though the two teams were about evenly matched there were not many other schools nearby in the same athletic bracket. Antioch quit after awhile but Cedarville kept on with lots of fun but not much success till about 1934 when both the scores and the expenses got too high, and they dropped it. 27 Two other activities were an important part of college life in the 1920s. Each year the college men would have a night shirt parade. They would march through town playing instruments, singing, and raising a horrible din. On occasion, the townspeople were forced to respond. In 1924 the Cedarville Herald reported: "The annual night shirt parade of the college boys took place Wednesday night, April 23rd. The town was aroused by their wonderful music, but on several occasions their reception was very damp!"28 Another tradition of the 1920s was the "freshman haircut." These haircuts were free. In fact, they were usually required! If you see college boys going about town with skull caps and short hair you can mark it down that the college degree of "Freshman" has been administered. Monday night the conferring of degrees was in process. From all reports the boys took their "dose" in good nature and will now await the passing of weeks for the head covering to return. 29 Apparently, the freshmen did not always cooperate in the shearing process. On at least one occasion, several of the boys landed before Mayor Funsett's court. "The Mayor let the boys down with a dollar fine and other considerations."JO While the Cedarville students of the 1920s obviously enjoyed themselves, they also made positive contributions to the community. The Cedarville Herald reported that area pastors were "very well pleased with the interest and support the college students are giving in the different churches in the community."31 The lighter moments of the '20s provided an important balance for the Cedarville College family. Beneath the surface there were continuing needs for the institution and its people. Through the early years of his presidency, McChesney urged the trustees to do all in their power to meet the State of Ohio's minimum standards. The state seemed satisfied with Cedarville's progress toward its goals. In fact, McChesney reported that inspectors for both the Ohio State Association and the Department of Public Instruction had descri bed Cedarville as "one of the best small colleges in the state."32 While McChesney noted that the state wanted Cedarville to divide the Science and Mathematics Department, he seemed more concerned with the fact that the college was offering such low salaries to its faculty. He indicated that this made it difficult not only to get teachers, but also to keep them. He frequently reminded people that longtime professors, such as Dr. Jurkat, were wanted by other schools, but had remained with Cedarville in spite of sub-par salaries. He pointed out one woman who had remained on the faculty in spite of the fact that she was able to show him an offer for $200 more from another institution. He said he blushed as he pleaded with her to stay.33 In addition, there was the all-pervading fear that perhaps the college would be forced to close its doors. This fear was made more real in 1921 when Franklin College, the alma mater of several Cedarville faculty members and administrators, closed after 96 years of existence. 34 Even after the successful campaign of 1921, the financial needs were tremendous. Meeting the challenge led to one of the most intriguing episodes in the century-long history of the institution. This situation was destined to play a major role in the future of the college. I. W.R. McChesney, "The Ideal College," Cedarville Herald, No- vember 19, 1915. 2. Cedarville Herald, January 12, 1912. 3. Ibid, June 17, 1914. 4. W.R. McChesney, 'The Ideal College." 5. Ibid. 6. Cedarville Herald, July IS, 1921. 7. W.R. McChesney, 'The Ideal College." 8. Ibid. 9. Ibid. 10. In 1918 McChesney became dean of the Seminary and remained in that office following his retirement from the college preSidency until his death in 1944. II. Elmer Jurkat, College Life, May 19, 1944. 12. Ibid. 13. Ibid. 14. Ibid. /5. Trustees Minutes, June 9, 1921. /6. Trustees Minutes, June 25, 1921. 17. Cedarville Herald, July IS, 1921. /8. Cedarville Herald, August 5, 1921. 19. Elmer Jurkat, College Life, May 26, 1944. 20. Trustees Minutes, September 10, 1921. 21. Trustees Minutes, October 10, 1921. 22. Trustees Minutes, December 12, 1921. 23. Cedarville College Catalog, 1920-21, p. 7; and 1931-32, p. 19; 1936-37, p. IS. 24. Trustees Minutes, May 29, 1940. 25. Cedarville College Catalog, 1924-25, p. 8. 26. Elmer Jurkat, College Life, May 26, 1944. 27. Ibid. 28. Cedarville Herald, May 2, 1924. 29. Ibid., September 23, 1927. 30. Ibid., October 3, 1924. 31. Ibid., October 13, 1922. 32. Trustees Minutes, June 8, 1916. 33. Cedarville Herald, August 19, 1921. 34. Ibid. Chapter VII/59