February 21, 1970

Chairman Paine, chancellor Morris, Dr. Reed, distinguished platform guests and delegates, ladies and gentlemen:

I cannot imagine a greater responsibility or opportunity for me than this one which you are formalizing today. I know that is indeed a source of great encouragement to all of us who are involved in the work here to have these colleagues and friends from many parts of our nation present today. You do us honor; your presence is tribute to Abilene Christian College.

I am grateful for the remarks, which have been made by Mr. Willard Paine, who is chairman of the Board (who is, incidentally, the kind of Board chairman to rejoice the heart of a college president) and by my longtime teacher, friend, mentor, guide, counselor and leader, Don Morris. I appreciate the fact that I have been associated with Don Morris in Christian education since I enrolled as a student in his public speaking class in the fall of 1934, with the exception of a few years between graduation and my return to the faculty during the years of World War II.

I am glad that dean Adams is master of ceremonies for this occasion because I have likewise had an association of 35 years with him in Christian education. And that same sentiment goes for the dean of business managers, Lawrence L. Smith, who was our marshall and led us to the platform, with whom I have worked so many years. I am glad that the graduate dean, and the dean of the college, and my other colleagues here can have a part on this occasion.

I am most appreciative of the remarks made by Dr. Bevington Reed. I knew they would be appropriate. I cannot think of a better statement of our colleagues and opportunities that could have been given on this occasion. We are fortunate in Texas to have Bevington Reed in the position of commissioner. He has the all-important task of coordinating the work of private colleagues and universities with the work of our distinguished public institutions. And I believe I am speaking the truth when I say he has the confidence of all of us.

I am so glad that my long-term friends and colleagues Batsell Baxter of David Lipscomb College and Judge Jack Pope, who is a member of the Board of Trustees, could lead the prayer and read the Bible selection. I am glad that Tonto Coleman could be with us from Birmingham. He will be leading the benediction.

We are truly honored today to have such distinguished leaders of our nation as United States Senator Ralph Yarborough, United States Senator John Tower, and Congressman Omar Burleson, who is also a member of the Board of Trustees, to bring greetings. And I appreciate their remarks more than I can say.

And, of course, it is such a personal pleasure that my esteemed schoolmate and another member of the Board of Trustees, the mayor of the great city of Houston, Louie Welch, could bring greetings along with dean B.J. Humble of the college and our truly outstanding student body president, Walt Cabe. I cannot see how, on an occasion of this kind, a man in my position could be anything but optimistic.

The Charter of Abilene Christian College as it was written in 1906, which I hold, states:

As I have the privilege of making formal acceptance of this Inaugural occasion of the serious responsibilities of the presidency of Abilene Christian College, I pledge my best efforts to keep the college true to the purposes as outlined in that charter.

One of my deepest convictions is that we have here an institution desperately needed in today's world. If I did not believe that, I think I would not be willing to accept this responsibility. In his inaugural address of Nov. 9, 1940, Don H. Morris said:

… Abilene Christian College is not the result of the planning or the prayers or the work of the leadership of any one man. It is, rather, one of the best examples that you can find anywhere of the combined efforts and devotion of many hundreds and hundreds of men and women …

I am just as convinced of that truth today as Don Morris was when he said it 30 years ago.

At the same time, I hope that in being a Christian college we will always be a bulwark in support of biblical teaching and Christian living in this world. I hope that we can always be a liberal arts institution in the finest traditions of higher education. We shall expect to continue to explore, as fully as our talents, time and resources will permit, issues facing modern man.  There are no subjects on this earth, or in outer space, or in the metaphysical realm, which we cannot study on the campus of a Christian institution of higher learning. Everybody can know our basic commitment, but I hope that people will also realize there are no closed minds and no off-limits subjects on this campus so long as in our teaching and practice we operate within the framework of our historic commitment. We can study – and I hope with a fair and reasonable approach - even those viewpoints which might not be in agreement with our basic presuppositions. In this way we can see to it that students and faculty are aware of the currents and crosscurrents of our age and that the education to be pursued at a Christian college is highly relevant.

A college such as this one is, I am sure, to have some difficult problems in the years ahead. Always, for example, there are problems of the financial nature. But even more profound will be questions of moral and spiritual nature. Let us determine always to be thankful for our heritage. We appreciate and honor the dedicated men and women who have gone before us and have built such an enduring institution and such honored traditions. We realize, however, that the problems of the ’70s require that we push on in a vigorous search for understanding that will lead to intelligent solutions. One of the objectives of a Christian education ought to be to develop people who are efficient, capable and ambitious while at the same time being tolerant, courteous and respectful of others. The Christian should hold deep convictions regarding eternal principles while being of an open mind and heart concerning the desperate problems of today's world.

We have a great work to do here. We need great people in order to accomplish a task of quality. With all the groups of the Abilene Christian College family working together, we can continue to build an institution which will be true to the high and noble purposes set for it.

It is with deep humility and gratitude that I accept this responsibility.