The religious and intellectual significance of the Nashville Bible School for the twentieth-century Church of Christ in the U.S. and Canada can hardly be overestimated. Brother Robert H. Boll's association with the Nashville Bible School, whose honorary graduate he became in 1909, was extensive and deep. I hope to treat his stay there and the influences that shaped him from 1895 to 1901 as a Bible student and as a teacher of French and German in a separate article. Here I shall only make available for your reading pleasure an article he published in the 7 June 1906 issue of the Gospel Advocate about a Bible School reunion in May of that year. The reunion was organized by Boll's friend and former student at the school, John E. Dunn. It was at this reunion that also the two patriarchs of the school spoke: David Lipscomb and James A. Harding. At the same occasion E.A. Elam was announced as the new president of NBS.

EDITOR

From far and near old teachers, pupils, and friends of the Nashville Bible School had responded to the call for a reunion on May 23, and a large assembly had convened around the platform that was erected in the spacious Bible School grounds. It was a day of rejoicing, of meeting again of old friends, remembering of days gone by; a love feast; a strengthening of one another in our mutual faith and hope; a season of refreshing; a foretaste of the great reunion where those who have worked and fought and suffered together for the name of the Lord Jesus shall meet to separate no more.

They were not all present. Some who could not come sent in regrets and requested to be remembered. Some have fallen asleep, and their names were mournfully mentioned in the afternoon meeting. But it was probably as good and complete a reunion as the limitations of our earth life would permit.

At the opening hymn, "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name," when once again old, familiar voices mingled in common praise to God, I saw faces turn pale and lips quivering and eyes filling with tears. Brother J. W. Grant led us in prayer, as he had often done in the seven years he had labored as professor in the old Nashville Bible School. Then Brother John E. Dunn, to whom the credit of proposing and bringing about the reunion is chiefly due, and who was chairman, opened with an address of welcome, greeting those present, lamenting the missing and the forced absence of others, and giving a brief history of the Bible School's work from its beginning. Whereupon, with words of praise which were merited from of old, he announced (for introduction was not needed) the beloved and venerable David Lipscomb, who next addressed the assembly.

Brother Lipscomb's subject was "The Value of the Bible," aside from its message of eternal life and its religious significance -- that is, in matters pertaining simply to this life. In other words, what the world would miss if the Bible were blotted out. I feel sure it will be no trespass on the reader's patience to give an outline of this address. "(1) The Bible alone gives us any account of the origin of things. On this question mythology is silent; science is silent; the theory of evolution itself is silent. These latter indeed propose to tell us many things about the properties of animate and inanimate objects, of changes and transmutations; but of the origin of all things they are able to tell us nothing. The Bible alone informs us on this point. (2) The Bible eliminates the evil out of human theories and preserves the truth. (3) Although the Bible is not a book of science (`science' being `classified knowledge'), science in her clear results and discoveries, finds herself anticipated by the Bible. For example, take geology. Systems and theories change often, but there are a few underlying facts which are indisputably true. Now these facts are sustained and anticipated by the Bible. The order of creation, as ascertained by geology, is the order set forth in the Bible. If geology has proved that the entire earth crust was formed under water, the Bible had indicated the same long before our science of geology was born. Dr. W. K. Bolling, founder of one of Nashville's medical schools, stated that `the Mosaic system of hygiene,' superior to anything of the sort in even these modern times, saved him from skepticism; for it were inconceivable for Moses, in his day and with his opportunities, to have invented such a system by himself. The theory of bacteriology finds itself anticipated, at least in the treatment of certain diseases and in the measures of prevention. If one of our modern scientists `discovered' that dry earth is a fine disinfectant, the Bible knew and applied this truth long ago. So also in other branches of knowledge. Judge East said that if he had to come down to just one book from which to learn and practice law, he would choose the Bible. Statesmen and orators prize a Bible quotation or Bible illustration above any other. Senator Carmack's great speech recently delivered -- a speech considered one of the very finest ever made in the country -- refers to the Bible nineteen times, and hardly a single time to any other book. (4) The Bible furnishes protection against social evils. One of the clouds on our horizon is the tendency to the accumulation of extreme riches in the hands of a few and the extreme poverty of another element. The Bible, in its arrangements for the release of debts, the return of lands, and the general restitution on Sabbath years and jubilee years, was a preventive of such evils, and teaches a lesson of wisdom the governments of this world have yet to learn. (5) As to literature, the great poets and writers got much of what was best in them from the Bible. For power and directness, for purity of diction and beauty, the Bible cannot be equaled. See, for example, the 'Lord's Prayer.' If only for benefit of literary style, the Bible should be assiduously studied. I am in favor of casting out about two-thirds of the matter now studied for literature and substituting the Bible instead. (6) The basis of our civilization is in the Bible. This is evident by simple comparison of peoples that have not the Bible with those that have it. Those who have

