William H. Free, secretary-treasurer of the Board of Trustees, led the singing. Jesse P. Sewell, president from 1912 to 1924, led the opening prayer. E.W. McMillan, minister of the College church, spoke on the "external and internal opposition which hindered Nehemiah in rebuilding Jerusalem and restoring Jewish worship."

At noon, the annual homecoming of former students and teachers took place in the dining hall in Chambers Hall.  Walter H. Adams, president of the Ex-Students' Association, presided at the luncheon.

Wendell Bedichek, Abilene Christian alumnus and managing editor of the Big Spring Daily News, spoke on the phenomenal growth of the school  Other short talks were made by Hollis Manly, Don Morris and Paul Southern.

Following the talks, all guests were dismissed except the ex-students.  Then J. C. Reese, vice-president of the Board of Trustees, announced the formation of the 10,000 Club.  In a stirring address, he explained the board's plan to enlist 10,000 members to give $10 each for an endowment fund  More than 100 ex-students and friends at the luncheon purchased club buttons joining the club.

Sunday evening services in Sewell Auditorium were conducted by Abilene Christian ex-students. The opening prayer was led by W. Earl Brown, head of the social sciences department.  Paul C. Witt, head of the Science Department, led the congregational singing.  Roy H. Lanier, minister of the Brownwood Church of Christ, delivered the address.

Monday, September 23, 1929

Homecoming continued with a chapel service Monday morning with Walter H. Adams presiding.  Jesse P. Sewell gave the address.  Before he spoke, Walter Sikes presented to Abilene Christian four oil portraits, one each of Jesse P. Sewell, his wife, his father and his mother.  President Batsell Baxter accepted the four paintings on behalf of the school

Jesse P. Sewell opened his address expressing his deep gratitude to the donor of the portraits.  He also expressed his gratitude for the honor bestowed on him by the naming of the new auditorium.  He spoke about "How has it been done?"

Tuesday, September 24, 1929

The official opening exercises of Abilene Christian's 24th year began at 10 a.m. in Sewell Auditorium with more than 1,000 students, faculty and friends present.  The traditional opening song, "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name" was led by William H. Free, who had led the opening song every year since 1906, except for one year when he was out of town.

President Batsell Baxter lead the invocation.  J. E. McKinzie, board member and operator of the dining hall, served as master of ceremonies.  The first speaker was the mayor of Abilene, Thomas E. Hayden, who extended greetings from the city of Abilene to the students.  He congratulated the board on their accomplishments regarding the new campus, praised the faculty for their spiritual and sacrificing service and pledged his support in helping Abilene Christian in the future.

The second speaker was Charles W. Bacon, president of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce at the time the plans were made for a new campus.  He spoke about the "marvelous and outstanding" growth of the school and asked all of those present to cooperate with the board in the future.

J. S. Arledge, president of the board for 18 years, spoke next and gave a brief history of the school and outlined the plans for the future.  Otto Foster, also a board member, spoke, representing the out-of-town board members.  J. C. Reese spoke next explaining the new 10,000 club.

That afternoon at 1:30 p.m. everyone assembled again and heard greetings and speeches from Dr. Cooper of Simmons University (now Hardin-Simmons University) and President J. W. Hunt of McMurry College (now McMurry University).  An Abilene High School representative was not present.

At 2 p.m. registration began for upperclassmen and continued through Wednesday morning.

Tuesday evening in the Administration Building, 21 of the 35 members of the Board of Trustees attended the semi-annual meeting of the board.  They accepted the local board's report of the building campaign.  They added their highest commendation for the Abilene board members for their splendid work in completing the new plant.

Wednesday, September 25, 1929
Registration for the upperclassmen continued Wednesday morning.  College classes began meeting on Wednesday afternoon and Abilene Christian's 24th year was underway.

As The Optimist went to press Thursday evening, September 26, 1929, enrollment had reached 400, with expectations that it would reach 500 before registration was complete.  The Academy (now the high school) had begun registration on Tuesday afternoon and 53 students had registered.  The Training School (now the elementary school) had opened the week before with 56 in attendance.

Sunday, January 19, 1930

Originally an open house for the Abilene community had been planned for the beginning of classes in the fall, but with the incomplete auditorium and gymnasium, it was postponed.

From 2 to 6 p.m. the visitors came in a steady stream.  Even with the very cold temperatures that day (below freezing Sunday morning), more than 2,000 visitors came to tour the new campus.  At one time, an Optimist reporter counted 109 cars parked in front of the Administration Building.  The visitors were personally conducted by students through each of the buildings on campus beginning at the Administration Building.

Administration Building
President and Mrs. Batsell Baxter and Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Crawford, board member, greeted the guests at the entrance.  James F. Cox, dean; Mrs. Clara Bishop, registrar; and Lawrence Smith, bursar, were in the suite of administrative offices on the first floor (now the second floor).  The various department heads and instructors were also on hand to greet the visitors.

Zona Luce Building
Free; W. C. Sikes, academy principal; Essie Rambo, training school principal; and the other instructors greeted the guests.

Zellner Hall
Elizabeth Nelson, dean of women and residence hall director; J. S. Arledge, president of the board; T. A. Russell, board member; and all of the residents greeted the guests and invited them to tour the rooms.

Chambers Hall
Mr. and Mrs. John E. McKinzie, board member and operator of the dining hall, received the guests and gave tours of the dining hall and kitchen.  On the second floor (now the third floor), Elisha Walker, residence hall director, showed guests the light housekeeping rooms for women.

McDonald Hall
Dabney Harvey and G.C. Helvey, board members; Mr. and Mrs. J. Eddie Weems, residence hall directors; and Mrs. Ora McFarland, residence hall hostess, greeted guests.

Sewell Auditorium
Harvey Hays, board member; Don Morris and Mary Hale, instructors; and Pat Malone, head of the fine arts department, greeted the visitors and gave tours of the auditorium and the fine arts studios and music practice rooms under the stage.

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