Page 27 - UB Church and Shen Univ
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Volume 6 Relation of U.B/EUB Virginia Conferences to Shenandoah University Dec. 26, 2013
Moreover, the reports of the Visiting Committee repeatedly urged financial support from the
Conference:
Resolved, That we, as members of this Conference, gladly foster this Church School in our midst,
and that we manifest our allegiance to the same by recommending it to those with whom we come
in contact and will use due diligence to collect all assessments made by the finance committee for
this important institution [1894 Minutes, p. 18].
We found the School in good running order. The buildings and grounds in fair condition, but,
encumbered with a small debt which in the judgment of the committee should be raised at an
early day. [1895 Minutes, p. 13]
It is important to note that Union Theological Seminary was carrying out an endowment
campaign during this period, authorized by General Conference. This limited the ability of Virginia
Conference to request support of its churches for another college at the same time. Thus, we have the
these two recommendation of the Education Committee in 1895 [1895 Minutes, pp. 15-16]
Resolved, That Shenandoah Institute is indispensable to the best possible advancement of our
educational work in Virginia, and that we favor the speedy raising of the money necessary to free
this School from debt; also that we will do more to secure students from our field of labor, and do
all that we can to advance the interests of this our beloved institution.
We regard Union Biblical Seminary…as an absolute necessity for the church, and rejoice in the
work it is doing and progress it is making…. We most heartily approve the action of the Board
and the plans of the General Manager for the observance of the Quarter Centennial Anniversary,
and will do what we can to make the same a success. To this end, the presiding-elders and pastors
are requested to provide for and hold appropriate exercises in as many of our churches as possible
during the year, and see that all of our people be given an opportunity and be urged to contribute
something to this fund. The Finance Committee is hereby instructed to make the assessments to
the several charges aggregate the amount apportioned to the Conference under the disciplinary
provision, and every pastor is urged to collect the full amount assessed to his charge.
Therefore, there were no assessments of the churches for Shenandoah Institute. However, direct
action of a different sort was reported in 1898. The agent, J. W. Howe, put on an intensive fund-raising
drive, and in 1898 he reported to the Board that he had collected by subscription $1,062.25 plus $241.36
from the Virginia Conference and was able at last to pay $1,283.44 on the debt of the School. This
reduced the total debt to $388.64. At the time, the assets of the Institute were $699.25, which left only
about $200 of debt outstanding. This was the first time in many years the debt had been below $1,500.
The following year, 1899, Principal Hott reported to the Trustees that the debt had been entirely
liquidated.
Life at Shenandoah Institute. Until 1893 the Institute’s Annual
Bulletin had stated that all pupils were required to “attend morning
worship and preaching once each Sabbath.” It was also announced that a
Student’s Prayer Meeting was held each Wednesday evening. But in 1894,
the Board adopted the following resolution: “That the Faculty and
students be required to attend services at the [Dayton] U.B. Church
(pictured at the right) once each Sabbath, and the Wednesday night prayer
meeting.”
The typical student at the turn of the century was required to attend
Miller, et al., on History of S.C., 1875-1950 17
Moreover, the reports of the Visiting Committee repeatedly urged financial support from the
Conference:
Resolved, That we, as members of this Conference, gladly foster this Church School in our midst,
and that we manifest our allegiance to the same by recommending it to those with whom we come
in contact and will use due diligence to collect all assessments made by the finance committee for
this important institution [1894 Minutes, p. 18].
We found the School in good running order. The buildings and grounds in fair condition, but,
encumbered with a small debt which in the judgment of the committee should be raised at an
early day. [1895 Minutes, p. 13]
It is important to note that Union Theological Seminary was carrying out an endowment
campaign during this period, authorized by General Conference. This limited the ability of Virginia
Conference to request support of its churches for another college at the same time. Thus, we have the
these two recommendation of the Education Committee in 1895 [1895 Minutes, pp. 15-16]
Resolved, That Shenandoah Institute is indispensable to the best possible advancement of our
educational work in Virginia, and that we favor the speedy raising of the money necessary to free
this School from debt; also that we will do more to secure students from our field of labor, and do
all that we can to advance the interests of this our beloved institution.
We regard Union Biblical Seminary…as an absolute necessity for the church, and rejoice in the
work it is doing and progress it is making…. We most heartily approve the action of the Board
and the plans of the General Manager for the observance of the Quarter Centennial Anniversary,
and will do what we can to make the same a success. To this end, the presiding-elders and pastors
are requested to provide for and hold appropriate exercises in as many of our churches as possible
during the year, and see that all of our people be given an opportunity and be urged to contribute
something to this fund. The Finance Committee is hereby instructed to make the assessments to
the several charges aggregate the amount apportioned to the Conference under the disciplinary
provision, and every pastor is urged to collect the full amount assessed to his charge.
Therefore, there were no assessments of the churches for Shenandoah Institute. However, direct
action of a different sort was reported in 1898. The agent, J. W. Howe, put on an intensive fund-raising
drive, and in 1898 he reported to the Board that he had collected by subscription $1,062.25 plus $241.36
from the Virginia Conference and was able at last to pay $1,283.44 on the debt of the School. This
reduced the total debt to $388.64. At the time, the assets of the Institute were $699.25, which left only
about $200 of debt outstanding. This was the first time in many years the debt had been below $1,500.
The following year, 1899, Principal Hott reported to the Trustees that the debt had been entirely
liquidated.
Life at Shenandoah Institute. Until 1893 the Institute’s Annual
Bulletin had stated that all pupils were required to “attend morning
worship and preaching once each Sabbath.” It was also announced that a
Student’s Prayer Meeting was held each Wednesday evening. But in 1894,
the Board adopted the following resolution: “That the Faculty and
students be required to attend services at the [Dayton] U.B. Church
(pictured at the right) once each Sabbath, and the Wednesday night prayer
meeting.”
The typical student at the turn of the century was required to attend
Miller, et al., on History of S.C., 1875-1950 17
