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On Sunday afternoon, the celebration of that charter continued
with a special program held at the Johnston Center for Performer
Arts on the college campus.
By 1:30 in the afternoon guests were gathering and taking their
seats for the 2 p.m. program. As they waited, they were treated to
music from a Lincoln College Strings Ensemble, comprised of music
students, and a slideshow presentation of the history of the college
in photos.
As the ensemble played beautifully, the large screen on the stage
offered photos of all of the buildings on the Lincoln Campus, a
brief showing of the college annex in Normal, and a variety of shots
of various classes, classrooms, sports teams and past presidents.
As the 2 o’clock hour approached the slides came to an end, and the
stage was set for the balance of the program.
The Charter Day Convocation began with the processional of Lincoln
College professors while Assistant Professor of Vocal Music Laurie
A. Lewis played the piano.
Bringing up the end of the procession were Lincoln College President
John Blackburn, Board of Trustees Chairman, Robert Neal; Vice
President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Gigi Fansler; Associate
Professor of History and Political Studies, and Lincoln Heritage
Museum Director, Ron Kelle, and Dr. Wayne C. Temple.
President Blackburn welcomed the board of trustees, special guests,
distinguished faculty, alumni and friends of Lincoln College saying
it was a great honor to welcome all to 150th commemoration of the
Charter of Lincoln University.
Blackburn told the group there is a letter at the Lincoln College
Heritage Museum from Robert Latham to Abraham Lincoln, informing
President Lincoln that a college was to be named for the 16th
President in Lincoln, Illinois.
[See
a copy of that letter]
He spoke briefly on the founding of the college by the synods of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church that included synods from Indiana,
Iowa, Central Illinois; the Illinois and the Sangamon Synods. He
read the charter aloud as it was approved by the State of Illinois
General Assembly in 1865.
Blackburn then asked that all stand for the invocation, which he
delivered personally.
Blackburn told the story of how Lincoln University, now Lincoln
College, came to be. He said that locally a proposal to the synods
was prepared, and Reverend James White was chosen as the local
representative. He noted Reverend White’s great-grandchildren, Mary
Lou Klockenga, and Leonard Krusemark were in the audience and asked
them to stand and be acknowledged.
Blackburn repeated an account of the founding of the college that he
had shared on Friday at the ribbon cut. He continued on, adding that
the school was dedicated on February 12, 1865, Abraham Lincoln’s
birth date.
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The cornerstone for University Hall was then laid in
September of 1865 with Abraham Lincoln’s friend, Illinois
Governor Richard J. Oglesby as the main speaker.
He also noted that the college was happy to share that this
year, the main speaker at the 2015 commencement services will
also be an Illinois Governor, Governor Bruce Rauner.
Blackburn also reported hearing from several state officials who
offered various forms of congratulations to the college on its
anniversary.
Blackburn said, “U.S. Senator Richard Durbin has entered the
anniversary of Lincoln College into the Senatorial Record of the
United States. Congressman Aaron Schock has entered the
anniversary into the Congressional Record. Senator Bill Brady
sent a certificate from the Illinois Senate. Mayor Keith Snyder
was with us here Friday when we kicked off this weekend and
presented a Lincoln City Proclamation.”
He continued saying, “I do want to recognize one that is a
special friend of Lincoln College and one of our honorary
trustees, Senator Larry Bomke, whom I know is in the audience.”
He noted there were several friends of Dr. Wayne C. Temple, the
keynote speaker for the day. In addition, he said, “Several
members of the Abraham Lincoln Association are here with us.
Lincoln College Trustees and Trustees Emeriti are in the room.
Provos Emeritus Dr. Tom Zurkhammer is with us as well as
Professor Emeritus Paul Beaver. The Lincoln College faculty and
staff which we value so greatly is represented in the room very
well today, and the Lincoln College Alumni are also scattered
throughout our audience.”
He concluded, “You’ve heard in Biblical terms and other ways,
'The last shall be first and the first shall be last.' The last
I want to recognize is our students, but I want you to know they
are first in our hearts.”
Blackburn then introduced Lincoln College Student and College
Chorale member Angel Faith, who performed the National Anthem a
cappella.
Blackburn then turned the podium over to the Lincoln College
Board of Trustees Chairman, Robert Neal.
[Nila Smith]
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