Officers of the J. R. G. Society: President, Truman Maxey; 1st Vice-President, Barney Flowers; Secretary, Dewey Stubblefield; Corresponding Secretary, Homer Woodward; Treasurer, V. A. Richardson; Critics, E. L. Smothers, V. A. Richardson and Bernard Scales; Chorister, Leslie Gilbert.
FOREWARD This is probably the first J. R. G. Bulletin ever issued. We hope it will be read with interest. Some of our readers may not know the meaning of the letters J. R. G. This is the short for J. R. Graves Society of Religious Inquiry which was founded in Union in honor of J. R. Graves, in 1877, just fifty-three years ago. It is a society composed of the ministerial students of the school, the local pastors, and the preacher members of the faculty. It meets every Friday afternoon from 3 to 5 o'clock for the discussion of religious subjects. This is the unique feature. The questions are usually in the form of a resolution for debate, and the speakers take the side they choose. Ofttimes, and usually, all are on the same side. The questions are all Bible or religious propositions. A critic, usually a member of the Faculty, closes the program with his comments or criticisms on the various speakers. The criticisms cover preparation, delivery, English, thought, and orthodoxy.
These discussions and criticisms greatly benefit the young speakers in every way and trim off many rough angles of theological thought as well as awkward expressions. According to competent observers all over the South, this society has done more for Southern Baptist orthodoxy than any other similar organization in America. This statement may appear an idle boast, but hundreds of Baptist leaders in the South will affirm that it is true. Here are a few facts that help to explain why it is true.
First, it seems that the shadow and spirit of J. R. Graves, for whom the society was named and whose picture hangs over the president's chair, together with that of J. M. Pendleton, an alumnus of Union and one time President, whose picture also adorns the wall, have ever over-shadowed and pervaded the society. The theological discussions and criticisms held here every Friday afternoon for the past fifty-three years have brought practically to one mind the many hundreds of young preachers who have gone through this society, and that mind has been almost wholly in accord with the theological ideas of the two great Baptist leaders mentioned.
Second, the men who have gone out from this society have, for many years, been leaders of Southern Baptist thought. For a quarter of a century there has probably not been an important committee of the Southern Baptist Convention that has not had one or more of them upon it. Furthermore, there has probably not been an important discussion upon the floor of the Convention in twenty-five years that has not been participated in by one or more J. R. G. men. The mere calling of the names of a few of them will convince anyone who has attended the Convention regularly these years. We mention just a few whose names come readily to mind as these words are written: M. E. Dodd, A. J. Barton, L. E. Barton, O. L. Haley, H. L. Winburn, Charles W. Daniel, C. S. Gardner, Forrest Smith, R. W. Hooker, George W. Crutcher, R. P. Mahon, S. E. Tull, I. N. Penick, G. M. Savage, C. W. Stump and a host of others. These men have done much to shape the policies and thinking of Southern Baptists, and all of them had much of their theology shaped and their orthodoxy fixed in the J. R. G. Society.
It is nearly impossible for a young preacher to go through the discussions of this society for four years and go out other than a sound, orthodox Baptist.
Eternity only can measure the contribution which Union University, through this society alone, has made to the Baptist churches of America and to the world.
LARGE NUMBER OF BAPTISMS REPORTED
The society had its first meeting of the year Friday afternoon, September 19. At this meeting a report was made by the various members of their summer work. Those present reported 879 conversions, 618 baptisms, and 830 additions to the various churches. These young men are evangelistic in spirit and practice, and are just now developing as young preachers. They want and need church work. They need the development that will come to them in their first pastorates, and the churches need their enthusiasm and earnest services. In the number present were many new men, some of them from other states, who have had several years of successful experience as pastors. They have come to Union this fall to finish up their college work. Some of them resigned important fields to come to Union, and are anxious to get into full church work. In fact, some of them cannot stay in school under any other conditions. Some of the churches in this territory; needing pastors should get into communication with them and invite them to visit their fields.
HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THESE PREACHERS
We are hoping that pastorless churches within reach of Jackson will make an effort to secure a pastor from the list: of preachers appearing in this bulletin. We are presenting a group picture of these men and a little information about each one. They may be reached by addressing them at Union University or by writing the President of the school, H. E. Watters, who will be glad to assist any church in getting in touch with a suitable young man.In writing it is suggested that one should cover at least two points; first, indicate something of the type of preacher wanted,, and day or days of service; second, some information about the church and the contribution it can make toward one's living expenses.
Many of these young men have had no experience as pastors and only limited experience in preaching. They are more anxious for experience in preaching and to render service than they are for an income. Most of them have already made some provision for their school expenses for this year. These will be only too glad to serve churches that can do little more than pay traveling expenses. They would be glad to supply for churches to preach in school houses, to work at Mission Points, to preach regularly for some weak church, or anything that offers an opportunity to render service and to give them experience and development in kingdom work. Of course, they must have their expenses paid, since they are unable to give their services and pay the freight on them, too.
A number of the men shown in the picture are experienced pastors. They have spent years in work and in developing themselves, are able to render efficient service, and must be compensated for it. They have come expecting it and have made no other provision for financing themselves through college. Some of them have families to support and can not do so without good work.
DO STUDENTS MAKE GOOD PASTORS?
The above question is often asked by churches that have never had a student pastor, but many of the most progressive country and village churches in West Tennessee point with great pride to the fact that they have had as their pastors some of the greatest preachers among Southern Baptists. There are a score or more of country churches in this territory that boast of the fact that they have had as pastors men who have preached the annual sermon before the Southern Baptist Convention, or that their pastors have been missionaries on foreign fields, and men who have occupied such pulpits as the First Baptist Church, of Atlanta, Georgia, First Church, Richmond, Virginia, First Church, New Orleans, First Church, Shreveport, Dr. Eaton's old church at Louisville, etc., etc. Of course, these men were little more than boys when they preached at these country churches, but they then had the vision, the spiritual insight, and the ability, which carried them to great heights in kingdom service. These characteristics inspired and lifted their little congregations in those early days, and the churches are still blessed by the memories of their work.Furthermore, these young men, with their enthusiasm and ambition, fired the souls of many of their congregations to accomplish bigger things in life. As an example we cite the following:
About thirty years ago a student preacher by the name of Charles W. Daniel was preaching to a little country church, West of Trenton, Tennessee. A country boy, one eventful Saturday, was asked to drive a buggy to the depot, over ten miles of muddy road, to get the pastor. This young preacher, full of that zeal which has characterized him through a long career, got hold of that country boy's heart, waked him up, led him to Christ and into the church, and inspired him with an ambition for an education. There was formed an attachment for each other that has lasted through the years. The preacher is now pastor of the First Baptist Church, Richmond, Virginia, after having served the First Church at Atlanta for many years. The country boy is Dr. M. E. Dodd of Shreveport, well-known to all our readers.
The ambitious, zealous student pastors from Union have furnished the "Eagle touch" that has inspired hundreds of boys and girls over this territory to rise and soar to highly successful careers. The average young preacher in college is a growing man and builds his church. A church cannot grow without a growing pastor.
UNION HAS HER GREATEST FALL OPENING
Union opened her ninety-seventh year September 17th, with nearly every seat in the Chapel filled. In fact, as many seats were assigned the first few days as in the entire Fall term a year ago, and at this writing, Monday, September 22nd, new students have been enrolling all day long. The faculty is greatly pleased with the exceptionally fine personnel of the student body which is starting off to work with great earnestness and enthusiasm.
UNION SPECIALIZES IN PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT
Schools, as men, have their own peculiar personality. This creates a kind of atmosphere which pervades the campus and silently but powerfully impresses the subconscious mind of the students and impresses its own peculiar stamp upon them which manifests itself through, life. This characteristic individuality or atmosphere persists from year to year in spite of the rapidly changing student body. Union specializes in personality development, and an atmosphere favorable to such development pervades the campus, class room, and every feature of the University.The character and influence of this spirit or atmosphere is illustrated by the following story. A few years ago a group of boys came from a far western village. They were athletic fellows who had made a great record in their state as football men but they had been accustomed to the wild, reckless life of a frontier town on the western prairies. They had been in Union only a few days when one of them remarked that they had come to the wrong place; that they had come to Union primarily to play ball, but that the atmosphere was entirely too religious for their comfort, and if they only had the money they would go home or somewhere else. Before the close of the year, all of these boys had fallen into the spirit of Union, were happily converted, and joined the local churches. Their whole attitude toward life and its responsibilities had changed: one surrendered to the Ministry; one has been coach in Union ever since his graduation, and the other two are successful business men.
