Cedarville Herald described the procession: The academic procession from the college to the Opera House for the inaugural took place at 3:30. The following order of march was ob– served: Trustees, President-elect and ex-Presi– dent, faculty, visiting delegates, students, and alumni. The faculty, visiting delegates, the se– nior class and the new and retiring presidents wore the academic costume. The different class– es of the alumni were distinguished by their class colors, the undergraduate classes wore re– galia of their class colors, the juniors in red while the sophomores in yellow and white and the freshmen in green and white. The cheer– leader, Mr. James Chestnut, Jr., led the yells and cheers which added a most enthusiastic note to the march and to the other sessions of the day. The procession with its mingling of serious academic garb and the bright hues of the class colors; with its ranks filled 150 loyal friends and members of the college; with its enthusias– tic songs and cheers was one of the most inter– esting features of the day.29 The college orchestra played in the background as everyone resumed their places in Cedarville's Opera House. The afternoon session was presided over by retiring President McKinney. After the invocation and the singing of Psalm 90, James H. Creswell, president of the Board of Trustees, read the resolution of the Board choosing McChesney as president. McKinney then gave a short sketch of the history of Cedarville College and expressed his appreciation to all those who had cooperated with him during his administration. He then reminded them that the future belonged to McChesney and urged full support for the president while pledging his own "loyal cooperation." He then brought McChesney forward and administered the oath of office. Following the inaugural prayer by Rev. James I. Chestnut, Sr., the representative of the General Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, McKinney charged the new president to "be president. The questions hitherto decided by a higher authority will now be referred to you for solution. Decide them for yourself, you are the head of the institution, be president in deed as well as in name."30 In response to the charge, and to all that had transpired, McChesney delivered an emotional reply. After thanking all those who had participated in the festivities, he pledged to work with the citizens of Greene County and the Village of Cedarville, the alumni, students, and faculty of the college to forward the cause of Cedarville College and the Word of God. He concluded his acceptance speech with these words: "To God, in whose faith I have been raised, in whose power I work; and for whose sake I pledged my life, I pay my tribute." Following McChesney's acceptance, Dean Leroy Allen gave a brief statement pledging the loyalty of the faculty and students to their new president. He closed by saying: "And as you follow Christ so we will follow you." As the dean was seated, a child came forward and presented McChesney with a floral tribute of white roses from the faculty. The student body sang a song that had been especially composed for the inauguration, which ended with a rousing cheer for their new president. While the students were singing, ushers brought McChesney gifts of flowers from each of the classes. The seniors presented roses; the juniors, carnations; the sophomores, yellow chrysanthemums; and the freshmen, white chrysanthemums. In this gala manner, the festivities were concluded as the crowd quieted for a brief benediction. 31 The first dynamic individual in the life of Cedarville College, Dr. David McKinney, now slipped back into the relative obscurity of life as a member of the Board of Trustees. From that position he gave his continued support to the institution and its new leader. That new leader, Wilbert Renwick McChesney, was destined to be the second dynamic individual in the life of the institution. He heeded his predecessor's charge to "be president," and led Cedarville to new heights for "The Crown and Covenant of Christ." 1. Trustees Minutes, June 3, 1915. 2. Cedarville College Catalog, 1916-17, pp. 102-111. 3. Elmer lUrkat, College Life, May 12, 1944. 4. Cedarville College Catalog, 1908-09, p. 12. 5. Elmer Jurkat, College Life, May 12, 1944. 6. Cedarville College Catalog, 1910-11, p. IS. 7. Trustees Minutes, June 2, 1909. 8. Trustees Minutes, June 3, 1915. These observations are edited from McKinney's resignation. 9. Elmer Jurkat, College Life, May 12, 1944. 10. Ibid. 11. Ibid. 12. Ibid. 13. Trustees Minutes, June 3, 1915. 14. Elmer Jurkat, College Life, May 12, 1944. 15. Faculty Minutes, May 31, 1915. 16. Trustees Minutes, June 3, 1915. 17. Elmer Jurkat, College Life, May 12, 1944. 18. Ibid. 19. Ibid. 20. Ibid. 21. Cedarville Herald. January 27, 1911. 22. Cedarville Herald. October 27, 1911. 23. Ibid. 24. Ibid., June 4, 1915. 25. Ibid. 26. Cedarville Herald, November 19, 1915. 27. Ibid. 28. Ibid. 29. Ibid. 30. Ibid. 31. Ibid. Chapter VI/51