Westminster College
Westminster College
Public Road
Westminster, Texas
Westminster College
The early Collin County community of Seven Points was located about six miles northeast of Anna. In 1887 a school of higher learning was founded there that was called Seven Points College. Five years later, in 1892, it was sold to the Methodist Protestant Church and the name was changed to Westminster College.
In 1902 the facility was sold to Westminster Baptist Church, who deeded it to the Collin County Baptist Association. The name of the school was changed to the North Texas Baptist Academy, and then to Westminster Baptist Academy. Although the official name of the school changed many times, the school is still referred to as Westminster College.
The construction of a large concrete building was started in 1907 and was completed fourteen months later. A front porch with stairs and a veranda were added in 1913.
Westminster Baptist Academy was a co-ed college preparatory school that was “correlated” with Baylor University. Its graduates were guaranteed admission into Baylor as freshmen.
In 1918 the school was closed. The facilities were deeded back to Westminster Baptist Church. The building was used as its sanctuary until 1972, when it built a new sanctuary. The old building was demolished in 1975 after the church tried unsuccessfully to sell it.[1]
In 1887 Rev. J. M. Harder founded a school of higher learning in Northeast Collin County that he called Seven Points College.[2] The surrounding community was also called Seven Points. Rev. Harder taught there for five years with two to four assistants. The wooden school building was two-story with one room above and one below. Some people say that the name “Seven Points” came from a seven-pointed star mounted on the building. Money was scarce. Harder took his salary in stock for the schoolhouse. In four years, he owned the schoolhouse.[3]
In 1892 Rev. Harder sold the school to I. P. Rosser, who, in turn, sold it to the Methodist Protestant Church in 1895 for $450. Prof. C. Oscar Stubbs was president of the College of Arts and Sciences and Rev. James Lawlis was head of the College of Theology.[4] The name was changed to Westminster College of the Methodist Protestant Church.[5] The local community changed its name to Westminster.
Westminster College was both a preparatory school and a college. It offered BA and BS degrees. It also had a Theological Seminary. For the 1899-1900 Session the school had an enrollment of one hundred sixty-five, with one hundred eight in the preparatory school and fifty-five in the college. It had an additional eight students in the seminary. The faculty consisted of six teachers. The students lived in approved boarding houses around the town of Westminster.[6]
In 1902 the school administrators decided that the school facilities were too small. They moved the college to Tehuacana in Limestone County, Texas, where it continued as Westminster Junior College and Bible Institute. This school was always associated with the Congregational Methodist Church. In 1971 the Texas campus was closed and the school moved to Florence, Mississippi, to join Wesley College.[7] Wesley College was closed in July 2010.[8] Remnants of the original Westminster College lasted over 115 years.
When the Methodists moved the college in 1902, they sold the 7 1/2-acre campus to Westminster Baptist Church, who deeded it to the Collin County Baptist Association. The name of the school was changed to Westminster Institute. In 1909 it was called the North Texas Baptist Academy. The president was Charles Thompson.[9]
The Westminster Public School and the denominational school were taught in the same building until 1905 when area people objected to religious work being taught in connection with the public school.[10]
Westminster Baptist Academy was a co-ed college preparatory school that was “correlated” with Baylor University. Its graduates were guaranteed admission into Baylor as freshmen. The school provided seven grades of instruction. The Primary Department consisted of three years of pre-high school courses. The Institute Department was four years of high school. In 1902 tuition ranged from $1.00 to $4.00 a month. Enrollment was two hundred ten students with ninety-seven in the Primary Department and sixty-seven in the Institute Department. The Music Department had twenty-eight and the Elocution Department had eighteen.[11]
The school had its own printing plant and printed its many publications. Many of the local businesses advertised in the publications. In 1911 the school started publishing a monthly magazine called The Sketch Book. It contained literary pieces written by the students.[12] The Philomathesian Annual published in 1913-14 contains papers and orations given at their weekly meetings. Some of the papers are labeled “graduation thesis.” In 1912-13 the printing plant was leased for a year by the Westminster Weekly World newspaper.[13]
In 1907 Charles Thompson was the principal. He also taught mathematics and natural sciences. L. E. Rosser taught grammar, Latin and Greek. Mrs. Agnes S. Thompson taught history, composition and literature. Rev. Joseph Pearce was in charge of the Bible department. Mrs. Elizabeth J. Rosser was in charge of the music department.[14]
Rev. Joseph E. Pearce, A. B. Th. M., came to Westminster in 1906 as pastor of the Westminster Baptist Church and as the head of the Bible Department at Westminster College. He canvassed the town and county for students and secured $7000 and $8000 in subscriptions for a new building.[15] Many people consider the success of the school as a direct result of Rev. Pearce’s zeal and untiring efforts in promoting and improving it. He taught at the school for ten years. In 1918 he left Westminster Baptist Church, moving to a church in Sherman.
