The Gavelyte, July 1915

CEDARVILLE COLLEGE RESIGNATION OF DR. M'KINNEY. In prer-enting to the Board of 'Trustees his resignation as Presi– dent of Cedarville College, Dr. McKinney said: "I respectfully present to you my resignation as PrPsi<li>nt of Cedarville to take effect Friday, .June 4th, 191 5, after the Commence– ment." "I have he'<l ',his office for 21 years. During that period the per– sonel of your board has changed several times. 1 am the only re– rnaining member of the board which elected ,me in May; 1894. I accepted this office with reluctance because it was nrged upon me by men whose opinions and judgment I valued. I have carried on the work with what ability and enthusiasm I could command. During my administration three buildings have been added, the en– dowment has been more than quadrupled, contributions from individ– uals and churches for current expenses have increased until no',V they are a permanent and no inconsiderable part of the resources of the ce,llege. The reputation of the college h:1s been firmly established. Its good work has been recognized. The Alumni are devoted in their allegiance to their Alma Mater. They ;:ire increasing in numbers. They aJ.'e now found in all parts of the world. The college can now look to them confidently for the support they are now capable and willing to give. The condition of the collf'gc is good, the prospect is encouraging. It seems a propitiom: time for a change of administra– tion which must inevitably have come in a fpw years. I question the wisdom of a longer tenure in thP office. Twenty-one years is lon!4· enough time for any man to do his best w0rk in an office of this kind. Poss1hly if I could have d,-woted my entire time to this work more could have been accomplished. That is an open question. It is now too late for any change of this kind. Rut that question suggests what I have always believed to be a great .need of this college: a resi– dent president who can enter into, affect. and direct every phase of the colleg-e life. A number of times good friends of the colle.ge havP urged me to give mv&elf exclusively to the work of the college. Last year members of your board ur()'e<l me that I give up m~' other work and become the resident president of the college. Were I to continne in this office according to the plan of the past I could reasonably ex– pect that very soon the alternative would be presen',ed to take up this full work or permit some one else to do so. The change in my church relations during the past year has hastened this crisis. That change would affect my ability to serve the college if the present relation were to continue. My desire has always been to promote the goo<l of the college. Heretofore that seemed to be fo,· me to continue here even with the limited amount of time T could give. But now the situation has changed. Long ago I came to the conclusion that when I mu.,;t choose between the college and the church I would retain my pulpit. "Woe is me if I preach not the gospel." That is the one work of mv life. Together with this T am not willinQ' to leave the citv whPl'P I have spent the best part of my life. I have refused opportunities to go elsewhere with better prospP.cis. And now I am Jess inclined than ev r to sunder ties of work a nd friendship that hav entwin0d th m– s Ives about the roots of my life. T love that ol<l citv, and plc~se God I should like to stay there. You have alwavA exp0l'ted me to initiate plans for the coll p-e. So I have faced this situa ion and aA u reimlt I urge upon you the acceptan<'e of 1 nv resignation as presi– clent of the college in order tha a new JJJ'c• id nt who <'an £rive his Pntirc> time to the work may he el <'tNl. The future of ihe college 3