The above incident is not exceptional but is the rule in Union; many similar cases occurring every year.
FACTORS FOR SUCCESS
One's success in life depends very largely upon three major factors: First, native ability; second, training; third, one's personality and attitudes. The average educational institution feels that it has discharged its obligation to its students when it gives them intellectual training.Many schools try to rule out from attendance those of inferior ability. This is done in three ways: first, by offering special inducements to the honor students of high schools, and of accepting only those who made above. average grades in their high school courses; second, by a series of so-called intelligence tests; and third, by "failing" a large percentage of the freshmen and sending them home at the close of the first term. Those that try to fill their schools with stuŽdents of high intelligence only, feel that they have discharged their obligation almost in full when they have given these good intellectual training.
UNION'S ATTITUDE TOWARD THE ABOVE PROBLEM
Union University makes no special bid to get the honor students of high schools. She has no intelligence tests to cull the applicants who present themselves for admittance, requiring only that those who come shall have succeeded in passing a good high school course somewhere. Then instead of heartlessly failing as many freshmen as possible, Union's motto is to save as many as possible. Union's President frequently reminds his faculty that every student who comes is somebody's hope and life; that everyone has made good in some high school, and that he believes with the proper encouragement and guidance, nearly all of them will make good in college. Union takes no pride in the number she fails, but does rejoice in the number she saves.Union believes in ability and in intellectual training, but she also believes that both of these will go for naught and the student be doomed to failure who does not have the right attitude toward life and its duties.
Union believes that the first foundation stone for a successful career is one's right attitude toward God and His work.
Union believes that the second great foundation stone for a successful life consists of one's proper attitude to his fellow man; and that the third great foundation stone is one's correct attitude toward his work and obligations in life.
Given a student of fair native endowment and ambition, the splendid intellectual training that Union gives, and the ideals which come from the right attitude toward God, one's fellowman, and one's work which Union tries to instill in her students, and success in life is assured.
RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES
In order to create and develop the attitude mentioned in the above paragraph, Union lays great stress upon her religious activities which may be listed as follows:First, Chapel exercises of thirty minutes each day, consisting of reverent reading of the scriptures and prayer, followed by a twenty minute religious or inspirational talk.
Second, the prayer meetings. These are: the daily noonday meetings, the special meetings held once a week in each hall, and the general prayer meeting for all students held in Chapel on some night other than Wednesday night which is reserved for prayer meetings in the city churches.
Third, the J. R. G. Society of Religious Inquiry for the young preachers, which has already been described in this bulletin.
Fourth, the Y. W. A. which includes a very large percent of the girls and is one of the few college Y. W. A.'s that has maintained the 100% standard for the past several years.
Fifth, the Life Service Band.
Sixth, the Baptist Student Union.
Seventh, the annual college revival held usually in the Spring at which time a concentrated effort is made to reach every unsaved person in school and to lead all to dedication and reconsecration. These revivals mark the turning point in a great many lives each year. The revival last Spring was conducted by Dr. Scarborough, President of the Seminary at Ft. Worth, Texas.
All of the above religious agencies and influences are in addition to the many Bible and religious courses offered in regular class work. The students also find opportunity for religious work in the city churches, which bid strongly for student co-operation and leadership. Few schools are pervaded with as strong religious and wholesome social atmosphere or do more to inspire their students with an aspiration for higher and better things.
