00:00:09.090 - 00:00:29.120

Of distinguished lectures. We're pleased that five of the previous lecturers in this series are with us in the audience tonight, JP Sanders who opened this lecture series in 1979 Frank Pack who was the second lecturer, Carl Mitchell uh was the third lecturer. WB West is the

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only one who is not with us tonight. The fourth of the lectures and then John Wilson lectured last year to a full auditorium. This lecture series grows every year. Last year it was filled tonight, it is filled to overflowing and we're very happy about that to

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those of you who are visiting our campus. It occurred to me that in many ways, the word new characterizes a lot of what's going on at Pepperdine University. We have a new president this year and we hope he's going to turn out. All right, we have,

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we have a new chancellor this year, Doctor Charles Reynolds who is with us tonight. We have a new executive vice president this year, Doctor William Adrian who is with us tonight. We have a new preaching minister for the university church. The first truly full time preaching

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minister that we have had at the university church, Dan Anders and he is with us tonight. We've just hired a new campus minister, Dave mcmahon, who is going to be moving here and joining us later this week to engage uh full time in our campus ministry.

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So there's so much that is new and exciting about the spiritual programs and other programs at the university. But I think it is fitting tonight that among all the new things that are happening that in this lecture series tonight, we reach back to some of the

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roots of the university as we think about uh the spiritual heritage of Pepperdine University before we turn to the lecture program. And as we think about the great roots and heritage of this university, we're especially delighted that Mrs Helen Pepperdine, the wife of the founder of

00:02:04.480 - 00:02:32.949

Pepperdine University can be here tonight. And I'd like to ask Helen if you would stand so that we could acknowledge you and thank you for being with us. I think what we're gathered to do here tonight reflects so much of what a university is about. We

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are not just about classes and classrooms, but we are an academic community, a learning community where we try to learn both inside and outside the classroom. And I think tonight typifies the very best in the life of a university. When faculty members, students staff, the community

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will all come together uh to join in a learning experience as we do tonight. I want to present uh the first two or three people on our program tonight. Uh Our invocation will be led by Donald V. Miller. Don has been a member of our board

00:03:07.490 - 00:03:25.160

of regents at the university for over 40 years. He served as chairman of the board for some 20 years following George Pepperdine's tenure as chairman of the board and then following the invocation JP Sanders for many years, a professor and dean here at Pepperdine University than

00:03:25.169 - 00:03:42.179

the president of Columbia Christian College in Portland, Oregon. Now returning to be with us again, as a faculty member in our religion division will introduce tonight's special lecture. So we thank you again for being here tonight for this rich experience. And I'd like to ask Don

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Miller if you would now come to the podium and lead us in our invocation, right? Lord God Jehovah, eternal in the heavens, our loving heavenly father. We invoke your special blessings upon assembly upon this memorable occasion, which has been set in place in honor of the

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memory of one to many of us who personally whose wife is here with us. Grateful for the life of William M Green for the lives that he touched is Christian scholarship. Personal Christianity was so widespread during all the days of his life. Take the, we also

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are grateful for the founder of educational inst George Pepperdine or side beneficent made possible the beginning an institution which has grown through your blessings at this point, how grateful we are of the leadership that has taken place and we thank thee for presidents who have served

00:05:22.200 - 00:05:50.739

before David Davenport. Bring it to this stage, grateful especially for the foreside of Orville Young 27 years ago to bring to us Doctor Howard A White. We give d his old father for his great leadership, upholding the spiritual heritage, which was the heart and the mind

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of George Pepperdine. All of those who worked with this great, we pray thy blessings on Doctor White for a long and fruitful life in good service. I in thy kingdom, the benefit of all my I It's a very personal pleasure

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and an unusual privilege for me to have the opportunity tonight. Introduce Doctor Howard White who will speak on this memorial occasion to a very dear and close friend, Doctor William Green and we are very happy that Doctor Green's wife Ruby can be here tonight and his

00:07:07.670 - 00:07:29.299

son, Dr Ralph Green and his wife. We're delighted that they can be here uh with us to share this occasion you have read in the program, given you what is said about Doctor White there. And so I need not repeat that. I know all of you

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can read. This is a college audience. They say a great many high school students can't read, but all those who get into Pepperdine, I think can read. And we're delighted that they can. And we know Dr White as having served as president of this institution for

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a number of years, a very great distinction. But I would like to go back just a little behind that. I've said a number of times that I think the greatest thing that I've ever done for Pepperdine University was to have part in bringing Doctor White here.

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I first met him at David Lipscomb College just before he began teaching there. And the work that he did there was done with such high quality that as soon as I came here, I wanted him here too. And I know that all of us are delighted

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that he came. When I first met him, he was not married or had not married. And uh he fell in love with Exene Felt who are serving as being a women at David Liscom Couch. And there was a tradition at David Lipscomb College that two people

00:09:04.450 - 00:09:37.679

closely related but not serve on the faculty and they considered husband and wife as a close relationship. So we wanted Dr White to come and teach and he wanted to marry Maxine. And that presented a dilemma. But Maxine loved him so much that she was willing

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to give up her job and he loved her so much that he was willing to marry her even without a job. And so that worked out wonderfully well. And they have two Children and uh, Ashley is here tonight and we're happy that he can be here.