In 1907 C. W. Bulger and Sons of Dallas was hired to design a three-story, concrete, forty-room building to house all of the classrooms, the girls’ dormitory rooms, an auditorium, a cafeteria and other student facilities. Bulger was a noted architect of several Baptist churches in North Texas.[16] The old wooden frame school building was sold for $300 and removed from campus.[17]
Construction of the new building started on May 2, 1907 with the hauling of sand and rock. Nine-year-old Clarence Turner poured the first bucket of concrete after winning a foot race for the honor.[18] Men and boys came and gave their time and labor in the construction of the building. The building was finished fourteen months later at a cost of $65,000.[19] The corner stone was dedicated in 1908 and listed the building committee as Joseph Pearce, chairman; J. S. Stewart, treasurer; E. G. King, manager; J. M. Hunt; J. M. Carmichal, D. B. Reed, A. J. Fawcett, and T. A. Parris.[20] Local whiterock limestone was used as the aggregate in the concrete. Whiterock disintegrates in water and when it freezes. After fifty years, the concrete was crumbling and the building was unstable.[21] The building was demolished in 1975.
The building consisted of three stories. The upper story had twenty-five fully furnished dormitory rooms for the female students. The second story contained an auditorium, four classrooms, and two halls. The lower story had ten large rooms and two hallways. The walls were plaster and the ceilings were metal. The building had bath and sewer facilities. A large porch with stairs and a veranda were added to the front of the building in 1913. Use of the building started in the 1910-1911 school year.
In 1911, the school was incorporated under the name of Westminster Baptist Academy and was accepted into the Baptist Correlated School System under the auspices of the Baptist General Convention of the State of Texas.[22] There were twelve correlated schools in the state.[23] A school evangelist was added to the teaching staff.
In 1912-1913 room and board was $14.50 a month and tuition for seniors was $4.50 a month. Physical culture was $1.00 a month. There was a $5 graduation and diploma fee and a 50¢ library fee. Use of a practice piano in the music department was $1.00 a month. In 1913 the enrollment reached three hundred, which was larger than the population of the town of Westminster. One of the teachers, Mrs. Ella Johnsey, was also the dormitory matron.
The school started accepting ministerial students in 1907. Ministerial students were given free literary tuition as well as $5 a month from the Ministerial Fund.[24] Student ministers were sent to any church in the area that required a fill-in preacher on Sundays. With no other means of transportation, the students walked six miles to the train station in Anna, rode the train to the appropriate town and walked to the church, returning to the school the same way that evening.
The student body was co-ed. The school offered three years of courses to prepare students to enter the high school as well as four years of college preparatory courses. Subjects offered were English, mathematics, geography, science, education and history, plus Latin, Greek, German, Bible, bookkeeping, and physical education.
The Music Department offered violin, organ, piano, mandolin, horns, voice, harmony, and theory. Recitals were given throughout the year. There was also a school orchestra. Post-graduate work was offered in music. The Department of Expression offered a two-year course in oratory.
The regular college preparatory course required three years of Latin, one year of German, three years of English, one year of Bible, two years of History, two years of science with one of them being physics, three years of mathematics, and one year of education.[25]
The school had two literary societies: the Erisophian Literary Society and the Philomathesian Literary Society. The Literary Societies provided improvement in debate as well as in other literary exercises. They were a very important part of the social life of the student body. They had inter-society sports and debate teams.
The school stressed physical education and had a girls’ basketball team as well as a baseball team, track and football teams. The school baseball team was called the Preachers and played schools around the area.[26] There were also an Oratorical Association and a Bible Class as well as a Debating Club. A scholarship was awarded annually to one lady graduate each year by the Board of Trustees of Baylor Belton College for one year’s free tuition.[27]
Commencement Exercises started on Thursday night and continued through Wednesday morning. They included an oratorical contest, musical recitals, and commencement debates with Commencement Services on Sunday. Plays were performed on Monday and Tuesday nights. The last day, Tuesday, was also the day of Homecoming for all of the former students.[28] The play for the 1899 commencement was entitled “Among the Breakers.”[29]
In 1912 the Greenville-Whitewright and Northern Traction Company built a rail line from Anna to Blue Ridge. It passed through Westminster in front of the college.[30] People were able to take the train to the college. Previously the school had to send transportation to Anna for students and guests. The train was a big boon for the college. It was discontinued in 1914 for financial reasons.
