In view of the fact that some of our Christian colleges and universities and graduate schools have forsaken the restoration plea, making the 20^th century church of Christ a denomination founded in the 19^th century by the Campbell-Stone movement, I believe an old speech (delivered September 18<1987 at the dedication of the Allison Biblical Studies Center, when Oklahoma Christian College honored Raymond Kelcy and Hugo McCord by naming one area the "Kelcy Hall" and another area the "McCord Hall" ought to be repeated:

Does History Have To Repeat?

September 18, 1987

Everyone who knew Raymond Kelcy appreciated and loved him. Readily apparent in him were love for his God and Savior, and reverence for the word of God, and an ability to communicate that word. Students know he loved them, and they appreciated his optimistic spirit, and his unfailing sense of humor.

It is no fault of OCC’s freshmen students to 1987 that they will not get to be in his classes, not profit by his expertise in teaching, not delight in his personal magnetism. For them and those students coming later, Raymond Kelcy will only be a treasured memory that will soon fade. His name, like the names of all of us, will in time be "forgotten" (Ecclesiastes 9:5). Such is unavoidable. Hugo McCord is humbled and appreciative today to be remembered along with Brother Kelcy, but he too will soon be forgotten.

However, OCC lives on, and we pray that her best days may be ahead! May history not repeat!

The first institution of higher learning in America is 151 years older than the Constitution, which yesterday was 200 years old. Harvard University, now 351 years old, was founded in Cambridge in 1636 "under church sponsorship" (ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA), AND IS NAMED FOR A PREACHER, John Harvard. He was the University’s first benefactor and started its endowment. Originally its Board of Overseers was "ministers of neighboring towns" along with the upper house of the legislature. The Bible was a respected book.

The University was "gradually liberated, first from the clerical, and later from political control." Since 1865 its Board of Overseers is elected from Harvard alumni, and Bible religion is non-existent. If John Harvard were alive today, he would ask that his name be removed from that institution.

Does history have to repeat?

Kentucky University was founded at Lexington in 1865. Section 8 of its charter stated: "At least two third of the Board of Curators shall always be members of the Christian Church in Kentucky." The erudite J. W. McGarvey was a professor in its College of the Bible. (Earl West, SEARCH FOR THE ANCIENT ORDER, II, 114.) Now all that has changed.