Stanger, Frank Bateman

English

Asbury Theological Seminary

Julian C. McPheetersMy Friend and Administrative ComradeFrank Bateman StangerI opened the pages ofWho's Who In Methodismsind read thesewords concerning Julian C. McPheeters:b. Oxley, Mo., July 6, 1889; s. WilliamGarland and Edna (Greer) McP.; Ph.B.,Marvin Coll. , 1909; DJD. , Asbury Coll. ,1931; LL.D., John Brown U. , 1940; m.Ethel Chilton, Jan. 28, 1914; children--Chilton Claudius , Virginia Wave . Ontrial, St. Louis Conf., deacon, 1911,1916, full connection, 1921, elder, 1919.Pastor, St. Louis Conf., Oran, 1909-10,evangelist, 1912-16,Williamsville, 1917,Mellow Meml. Ch. , St. Louis, 1918,Summersville, 1919-21, Missoula,Mont., 1921-23; trans. Ariz. Conf.,Univ. Ch. , Tucson, 1923-30; trans. Calif.Conf., Glide Meml. Ch. , San Francisco,1930-48;pres, Asbury Theol, Sem. since1942. Author.How inadequate are these compressed, concise, factualbiographical details to describe my friend and administrativecomrade. Every man has to be born and belong to parents.Most persons whose names appear in such a volume haveattended institutions of higher learning. Most of the peoplehave been married and a large proportion of these have hadchildren to bless their homes. Certainly all these "who'swho" persons have had careers of achievement and distinction.They have been related to influential groups. They have filledpositions of leadership and responsibility. All have traveledwidely and garnered honorary awards and degrees . Many haveauthored books .But Julian C.McPheeters to be truly known must be revealedin ways other than throughmere biographical data. His personality, his spirit, his energy, his dedication, transcend allMy Friend and Administrative Comrade 27human efforts merely to categorize or catalogue the vitalstatistics of his life and his ministry-May I be permitted to speak of him as my friend and myadministrative comrade, not through impersonal biographicaldetails, but through the image of comparing him with some ofthe great hearts whose spirit is reflected in God's Holy Word?"By faith ... he went out,not knowing whither he went."Like Abraham, the friend of God, Julian C. McPheeters haslived a life of mighty faith. How often, in obedience to God,he has moved forward, not knowing whither he went. And howoften, in response to that heroic faith, mighty miracles ofGod's presence and power have resulted! The miracle ofpersonal physical healing! The miracle of building a greatinstitutional church at the heart of a throbbing city! Themiracle of a phenomenally growing theological Seminary."Though he slay me, yet willI trust in him: but Iwill maintain mine own ways beforehim."Like Job, the servant of God, Julian C. McPheeters hasknown the severe testings of a maturing faith. Too often whenwe look at a life that is mellowed in its sweetness and radiantin its confidence we are prone to think that all must have beensmooth and comparatively free of struggle during the years ofthat life. But perish the thought! It is never that way . Theoak is strengthened in the fury of the storm. The vessel isproved by the tempest and gale. The pure gold can be producedonly as the result of the refiner's fire.Dr. McPheeters' administrative years have known severetestings. There has been institutional poverty which oftenaffected personnel and facilities . There have been misunderstanding and opposition. There were the lean years of the lossof accreditation.But in and through everything there was the calm, implicittrust on the part of this servant of God. He discovered aboundless optimism in the strength of God. So deep was hisconfidence that the sun of faithwas always shining though there28 Asbury Seminarianwere times when he seemed to be the only one who basked inits warmth and hope ."... He went . . . apart topray . . . and ... he wasthere alone. "Like Jesus, the Son of God, Julian C. McPheeters is a manof prayer. Truly he follows his Saviour along the pathway ofprayer. His personal life is fragrant with the incense ofprayer. His relationships to others are hallowed by prayer.Especially have I been impressed by the way in which he hasbathed his administrative life in prayer. He has prayed abouteverything. Few times have I talked with him about administrative matters when he did not end the conference with aprayer thatwas pertinent to the subjectwhichwe had discussed.He prays specifically. "Lord, Thou knowest that we need$27,500 more to complete this project. Thou knowest thoseindividuals who are able to make these funds possible."He prays expectantly about administrative matters. Histriumphant expectation manifests itself in his lusty"A-A-Amen" when he has finished praying.Truly he is a saint and a man of prayer, so "big in prayer"that on his knees he reaches all the way to heaven; an exampleto all, of dedication, of godliness, of unwavering faith."Elijah passed by him, andcast his mantle upon him."Like Elijah, the prophet of God, Julian C. McPheeters inrecent years has been deeply concerned about his successor.This concern not only characterizes a wise prophet, but it isalso characteristic of an alert executive.Because of my personal involvement in this, may I be permitted to speak rather intimately and in utter sincerity at thispoint? I realize that just as Dr. Henry Clay Morrison "laidhis hands" on Dr. McPheeters, so Dr. McPheeters has "laidhis hands" on me. I do not understand the reason for this"executive succession." I can only believe, and I do believe,that God is in it all.I shall never forget those memorable moments along theseashore when Dr.McPheeters first revealed to me his desireMy Friend and Administrative Comrade 29concerning "succession." I shall always appreciate thoseintervening months when he stood by, ready to offer advice andencouragement, at the same time maintaining a "hands-off"policy. Then came a decisive telephone call from him to mewhile I was participating in a Spiritual Life Conference in themajestic mountains of North Carolina.He has been magnificently gracious and totally cooperativein all our administrative relationships. He has been instantlyresponsive to all creative suggestions and has been unabatedin his desire that I be given all the means and opportunities towork out that which is best for the Seminary. Truly I amblessed by the comradeship of such a predecessor."Lord, now lettest Thou Thyservant depart in peace . . .for mine eyes have seen. .Like Simeon, the witness to our Lord, Julian C. McPheetershas tasted of the deep inner satisfactions of the rewards offaithandof the achievements of success. Certainly this reference to Simeon is in no way to be mistaken as a eulogy. Ratheris it the triumphant song of a victor in the arena of accomplishment.Imust refer to a scene that only four persons were permittedto witness. It was February 16, 1962. The place was theBoard Room . A special meeting of the Executive Committeeofthe Board of Trustees was in session. Sensing from remarksof the Business Manager what was about to happen, I, as VicePresident of the Seminary Corporation, assumed the Chair topermit the President to make a motion.A steady confident voice spoke these words: "Mr. Chairman,Imovethat the Business Manager be authorized, out of availablefunds, to pay off the total remaining indebtedness oftheSeminary." There followed a hasty seconding of the motionand a quick vote of unanimity.Then the same steady confident voice ppoke again. But thistime the words were more deliberate, and punctuated by restrained emotion. But even then, all the tears could not bekept back. The words were words of triumph, and success.It seemed like the valedictory of a Moses who had seen thePromised Land of institutional solvency and who now looked oninto a horizon of even greater accomplishment. It was the30 Asbury Seminarianacknowledgment of a Simeon, giving witness to his deep inwardsatisfactions, because God had kept all His word.I salute Julian C.McPheeters, the designate of the Seminary'sfounder to be the second president of the institution, the builderofthe Seminary's present, my friend and administrativecomrade.

Julian C. McPheeters - My Friend and Administrative Comrade

https://place.asburyseminary.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2068&amp;context=asburyjournal

Julian C. McPheeters - My Friend and Administrative Comrade

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