St. Clair County, Illinois - Chapter 34, 1928

t./'^ R. McCammon came to the presidency of McKendree JLf 'It a time when there was great emphasis placed upon standards among the colleges of the land. The college had been without a president for a year. The Board felt that they had waited long enough for the right man to come along and since he had not come, they decided to appoint a committee to go out and find him. At a called meeting of the Board May i, 1919, the committee of five recommended the election of Rev. George Edward McCammon, D. D., who had already been a member of the Joint Board for many years, and was himself a graduate of McKendree in the class of 1894. A brief biography of him will be found in connection with the members of that class. At the time of his election he was Executive Secretary of the Wesley Foundation at the University of Illinois. But since the Centenary had taken over the remainder of the task of raising the money to establish this enterprise on a safe financial basis, it was possible for him to lay down that task without feehng that he was neglecting duty. When elected he asked for a little time to consider whether he would accept the position or not. After due deliberation he decided to accept. When the Board came together again at their regular meeting in June, he asked them to confirm his election which had taken place a month before in the special meeting, which they did. At this time the Board decided to utilize the T A. Wilson home, which the college had acquired several years before, as a home for the president. It had been used before this to house a part of the music department, but was not specially well-adapted for this purpose. So during the summer of 1919 it was thoroughly overhauled and modernized. A new furnace and modern plumbing were installed, and the walls were redecorated. It was originally a well-built brick house and with these modern improvements installed it became a very desirable home and altogether appropriate for a college president. Dr. McCammon and his family took possession and here they had adequate accommodations for the family, as well as for entertaining guests as occasion required. It was about this time that the college first acquired and maintained an automobile for the use of the president. As might be suspected, it was a Ford. It proved very useful even if not long-lived. In more recent years the idea has expanded and the college has owned and operated as many as seven at one time of Henry Ford's creations. They have proven very useful for the economic transportation of athletic teams, glee clubs, etc. Among the new faculty members who came to the institution during Dr. McCammon 's term and in most cases through his influence, were Prof. S. M. McClure, Chemistry, Prof Wallace B. Stearns, Religious Education, Miss Pearl McCoy, Biology, Miss Hazel E. Schoonmaker, Mathematics, Miss Margaret George, Home Economics, Prof. Thomas E. Wiggins, English, Prof. Charles J. Stowell, Mathematics, Prof. J. W. A. Kinison, Bible, Prof. William C. Knapp, Biology, Miss Kathleen Taylor, Home Economics and Dietitian, Miss Esther B. Burnette, Home Economics (sewing). Miss Lillian Grace Cheeseman, Expression, OrviUe A. Hall, Athletic Coach, Harry E. Mueller, Violin, and Mrs. Effie Sheridan, Dean of Women. Of these only three are still here and seem to be permanent acquisitions. These are Prof. McClure, Prof. Stowell and Prof. Kinison.

One of the problems of this period was that of standardization as It had been in the former administration. Dr. Hurt had secured recognition and a favorable standing with the State University, and now came the question of our standing with the Methodist Board of Education. There was a feeling m many quarters that Methodism had too many colleges and there was a strong feeling in official circles of the church in favor of reducing the number by combination or elimination as might seem wise after a thorough survey of the educational institutions of the whole church. There was a feeling for a time that it would be McKendree 's fate to be absorbed. There was talk of combining McKendree, Hedding, and Illinois Wesleyan into one institution located somewhere in the Illinois Conference. There were meetings of various commissions held, at some of which McKendree's Board was represented. But finally, after a survey by a commission appointed by the Methodist Board of Education, consisting of Bishop Nicholson, Dr. John L. Seaton, and Dr. Harker, though the Bishop was not present, a recommendation was made by the Board of Education that McKendree remain at its present location as an independent institution, and the Board pledged themselves to use their influence for the maintenance and development of McKendree to the extent that the circumstances permitted. This of course, gave new courage to the people who were carrying the burdens of Mc- Kendree.