00:10:07.059 - 00:10:37.640

And Elliott is working and could not come. We would be delighted if he could have been here. But through the years, I know that all of you and certainly I, I have come to appreciate many things about Howard Dwight. I shall just mention to one is

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the fact that whatever he does is characterized by a very high degree of and that was true before universities and colleges generally began using this term as they do today. And another thing from my close association with him for more than 30 years, man, of the

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very highest integrity and these things are deeply appreciated are all who know him and we see them reflected this university. And so it is my distinct pleasure to introduce to you. Now, Doctor Howard, we will speak to us on the spiritual heritage jeopardy universe. Thank

00:11:54.489 - 00:12:11.150

you very much Dr Sanders. I've always suspected that Doctor Sanders is the kindest man I know and I'm convinced that he truly is, but I just want to add a little corollary to that business of Maxine working after we got married. Uh she uh she agreed,

00:12:11.159 - 00:12:29.809

all right, not to work, but it was mainly because David Lip Combe College paid such high salaries. We didn't need the money. I thought you would take that the way I meant it. I'm delighted to be with you this evening and to have in the audience.

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Not only those of you who remember when Mr Pepperdine began the school some of you who weren't even born when I came out here, when the school was 21 years old. So we've got a wide range here tonight and I'm grateful for the presence of everyone.

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I shall always be grateful to Doctor Sanders and to doctor Y for encouraging me to come to Pepperdine College as it was then called in 1958 the year before I came and uh during the year before Doctor Sanders decided to come back out here, I spent

00:13:02.250 - 00:13:14.789

the whole year trying to talk him out of coming back. He had been here before and I did not succeed. And I'm glad now I did not because I decided the next year after that then to come myself and I have been happy ever since I

00:13:14.799 - 00:13:28.679

still love David Lipscomb College and I'm happy about all the good that it does. But I think that I did the thing that was best for my family, for myself and I've enjoyed every bit of it. I've been here now in my, I'm in my 28th

00:13:28.690 - 00:13:44.989

year. So I've been here more than half of the life of the institution and so much of what I talk about, I have experienced, I have biased views and they are generally in favor of Pepperdine University. Very happy to see you, Mrs Green. I have loved

00:13:45.000 - 00:14:10.539

with her husband very much and Ralph and of course Mrs Pepperdine, who has been such a warm supporter during the years of a very privileged to be here for these lectures because I remember Dr Green so vividly and so favorable. I think one of my prize

00:14:10.549 - 00:14:36.469

possessions is two volumes of the old classical series about Augustine, published by the Harvard University Press. Dr Green had written and which he inscribed and gave to me. Several years ago, Dr William Green was a gloriously unique individual cause of two things. He was world renowned

00:14:36.880 - 00:14:55.150

in every university in the world where they knew anything at all about Latin as a scholar of the finest degree of excellence. But to me even more wonderful than that is that the mainspring of his life. The motivation of his life was that he loved God

00:14:55.159 - 00:15:14.440

and he loved Christ and he loved the church. He combined all of that and he has set an example that should serve as an inspiration to this university because I think that's what this university is seeking to do to do the best it can in scholarship,

00:15:15.530 - 00:15:33.179

but also to include the love of God and Christ and his church, all of its work. And then before I begin the lecture, I just want to say how much I appreciate the fact that Doctor Jerry Rushford has started this series and has worked so well

00:15:33.190 - 00:15:45.799

to promote it. And this great group here tonight I think is a tribute to his promotional activity. And uh he may wish he hadn't done it when he's heard the lecture and he may not have ought to have invited all of you to come tonight. But

00:15:45.809 - 00:16:02.479

we're glad that he's done what he had as Pepperdine University approaches its 50 years of service. It seems to me it's very appropriate to look at its spiritual heritage, the things that have made it unique and to see what we have then before us as a

00:16:02.489 - 00:16:31.690

challenge for the future on September the 21st 1937 2000 happy and excited people sat in holding chairs out on the grounds of the campus of the New Heroine College at 79th in Vermont in Los Angeles. They had come together for the formal launching of a new

00:16:31.700 - 00:16:51.190

experiment in American higher education. That was a typical Southern California bomb a day, about 73 degrees was the high temperature of that day. It gets a lot hotter than that in some days in September, it was a day that was cloudy and most of the time,

00:16:51.200 - 00:17:13.180

5.5 hours of sunshine that day. But in a larger sense, the sun was shining brightly because that day September the 21st 1937 mark the actual beginning of a school that less than 50 years later would be described by the New York Times, selected guide to colleges

00:17:14.020 - 00:17:41.369

as one of the 250 best and most interesting out of 3400 colleges and universities in America. Well, that September day in 1937 Basil Baxter who had already served as president of David Lipscomb College and of Abilene Christian College. They are rather presided mayor Frank Shaw, mayor

00:17:41.380 - 00:17:58.849

of the city of Los Angeles, able welcome or greeting. And then Governor Frank Marriam spoke and complimented Mr Pepperdine for his great generosity in beginning a new colleague. And then after a time, Mr Pepperdine arose to speak and the first thing he said was this is

00:17:58.859 - 00:18:15.900

the mountain peak of my life go far. I think that was a very significant statement coming from a man who had already done so many other good things that almost any one of them could have been considered a mountain peak of his career. This 51 year

00:18:15.910 - 00:18:38.479

old, highly successful businessman, founder of the Western auto stores already had a record of 21 years of service in Los Angeles giving to worthy causes. Irving since he had arrived in this state in 1916. Even before he came here, he knew what it was to practice.

