experience, and had spent his career to that point in the classroom. He was an ordained minister, and an excellent pulpit orator, but had never pastored a church or had other management experience. Adding to McChesney's problem was the fact that World War I, which began in Europe in the summer of 1914, was causing increased alarm in the United States. Before he could crystalize his plans for the fund-raising drive he had promised in his inaugural address, the British and Germans had made neutral shipping extremely difficult. Though Woodrow Wilson was re-elected to the presidency in 1916 on the slogan "He Kept Us Out Of War," it was becoming clear that involvement might be the only alternative. Amid increasing international tensions, McChesney put all plans for fund raising on hold. Cedarville students relieved any anxiety they may have felt by turning Cedar Day 1916 into a giant spoof of Mexican-American relations. Cedar Day had been instituted in 1911 as a springtime holiday featuring "oratory, pageantry, comedy, tree planting, box lunches, and ball games."n The tree planted was always a cedar tree. But on the fifth anniversary of Cedar Day, the students mocked the growing tensions: Even Cedarville of 1916 had its horse and gun play when the Juniors burlesqued General Per– shing's ill-fated excursion into Mexico to cap– ture Villa. The maids who surrounded Dorothy Collins, the queen, wore long grass-sweeping dresses and hats as big as dishpans. James Chestnut, J L, was orator, and the class forwent the usual evergreen to plant an appropriate but punful chestnut tree,u While the students relaxed their tension by mocking international problems, and by playing pranks such as carrying some unsuspecting classmate's trunk to the other end of town, the world situation became more severe. Finally, in April 1917, the United States entered World War I. Meanwhile, the only fund-raising campaign in Cedarville in 1917 was when "a dazzling show troupe" came "to the Opera House to help sell Liberty Bonds."13 In the fall of 1917, the college had its own international flavor when it enrolled its first Chinese student. In reporting his arrival, Elmer Jurkat added: "He was followed shortly by smallpox, which closed up the town for six weeks as it coasted into 1918, the year of measles and influenza, and vaccinations, and sore arms, and meatless Tuesdays, and snow so deep it stopped all the trains."14 At the conclusion of the war, the nation returned to "normalcy," and college enrollment 56/Chapter VII began to climb. By 1920 the facilities were taxed by the 116 students who registered, and McChesney once more began speaking for an endowment and building program. By 1921 the student body climbed to 135. In his annual report to the Board, McChesney made a series of recommendations, the key one being "that this Board of Trustees records itself as ready and willing individually and collectively to render any and all possible service and encouragement to the campaign for increased endowment and buildings for Cedarville."ls Following the president's report, a lengthy discussion concerning the endowment situation took place. Several community members who had formed a citizen's committee on increasing the endowment were invited to sit with the Board during this general discussion. The Board pledged itself to support the committee's activities to the fullest. McChesney called a special Board meeting for two weeks later, and at that time made the motion that the college "secure the services of the Ward Systems Company for the purpose of raising funds for endowment, equipment and buildings."16 By mid-July the Cedarville Herald announced in its headlines "Headquarters Open for c.c. $200,000 Campaign." The article explained that a headquarters had been established in Barber's storeroom on Main Street. The paper stated that active solicitation would not begin until August or September and that the campaign would be a concentrated and intense one, but would only last eight weeks. 17 On August 5 McChesney addressed an open letter to the citizens of Cedarville and Greene County appealing for support in the campaign drive. In answer to the question "Why does Cedarville College need $200,0007," McChesney said: "Dear friends, count what you will lose if the college is compelled to cease its work or to move away."18 He then discussed the material, mental, moral, and religious losses that would be felt throughout the county if the college moved to an area which provided a greater financial base. His "open letter" concluded with a list of graduates, to drive home the reality of how many county young people had been educated at Cedarville. The fund-raising campaign was launched with a large banquet featuring chicken and ice cream. While an orchestra played in the background, several placards were distributed. These were hung all over the community and