1919 Cedrus Yearbook

19 •T A 19 THE EARLY YEARS HE writer arrived in Cedarville on the morning accommodation, July 10, 1894. A mass meeting to put Cedarville College for the first time before the people was held that evening in the opera house. The speakers were James F. Morton, David McKinney, James D. Steele, Thomas Watters, and the writer. Canvassing for students began the next day. Thirty-seven enrolled on September 19, 1894. Thirty-three of them were in the collegiate courses, four in music. The first faculty were David McKinney, president; James F. Morton, vice-president and professor of English Bible; W. R. McChes- ney, secretary, and professor of Ancient Languages; Carrie Blair, profes- sor of Mathematics; Frank Dean, professor of English; and Bell Beazell, professor of Music. The college occupied during the first year the residence of Dr. Hugh McMillan, which is now owned by Mr. Arnold. Gi;:)und was broken for the present building on the campus in the spring of 1895. The new building was entered the following September. Searle sixty students were in attend- ance. The endowment of the first three years was only $20,000. This has been increased until atthe present it amounts to $105,000 actual interest-bearing endowment. Some $30,000 additional endowment is expected in the near future. The Theological Seminary endowment amounts to $68,000. It is combined with the former, and the College has the benefit of both funds amounting to $173,000. A movement is on foot now to raise $25,000 for the James Foyl Morton Bible Chair. Quite a good sum has been raised already. The charter Board of Trustees were James F. Morton, Thomas Gibson, Richard Park, Hugh McCollum, Jr., and H. H. McMillan. In the opening year of the College, David McKinney, Thomas Watters, Robert Stevenson, James D. Steele, and J. C. Stormont were added to this Board. The early years were filled with effort, struggle, and sacrifice. How- ever, hope kept the fires of enthusiasm burning brightly and led on and up until the splendid plant of the present flourishes as the achievement of those days of mixed fear and faith. The past with its labors and joys, the present with its attainments and prospects, bids us enter the future with gratitude to God, reliance upon our hosts of friends, and every encourage- ment to make the coming years the best. 70