estimated at $25,000 or less. With an additional $25,000, or a grand total of $50,000, we can transfer the B.B.1. Day School to Cedarville this fall and operate there the Bible Institute and the beginnings of a liberal arts college and school of education basedon the principles and beliefs of Regular BaptistsY Lewis contended that to "neglect such an opportunity would be dishonoring to God." Consequently, the B.B.I. trustees had proceeded, convinced that the Association's churches "would be inspired by this tremendous opportunity and challenge." He requested that each church in the Ohio Association of Regular Baptists contribute "$100 or more for this project at once," indicating there was an immediate need for $15,000 to "consummate the transaction."16 After all the necessary documents, including an audit of the Cedarville books, were completed, the Baptist and Presbyterian trustees met in Old Main. This historic meeting took place at 1:30 p.m. on April 4, 1953. Chairman Earl McClellan called the meeting to order and John W. Bickett opened in prayer. Following the audit report, McClellan announced that all alumni of Cedarville College had been informed of the plan to merge with the Baptist group. The alumni had been told they were free to cancel their pledge to the college if they chose to do so. Then, "it was moved by J.A. Finney and seconded by Rankin MacMillan that Article II Section I of the bylaws be deleted." This section read: "The majority 6f the members of the Board always to be members of the Presbyterian Church U.s.A."17 The motion passed unanimously. Next, Chairman Earl McClellan read individual letters of resignation from eight of the Presbyterian trustees. Dr. leslie Dean Max Hobbs Dr. Harold D. Ray Dr. Donald F. Kyle Leo Deutsch George H. Hartman Karlh Bull Leof Anderson The motion to accept their resignations carried unanimously. It was moved by J.A. Finney and seconded by Harold D. Neill that the following Baptists be elected to the Board of Trustees. George B. Dunn Allan E. Lewis Karl lutz Rev. O. Sanborn Norman B. Chappell Arthur W. Dyke William B. Patterson 9O/Chapter XI Earl V. Willetts James T. Jeremiah This motion carried unanimously. Chairman Earl McClellan next read the resignations of: Dallas Marshall David C. Bradfute Rankin MacMillan Dr. John W. Bickett Ralph L. Rife J.A. Finney Willard W. Barlow Harold D. Neill Their resignations were also unanimously approved. Allan Lewis, seconded by William Patterson, moved that the following men be elected to the Cedarville Board. George S. Milner Charles C. Scheetz Eugene Smith Arthur G. Fetzer Ezra F. Imhof Clyde W. Somers Reginald L. Matthews J. Irving Reese Chester McNutt Gerald Smelser Again the motion carried unanimously. Earl McClellan then appointed George Dunn as temporary chairman, and McClellan presented the resignation of Harvey C. Auld as secretary and trustee, and McClellan himself as chairman and trustee. With the removal of the final two Presbyterians from the Board, it was then moved by Sanborn and seconded by Willetts that the following officers of the Board be elected: Chairman of the Board, George B. Dunn; Treasurer, George S. Milner; and Secretary, Arthur W. Dyke.18 In the matter of one and one-half hours, Cedarville College concluded its tenure as a Presbyterian institution and began its existence as a Baptist school. Following the exchange of Boards, Chairman Dunn had all the new Board members introduce themselves to the retiring men, and Dean Leonard Webster briefly outlined the plans of the new administration. The trustees of B.B.I. were deeply impressed by their Presbyterian counterparts in this unique and historic meeting. The campus was valued well over $250,000 but "the existing Board was not interested in a monetary offer."19 Instead, they wanted to see Cedarville College move forward "For the Crown and Covenant of Christ." In effect, they gave the institution to men they felt would maintain its original purposes and objectives. Quickly the Baptists took their first official action as the controlling body of Cedarville College. They adopted a resolution expressing
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