00:18:38.680 - 00:18:55.150

The principle stated in the biblical injunction freely, he received freely give. And that became the motto of this institution. He had given generously to the Y MC A, to the boy scouts, to the Pacific Lodge boys home, the Venice Boys Club, the Casa Colina home for

00:18:55.160 - 00:19:17.020

crippled Children. And he had established the Helen Louise Home for girls among his many benefactions. But more especially he loved Christ and he loved the church and he had a record of continuous generous widespread giving to the church to Christians to missionaries. Mrs Pepperdine added up

00:19:17.030 - 00:19:34.560

some figures after he had passed on and discovered that he had given away $5 million more than she had originally known anything about during the depression of the 1900 thirties, he doubtless kept many churches solvent who would otherwise have been bankrupt. The records indicate that at

00:19:34.569 - 00:19:52.630

one time he was helping at least 40 different congregations and he built the Southwest church that is now known as the Normandy Church. But when that man who had already done so many things said, this is the high peak or high watermark of my life. I

00:19:52.640 - 00:20:09.489

think it indicates that he expected the college to help him reach out in a wider circle than he had ever reached at one time before. And that would enable him to foster both the civic, good, the good of his country and his community and also the

00:20:09.500 - 00:20:24.689

welfare of the cause of Christ. At the same time as his business had grown and his fortune had increased. He had begun to think of other ways that he could serve. One thing. He was very much distressed to see young people going away to college and

00:20:25.099 - 00:20:41.410

deciding they didn't want to believe in Christ anymore. And he had made the acquaintance of a very bright young supervisor of Los Angeles schools by the name of Hugh Tyner and Hugh Tyner who was a graduate of Abilene of Stanford. And the University of Southern California

00:20:42.300 - 00:20:58.530

said to him, you ought to establish a colleague. And he talked to him frequently about that and Mr Pepperdine considered it then Tom Phillips, who is with us here tonight, who was Mr Pepperdine's preacher at the Southwest Church also spoke in favor of it. Miss Pepperdine

00:20:58.650 - 00:21:17.589

was foreign and so in late 1936 and early 1937 Mr Pepperdine traveled a good bit. He went to see some of the other Christian colleges. He talked with George Benson with GC Brew. And then at the suggestion of Dr Tyner, he invited Basil Baxter to come

00:21:17.599 - 00:21:35.359

to Los Angeles to talk with him about founding the college. Doctor Baxter came and discussed the matter with him. He said to Mr Pepperdine, just what do you have in mind as you seek to establish a new college? Well, Mr Pepperdine, among other things said, I

00:21:35.369 - 00:21:57.329

want it to be a cottage that will be academically sound based in Christian faith. Is that too much to our eyes? And of course, Dr Baxter said it was not. And so that evening during that conversation, Baxter Tyner and Mr Pepperdine talked until very late about

00:21:57.339 - 00:22:12.530

all the ramifications of starting a new college. And finally, as they decided they'd all better leave and go to bed, Mr Pine said, you have convinced me this is what I ought to do and I'm going to do it. The educator said, well, when do you

00:22:12.540 - 00:22:26.000

think you will start it? What he said in September, one of them said in September of what year? This is already February of this year. But he said we have plenty of time. We don't have any to waste, but we still have plenty of time. And

00:22:26.010 - 00:22:41.949

so sure enough, the school did open, as he said, it was not all the buildings were finished, the students were living elsewhere off campus temporarily, but the school opened as he said, it would. But in March of that year, after having decided already to do it,

00:22:42.660 - 00:22:58.699

Dr Tyner and Mr Pepperdine jointly sent out letters on March the 15th to various churches in Southern California and ask them if they would be interested in a new college. The question in the letter was, and I quote, would you like to see a college started

00:22:58.709 - 00:23:14.920

in Southern California similar to Harding or David Lipscomb or Abilene Christian College? And the response was overwhelmingly positive. I use that quotation because there are some who want to argue that Mr Fairland was not trying to start a Christian college. He was, there were some arguments

00:23:14.930 - 00:23:28.930

about that. I don't have to get into tonight, but that's what he intended to do. He had certain ideas about how you wanted it to be run, but it was never his intention to do anything but to start a Christian college. So, although the campus as

00:23:28.939 - 00:23:50.449

I've indicated was far from finished. How did you open that first year with 167 students from 22 states and two foreign countries? I think that's pretty good when the decision was made only in February to begin the school. And now nearly 50 years later, from a