The school was the center of activity and entertainment for the surrounding area. An Oratorical Contest and a Mid-Winter Debate were held annually. On March 1, 1913 the Literary Societies at the school held its annual Mid-Winter Debate. The topic was “Resolved: that the admission of raw materials into the United States free from duty would conserve to the best interest of the masses.” The Erosophian Society spoke in the affirmative. The Philomathesian Society spoke in the negative. The judges for the debate were Hon. George P. Brown and Superintendent W. E. Foster, both from McKinney, and Prof. Sivells of Van Alstyne. The positive side was judged the winner of the debate. That afternoon both Societies competed in a baseball game. The Erosophian Society won that too. Also attending the debate was Prof. J. W. Moseley, a teacher at the South Ward School in McKinney. The president of the school, Prof. Johnson had taught Hon. George Brown, who in turn had taught Prof. Moseley. Prof. Moseley announced that “Literally speaking you have the father, son and grandson here tonight.”[31] The original founder of the college, Rev. J. M. Harder, returned as the president in 1914.
In 1917 Baptist Convention closed Westminster Baptist Academy along with several other correlated schools because of financial problems. The school property was deeded back to Westminster Baptist Church, which assumed responsibility of the school for one more year before closing it in 1918.[32]
The best estimates say sixty or more students graduated from Westminster College in literary, music and oratory. Many of the graduates went on to Burleson College in Greenville. Eight graduates went on to Baylor University. Several attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. Thirty-five ministerial students attended the Academy during its time. About twenty of these students were ordained by Westminster Baptist Church.[33]
Westminster Baptist Church used the college building as its sanctuary until 1972, when it constructed a new building. The church tried unsuccessfully to sell the old building. In March and April of 1975, soon after Rev. Joe Smith became the pastor of the Westminster Baptist Church, the old building was demolished.[34] An auction was held to sell the contents of the building and church. The tin ceiling tiles, the lectern, the piano, pews, pictures from the walls and other items were all sold. The bell was purchased by the Westminster Baptist Church and stands today in front of the new sanctuary.
Graduates of the school at Westminster became ministers and school teachers, lawyers and judges. Their degrees were sufficient for admission to colleges and universities. The long-lasting effects of this school are still being felt around the county. As one of the graduates, Mrs. A. W. Jernigan, said, “I think the work done in this building will always live.”[35]
WESTMINSTER BAPTIST ACADEMY 1912
LITERARY GRADUATES
Mrs. J. W. Hollums, ‘04, (Elizabeth Gaddy), McKinney, Texas.
Mrs. Austin Jernigan, ‘04, (Blanche Coffey,) Van Alstyne, Texas.
Miss Viola Duckworth, ‘05, Gatesville, Texas.
Olin Parris, ‘06, Student Baylor, Waco, Texas.
Mert E. Fry, ‘06, Student Baylor, Waco, Texas.
Prof. Thomas J. Foster, McKinney, Texas.
Rev. J. W. Hollums, ‘06, McKinney, Texas.
Miss Effie Reed, ‘06, Westminster, Texas.
Monroe Turner, ‘07, Chambliss, Texas.
W. Harland Sandusky, ‘07, Broken Arrow, Okla.
Miss Annie Anderson, ‘08, Wylie, Texas.
Miss Mable Thompson, ‘08, Student Baylor, Waco, Texas.
Chas. Stewart, ‘09, Verona, Texas.
James H. Davis, '09, Westminster, Texas.
William B. Thompson, ‘09, Student Decatur College, Decatur, Texas.
Olin Monroe Geer, ‘12, Westminster, Texas.
Carl Eberle Lair, ‘12, Anna, Texas.
John Martin Pickett, ‘12, Westminster, Texas.
Alma Ray Riffe, ‘12, Westminster, Texas.
MUSIC GRADUATES
Miss Mable Thompson, ‘05, Waco, Texas.
Mrs. Claudya (Jernigan) Hoyle, ‘05, Sedalia, Texas.
Mrs. Pansy (Jernigan) McDougal, ‘06, Westminster, Texas.
Mrs. Emma (Giles) Earthman, ‘06, Gunter, Texas.
Miss Marguerite King, ‘06, student Baylor College, Belton, Texas.
Mrs. Blanche (Coffey) Jernigan, ‘06, Van Alstyne, Texas.
Miss Cicil Rickerson, ‘08, Westminster, Texas.
Mrs. Beulah (Webb) Bass, ‘08, Westminster, Texas.
Mrs. Hallie (Cooper) McLarry, ‘08, Westminster, Texas
Beatrice McDougal, ‘12, Westminster, Texas.
Beulah Davis, ‘12, Westminster, Texas.
Verna Grace Blakely, ‘12, Westminster, Texas.
ORATORY GRADUATES
Miss Vera Webb, Westminster, Texas.
Mrs. Beatrice (King) McAnally, ‘07, Midland, Texas.
Rev. J. D. Hall, ‘07, Houston, Texas.
