The text of ACC president Dr. John C. Stevens’ address at Abilene Christian’s 64th Official Opening, Sept. 2, 1969.
The first statement I want to make is a public acknowledgment of thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father for an opportunity to serve in a cause, which I am sure, my colleagues of the administration, faculty and staff share with me in considering a mission in life. And I want to thank those who have made it possible for me to undertake this particular role of service. I could not begin to name all of those to whom I am indebted, but I am grateful.
And then I want to pay tribute officially to Don Heath Morris for the magnificent 29 years he has devoted to the work of the presidency of Abilene Christian College. The record is there for all to read who may care to do so. Future historians will find it interesting. It has been a record of constructive achievement. I believe his service as a chancellor will be equally fruitful.
The three men who have been chosen for the chairmanship, the scripture reading and the prayer on this occasion have had a combined service in their respective positions of 107 years. Don Morris has been president 29 years, Walter Adams has been dean 37 years, and Lawrence Smith has been business manager 41 years. There have been other conscientious administrators during their years. James E. Freeman was fiscal agent from 1937-65 and W.R. Smith was vice president from 1940-62. We think this record is without parallel, at least in the Southwest, perhaps in this nation. Certainly it is an encouragement to those of us who are assuming new responsibilities of administration to have such examples of achievement to guide us.
In many ways our work at Abilene Christian College comes at the best time in the history of the College. The assets of the College are 30 times as large as when Don Morris became president in 1940. Enrollment is five times as great, the faculty more than four times as great. There are more than 10 times as many holders of doctorate degrees on the faculty as there were 29 years ago. There are more than 10 times as many volumes in the library and the annual budget is nearly 40 times as great today as it was in 1940. When Don Morris became president there was no graduate school, and, in fact, the college itself was an unaccredited institution. Today we have a growing graduate school under the direction of dean Fred Barton, and the college is fully accredited in all its work.
And certainly not the least of the reasons that this is a great time to become president of Abilene Christian College is that we have many more fine and serviceable buildings than the college had 29 years ago. We have a good physical plant to work with.
One could go on naming reasons for saying that today is a good time to become president of Abilene Christian College, and yet on the other hand, we must face the fact that in some ways we may have more serious problems today than the administration had twenty-nine years ago. For example, in our time it seems that there are more serious questions being raised about morality and godliness and civilized manners and responsible citizenship than ever before in the history of our nation. There are challenges on every hand to the things which I am sure most of us have believed in with all of our heart all of our lives and believe today. Perhaps many of the criticisms being leveled at the so-called establishment today are valid. Each one of us must resolve to help correct the shortcomings in our society and in the church and in our individual lives. At the same time we should determine to hold on to all that is good and true and right.
I am convinced that Christian education is as vital today as it has ever been, and in fact may be more vital. The people who founded Abilene Christian College had the right idea. The college has been built on principles that will endure. With the problems of our society – both nationally and internationally – causing the best thought leaders among us to try to come up with some guideposts for us, we must ponder anew how unique our kind of education really is. It aims to provide an undergirding for young and old alike in facing up to all of the “gaps” of our generation and times.
To the student body may I express the hope that you will find this to be a profitable year in every way. Especially to those who are with us for the first time may I say that I hope you will enter wholeheartedly into the activities of the campus. I believe you will find your activities in the classroom, the laboratory and the library intellectually and spiritually stimulating and that you will find your other activities on the campus pleasant and satisfying. You are the reason so much time, energy, money and thought have gone into the building of this college. All of us are here to see that you receive excellent preparation for your life’s work within the framework of Christian principles. The unique role you can fulfill as a member of the student body working with president Walt Cabe, vice president Lerrill White, treasurer John Fitzgerald and secretary Karen Young and your other class and club leaders should make it one of the best years of your life.
To the faculty this year I express the hope that we will determine in our hearts to make this a service institution according to the teachings of Christ. We are here to serve. We want our students to succeed. We want to provide them the help we are capable of giving in preparing themselves for a life of service to God and to mankind.
To the parents who are assisting their sons and daughters to be with us may I express the desire that you will let us know how we can improve our work. We want to be partners with you in the greatest enterprise of all –– education for the most vital role in all the world today ––– responsible Christian citizenship wherever one may happen to live. At this very time was are launching the third major self-study or institutional evaluation since becoming fully accredited members of the Southern Association of College and Schools in 1951. Our faculty, staff and students will be working diligently during the coming year with the help of alumni, parents, trustees and other friends to investigate thoroughly our entire program. Our strengths and, I can assure you, our weaknesses will be completely spelled out in a special report to the Southern Association in 1971. Your suggestions will be received with great interest and will be appreciated.
To our neighbors in the community may I express the hope that we can always work together in building a finer city. As has often been said, Abilene Christian College is fortunate to have its home in a town like Abilene. The two have grown together, and we hope that we can always consider this a happy and successful partnership.
To the trustees of the college may I say that it will be the goal of the administration and the faculty to continue to operate this college in line with the purposes for which it has existed since 1906. We believe we have here, as Edmund Burke expressed it, “an eternal contract of society.” By that we mean that we have a contract with those good people – living and dead – who helped to build this school from the beginning. At the same time, we have a contract with these thousands of young people who are here today and with their parents and supporters to provide them an opportunity for Christian education for today's world. And beyond that we have a trust to keep for the thousands who are yet to come.
We pray to our Heavenly Father that He will bless all of those who have a part in building and maintaining this great school. There are not many schools like it in the world today. We cannot afford to sacrifice a single institution founded upon the principles of Christ anywhere. Certainly we want to push as vigorously as we can the further development of Abilene Christian College.
With these thoughts in mind, it is my pleasant privilege to declare the 64th year officially in session.