00:23:50.459 - 00:24:14.300

perspective of the passing of almost a half a century, Mr Pepperdine's vision and his wisdom stand out with great clarity. His views in beginning the school, I think included four major factors. I would like to outline for you. Now, one, he proposed to have a school

00:24:14.310 - 00:24:36.609

that would be distinctively and strongly Christian in his opening speech on that September day, he said, and I quote, our college is dedicated to a twofold objective provide first class, fully accredited academic training and the liberal arts, but especially I will be dedicated to a greater

00:24:36.619 - 00:24:57.250

goal that are building in the student, a Christ like life, a love for the church and a passion for the souls of mankind. But then he went on to say that the faculty should be composed of devout men and women who will give careful attention to

00:24:57.260 - 00:25:13.880

safeguarding and deepening the faith of the students. And then a little later in November of that same year in the first year of the school, he spoke to the students on November the 30th and he said there are many good colleges, universities which can give you

00:25:13.890 - 00:25:36.930

standard academic training. If our school does not give you more than that, it really has no reason to exist. The great difference between this college and the large state university is that we are endeavoring to place adequate emphasis and greater stress upon religious training. And Christian

00:25:36.939 - 00:25:56.699

Carrick, a second characteristic. I think that was true of Mr Pepperdine and the principle by which he lived, I'm happy I had the privilege to know him and see this working in his life with characteristic gentleness and humility, though strongly in favor of a Christian college.

00:25:56.709 - 00:26:12.829

He was in favor of a great deal of freedom and of making it clear to the students that nobody was trying to poke any religion down their throats or compel them to believe anything you wanted them to be exposed to it, boys would be there. I

00:26:12.839 - 00:26:27.729

quote from him again, from that speech, November. He says, we cannot show you the better way of life. If you do not give some time a thought to the study of the scripture, we want to lead you to know Christ and to obey him, we want

00:26:27.739 - 00:26:46.540

to present to you in teaching an example, the Christian way of life. We do not compel you to accept you are free to make your own choice, but we want you to know what it is. I think that is the Christian attitude in the third place

00:26:46.670 - 00:27:01.500

and not these are not necessarily in order that he would regard as an important. So I think the person was the most important to him. But in the third place, he wanted to emphasize academic excellence. And that has been a tradition in this school. You ever

00:27:01.510 - 00:27:20.920

heard me quote where he said he wanted to have a school that would emphasize first-class, fully accredited academic training. And within seven months of the school's opening, it had been accredited by the regional accrediting school. And then in the fourth place, Mr Pine knew how well

00:27:20.930 - 00:27:36.160

those of us who have served in the college and university know this, that it takes money and lots of money to run a school. Just a lot of it, a lot more than students can ever hope to pay. In that first meeting with Basil Barrett, with

00:27:36.170 - 00:27:51.439

Basil Baxter, the father Basil Bart Baxter in that first meeting with Doctor Baxter who was to be the first president Dr Back, should asked him, how do you propose to finance this school? Mr Pine had lots of money. And so he said I have a foundation

00:27:51.449 - 00:28:04.189

and it will build the buildings and it will help with the expenses operating the school. We will charge reasonable tuition rates, we will help students who can't pay at all. But uh but we will take care of the expenses. That's what he fully intended to do

00:28:04.199 - 00:28:28.810

and that's what he did do until financial reverses later on, made that imposible to continue. Mr Pine wisely. Made provision for all of the elements that I've just been discussing that were important to him or Christian faith and commitment. I think your challenge and mine is

00:28:28.819 - 00:28:55.060

to be sure that we maintain our loyalty to that commitment ourselves. This school cannot, it ought not to be separated from its founder and from his original purpose. It is my conviction that to divert the resources of this institution to other causes at variance with the

00:28:55.069 - 00:29:12.819

purposes that he had in mind would not only be a breach of faith with the founder. I would simply call it embezzlement or that's just misappropriation of fun. I know the history of schools has been to drift away into other things. I do not believe that

00:29:12.829 - 00:29:26.750

is right. If people don't like the school that has been founded, they ought to go start one of their own, they ought not to try to steal another one and convert it to their own purpose. Mr Pepperdine then was in favor of Christian faith and commitment.

00:29:26.760 - 00:29:49.130

He made provision for that. He made provision for academic excellence and we ought to do that anything less than the best that we can do is unworthy of being called Christian and a spiritual heritage founded on ignorance or superstition, but not properly qualify as being. And

00:29:49.140 - 00:30:16.099

then this next part in stranger. But how can we legitimately separate spiritual and the material? I think all say spiritually is much more important than the material. Yes. But how can you separate them and have one without the other? The cemeteries of Academe are filled with

00:30:16.109 - 00:30:37.380

the gravestones of deceased colleges and universities that died, not because their founders and leaders were not committed to them and were not people of deep commitment, but because they simply could not raise the money to hire the faculty, build the buildings and keep going. And so

00:30:37.390 - 00:30:57.189

it is necessary that we have the natural resources and to interpret. I knew of that inmate provision with all of his noble intentions, with all of his great faith, Mr Palin could not have founded this college without money and it could not have been continued without

