1953-1955 Academic Catalog

'-""eneral ln ormation Cedarvi lle Baptist College and Bible Institute combines the history and program of two great schools, Cedarville College and The Baptist Bible Ir1stitute of Cleveland. It is located in a rural community, yet has the ad– ·vantage of being within easy driving distance of the cities of central and southwestern Ohio. Cedarville is in Greene County, Ohio, forty-six miles southwest of Columbus, sixty miles northeast of Cincinnati, twenty-two miles f ram Dayton, e leven miles south of Springfie ld, a nd eight miles from X enia. From the time it was established in 1942, the Baptist Bible Institute of Cleveland has occupied the educational building of the H ough Avenue Bap– tist Church. God had so richly blessed that there was a definite need for bui ldings and a campus. Early in the school year, 1952-53 , the Trustees of BBI began planning t o secure a campus with a minimum of two dormitories and a classroom building. Several suitable properties were located in Cleve– land and offers to purchase or lease were made. But three times the door was definitely closed. God had better and greater plans for BBI! Just when all doors seemed to be closed, the news came of a college at Cedarville, Ohio, being offered on most unusual terms. Upon investigation, the Executive Committee found that Cedarville College, with a campus of 15 acres and 9 buildings was to be given over to a church group willing and able to continue with a liberal arts program. Cedarville College was originally conceived and founded by The Re– formed Presbyterian Church. In 1887 that group obtained a charter from the State of Ohio for the college. The first session opened September 9, 1894; that year thirty-six students enrolled, and classes were conducted in a rented house, formerly owned by The Reverend Hugh MacMillan, who had con– ducted an academy there in the middle years of the 19th century. Among the faculty members that first year was W. R. McChesney, later the president of the college. In another year the first college building "Old Main," had been completed, and from 1895 classes have been conducted there. In 1928, the General Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church un- - animously voted t o transfer "all control, ownership, title and vested property rights of the Cedarville College" to the B oard of Trustees of The College, "and their successors forever." On Saturday, April 4, the Trustees of The Baptist Bible Institute of Cleveland met with the Trustees of Cedarville College. By a process of res– ignations and e lections, the ownership and control of Cedarville College passed complete ly into the hands of the BBi Trustees. With the vision and purpose of having a true, fundamental, Baptist Liberal Arts College a long with the continuance of a greater Bible Institute, the Trustees immediately changed the name of the new institution to Cedarville Baptist College and Bible Institute. -10-