UNION'S FINANCIAL CONDITION
When the main building burned in 1912, the small amount of insurance did not go far in replacing the building. Those were hard times and those who solicited money met with little encouragement, so that $50,000. had to be borrowed to finish the building. The School already had some debt, the accumulated deficits for a number of years. In 1918 when the present administration began, this debt had grown to a little more than $100,000. The auditor's report shows a little over $99,000, but there was about $15,000 of indebtedness that the auditor failed to find which appeared for collection later. This indebtedness has increased until it is now approximately $175,000, which is partly covered by notes and pledges made two years ago for this purpose. The increase in the indebtedness is very little more than the amount of the current assets that have been built up at the same time. These assets consist, for the most part, of student notes and accounts, and in real estate and personal property, which taken together, constitute a kind of revolving fund or operating capital.While the indebtedness has increased about $60,000 in the past fourteen years (mostly covered, as stated, by current assets) the resources of the College at the same time have grown from a little over $500,000 to something more than $1,000,000; and the student body has increased from 157, mostly academy students, to 1200, all college students. The annual income from student fees has increased from $4,900 to $140,000. The school has made a similar growth in faculty, course of study, equipment, and in standing among other educational institutions.
Plans are being made which we hope will materialize in the near future that will start Union on another advance similar to that of the past decade.
WHAT UNION OFFERS YOUNG PREACHERS
First, financially. For many years Union has been giving one-half tuition to Ministerial students of all denominations. At a recent meeting of the Board of Trustees, it was voted to give free tuition to properly accredited Baptist Ministers and one-half to others.Union gets for ministerial aid, one-half of one percent of the undesignated funds sent to the co-operative program. This usually amounts to about $700 and is used as a non-interest bearing loan to worthy, needy Ministerial students. Many of these soon become successful pastors and return the money to help others.
Ministerial students get a division of the many service scholarships available, which helps to reduce expenses. A large number of the students serve country and village churches as pastors.
Second, educationally. Union offers a wealth of Bible courses, and courses in Christian Education and Elementary Theology, taught by the really great teachers: Drs. Penick, Williams, Jent, and Prof. Cox. Under these heads are found such courses as Doctrines of our Faith; Evangelism; Rural Church Life; Practical Sermon Building; Christian Ethics; Philosophy of Religion, etc. The young preachers, along with other students, get a great deal of practice in soul winning, street work, missionary work in jails, work houses, poor farm, etc. They also get considerable experience in prayer meetings, various religious organizations connected with the city churches.
NEW MEMBERS OF FACULTY
Union presents this year a number of new faces, mostly additional ones, to the Faculty platform. Among them are, Dr. J. W. Jent, formerly Dean of Oklahoma Baptist University and Mercer, Chair of Sociology; Prof. Roland Beck, Oklahoma University Chair of Education; Prof. J. L. McAliley comes back to the Department of Latin. In the Home Economics Department, Miss Katherine Routon returns after a year's study, and three new teachers have been added: Miss Willie Margaret Johnson, Miss Claire Gilbert and Mrs. C. G. Trantham. Dr. J. A. Pool takes charge of the new Department of Commerce which is arousing considerable interest. Prof. A. B. Hollingsworth comes from Bethel College, Kentucky, to assist in Science and to be assistant coach, and Truman Maxey will assist in science.
UNION'S ATHLETICS
Union has endeavored to put the stamp of her characteristic personality upon her Athletics just as she does upon every other Department, and she feels that she has succeeded in a remarkable way.It is well known that there have long been many objectionable features in the spirit and conduct of college athletics. This has caused many good people to conscientiously object to it vigorously. The President of Union was for many years in that group, but finally, seeing that athletics had much to contribute to the development of young people in school life and to their success in after life, which had given it a firm and secure place in all educational institutions, he ceased to object to it and set about to remove all the objectionable features possible from the athletics in Union. He has not yet reached his ideal but he is greatly gratified with the progress made. The conduct of Union's teams at home and abroad, the character of the young men and women upon these teams, the ideals set and taught by the coaches and athletic director are such that a Ministerial student or earnest soul winner may feel just as free upon the practice field in uniform as he did when a child playing upon the campus of the grammar school. Union is proud of the young men and women who compose her teams and particularly their conduct when away from home.
====== [From Union University Bulletin, J. R. G. Edition, September, 1930. The J. R. Graves Society of Religious Inquiry has been eliminated by the university. Document provided by Ben Stratton. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]