00:30:57.199 - 00:31:17.729

me. Well, I would like to emphasize this evening that beginning with Mr Pepperdine and continuing all the time since all of those who have contributed money and service for the abuilding of the institution have helped it to fulfill its spiritual mission and are a part of

00:31:17.739 - 00:31:43.359

its spiritual heritage. In these more recent years. What we like to call the miracle of Malibu has not only given this college that Mr Kin founded a university and only hasn't given it a vigorous thrust forward, maintaining its spiritual heritage, but it is my own conviction

00:31:43.369 - 00:32:07.089

based on all the evidence that I've been able to put together that those who did this and established this campus at Malibu actually saved the institution from almost certain disaster and not some such operation been undertaken. I think the very survival and the unparalleled success of

00:32:07.099 - 00:32:25.800

Pepperdine University. It was a great deal to the fundraising efforts of Norval Young William Mansky, Charles Reynolds Larry Hornbaker and many others who worked with them and providing the funding to open the Malibu Council. At this point. I say, I just want to say a word

00:32:25.810 - 00:32:49.209

about Mrs Seaver. We have sever college. Hundreds thousands of people have given money to this school, but Mrs Frank Roger sever as far as we are able to determine, has given more money for this institution than any Californian has ever given to any charitable enterprise. She

00:32:49.219 - 00:33:06.310

is now 94 years of age. I'm sorry. She came with us with us tonight. He is strong in her Christian commitment and her support of Christian values. She's a good deal more conservative than some of you I see here tonight, she has admonished me more than

00:33:06.319 - 00:33:22.849

once. I have seen the girls running around these camels wearing pants. I should make them go put on a dress. He came to the rock house one time when our Mexican housekeeper was wearing pants around there, but, and uh, the housekeeper ran right quick and put

00:33:22.859 - 00:33:48.239

on a skirt because, uh, Mrs Sea had been there before and expressed her opinion about such as the savior was baptized to Christ. And for many years has attended worship with the Reynolds family necessary as the gifts of money have been the most valuable contributions to

00:33:48.250 - 00:34:15.259

ongoing. And the spiritual heritage of Pepperdine University have come from those who have given even more than money from those like Doctor William Green and others who have given their lives day in and day out, carrying on the work, the finest automobile in the world will

00:34:15.269 - 00:34:31.669

not run if it doesn't have gasoline. But if gasoline is all you've got, you're not going anywhere either. And so it takes the gasoline, the energy and the tank to make it go. But somebody needs to be in the driver's seat and that's what's really important.

00:34:31.820 - 00:34:53.500

Where is it going? That's the important. It's people who provide the direction and the sustaining energy to make it true to its spiritual ideas. Let me now briefly review some example of those who have served. There isn't time to name all the people that ought to

00:34:53.510 - 00:35:08.250

be mentioned. I'm not trying to see how many people I can honor. I just want to cite examples of the kinds of things that have contributed to the spiritual heritage of Pine University. We must not forget the faithful men and women who have served on the

00:35:08.260 - 00:35:25.520

board of trustees and the board of Regents and especially the chairman because I know from my own experience and observation that without the co-operation of the chairman and his hard work, it just couldn't go forward. Most of the chairmen have. I think maybe all of them

00:35:25.530 - 00:35:41.159

have been elders in the church and they have included Don Miller Robert Jones Lloyd Nelson Thomas G boss because of a funeral, cannot be with us tonight. He called and expressed his regrets as an elder in the Culver Palms Church. Then in a very special way

00:35:41.889 - 00:35:55.590

at the risk of sounding like we've cultivated a mutual admiration society. I want to say just a word about JP Sanders. I'll just make statements of fact and not try to give you my opinions. But I think you know what they are. He has rendered a

00:35:55.600 - 00:36:11.090

contribution that is unique in the 20th century. He has served as Dean of David Lipton College and of this college and is president of Columbia Christian College. He was a member of the faculty at Pepperdine from 1939 to 1942 and was head of the religion department.

00:36:12.270 - 00:36:28.500

And then he went to be Dean at David Lipscomb College and, but he came back to be dean here from 1957 to 1970. Then he went to become President of Columbia Christian College and I'm thankful that he is back since 1982 to teach Bible here. And

00:36:28.510 - 00:36:45.570

so he and Gloria have made a great deal, Jardine University. By the way, she was a student. I guess I ought not to say very much about the presidents. I might be more than I should have about myself and I wouldn't want to do that. But

00:36:45.580 - 00:37:00.850

I think it is worthy of note that all six of the president's beginning. But that's Baxter doing right to, to David Aven Ford, who is here in the audience tonight, of course. And welcome to you. All of them have been at one time or another, what

00:37:00.860 - 00:37:14.419

we call full time gospel preacher. I think my own definition of that is that he is a gospel preacher who has time to play golf twice a week. That's what I did when I was a full time gospel preacher. But uh at any rate, I, I

00:37:14.429 - 00:37:33.239

think that says something about the intention of and what it was going to do. The chairman of the Bible, the religion department have each contributed greatly to its spiritual heritage. All his faculty members and the heads of the religion division or departments have included Doctor Sanders

