Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-31
OPENING OF NEW SEMINARY
Spacious Chapel Too Small to Hold All Who
Desire to Attend Exercises.
PRESIDENT HOPEFUL FOR THE FUTURE
Generosity of Friends Has Now Placed
the Institution Upon n Firm FOun-
dalton and Capable Of
Great work.

Although the chapel room Of the new
Omaha Presbyterian Theological seminary
dat Twenty-hrst and Emmett streets has
been made amply large for all ordinary
purposes for years TO come, it was over
taxed on the first night 1t was called into
use and one-hslf Of the people who attended
the opening Of the institution last evening
were forced TO stand in the spacious hall
ways. where only the applause that inter-
rupted the speakers reached their ears.
Those who found themselves within hear
ing distance listened to a service Of praise
and thanksgiving. President NJ. B. Lowry
Of the Theological seminary was the first
speaker and before introducing DR.. William
L. McEwan, the speaker Of the evening, he
reclted a short history OF the institution
and cited the wonderful growth it has ex-
perienced in the eleven years Of its ex-
istence. For its age the Omaha seminary
leads any Presbyterian school in the coun-
try and can boast of one of the best fin
ished and most beautiful Of buildings. Pres
ident Lowry passed from the present to the
future and painted the structures which
some day would frame the six acres Of
ground into a quadrangle.
The present building is 154x4S, with three
stories and a basement. On the first floor
are located the public rooms. the recita-
ton rooms, library, Offices and chapel. The
second and third floors are devoted to the
use of the students, with accommodations for
forty.
DR.. Lowry paid strong tributes to those
instrumental in the building Of the new
college. Chief among these he mentioned
Mrs. William Thaw Of Pittsburg, the chief
contributor, to whom not only the present
prosperity of the institution is due, but
even its very existence. Special mention
was also made by the president to John C.
Wharton, whose work OF raising funds did
much toward making the new building pos
sible.
Building for the Future.
Dr.. William l.. McEwan Of Pittsburg
brought out forcibly the present and flu
ture values of the Omaha Theological semi
nary. He called to mind that while Omaha
was not noted abroad for it's industrial and
commercial greatness, the city's lasting
fame would depend on such institutions as
the Omaha Presbyterian Theological semi
nary. In proof of this he pointed out that
while the preachings OF Christ and the
religious literature of the old world still
abided and would abide the rest OF all that
those people had worked for and achieved
had crumbled into the dust. The theologi-
cal seminary, said the speaker, is the best
expression of the highest ideals of a COM
munity. And to him the Presbyterian doc
trines meant the simplest and most definite
system of religion, and a seminary planted
here in the gateway of the west, destined,
he believed, for the greatest future OF any
section Of the country, would become one
Of the worlds greatest powers for good.
A prayer was offered by A. b. Marshall,
d. D., Of Des Moines, president Of the
Board OF Directors of the Omaha THEOLOGY
cal seminary, and the benediction was pro-
nounced by President 8. b. Mccormick OF
Coe college. Cedar Rapids, la. The doxology
was sung at the opening and close of the
service.
The new building is built OF pressed brick
with stone facings, and cost $45, 900. Twenty
pupils are at present enrolled in the semi
nary.