Torch, Fall 2000

‘Jeremiah, this is your finest hour.’” James cleared his throat, sipped from the glass of water before him, and replied strongly with conviction, “Presumably, he would be fired.” The thin man at the end of the table put down the papers and nodded. “That is what ought to happen.” The North Central Association was looking for Cedarville to hold up its doctrinal statement, to be willing to stand by its beliefs. And James’ answer was right on target. It was not long until the committee voted to allow Cedarville College into the North Central Association with full accreditation. This action meant that “the graduates’ credits [would] be accepted for transfer to other institutions or for entrance to graduate school.” 7 The final victory, the victory that James had sought so hard, the last peg in that seemingly endless row had finally been established. And the college could offer degrees that could be accepted anywhere in the State of Ohio. The second prong of James’ four-prong attack was Kenneth H. St. Clair, whose main job was to create and set in motion all the necessary elements for a dynamic Business Department. St. Clair soon started the program that “was to develop into Cedarville’s largest major.” 5 The third prong of James’ attack was Richard McIntosh, who became Dean of Students. McIntosh was in charge of improving the institution’s facilities for student services. “During his tenure, [he] expanded campus health services and established the Financial Aid Department.” 6 But it was the fourth and final prong that set Cedarville on a firm foundation. James knew the essentiality of giving, of monetary support and, with it, advertisement and promotion. It was with this essential in mind that he hired the last of his “four horsemen,” Lee C. Turner. Turner soon laid the foundation for programs that would be used throughout the history of the college, programs such as planned giving and The President’s Association. He also created the Torch magazine, which promoted the college and informed the alumni of new developments and new visions. The hiring of these four men was the first of two major events that characterized James as a leader and a college president. The second would come much later, as his days as president were coming to an end. Another turning point came in November 1974 as Dr. Jeremiah found himself sitting before the North Central Association Review Board. Cedarville’s prospects for accreditation looked good, but a bump in the road forced Dr. Jeremiah to take an important stand. “This is going to be easier than I had imagined,” thought James. Then a thin man sitting near the end of the table, bow tie stiff and bright, suddenly cleared his throat to speak. “This is going to be trouble,” remarked James to himself. “The last man who wore a bow tie and worked for the state chewed me out for an hour.” “Dr. Jeremiah,” began the man, his voice dry and deadly serious, “if you had a teacher on your staff who eventually did not believe what the college’s doctrinal statement says, what would happen to him?” The statement hung over James like the Sword of Damocles. He knew that question was loaded. “I paused a minute, and I thought, Dr. Jeremiah and his four horsemen. From left: Lee C. Turner, Kenneth St. Clair, James T. Jeremiah, Clifford Johnson, and Richard McIntosh.