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Union College Jubilee

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 15, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 30.

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Union College Jubilee

By C. L. Benson

MAY 3 will long be remembered by the many friends of Union College as one of the great days in the history of the school. Just twenty-six years after the laying of the foundation stone of this college, which was destined to play a large part in the extension of the third angel’s message, Old Union was freed from the bondage of debt that for years had curtailed her usefulness and at times even threatened her existence. The debt has been paid, the jubilee song sung, and, unhampered by the millstone of debt, Union College starts forth on what bids fair to be the era of her greatest usefulness.
Such a goal was not attained without earnest effort on the part of all connected with the enterprise. The president, teachers, and students of the college, the officers of the Central and Northern Union Conferences,—all did their utmost to raise the debt of $70,000. As in the days of Moses and of Nehemiah, the people had a mind to work and to give. The brethren and sisters of these union conferences, together with the business men of College View and Lincoln, responded liberally with their means, and today the college stands forth, as all of God’s institutions should stand, free from debt, a monument to consecration and liberality.
An appropriate program was arranged for this day of jubilee. Among those speaking on this occasion were Prof. H. A. Morrison, Elders R. A. Underwood, J. W. Christian, D. U. Hale, A. R. Ogden, A. T. Robinson, M. B. Van Kirk, W. W. Ruble, J. S. Rouse, and Brethren J. H. McEachern and H. O. Olson. Rev. Frank Mills represented the vicinity of College View, and Mr. F. A. Sanderson spoke for the business men of Lincoln. The student body was represented by Miss Garrett and Mr. Mandalian, while the College Glee Club sang several selections, which were thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Some of the good thoughts expressed by the speakers were:—
“I can say for Nebraska that we are proud of Union College. We are glad to have her among us. The thing about Union College that is always a joy to me is, this is a place where our young people may fit themselves for usefulness.”
“We from the Northern Union Conference were glad to have a part in freeing Union College from debt. For herto remain free means that every conference laborer, every student in the institution, and our brethren and sisters in every State, must prove their loyalty by rapidly increasing the attendance from the different States.”
“It has always been a great satisfaction to me to have been graduated from Union College, because, a few days after my graduation, I was told by the dean of one of the leading universities that they would do more to secure graduates from Union College than from any other college, because of the high moral atmosphere of the school.”
“I believe that every young man and woman who has had the privilege of sitting here and receiving the spiritual life, has felt his being thrill as he has looked forward to this time when the school of his choice would be free from debt. I have been thinking of some of the accomplishments of Union College, for which we can be grateful this morning. The presidents of Loma Linda College, Walla Walla College, Union College, the Clinton German Seminary for next year, the Broadview Swedish Seminary, Emmanuel Missionary College, and of South Lancaster Academy for next year, are Union College graduates or students. Nor is this all. Her alumni fill the following responsible places in the third angel’s message: one is a General Conference worker, two are North American Division secretaries, one is secretary of the European Division Conference, seven are superintendents and directors of foreign mission fields, one is a union conference president, three are union conference secretaries, twenty-one are college teachers, eleven are principals of academies, forty-three are teaching in academies, twenty-three are evangelists, and many are serving as editors, doctors, nurses, Bible workers, church-school teachers, and office workers. In twenty-six years Old Union has trained and sent out one hundred and eighty of her graduates and students as foreign missionaries, and more than twelve hundred are connected with the proclamation of the message in the home field. May this be but an earnest of her work in years to come.”
Rev. Frank Mills said, in part: “The commercial club and the business men of this village have not been deaf to the needs and to the call of this great institution. We appreciate this institution, and feel that no community is worth as much as a community in which a Christian college is located. We all love Union College. We love to see her thrive. We love to see her grow.”
Mr. Sanderson, of the Rudge and Guenzel firm, said: “I happen to be interested in the hardware business. At the time Union College was established, I was getting five dollars a week for driving an old white horse. It was my privilege to haul the nails that went into this building, and so I feel that I belong to this institution. What does Lincoln think of College View? Lincoln thinks that College View is a live, wide-awake little city; and why? Because you have built up a magnificent college; you have splendid stores, and a nice new library building. I am glad to be here tonight. I am glad to look into your faces. It is an inspiration to see this good body of students, these people who are interested in this college. It is interesting to know that you have freed yourselves from debt, and that you intend to stay out of debt, that you intend to go ahead and push this college until it will stand as the leading light in your denomination for the spreading of God’s cause and his light in the world.”
The president of the college concluded the program with these appropriate words: “Union College is now free. May she ever be free. May every Seventh-day Adventist in the Union College district—student, church member, and conference worker—ever be so loyal to Old Union and her principles that she may fully realize that she has a living endowment. May she be able to receive year by year many more young men and women than she has received in the past, to train for service. May many more go out in the great mission fields prepared to give the third angel’s message, and thus assist in preparing the way for the King of peace.” C. L. Benson.