Catalog of Abilene Christian College, 1938-1939 Page: 12
This book is part of the collection entitled: Abilene Christian University Catalogs and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Abilene Christian University Library.
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General Statement
LOCATION
Abilene, the county seat of Taylor County, situated near the
geographical center of Texas, is the largest and most important trade
center in central Texas. As a religious town, a school town, a town
that seeks only good citizens, it is one of the cleanest cities in Texas,
physically and morally. Good families are moving here especially
for the benefits to be derived from Abilene Christian College and its
primary and secondary schools.
HISTORY
The importance of teaching God's Word to the rising generation
cannot be overestimated. If people ever believe that Jesus of Nazareth
is the Christ, the Son of the living God, they must be taught the
Bible. The Holy Spirit tells us in John 20:30-31: "And many other
signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not
written in this book, but these are written, that ye might believe that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, ye might have
life through His name."
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 later became 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.
Among those who were thus inspired was A. B. Barrett of Tennessee.
In the winter and spring of 1906 he was in this section of
Texas preaching the importance of Christian education. He enlisted
the interest and sympathy of a few, and the result was the beginning
of Abilene Christian College. The school opened in September, 1906,
in a small brick building with only twenty-five pupils. During the
year the enrollment reached seventy-five. The next year the faculty
and equipment were made better, and the enrollment increased.
From 1908 to 1912 the school had a very checkered career. There
were frequent changes in the presidency: from A. B. Barrett to H. L.
Darden, then to R. L. Whiteside, then to J. F. Cox, then to J. P.
Sewell. Because of lack of interest in Christian education and because
of difficult financial conditions the school made little real progress
till the fall of 1912.
President Sewell was himself a product of the Nashville Bible
School, and so he was thoroughly convinced of the importance of
teaching God's Word to the young people. So completely did he and
his good wife believe in this that they were willing to pay the price
of sacrifice that was necessary to build up and stabilize Abilene
Christian College. For twelve years they gave themselves unselfishly
to this great service, with the result that by 1919 Abilene Christian
College was a standard Class A senior college, very well equipped
and functioning splendidly in the teaching of the Bible.
President Sewell resigned in the spring of 1924 and Batsell Baxter,
another product of the Nashville Bible School, was elected presi
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Abilene Christian College. Catalog of Abilene Christian College, 1938-1939, book, June 1938; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth45927/m1/16/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.