Rev. J. H. Davis, ‘07, Westminster, Texas.
Miss Grace Greene, ‘07, Denton, Texas
WESTMINSTER BAPTIST ACADEMY 1912
The Education Board
The Baptist General Convention of Texas
Located at Waco, Texas
REV. D. I. SMYTH, President
DR. S. P. BROOKS, LLD., Rec. Sec. REV. A. J. BARTON, Cor. Sec. WALTER T. DAVIS, Ass't Cor. Sec.
These brethren, in connection with thirty-five others located at various places over the State, have the general supervision over the twelve correlated schools as-follows:
Baylor University, Waco, Texas.
Baylor Collage, Belton, Texas.
Howard Payne, Brownwood, Texas.
Decatur Baptist College, Decatur, Tx.
Burleson College, Greenville, Texas.
San Marcos Academy, San Marcos, Tx
Canadian Academy, Canadian, Texas.
Goodnight Academy, Goodnight, Tx
Rusk Academy, Rusk, Texas.
Palacios Academy, Palacios, Texas.
Bryan Academy
[1] Photo from Westminster Baptist Academy Bulletin, Catalog 1913-14, Announcements 1914-15, p 2.
[2] Westminster Institute Under the Auspices of the Collin County Baptist Association, Catalogue 1902-1903, “History and Prospects,” page 5. One source says 1886. Another source says 1888.
[3] “Westminster College,” McKinney Examiner, January 30, 1964, Capt. Roy Hall.
[4] “Brief History, from Various Sources, Town of Westminster,” The Weekly Democrat Gazette (McKinney), March 11, 1926, Sec. 1, Viola Duckworth; McKinney Examiner, January 30, 1964.
[5] Westminster College, Catalogue for 1899-1900, Announcement for 1900-1901, cover.
[6] Catalogue for 1899-1900.
[7] “Westminster Junior College and Bible Institute,” Texas Handbook Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/articles/kbw13), accessed December 19, 2010.
[8]“Wesley College (Mississippi),” Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_College_(Mississippi),
[9] “Historical Chart,” Annual Home Coming of Westminster Baptist Academy, Westminster, Texas, June 1, 1915.
[10] “Brief History, from Various Sources,” p. 7.
[11] Catalogue 1902-1903, multiple pages. The Primary Department prepared students for high school. The Institute Department was the college preparatory department.
[12] The Sketch Book, November 1911
[13] Westminster Baptist Academy Bulletin: Catalog 1912-1913, Catalog Volume XXV, 1912, p 8
[14] Westminster Institute, Under the Auspices of the Collin County Baptist Association, Catalogue 1906 – 1907, Announcements 1907-1908
[15] “Brief History, from Various Sources,” p 5.
[16] Architect’s drawing, Westminster Institute, Westminster, Texas, Under the Auspices of the Collin County Baptist Association, Catalogue 1906-1907, Announcements 1907-1908; “C. W. Bulger & Son, Dallas Architects,” Architecturally Significant Homes, website accessed September 11, 2011, http://www.dougnewby.com/architecture/Architects/Regional_Architects.asp.
[17] “Brief History, from Various Sources,” p 6
[18] “Nostalgia Thicker Than Concrete Walls at College,” McKinney Courier-Gazette, September 5, 1971.
[19] “Brief History, from Various Sources,” p 6.
[20] Copy of photo of the cornerstone, in possession of Joy Gough.
[21] “Helped Build the Academy, “ by Gene Geer.
[22] “History,” Westminster Baptist Academy, Catalog 1911-12, Announcement 1912-1913, page 12.
[23] Westminster Baptist Academy, Catalog 1913-1914, p 23.
[24] Westminster Baptist Academy, Catalog, 1912-1913, p 18.
[25] Westminster Baptist Academy, Catalog, 1913-1914, 9.
[26] “Westminster College, “McKinney Examiner, January 30, 1964, Capt. Roy F. Hall.
[27] “Academy Honors,” Westminster Baptist Academy, Catalog 1910-11, Announcements 1911-12.
[28] “Minister, 76, Recalls Happy Days at Westminster Academy,” McKinney Daily Courier Gazette, May 30 1967, p 3, Rev. J. W. McCulley.
[29] Paper in possession of Joy Gough. No author given for the play. Possibly written by a student.
[30] Hear That Lonesome Whistle Blow: The History of Railroads and Interurbans in Collin County, Texas, Joy Gough,
[31] “Societies Debate at Westminster,” McKinney Democrat, March 6, 1913.
[32] “Minister, 76, Recalls Happy Days at Westminster Academy.”
[33] “A Brief History of Westminster Baptist Academy,” J. W. McCulley.
[34] Pastor Smith, who became pastor of Westminster Baptist Church in 1975.
[35] “Nostalgia Thicker Than Concrete.”