00:37:33.250 - 00:37:54.449

WB West Junior, Joseph White, Howard Horton, Carl Mitchell Frank Pack, Carl Osborne and Eugene priest is currently acting as head. A notable thing occurred beginning in 1944 when WB West Jr, a very bright young phd graduate from the University of Chicago began the very first graduate

00:37:54.459 - 00:38:11.149

program in religion in any school associated with the churches of Christ, getting the ma degree in religion at Pepperdine College. It was then known, assisted by Batchelor Baxter and by Dr William Green who came from Berkeley where he was then on the faculty and taught in

00:38:11.159 - 00:38:29.290

the summer school. 29 students enrolled that first year, the second one to enroll was Otis Gateway and all of us who know him, know what a great servant of God he did. The department of religion has always been very vital to the school. Missionaries, preachers, elders,

00:38:29.300 - 00:38:47.979

deacons bible teachers, the Lord have received their training from it. Barry Rushford tells me that there are now more than 50 preachers active in the work of the church in California who are alumni of Pepperdine University. Some of the missionaries who have gone out from here

00:38:47.989 - 00:39:05.310

and some have come back here. I'm glad to say Carl Mitchell Mel Powell, Howard and Harold Paton have gone as missionaries to Italy over a ship to Brazil, Otis, Gatewood and Roy Palmer to Germany and Otis is now in Austria, Elmer. Proud and Steve Hasbrook and

00:39:05.320 - 00:39:21.520

Marlon Ray to Japan, Richard Channing to Kenya Max Downer to France, Avino Rico to Mexico and many, many others, a sample of the preachers turned out here. I could have chosen another list that would have been just as good, I'm sure. But these are the ones

00:39:21.530 - 00:39:38.300

that I've got Steven Lemley, our president of Lubbock Christian College, a wonderful preacher of the gospel. A guile of Portland, Oregon, Ralph Beck and Randy Mae of Long Beach, Leonard Knight who works at Michigan Christian College and preaches Mike Sanders of Boise, Idaho and Tim Kelly

00:39:38.310 - 00:39:54.520

of Camario. And I think Tim is here. Have you ever tried to imagine what it would look like to get all the students who have ever attended the school and who have sat in Bible classes, maybe in one gathering, nearly a half century, think of the

00:39:54.530 - 00:40:14.870

many, many thousands of people who have sat in the Bible classes at Pepperdine University and have heard people talk about God and about Christ and about his church. And you have gone out then to serve, having learned these really to name all the leaders longer than

00:40:14.879 - 00:40:34.060

we have time to do tonight. I want to say a few words about some staff members. I think the faculty is the most important link in relating the message of Jesus Christ to the students. The faculty who work day in and day out and who serve

00:40:34.070 - 00:40:53.189

as role models to the students are in my opinion, the most important link in getting the message of God and Christ to the students. When we travel around and meet alumni, they don't ask much about uh administrators. Sometimes they do, they usually ask about a teacher

00:40:54.439 - 00:41:16.780

here's antique who in some special way has touched their lives. That's what they want to know about. But I think of JC Moore, a staff member who touched many lives too active admission work in Germany, work in Christian schools, head of our finance office, one of

00:41:16.790 - 00:41:37.350

the founders of the year in Europe at Heidelberg and Morehouse there is named for him and in his quiet unassuming way, he sat hour after hour and help students work out their finances so they could attend. There are a lot of people I've known in these

00:41:37.360 - 00:41:58.060

years. I've been here and others I've heard about before I came. We have gone not many of the first and the second, but the 10th mile and further find the help. I think of James Atkinson who every year takes care of several 100 foreign students for

00:41:58.070 - 00:42:20.100

the care and the sensitivity of a father. The teachers in the classroom, as I've already indicated, who have shared their knowledge and their lives and their example with the student are most important. The hangs one of the walls in the beautiful bro house. 17th century, very

00:42:20.110 - 00:42:40.229

valuable given to the university by a wealthy man who said he was doing it because he had been told by one of the students that the teachers here really do care about students. The comp ministry program was started about eight years ago and active through the

00:42:40.239 - 00:42:57.570

years. And it's another one of the things that's contributed to the spiritual heritage of the universe. It has carried on workshops, Bible classes, programs, social activities for students, dedicated work by Craig and Patty Bowman who are here tonight by Tom Reynolds. And many fine students who

00:42:57.580 - 00:43:14.949

have assisted some of the students who have worked in that program are here today. Through the years, our students have not only sat in Bible classes and learned a lot about the doctrinal teaching of Christ, but they have practiced a lot of what they have learned

00:43:16.719 - 00:43:32.040

examples are they have helped to preserve homes down here on the beach by sandbagging them in times of flood. They have raised money to feed the hungry. They have gone to Mexico to help with the church work and the orphans home. And more recently, many of

00:43:32.050 - 00:43:52.659

the students worked to help pull back the damage from the fire that raged through our camp. Since 1943. the annual Bible lectureship has brought Christians to the campus. You articulate preachers and teachers that we might renew our Christian commitment to refresh our spirits, promote fellowship and

