Reclaimed Memories

ne morning Troy said to me, "I was praying last night and the Lord gave me the answer for Shenandoah. Move the school to Winchester." I guess I was a person with little faith. I replied, "Oh, Troy! That is a pipe dream." But the more we talked the more convinced we became that that would be the only way we could save it. The old Senator Byrd was from Winchester and a power-house in the U.S. Senate, so we secured an interview with him, in Washington, D. C. Troy prepared a brochure which pointed out the advantages a college would be to that city, which had no institution of higher learning.

Senator Byrd said it sounded good to him. He gave Troy the names of three influential leaders in Winchester. On our way back to Dayton we contacted the three men. They were enthusiastic about the prospect, but said they could not undertake it for another year, because the city was paying for the hospital at that time. Troy began to talk "move" with every contact he made. There was a lot of opposition in the conference and much criticism on the part of the citizens of Dayton, who did not want to lose the school. After the city of Winchester offered a beautiful campus site on the outskirts of the city and an initial gift of $350,000.00, the conference, still much divided, voted to move the school. It took two specially called conferences of the church to accomplish this.

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While we were in Dayton I had finished my college and teacher training at Madison College, which is now James Madison University. My sister, Elma, and Howard came from Akron and Marion and Skippy came from Dottie's parents' home in Baltimore, where they were visiting at that time, to see me receive my Bachelor of Science Degree. I was forty-eight years old at that time. Elma told me later that Marion said, "She looks as young as the other graduates." Skip was only five years old, so she does not remember that "momentous" occasion. Marion forgot to bring a sleeping garment for her and I let her sleep in my little nightgown. It had been made for me to use when my sister and I took that train trip to visit relatives. As a five year old I was very proud of it because it was more frilly than the usual sleeping garments we wore. I never would consent to have it passed down to my younger sisters. I thought Skip should be the one to have it, so gave it to her in 1962, when I gave Heather my 1921 birthday cup.

When we knew that the school would really be saved we felt that Troy had fulfilled his mission. It had been a hard four years for him and he ended them with a hospital experience. I insisted that he resign. By that time I was teaching in the brand new Keister Elementary School in Harrisonburg and enjoying every minute of it. So it proved to be a good move for us. Troy was engaged in evangelistic work, after he recovered from a hospital experience of three weeks.

I found this article in the scrapbook which was in Florida when we moved from Virginia, so it was not destroyed. It was printed in the weekly periodical of the Evangelical United Brethren Church's May 5, 1956 issue. It was in the section entitled, “OUR LEADERS SAY” and written by Troy, as president of Shenandoah College.

A MAN OF GOD

"The minister is a man of God." This statement, from the lips of a loyal layman, was made without further comment. The remark had the tone of finality. To him the matter ended there. To me, as I listened, it was the beginning of many thoughts.

Until a few years ago my work kept me very close to the local church. Recently the experience is varied and I meet many ministers, in both local and general work. I have watched and listened. One question has come to me over and over again. What is the measure of the minister as a man of God?

As to purpose and ideals , I believe, ministers can generally be classed in two groups. One type, consciously or unconsciously uses the church as a kind of ladder upon which to elevate himself. He is interested in success, as measured by the average man. or by the news reporter. Big, impressive church buildings, publicity, financial records, large membership rolls, great reports—all these enter into this man's concept of the meaning of a successful ministry. Such accomplishments are impressive and he maybe called to an even larger church, or to top circles in his denominational government.

The other type of minister is truly interested in the growth of the spiritual body of Christ. He does not care for personal position, fame, or glory. To him the important things are high standards of moral and spiritual life. Quality before quantity in membership, and principle above promotion are always his ideals.

It is this last issue, "principle above promotion,” which I believe to be the acid test of the man. This will prove whether he truly is a" man of God."

Will he stand firmly upon the rock of his convictions when the trial comes, or will he court the favor of all by compromise for the sake of political motives?

Would he, like the apostle Paul, be willing to be "accursed from Christ" for the sake of the brethren?

If in our personal struggle with selfishness, we were all able to say truthfully, "I am willing to be the forgotten man if only Jesus Christ can be the one remembered," how very different the history of the church might be, and how much more glorious!

The democratic process, whether in state or church government, has proved to be highly vulnerable to the cleverness of the ambitious. The result is often the exaltation of the man who desires personal glory, rather than the humble and self-effacing. It is refreshing to find the wonderful exceptions to this tendency of self-exultation. All of us rejoice when we see a man of deep convictions risk his position and his future, in order to be loyal to right as he sees the right.

It should be the peculiar goal of the church to see that true "men of God" do not wait for heaven to reward their spirit of humility."

After Troy's resignation we bought property in Singers Glen and I drove those ten miles each way to teach at Keister another year. While at the college he had preached in all but four or five of our denomination's churches, in the Virginia conference. He had held several revival meetings there and in West Virginia and Ohio. He gave back to the college every penny, above actual travel expense, that he received in honorariums. We felt that was the honest thing to do since he was employed by the school.

 

Dedication ceremony of the new Winchester location of Shenandoah University

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