Public Road
Westminster, Texas
Westminster College
The early Collin County community of Seven Points was located about six miles northeast of Anna. In 1887 a school of higher learning was founded there that was called Seven Points College. Five years later, in 1892, it was sold to the Methodist Protestant Church and the name was changed to Westminster College.
In 1902 the facility was sold to Westminster Baptist Church, who deeded it to the Collin County Baptist Association. The name of the school was changed to the North Texas Baptist Academy, and then to Westminster Baptist Academy. Although the official name of the school changed many times, the school is still referred to as Westminster College.
The construction of a large concrete building was started in 1907 and was completed fourteen months later. A front porch with stairs and a veranda were added in 1913.
Westminster Baptist Academy was a co-ed college preparatory school that was “correlated” with Baylor University. Its graduates were guaranteed admission into Baylor as freshmen.
In 1918 the school was closed. The facilities were deeded back to Westminster Baptist Church. The building was used as its sanctuary until 1972, when it built a new sanctuary. The old building was demolished in 1975 after the church tried unsuccessfully to sell it.[1]
In 1887 Rev. J. M. Harder founded a school of higher learning in Northeast Collin County that he called Seven Points College.[2] The surrounding community was also called Seven Points. Rev. Harder taught there for five years with two to four assistants. The wooden school building was two-story with one room above and one below. Some people say that the name “Seven Points” came from a seven-pointed star mounted on the building. Money was scarce. Harder took his salary in stock for the schoolhouse. In four years, he owned the schoolhouse.[3]
In 1892 Rev. Harder sold the school to I. P. Rosser, who, in turn, sold it to the Methodist Protestant Church in 1895 for $450. Prof. C. Oscar Stubbs was president of the College of Arts and Sciences and Rev. James Lawlis was head of the College of Theology.[4] The name was changed to Westminster College of the Methodist Protestant Church.[5] The local community changed its name to Westminster.
Westminster College was both a preparatory school and a college. It offered BA and BS degrees. It also had a Theological Seminary. For the 1899-1900 Session the school had an enrollment of one hundred sixty-five, with one hundred eight in the preparatory school and fifty-five in the college. It had an additional eight students in the seminary. The faculty consisted of six teachers. The students lived in approved boarding houses around the town of Westminster.[6]
In 1902 the school administrators decided that the school facilities were too small. They moved the college to Tehuacana in Limestone County, Texas, where it continued as Westminster Junior College and Bible Institute. This school was always associated with the Congregational Methodist Church. In 1971 the Texas campus was closed and the school moved to Florence, Mississippi, to join Wesley College.[7] Wesley College was closed in July 2010.[8] Remnants of the original Westminster College lasted over 115 years.
When the Methodists moved the college in 1902, they sold the 7 1/2-acre campus to Westminster Baptist Church, who deeded it to the Collin County Baptist Association. The name of the school was changed to Westminster Institute. In 1909 it was called the North Texas Baptist Academy. The president was Charles Thompson.[9]
The Westminster Public School and the denominational school were taught in the same building until 1905 when area people objected to religious work being taught in connection with the public school.[10]
Westminster Baptist Academy was a co-ed college preparatory school that was “correlated” with Baylor University. Its graduates were guaranteed admission into Baylor as freshmen. The school provided seven grades of instruction. The Primary Department consisted of three years of pre-high school courses. The Institute Department was four years of high school. In 1902 tuition ranged from $1.00 to $4.00 a month. Enrollment was two hundred ten students with ninety-seven in the Primary Department and sixty-seven in the Institute Department. The Music Department had twenty-eight and the Elocution Department had eighteen.[11]
The school had its own printing plant and printed its many publications. Many of the local businesses advertised in the publications. In 1911 the school started publishing a monthly magazine called The Sketch Book. It contained literary pieces written by the students.[12] The Philomathesian Annual published in 1913-14 contains papers and orations given at their weekly meetings. Some of the papers are labeled “graduation thesis.” In 1912-13 the printing plant was leased for a year by the Westminster Weekly World newspaper.[13]
In 1907 Charles Thompson was the principal. He also taught mathematics and natural sciences. L. E. Rosser taught grammar, Latin and Greek. Mrs. Agnes S. Thompson taught history, composition and literature. Rev. Joseph Pearce was in charge of the Bible department. Mrs. Elizabeth J. Rosser was in charge of the music department.[14]
Rev. Joseph E. Pearce, A. B. Th. M., came to Westminster in 1906 as pastor of the Westminster Baptist Church and as the head of the Bible Department at Westminster College. He canvassed the town and county for students and secured $7000 and $8000 in subscriptions for a new building.[15] Many people consider the success of the school as a direct result of Rev. Pearce’s zeal and untiring efforts in promoting and improving it. He taught at the school for ten years. In 1918 he left Westminster Baptist Church, moving to a church in Sherman.