00:43:52.669 - 00:44:11.310

encourage one another during the work of the Lord. And it's a great encouragement to be great many years in the early days of the election Marshall Keeble was every year, there was a tremendous upsurge of interest to the presidency of Norfolk Young beginning in 1957. And

00:44:11.320 - 00:44:31.040

the elector ship outgrew the cottage auditorium and took over the shrine auditorium in 1961 5000 people assem. The next year in 1962 nearly 7000 people were in the great sports arena for the lectureship. Mr Pepper always went to them as long as he lived until he

00:44:31.050 - 00:44:49.260

could go no longer. And that last time was in 19, in that great audience, thousands of people gathered in the sports arena, ambulance had come through outside and Mr Pepperdine was brought in on a granny or a stretcher and they placed a microphone near him and

00:44:49.270 - 00:49:08.270

though weak in body, he was strong in mind and he spoke to that great audience and he spoke of his joy in being with his brethren in the church. During the past three years, alien tenant has broken all previous records. Um

00:49:08.280 - 00:49:30.939

800 average daily attendants in 1980 more than 2000 average daily attendance in 1900. In April of this year, visitors from 35 states and five foreign countries were on campus for the election. And on April the 16th of this year, 4000 people for David Davenport, affirm his

00:49:30.949 - 00:49:48.139

commitment to the spiritual mission of the university. Many who have been in attendance have said that the lectures here are the very best that they have ever. The department of Church Services was started in the 19 seventies because the university is eager to serve the church,

00:49:48.929 - 00:50:02.590

do all the good that he can. Doctor Carl Mitchell. In addition to his duties as head of the Department of Religion served as head of that for a time until he went to Harding College. We were glad he'd come back. And then after that, Mark Armor

00:50:02.600 - 00:50:19.310

assumed the responsibility until he went to Columbia Christian College as president. And in 1982 Jerry Rush became the director of church services and the position was significantly upgraded with more money and more time for the director to do the work of it. Every year. There are

00:50:19.320 - 00:50:35.620

many workshops. That is the annual Bible lectureship. And for 15 years under the direction of Don Williams, we have had the great Thanksgiving lectureship, the largest gathering of Christian young people anywhere in America that I know of. And we're happy about that. Women have been involved

00:50:35.629 - 00:50:49.479

in that. Somebody said that the highest position a woman has ever attained among our brethren has been in working with these lectures yet. And with the church services, they have included Glenda Taylor Annette Thomas, who is here tonight and Alison Jolie also here and Patty Atkins

00:50:49.489 - 00:51:05.030

with all these last three years, civic church news has been published now for three years, it goes to a lot of churches and it goes to every state in the union, one of the strongest forces to help with the work of the university and its spiritual

00:51:05.040 - 00:51:28.520

mission has been the Associated Women for Pine, started in 1957 by Helen Young and others who worked with her. And in the years that followed more than $1,500,000 has come to help students go to this wonderful amendment have raised the money by bake sales and luncheon.

00:51:28.969 - 00:51:43.520

All sorts of plans to raise money. I hope all of you will go on Friday and Saturday this week, they've got another sale coming up. I hope all of you will go down and buy everything. The Heidelberg Bible school has to me been one of the

00:51:43.530 - 00:51:56.459

greatest joys of all, I guess I would just be very honest about it. I will tell you that of all the things that this institution does the year in your program is the one that is closest to my heart. And the thing of which I am

00:51:56.469 - 00:52:12.439

most happy about which I am most happy is a tiny little thing of the Bible Shuler or the Bible school never has very many people at any one time. But you know, Jesus started out with 12 and one of them turned out pretty good. And so

00:52:13.239 - 00:52:30.010

I'm happy about this little school because when the first or second generations of missionaries began to retire and to die, the churches that have been established in Germany would have died too. Had it not been for the 72 graduates of this school who are out now

00:52:30.020 - 00:52:49.909

working among those German churches. Let me give you one example, two examples. They are brothers. They now live in Hanover. They are Christian and Martin Reinhardt. They finished that little school and they married two fine girls who also went to that school. They then went to

00:52:49.919 - 00:53:02.800

the University of Reutlinger and they got their degrees and became teachers and then they looked around to see where they would settle and they looked over at Hanover and the American missionary had just left and the church needed somebody to come and help them. These brothers,

00:53:02.840 - 00:53:24.840

the Reinhardt brothers went over there and they lived there ever since they do most of the preaching, they never take one penny for it. That church might not have existed today. Had it not been those people? The implants of Pepperdine University has reached into many, many

00:53:24.850 - 00:53:43.520

areas. I was thrilled last summer at Yosemite here, Jerry Rushford, give a little bit of the history of that movement at the very first Yosemite and come. It's come to be the biggest gathering of members of the Church of Christ in America. At the first gathering

00:53:43.530 - 00:54:05.060

in 1940 Hugh Tyner from Pepperdine was the speaker, Mr Pepperdine was there and Wade Ruby, I remember the faculty was there then about 45 years later this last summer at Yosemite. The Sunday morning speaker was Jerry Rushford from Pepperdine. And the Sunday evening speaker was David

