History of Abilene Christian College

History of Abilene Christian College HISTORY OF ABILENE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

“Realizing the importance of teaching God’s Word to the young people of their time, David Lipscomb and J. A. Harding began a movement in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1891, which resulted in the establishment of the Nashville Bible School, which is now known as David Lipscomb College. Those who attended this school were so taught and inspired with the importance of Christian education that many of them sought to carry the idea to other parts of the world.” In the winter and spring of 1906 A. B. Barrett, who had attended the Nashville Bible School, was in Texas preaching the importance of Christian education. He enlisted the interest and sympathy of a few, which resulted in the beginning of Abilene Christian College. The school opened in September, 1906, in a small brick building with only 25 pupils. During the year the enrollment reached 75. From 1908 to 1912 the school had a great deal of difficulty and many changes in administration; from A. B. Barrett to H. L. Darden, then to R. L. Whiteside, then to J. F. Cox, then to J. P. Sewell. The lack of finance and interest in Christian education kept the school from making much progress until the fall of 1912.

Under the guidance and by the sacrifice of J. P. Sewell and his wife, Abilene Christian College made steady progress until it became in 1919 a standard Class A senior college, well equipped and functioning splendidly in teaching the Bible. In 1924 Brother Sewell resigned and Batsell Baxter was elected president. Under his administration the school made steady progress; new buildings and equipment were provided and the enrollment was greatly increased. During the summer of 1927 the Board of Trustees purchased a large tract of
land one mile northeast of the business section which is known as “Abilene Heights.” In September, 1929, the school opened in this new addition on the campus of 34 acres with seven new modern fireproof buildings and new equipment. In 1932 James F. Cox was elected to succeed Batsell Baxter as president of the school. During the eight years of his administration the school enjoyed a significant growth and advancement in many ways. The student body increased. The college was put on a more solid financial basis and other improvements were made. In August, 1939, President Cox resigned arid Don H Morris, vice-president, was elected to take his place. Since 1940 the school has made steady growth; the student body has increased; new equipment has been added; and new buildings have been constructed. At the present time there are nine good brick buildings on the campus with two others under construction. The student body is now the largest to be found in any of our schools, with an enrollment expected to be between twelve and fourteen hundred in the fall of 1946. In the spring of 1946 a campaign got under way to raise $3,(XX),000.00 for expansion and endowment.
(
Those who were instrumental in establishing Abilene Christian College felt the need of giving their children an education under Christian environment and where the Bible was taught regularly. The importance of their conception has been demonstrated during the forty years of the school’s history. During this period of time there has gone out from the halls of Abilene Christian College approximately 15,000 voung men and young women. About 3,000 of these have been gospel preachers. The other 12,000 have become teachers, farmers, ranchers, doctors, merchants, housewives, or have filled other important stations in life. Ninety per cent of this group of young people have gone into various sections of the country as faithful workers in the New Testament Church. You can scarcely go into any community of the Southwest without finding some ex-student of Abilene Christian College taking a leading part in the work of the congregation of that community. The fall session of 1946 will find 400 or more veterans of World War II enrolled in A.C.C. Many of these young men returned from service in the armed forces of the United States with the idea of going to school and preparing themselves to preach the gospel. At the present time there are about twenty departments in which major work may be done looking toward a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science Degree. The latest courses to be added to the curriculum are those in agriculture and in religious education. In the fall of 1946 there also is to be offered work in church music which is aimed at training and inspiring young men to become leaders in the song services of the church. Also since our congregations are rapidly increasing their efforts in missionary work, courses will be offered for the purpose of preparing young men and young women for the missionary field.

Every teacher on the faculty of Abilene Christian College is a member of the Church of Christ and about 7S% of the trustees* of the college are elders in various congregations of the church throughout Texas.

ROBERT M. ALEXANDER.