In 1907 C. W. Bulger and Sons of Dallas was hired to design a three-story, concrete, forty-room building to house all of the classrooms, the girls’ dormitory rooms, an auditorium, a cafeteria and other student facilities. Bulger was a noted architect of several Baptist churches in North Texas.[16] The old wooden frame school building was sold for $300 and removed from campus.[17]
Construction of the new building started on May 2, 1907 with the hauling of sand and rock. Nine-year-old Clarence Turner poured the first bucket of concrete after winning a foot race for the honor.[18] Men and boys came and gave their time and labor in the construction of the building. The building was finished fourteen months later at a cost of $65,000.[19] The corner stone was dedicated in 1908 and listed the building committee as Joseph Pearce, chairman; J. S. Stewart, treasurer; E. G. King, manager; J. M. Hunt; J. M. Carmichal, D. B. Reed, A. J. Fawcett, and T. A. Parris.[20] Local whiterock limestone was used as the aggregate in the concrete. Whiterock disintegrates in water and when it freezes. After fifty years, the concrete was crumbling and the building was unstable.[21] The building was demolished in 1975.
The building consisted of three stories. The upper story had twenty-five fully furnished dormitory rooms for the female students. The second story contained an auditorium, four classrooms, and two halls. The lower story had ten large rooms and two hallways. The walls were plaster and the ceilings were metal. The building had bath and sewer facilities. A large porch with stairs and a veranda were added to the front of the building in 1913. Use of the building started in the 1910-1911 school year.
In 1911, the school was incorporated under the name of Westminster Baptist Academy and was accepted into the Baptist Correlated School System under the auspices of the Baptist General Convention of the State of Texas.[22] There were twelve correlated schools in the state.[23] A school evangelist was added to the teaching staff.
In 1912-1913 room and board was $14.50 a month and tuition for seniors was $4.50 a month. Physical culture was $1.00 a month. There was a $5 graduation and diploma fee and a 50¢ library fee. Use of a practice piano in the music department was $1.00 a month. In 1913 the enrollment reached three hundred, which was larger than the population of the town of Westminster. One of the teachers, Mrs. Ella Johnsey, was also the dormitory matron.
The school started accepting ministerial students in 1907. Ministerial students were given free literary tuition as well as $5 a month from the Ministerial Fund.[24] Student ministers were sent to any church in the area that required a fill-in preacher on Sundays. With no other means of transportation, the students walked six miles to the train station in Anna, rode the train to the appropriate town and walked to the church, returning to the school the same way that evening.
The student body was co-ed. The school offered three years of courses to prepare students to enter the high school as well as four years of college preparatory courses. Subjects offered were English, mathematics, geography, science, education and history, plus Latin, Greek, German, Bible, bookkeeping, and physical education.
The Music Department offered violin, organ, piano, mandolin, horns, voice, harmony, and theory. Recitals were given throughout the year. There was also a school orchestra. Post-graduate work was offered in music. The Department of Expression offered a two-year course in oratory.
The regular college preparatory course required three years of Latin, one year of German, three years of English, one year of Bible, two years of History, two years of science with one of them being physics, three years of mathematics, and one year of education.[25]
The school had two literary societies: the Erisophian Literary Society and the Philomathesian Literary Society. The Literary Societies provided improvement in debate as well as in other literary exercises. They were a very important part of the social life of the student body. They had inter-society sports and debate teams.
The school stressed physical education and had a girls’ basketball team as well as a baseball team, track and football teams. The school baseball team was called the Preachers and played schools around the area.[26] There were also an Oratorical Association and a Bible Class as well as a Debating Club. A scholarship was awarded annually to one lady graduate each year by the Board of Trustees of Baylor Belton College for one year’s free tuition.[27]
Commencement Exercises started on Thursday night and continued through Wednesday morning. They included an oratorical contest, musical recitals, and commencement debates with Commencement Services on Sunday. Plays were performed on Monday and Tuesday nights. The last day, Tuesday, was also the day of Homecoming for all of the former students.[28] The play for the 1899 commencement was entitled “Among the Breakers.”[29]
In 1912 the Greenville-Whitewright and Northern Traction Company built a rail line from Anna to Blue Ridge. It passed through Westminster in front of the college.[30] People were able to take the train to the college. Previously the school had to send transportation to Anna for students and guests. The train was a big boon for the college. It was discontinued in 1914 for financial reasons.
