1920 Cedrus Yearbook

1920 OUR PRESIDENT "Lives of great men all remind us, We can make our lives sublime—" HE President of Cedarville College not only took to heart these words of the famous poet, and by steadfast pursuit of certain ideals ' realized the ambi- tion in his own life, but by force of his example inspired others to make the same attempt. Wilbert Renwick McChesney was born July 7th, 1871, on a farm near Wampum, Pa. He was prepared for college at Greersburg Academy, and entered the sophomore year at Franklin College in 1889, graduating in 1892. For two years after his gradua- tion he taught Latin and History in his Alma Mater and then in 1894 became the first professor in Cedarville College. From that time to the present his story has been the history of the institution. He was promoted from one administrative office to another, being first secretary of the faculty, then vice-president, dean and in 1915 upon the re- tirement of the first president, Dr. David McKinney, he was chosen president. He has been honored by the degrees of A.M., and Ph.D., from Franklin College and of D.D., from Tarkio College. Upon the removal of the Reformed Presbyterian Seminary to Cedarville he was appointed Professor of New Testament Literature and a little later dean of the seminary and Professor of Systematic and Pastoral Theology, He is thus the successful and popular head of the two highest educational institutions in his denomination. Dr. McChesney is generally looked upon as the founder of Cedarville College. The institution is a real monument to his genius and ability. From the very beginning his spirit has permeated the college. As president he has greatly increased the endowment, almost doubled the attendance and vastly improved the standards and standing of the institution. The plans and policies which he has inaugurated, will, if he is permitted t9 live and carry them out, make Cedarville, not the largest, but one of the best colleges in America, for the development of Christian leaders. It is Dr. McChesney's highest ambition to make Cedarville College the rallying point and training school of many hundreds of ycung men and women, who, inspired by his ideals, and fully equipped by the work of the institution, shall go forth to advance the cause and upbuild the King- dom of Jesus Christ. Dr. McChesney is possessed of gifts which would have eminently fitted him to fill places of larger opportunity and wider service, and he has received many urgent in- vitations to enter upon such fields. But fortunately for Cedarville he has chosen to make this his life-work, for without him Cedarville could not be what it is. He is an orator of impassioned power and earnestness in the presentsticn of the truth, a prince of preachers, a man who believes in prayer and practices the presence of God, a real pastor, much welcomed at the bedside of the sick or dying or in the house of mourning. As a teacher he is both inspired and inspiring, and none can excel him in making vivid and impressive the lessons he drives home. For a number of years he taught in the summer session of Wooster College and was hailed by scores of students as the greatest teacher they had ever known. But greatest of all, Dr. McChesney excels as a friend. Of winsome speech and manner, full of witty stories and amusing recollections of great men and women, tact- ful and considerate of all with whom he comes in contact, he is a very pleasant com- panion. He is loyal to his friends with an unswerving devotion that binds them to him and makes them rally around him in the support of the great work in which he is en- gaged. Truest of all is he to his greatest Friend, who has sustained him in all of the years of his struggle here and in whom is all of his reliance for the future. The con- viction is forced upon us as we view his life and character that never again will Cedar- ville College have such a president. Let us then appreciate him while he is with us and work with him to make Cedarville College realize his lofty ideals. 13