jeremiah left on his trip to represent the ·college. Enroute he encountered one of the men who earlier had been offered the position. After talking with him, Jeremiah telegraphed word to George Milner that the individual was now interested in having the office and told Milner where to make contact. Milner presen ted to the Board Jeremiah's letter declining the invitation to be acting president and Jeremiah's telegram concerning the man who was now interested in the presidency. The Board's reaction was to reexamine their concept of acting president. By this time Pastor Jeremiah had already been acting president for almost nine months. He had jail ministry placed students in a unique ministry experience. Creative means were used, such as a record player as accom– panist, to minister to those behind bars. Chapter XIll/I07
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