The school was the center of activity and entertainment for the surrounding area. An Oratorical Contest and a Mid-Winter Debate were held annually. On March 1, 1913 the Literary Societies at the school held its annual Mid-Winter Debate. The topic was “Resolved: that the admission of raw materials into the United States free from duty would conserve to the best interest of the masses.” The Erosophian Society spoke in the affirmative. The Philomathesian Society spoke in the negative. The judges for the debate were Hon. George P. Brown and Superintendent W. E. Foster, both from McKinney, and Prof. Sivells of Van Alstyne. The positive side was judged the winner of the debate. That afternoon both Societies competed in a baseball game. The Erosophian Society won that too. Also attending the debate was Prof. J. W. Moseley, a teacher at the South Ward School in McKinney. The president of the school, Prof. Johnson had taught Hon. George Brown, who in turn had taught Prof. Moseley. Prof. Moseley announced that “Literally speaking you have the father, son and grandson here tonight.”[31] The original founder of the college, Rev. J. M. Harder, returned as the president in 1914.
In 1917 Baptist Convention closed Westminster Baptist Academy along with several other correlated schools because of financial problems. The school property was deeded back to Westminster Baptist Church, which assumed responsibility of the school for one more year before closing it in 1918.[32]
The best estimates say sixty or more students graduated from Westminster College in literary, music and oratory. Many of the graduates went on to Burleson College in Greenville. Eight graduates went on to Baylor University. Several attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. Thirty-five ministerial students attended the Academy during its time. About twenty of these students were ordained by Westminster Baptist Church.[33]
Westminster Baptist Church used the college building as its sanctuary until 1972, when it constructed a new building. The church tried unsuccessfully to sell the old building. In March and April of 1975, soon after Rev. Joe Smith became the pastor of the Westminster Baptist Church, the old building was demolished.[34] An auction was held to sell the contents of the building and church. The tin ceiling tiles, the lectern, the piano, pews, pictures from the walls and other items were all sold. The bell was purchased by the Westminster Baptist Church and stands today in front of the new sanctuary.
Graduates of the school at Westminster became ministers and school teachers, lawyers and judges. Their degrees were sufficient for admission to colleges and universities. The long-lasting effects of this school are still being felt around the county. As one of the graduates, Mrs. A. W. Jernigan, said, “I think the work done in this building will always live.”[35]
WESTMINSTER BAPTIST ACADEMY 1912
LITERARY GRADUATES
Mrs. J. W. Hollums, ‘04, (Elizabeth Gaddy), McKinney, Texas.
Mrs. Austin Jernigan, ‘04, (Blanche Coffey,) Van Alstyne, Texas.
Miss Viola Duckworth, ‘05, Gatesville, Texas.
Olin Parris, ‘06, Student Baylor, Waco, Texas.
Mert E. Fry, ‘06, Student Baylor, Waco, Texas.
Prof. Thomas J. Foster, McKinney, Texas.
Rev. J. W. Hollums, ‘06, McKinney, Texas.
Miss Effie Reed, ‘06, Westminster, Texas.
Monroe Turner, ‘07, Chambliss, Texas.
W. Harland Sandusky, ‘07, Broken Arrow, Okla.
Miss Annie Anderson, ‘08, Wylie, Texas.
Miss Mable Thompson, ‘08, Student Baylor, Waco, Texas.
Chas. Stewart, ‘09, Verona, Texas.
James H. Davis, '09, Westminster, Texas.
William B. Thompson, ‘09, Student Decatur College, Decatur, Texas.
Olin Monroe Geer, ‘12, Westminster, Texas.
Carl Eberle Lair, ‘12, Anna, Texas.
John Martin Pickett, ‘12, Westminster, Texas.
Alma Ray Riffe, ‘12, Westminster, Texas.
MUSIC GRADUATES
Miss Mable Thompson, ‘05, Waco, Texas.
Mrs. Claudya (Jernigan) Hoyle, ‘05, Sedalia, Texas.
Mrs. Pansy (Jernigan) McDougal, ‘06, Westminster, Texas.
Mrs. Emma (Giles) Earthman, ‘06, Gunter, Texas.
Miss Marguerite King, ‘06, student Baylor College, Belton, Texas.
Mrs. Blanche (Coffey) Jernigan, ‘06, Van Alstyne, Texas.
Miss Cicil Rickerson, ‘08, Westminster, Texas.
Mrs. Beulah (Webb) Bass, ‘08, Westminster, Texas.
Mrs. Hallie (Cooper) McLarry, ‘08, Westminster, Texas
Beatrice McDougal, ‘12, Westminster, Texas.
Beulah Davis, ‘12, Westminster, Texas.
Verna Grace Blakely, ‘12, Westminster, Texas.
ORATORY GRADUATES
Miss Vera Webb, Westminster, Texas.
Mrs. Beatrice (King) McAnally, ‘07, Midland, Texas.
Rev. J. D. Hall, ‘07, Houston, Texas.
Rev. J. H. Davis, ‘07, Westminster, Texas.