Another problem of this period was the water supply. When the dormitories were built in 1910-11, some hundreds of dollars were spent in the effort to provide a. suitable water supply, but tho a deep well was bored right near the buildings, no adequate supply was found. And since there seemed no better plan that was feasible the diminutive lake on the north campus was allowed to stand as the source of water for the dormitories except for drinking, and for that purpose the old well of which Dr. Merrill sang in his poem was still suiEcient as it had been for three-quarters of a century. But in a long cold spell the pond was likely to run low and then freeze up, and in a long drought it might give out entirely. Both of these have actually happened. To remedy the latter case, a pipe line was laid to Silver Creek and with a steam pump, water was transferred from the creek to the pond and thus the dormitories were kept supplied. This process of filling the pond was resorted to many times, but it was expensive and the quality of the water was not always satisfactory. In the summer when the Epworth Leaguers were here at the Institute, the water was stagnant and foul-smelling, and of course gave the college an unsavory reputation with some prospective students. In view of all these considerations Dr. McCammon brought the water problem to the attention of the Board. After much discussion and long deliberation, it was decided to employ a firm from Memphis, Tennessee, to provide a water supply by means of deep wells. Many weeks and much money were spent in the effort. A number of wells were bored in different places, and while each one afforded some water, not one would furnish an unfailing supply. After more than $3,500 had been sunk in the enterprise, we were still with out an adequate water supply. But the best well of the group was fitted with a pump and when it gave out, the pump would be switched to the pond. And sometimes it would draw from both at once and produce a mixture that sometimes deceived the students into thinking they had good water. As a matter of fact, the water problem was not really solved until 1927, when we were able to connect with the newly installed water system of the city of Lebanon, which thus far has proven sufEcient, tho the institution uses about 10,000 gallons a day. While the interest was strong m the water question, drinking fountains were installed in each dormitory, supplied from the old college well. But they soon got out of order and now are only ornamental instead of useful. Another change in the business administration about this time was the abandonment of the college light plant, which had been installed when the dormitories were built. The dynamos were sold and the college was connected with the lines of the Illinois Power and Light Company, which also furnishes current to light the city of Lebanon.

But the big thing m Dr. McCammon 's administration was the "McKendree Movement". This is too big a thing to describe in detail here but we will attempt to give the outline of the story of the greatest effort yet made to provide a really adequate endowment for McKendree. The plan was agitated and discussed for many months before hand, and was finally approved by the Joint Board and the Conference.

A campaign was put on to raise $1,500,000 for endowment, equipment, improvements, betterments, maintenance, and current expenses, including the expense of carrying on the campaign. Dr. John W. Hancher, who at that time held the official title of Councillor in Finance, was employed to direct the campaign and of course he used his corps of expert workers, who had long experience m this line of work. Besides these experts, a large force of preachers and other canvassers from various parts of the country were summoned and even some of the college faculty were put on the job at certain times. The plan involved much preliminary publicity work. A "booster" meeting was held, August 2, 1921, in the college chapel at which there were approximately four hundred laymen present and ninety members of the Southern Illinois Conference. Speeches were made by Governor Deneen and Bishop Quayle, and others. Both laymen and ministers voting separately, pledged their approval and support to the undertaking. Soon after that Dr. Hanchers men came and began gathering constituency lists. To the names on these lists, vast quantities of mail matter were sent to prepare them for the solicitors. Many rallies were held at important centers and much speech -making was indulged in. And then when the "psychological moment" came, a systematic canvass was made of the entire territory. Also the alumni and former students all over the United States and in some foreign countries were canvassed by mail. The churches thruout the conference were exhorted to observe Launching Sunday, October 9, Review Sunday, October 30, Gleaning Sunday, November 27, and Closing date, November 30, at which date the job was supposed to be done. The last date was afterward changed to December 21. Frequent reports and announcements were made throughout the conference, and in some instances they were quite encouraging, but millionaires were scarce in Southern Illinois. The poor people did well according to their ability but the failure was in the lack of big subscriptions from the wealthy. When the end of the campaign came, the million and a half had not been subscribed. On the night of December 21, the Joint Board held a meeting at the college, which did not adjourn until 2:30 a. m. on the 22nd, to review the situation and consider the question of "What Next?". The pledges were all made conditional on the full amount being raised, and therefore none of them was binding in its present form. According to the reports presented at that time the total of the pledges was, in round numbers, $8oo,ood. Dr. Hancher was present and made a lengthy report which is on record in the minutes of the Joint Board. He said the thing to do was to face the facts as they are and not to waste time trying to fix the responsibility for the failure. He also insisted that he had believed from the start that the amount asked was tOD large for the territory involved, and he felt that his judgment was vindicated by the results. He recommended that in order to save as much as possible of the result of the work already done, a recanvass be made and each subscriber, if possible, be induced to sign a waiver of the condition that the full amount should be raised, and thus make each pledge valid for the amount of its face. Six weeks were allowed for this task. Some refused to sign the waiver, but many did and thus enough of the subscriptions were saved to secure the payment of the $1 50,000 pledge of the General Education Board of New York City. While the result of the "Movement" was disappointing to those who had high hopes that the million and a half would be realized, yet it did bring results that have proved the salvation of the college finances until such time as these results can be supplemented by the contributions of wealthy friends who can make large investments in the cause of Christian Education. About a year after the canvas was finished up and the pledges placed in the hands of Mr. Mitchell, the treasurer of the Endowment Fund for collection. Dr. McCammon presented his resignation to the Board of Trustees assembled at their mid-year meeting in February 1923. Dean Baker was again placed at the helm until such time as a new president should be elected, which in this case did not prove to be a long time.

THE CLASS OF 192.) Bower, Homer Clark, A. B. Educator Camp, Eleanor Brandt, A. B., Educator Hall, Benjamin Henry, B. S., Business Kraemer, Isabelle Esther, A. B., Educator Laird, Samule Niles, A. B., Business McClure, Beulah Mayme, A. B., fMrs. M. P Akers}