00:54:05.070 - 00:54:25.409

Davenport, the new President of Pepper to all of these activities and others that could be mentioned have involved large numbers faithful people. I trust you will understand that if anybody ought to mention that I did not, I have not left them out intentionally. You cannot summarize

00:54:25.419 - 00:54:48.590

the history of 50 years in one period through the years. And I have the details that I shall know. Fill in tonight. Different presidents have asserted their intention to carry on the ideals of the institution and we are very happy that school is still trying to

00:54:48.600 - 00:55:03.780

do what Mr Pepperdine wanted it to do. I believe that if he were here tonight, he would say he likes what this school is doing because I has said this many times and I think he would say that and we have been happy about the adherence

00:55:03.790 - 00:55:21.780

to his founding principle. We've been happy about its growing academic excellence. I mentioned what the New York Times said. I heard just the other day from Mr Fraley that another guide Baron's guide to colleges has this year moved Pepperdine University on the list of schools that

00:55:21.790 - 00:55:42.020

are selected, that means they take the highest quality. So the schools that are very selective and uh that indicates that our quality is going up every year in the last nine years or on scholastic aptitude tests have gone up 139 points. That just means we're getting

00:55:42.030 - 00:55:59.709

better students every year you, God has blessed. This school invested in lots of ways for almost a half century. It's accepted students from every walk of life, from every kind of ethnic and social background, rich and poor and those in the middle and has sent them

00:55:59.719 - 00:56:18.830

out into various fields of human service into government business, teaching to various professions. Really among its 35,000 alumni, there are many 1000 we're out serving as preachers, elders, deacons, preachers, people in the various professions, but who are the salt of the earth literally around the world.

00:56:21.040 - 00:56:41.590

I want to if you two examples of future who have an influence when I lived in the bro house the Jacuzzi was sort of the unofficial Baptist and we built the a swimming pool that was a little more convenient. But, uh I've seen many, many students

00:56:41.600 - 00:56:58.669

baptized there. Many students are baptized here every year and that's what we like to see. But at a ball game or three years ago in our usual seat behind the team during the half time, a young man walked up a young lady with him. He said,

00:56:59.030 - 00:57:12.199

my name is so and so and I I just want to tell you that this school turned my life around. This is my wife. I want you to meet her too. She said when I came here, I was not a Christian. And when I left here,

00:57:12.209 - 00:57:27.879

I was not a Christian either, but he said the seed was sown in my heart and it later produced food and I am a Christian now and I am active in the work of the Lord. That kind of story can be told by every faculty member

00:57:27.889 - 00:57:45.610

who is a Christian by all sorts of people all around you. Then a few weeks ago, I had the sad experience. I'm going to San Diego to attend the funeral for one of our graduates, John Wasco who had been killed in a helicopter crash off the

00:57:45.620 - 00:58:06.270

coast of North Carolina on October the 15th. And John had had a pretty hard time in his life. Brother had died when he was 15 and he had found himself having to support himself. Well, that 15 year old kid got a job in a restaurant of

00:58:06.280 - 00:58:25.879

other friends helped him along and he went to a junior college and played water polo. So well that Pepperdine gave him a scholarship and he came here and he was the captain of our water polo team, Magoia, 1979. Through the influence of Rick Roland, the coach

00:58:25.889 - 00:58:39.060

and some other Christian people, he was converted to Christ. He was baptized and through an arrangement we had going at that time, he and one of the other fellows who was baptized at the same time, were assigned to me as an elder of the church here

00:58:39.070 - 00:58:56.550

at the university to try to give them a little spiritual encouragement and guidance. Then I was called to go to his funeral because he had been killed in the helicopter. And you John. Well, he was a happy, enthusiastic Christian. His father called me the day after

00:58:56.560 - 00:59:22.419

the funeral. And he said, I think I ought to tell you that the Marine Corps said they had a little difficulty figuring out his religious affiliation. They said he had only written Christ. Do you know any better affiliation? I close for this final preparation. America has

00:59:22.429 - 00:59:46.409

had numerous major universities noted for their academic excellence. Many began as church related schools evolved into institutions primarily concerned with intellectual achievement, but the spiritual dimension seriously eroded her altogether in this. And then on the other hand, Marcus proliferated many schools that have had a high

00:59:46.419 - 01:00:09.520

sense of values. But that fall short of academic excellence, Eine University we believe is uniquely situated between these and seeks to be a leader in a new approach to education. Demonstrates that faith in God, active service in his church and academic excellence can grow along together.

01:00:11.030 - 01:00:36.100

The university maintains that it is possible to affirm its distinctive value at the reach for the highest academic attainment of I do close now by repeating what I said in 1978 day that I began serving as president. This institution is so strongly established. Its friends and

01:00:36.110 - 01:00:55.719

supporters are so numerous and dedicated. Its human and financial resources are so great. Its heritage is so valuable and its distinctive purposes are so needed in our society that is future with the help of God is bound to be one of glorious.