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Volume 6 Relation of U.B/EUB Virginia Conferences to Shenandoah University Dec. 26, 2013
of this Fund, their term of office to extend over a period of 3 years. (9) The details for raising the Fund
will be handled by the Campaign Committee and the Director, and the investment of the moneys shall
rest with the Finance Committee as hereinbefore prescribed.
Prof. J. H. Ruebush, Manager of the School, and Dr. J. E. Fout, General Manager of Bonebrake
Theological Seminary, spoke at length in the interest of the movement. Dr. W. F. Gruver moved that a
vote be taken to decide as to whether such a campaign was desired and the amount to be raised. The
conference voted to launch the campaign, and the amount decided upon was $50,000,000 as a minimum,
which amount, when secured, would make all pledges binding, and $75,000 as a maximum, and that all
over the maximum raised would be applied to the Ministerial Relief Fund of the Conference, to be used
for aged or in any other way incapacitated ministers. The order of the day for Saturday at 2 p.m., will be
the Endowment Campaign for SCI. The tentative plan offered by E. N. Funkhouser for the campaign
was ordered laid on the table until the time appointed for its consideration.
Gruver’s Report in 1919. In March 1919 Dr. W. F. Gruver, Chairman of the Endowment
Campaign (pictured at the right), reported the following to Virginia Conference:
As the director of the Endowment Fund Campaign, I desire to
submit a very brief statement on the present status of the fund. It is
with feelings both of pleasure and pain that I tell you that less than
the $75,000 has been secured in notes of different kinds and in cash.
Pleasure [is] in the fact that about $72,047.72 has been pledged,
and in the new awakening which has come to many members of the
Conference and Church. I am pained because we should and could
have had $125,000 just as easy, if all the pastors and leaders on the
charges would have helped. The fact is a few pastors opposed it
and talked against it, while others were perfectly indifferent, and did not secure one pledge
themselves, only as they were led, pulled, or pushed by someone else did they touch it. Those
two classes brought defeat to the larger success. Some charges did not contribute one penny.
This has grieved me, [and] grieves me now.
But thank God all were not of these two classes. Some pastors, laymen, and churches did
the heroic, and while all of this class did not secure their full apportionment, yet faithful,
prayerful, sacrificial work was done. These saved the cause from humiliation and defeat. I
wish that I might mention them, but their names are in His book. The campaign was in itself a
great success. It was educational. It brought new vision to many. Young men and women
were discovered and turned toward the School and a larger and fuller life. The institution was
brought to the attention of our people as never before, and there is a much more intelligent
understanding of the vital need and relation of this School to the Church and the Conference,
and many new friends were made for it and the cause of Christian Education.
Personally, Brethren, I did my very best to secure $75,000 for the School, and from
$25,000 to $50,000 for the aged and incapacitated ministers of the Conference. I staked all on
this undertaking, and poured my very life into it, and I am heartily sorry that we only partially
succeeded. Another would have done better as director. May God abundantly bless the
institution, prolonging its life of usefulness and blessing, and continue to make for it new and
true friends. Respectfully submitted, W. F. Gruver. The report was adopted.
On motion, the Conference extended a vote of thanks to Dr. Gruver for his untiring work and his
great interest in the campaign. A rising vote of thanks was extended to those who contributed to the
expense fund of the SCI Endowment Campaign, by which it was possible to raise the entire amount
Miller, et al., on History of S.C., 1875-1950 24
of this Fund, their term of office to extend over a period of 3 years. (9) The details for raising the Fund
will be handled by the Campaign Committee and the Director, and the investment of the moneys shall
rest with the Finance Committee as hereinbefore prescribed.
Prof. J. H. Ruebush, Manager of the School, and Dr. J. E. Fout, General Manager of Bonebrake
Theological Seminary, spoke at length in the interest of the movement. Dr. W. F. Gruver moved that a
vote be taken to decide as to whether such a campaign was desired and the amount to be raised. The
conference voted to launch the campaign, and the amount decided upon was $50,000,000 as a minimum,
which amount, when secured, would make all pledges binding, and $75,000 as a maximum, and that all
over the maximum raised would be applied to the Ministerial Relief Fund of the Conference, to be used
for aged or in any other way incapacitated ministers. The order of the day for Saturday at 2 p.m., will be
the Endowment Campaign for SCI. The tentative plan offered by E. N. Funkhouser for the campaign
was ordered laid on the table until the time appointed for its consideration.
Gruver’s Report in 1919. In March 1919 Dr. W. F. Gruver, Chairman of the Endowment
Campaign (pictured at the right), reported the following to Virginia Conference:
As the director of the Endowment Fund Campaign, I desire to
submit a very brief statement on the present status of the fund. It is
with feelings both of pleasure and pain that I tell you that less than
the $75,000 has been secured in notes of different kinds and in cash.
Pleasure [is] in the fact that about $72,047.72 has been pledged,
and in the new awakening which has come to many members of the
Conference and Church. I am pained because we should and could
have had $125,000 just as easy, if all the pastors and leaders on the
charges would have helped. The fact is a few pastors opposed it
and talked against it, while others were perfectly indifferent, and did not secure one pledge
themselves, only as they were led, pulled, or pushed by someone else did they touch it. Those
two classes brought defeat to the larger success. Some charges did not contribute one penny.
This has grieved me, [and] grieves me now.
But thank God all were not of these two classes. Some pastors, laymen, and churches did
the heroic, and while all of this class did not secure their full apportionment, yet faithful,
prayerful, sacrificial work was done. These saved the cause from humiliation and defeat. I
wish that I might mention them, but their names are in His book. The campaign was in itself a
great success. It was educational. It brought new vision to many. Young men and women
were discovered and turned toward the School and a larger and fuller life. The institution was
brought to the attention of our people as never before, and there is a much more intelligent
understanding of the vital need and relation of this School to the Church and the Conference,
and many new friends were made for it and the cause of Christian Education.
Personally, Brethren, I did my very best to secure $75,000 for the School, and from
$25,000 to $50,000 for the aged and incapacitated ministers of the Conference. I staked all on
this undertaking, and poured my very life into it, and I am heartily sorry that we only partially
succeeded. Another would have done better as director. May God abundantly bless the
institution, prolonging its life of usefulness and blessing, and continue to make for it new and
true friends. Respectfully submitted, W. F. Gruver. The report was adopted.
On motion, the Conference extended a vote of thanks to Dr. Gruver for his untiring work and his
great interest in the campaign. A rising vote of thanks was extended to those who contributed to the
expense fund of the SCI Endowment Campaign, by which it was possible to raise the entire amount
Miller, et al., on History of S.C., 1875-1950 24