not received the Bible are far behind. Of course, in this class the infidels--R. G. Ingersoll, for example, and others in the land who reject the Book--are not to be numbered; for these, although unbelievers, are nevertheless under the influence of it. But go to those who have not, and near had, the Bible and behold their condition. I was asked what tangible, good results have come to us for the Bible. I answered: 'It has given us better hogs, and better cattle, and better horses; better houses to live in; better men and women.' For whence the difference between the 'Christian nations' and the heathen? Simply this: That once, long ago, the Bible was offered to their forefathers and to ours alike, and their fathers rejected it, while ours received it--not very heartily, perhaps (we do not receive it very heartily yet); but our forefathers received it, and thence dates their rise and progress; whereas those who rejected went down and down. For when you turn your back upon the Bible, you turn your back upon all that is uplifting and ennobling. Witness the agreement of the description in Rom. 1 with the actual circumstances. Man falls in such cases below the brute. (7) As for social order, the Bible is the book whose influence has raised woman and exalted her. In lands uninfluenced by the Bible, woman is mostly man's slave, beast of burden, and the object of his brutish lusts." How foolish was the attempt of certain women to give us an `expurgated' edition of the very book to which woman owes almost everything that makes her life sweet and noble! God did not make the woman inferior. He committed to her the sacred trust of bearing children and molding their lives for immortality. In regard to all social order, the Bible is the only book that raises the standard of right to control the power of might. Leaving out other points I had wished to present, I sum it up that the Bible is the source of law and order, science, literature, and the basis of the whole social fabric; and conclude that, aside from its message of salvation and eternal significance, it is the most important book to study. Even in regard to this life's affairs, it should be especially taught to the young. But its power and influence does not stop here; it reaches into eternity."

After Brother Lipscomb's address the chorus class sang "Hosanna in the Highest," after which J. N. Armstrong, formerly one of the teachers of the Nashville Bible School, afterwards of Potter Bible College, and now president of the Bible College at Odessa, Mo., was introduced and spoke on "True Education," in part as follows: "Men are differentiated from animals by the divine likeness in them. This is the greatest and highest of all his gifts, the highest part of his being, and any education of the child that neglects that ignores the essential part of the child and is worse than a failure. The parents and teachers that do not turn their attention chiefly to the cherishing and developing of this, the highest and noblest and essential part of the child, are the child's enemies, not its friends. In every step of the child's career this should be the first question: How will this step affect his spiritual nature? Therefore the Bible, which alone can bring out the divine nature in the child, should be taught it as the chief part of its education." Brother Armstrong further showed that the influence of the schoolroom is most powerful upon the child, and that parents should feel it a sacred obligation to send their children to schools where the Bible will be emphatically taught them every day, and where, while being fitted for various occupations of this life, they may be continually pointed unto the true purpose of their existence. "The felt need of this gave birth to the Nashville Bible School. It began and was carried on in the self-sacrifice and unselfishness of its founder and its teachers, and continues still on the same basis. May this demand for self-sacrifice continue, so that no money lover may find any of these Bible Schools a desirable place for his work. Satan is to-day mustering his forces for the future criminal class and evil doers from the number of the young who are daily sitting at the feet of educators. It is essential that these educators be not (as in many most prominent instances they are) scoffers at God's word, but godly men, and that the schoolroom, as well as the pulpit, be made the means of developing the likeness of God in the child above everything else."

A dedication hymn, "The Scriptures are Our Guide" (words and music by Flavil Hall, one of the old pupils), was then sung.

The next speaker was S. M. Jones, president of the Bible School at Beamsville, Ontario. He spoke of the universal need of Bible Schools -- not just for some special class, as, for instance to make preachers, but for all Christians. "I have not words to express," said he, "the good and the light and sweetness that has come into my life through these men" (speaking of Brethren Lipscomb and Harding and others present). He emphasized the fact that daily Bible study is the remedy for partialness of view, and concluded with an exhortation that we take no chances in regard to the other world, but make our calling and election sure.

After a song by the quartet, J. A. Harding arose and moved us alternately to smiles and tears for the space of half an hour. He extolled the Bible and pointed out the visible results and blessings of the work of teaching it in the schools, and rejoiced in the rapid multiplication of such schools in the United States and other countries; and finally made an appeal in behalf of Brother J. M. McCaleb's proposed school in Tokyo, on the strength of which the hats were passed around. The contribution amounted to one hundred and twenty-three dollars and some cents.

The basket dinner followed, good and plentiful. There was rejoicing and chattering, feasting, gladdened by the presence of old, familiar faces.

In the well-attended mass meeting, at 3:30 o'clock, Brother Harding spoke a few words. Brother J. W. Grant told of his work since he left the Nashville Bible School -- at West Nashville; at Bridgeport, Ala., where he was president of the Alatennga Bible College; and the work he intends to do in the far West in the near future. Other speakers were Brother Joe S. Warlick, from Dallas, Texas, who at the time was conducting a meeting at Foster Street Church; Brother F. W. Smith; Brother Dan. Gunn; Brother J. E. Scobey; and Brother E. A. Elam, who, to the surprise of most of the audience, was announced as the newly elected president of the Nashville Bible School.

Resolutions were adopted having in view the calling of another such reunion for next year, and the matter was put into the hands of a committee.

Aside from the privilege and pleasure of meeting old friends, teachers, and schoolmates, it was the benefit and blessing of the reunion that every one was impressed with the power and glory of God's word, the exceeding great necessity of studying it and teaching it to the coming generation both at home and at school, and the new enthusiasm and impetus for the continuing and increasing of the Bible-school work in every locality.