Miss Grace Greene, ‘07, Denton, Texas
WESTMINSTER BAPTIST ACADEMY 1912
The Education Board
The Baptist General Convention of Texas
Located at Waco, Texas
REV. D. I. SMYTH, President
DR. S. P. BROOKS, LLD., Rec. Sec. REV. A. J. BARTON, Cor. Sec. WALTER T. DAVIS, Ass't Cor. Sec.
These brethren, in connection with thirty-five others located at various places over the State, have the general supervision over the twelve correlated schools as-follows:
Baylor University, Waco, Texas.
Baylor Collage, Belton, Texas.
Howard Payne, Brownwood, Texas.
Decatur Baptist College, Decatur, Tx.
Burleson College, Greenville, Texas.
San Marcos Academy, San Marcos, Tx
Canadian Academy, Canadian, Texas.
Goodnight Academy, Goodnight, Tx
Rusk Academy, Rusk, Texas.
Palacios Academy, Palacios, Texas.
Bryan Academy
[1] Photo from Westminster Baptist Academy Bulletin, Catalog 1913-14, Announcements 1914-15, p 2.
[2] Westminster Institute Under the Auspices of the Collin County Baptist Association, Catalogue 1902-1903, “History and Prospects,” page 5. One source says 1886. Another source says 1888.
[3] “Westminster College,” McKinney Examiner, January 30, 1964, Capt. Roy Hall.
[4] “Brief History, from Various Sources, Town of Westminster,” The Weekly Democrat Gazette (McKinney), March 11, 1926, Sec. 1, Viola Duckworth; McKinney Examiner, January 30, 1964.
[5] Westminster College, Catalogue for 1899-1900, Announcement for 1900-1901, cover.
[6] Catalogue for 1899-1900.
[7] “Westminster Junior College and Bible Institute,” Texas Handbook Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/articles/kbw13), accessed December 19, 2010.
[8]“Wesley College (Mississippi),” Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_College_(Mississippi),
[9] “Historical Chart,” Annual Home Coming of Westminster Baptist Academy, Westminster, Texas, June 1, 1915.
[10] “Brief History, from Various Sources,” p. 7.
[11] Catalogue 1902-1903, multiple pages. The Primary Department prepared students for high school. The Institute Department was the college preparatory department.
[12] The Sketch Book, November 1911
[13] Westminster Baptist Academy Bulletin: Catalog 1912-1913, Catalog Volume XXV, 1912, p 8
[14] Westminster Institute, Under the Auspices of the Collin County Baptist Association, Catalogue 1906 – 1907, Announcements 1907-1908
[15] “Brief History, from Various Sources,” p 5.
[16] Architect’s drawing, Westminster Institute, Westminster, Texas, Under the Auspices of the Collin County Baptist Association, Catalogue 1906-1907, Announcements 1907-1908; “C. W. Bulger & Son, Dallas Architects,” Architecturally Significant Homes, website accessed September 11, 2011, http://www.dougnewby.com/architecture/Architects/Regional_Architects.asp.
[17] “Brief History, from Various Sources,” p 6
[18] “Nostalgia Thicker Than Concrete Walls at College,” McKinney Courier-Gazette, September 5, 1971.
[19] “Brief History, from Various Sources,” p 6.
[20] Copy of photo of the cornerstone, in possession of Joy Gough.
[21] “Helped Build the Academy, “ by Gene Geer.
[22] “History,” Westminster Baptist Academy, Catalog 1911-12, Announcement 1912-1913, page 12.
[23] Westminster Baptist Academy, Catalog 1913-1914, p 23.
[24] Westminster Baptist Academy, Catalog, 1912-1913, p 18.
[25] Westminster Baptist Academy, Catalog, 1913-1914, 9.
[26] “Westminster College, “McKinney Examiner, January 30, 1964, Capt. Roy F. Hall.
[27] “Academy Honors,” Westminster Baptist Academy, Catalog 1910-11, Announcements 1911-12.
[28] “Minister, 76, Recalls Happy Days at Westminster Academy,” McKinney Daily Courier Gazette, May 30 1967, p 3, Rev. J. W. McCulley.
[29] Paper in possession of Joy Gough. No author given for the play. Possibly written by a student.
[30] Hear That Lonesome Whistle Blow: The History of Railroads and Interurbans in Collin County, Texas, Joy Gough,
[31] “Societies Debate at Westminster,” McKinney Democrat, March 6, 1913.
[32] “Minister, 76, Recalls Happy Days at Westminster Academy.”
[33] “A Brief History of Westminster Baptist Academy,” J. W. McCulley.
[34] Pastor Smith, who became pastor of Westminster Baptist Church in 1975.
[35] “Nostalgia Thicker Than Concrete.”
