The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1918-05-31
TURNER COLLEGE CLOSING.
Trustee Meetlng-New President
Elected-Dr. j. A. Jones Refused
the Position-Faculty Elected.

the Position-FacuIty Elected.
The commencement exercises at
Turner College, Shelbyville, took
place last week, a number OF the
ministerial trustees, as well as a few
laymen, being present. The exer-
cises were held under the direction
of Vice President r. p. Purdy, who
automatically assumed control of ar
fairs after the death Of President l..
]. Johnson, who departed this life
few weeks ago. The exercises were
all that could be expected. The mu-
sic was under the direction OF Mrs.
Mary G.. Saunders. The baccalaure-
ate sermon was preached on Sabbath
by Rev. W. A. Smith, of Shelbyville.
The oratorical contest on Wednesday
night was highly entertaining, and
was exhibited before crowded
house, The contest is usually the
special feature" annually, at Tur-
ner. Miss Pauline Davidson of Shell
byville won the prize, gold medal,
over her competitor, Mr.. VIM. F.
Watkins, of Guthrie, KY, this being
the second/prize won by Miss David
son on AZ similar occasion.
Commencement day took place
Thursday at ten o'clock in the college
chapel. Miss Robbie Clayborne rem
dered the salutatory, and Miss Ly-
dia Brown delivered the valedictory;
both of the young ladies are resi-
dents of Shelbyville. DR.. w. T. Yer
non, pastor of Avery Chapel A. NJ &.
Church, made the commencement ad-
dress. 1t was truly a masterpiece.
A class of twenty received certih-
Gates of graduation from the English
department. The graduates were the
recipients of large number OF hand
some and valuable presents.
Owing to the unusual condition oc-
casioned by the death of the late
president, together with the general
decentralization of student enrolment
among the schools, incident upon the
present war situation, the student
body was comparatively small. But
the Turner spirit was high and those
remaining showed courageous
heart.
Trustee Meeting.
The trustees met Tuesday morn
ing. Bishop B. F. Lee, d. d., presid-
ing. Much. business of special and
peculiar character had to be trans
acted, owing to the death of the
president. The question of select
ing a suitable man for president was
the thing uppermost in the minds OF
the trustees from the time they ar
rived on the grounds. In fact, 1t
had been the topic of discussion
among those interested, for several
weeks prior to the meeting OF the
board.
Two applications for the, position
of president were presented to the
board, viz, B. F. Allen, former presi-
dent of Lincoln Institute, and Prof.
Caswell P. Crews, of Morris Brown
University, Atlanta, Ga. Strong pres
sure was brought to bear upon DR..
j. A. Jones, eX-president, to allo"
his name to be used, as he was the
first choice of the trustees. A long
petition came from the leading white
citizens of the town, asking that Dr.
Jones be returned as president. The
name of DR.. D. H. Butler, of Chatta-
nooga was also very favorably spok-
en- of, and was put in nomination, aft
err DR.. Jones had given his final word
of refusal to allow his name to be
used. The election resulted in favor
of Prof. B. F. Allen, as president oil
the college.
The following persons were re-
elected TO the faculty: r. p. Purdy,
vice PRESIDENT Mrs. l.. James john
son, Mrs. Mary G.. Saunders, Mrs.
Luescina Ross, Miss Bessie Harris,
Mrs. i. C. Ransom and Rev. II. F.
Rogan
Officers elected were, Rev. F. H.
Gardner, treasurer; Rev. w. A..
Smith, secretary of the Board, and
DR.. A. P. Gray, c. H. Shelto, A. E..
Martin, F. w. Gardner, w. H. Camp
bell, DR., ]. A. Jones and DIR. D. H..
Butler, Executive Board.
In commenting on the election OF
the new president, Dr. j. A. Jones,
the former president, said, 81 am
highly pleased at the selection of the
new president. l do not know the
gentleman, but he comes highly rec
commended, and is man Of splendid
reputation as scholar He has
served number of years as presi-
dent of the Lincoln Institute, and
as | understand, he is DESTROYS of
serving his church in this new rela-
ton. We shall expect much from
such an eminent educator. l could
hardly resist the pressure that was
brought to bear upon me at the meet
ing of the trustee board, to again
accept the presidency in this time of
the schools crisis. But I felt then,
and still feel that 1t is best that an=
other should take the task for the