However the move didn’t come rather than difficulties. The brand new Chamber’s campaign to boost $175,000 to your land got out over a lift that have $30,000 raised in the first go out and you may $90,000 by the end out of June. However, fundraising stalled just after an excellent “satanic whispering venture” opposed to the college come, Turner penned.
Dr. John McSween regarding Next Presbyterian accused Bob Jones, which had been nondenominational, out of recruiting children regarding state Presbyterian colleges, in which he publically criticized those who work in Greenville which provided money so you can the fresh venture, Turner wrote. This new city’s a lot more liberal religious leadership told you the college would promote “a fanatical pursuing the away from religious 
radicals” so you’re able to Greenville who would “at some point damage the new personal growth of the room and ultimately simply take along side city,” Turner penned. More about three ber compensated the debt to own $50,000, considering Turner.
Broadening registration and you will dictate
Once The second world war, Bob Jones Jr. grabbed a great $31,100000 acquisitions funds and you will already been to invest in Baroque art, which had fallen out from like having artwork debt collectors. New Museum & Gallery exposed toward Thanksgiving Day within the 1951, which have around 40 illustrations. It absolutely was a moderate start to just what has been known as one of several state’s ideal spiritual art collections, a profile one now boasts functions because of the Rubens, Tintoretto, Veronese, Cranach, Gerard David, Murillo, Ribera, Van Dyck, Honthorst, and you can Dore. Brand new art gallery is finalized to own re also.
“Bob Jones College possess turned-out specific incredible artwork musicians, in addition to Jonathan Andrews, Diane Kilgore Condon, and you may Kevin Isgett, to-name but a few. Carl Blair, whom coached from the artwork arts company for many years, had a serious impact on individual artisans both within this and you can exterior the brand new college or university area,” told you Metropolitan Arts Council Exec Manager Alan Ethridge. “Their influence is very easily noticeable in several out of Greenville’s very finished and winning artisans. Greenville is very lucky having this type of designers within its cultural people.”
Politically, the fresh new school has had a bearing, also, regardless if its influence is toned down while the Greenville expands, told you Furman School political technology professor Jim Guth.
On 1960s, when Greenville try almost completely Democrat, voters having BJU links had mixed up in county Republican Group, Guth told you. The guy told you the fresh new nomination of Democrat Barry Goldwater drew much regarding Religious fundamentalists to the Republican Cluster. Of the 1976, BJU graduates, professors, and teams annexed the local Republican Party from the ton precinct meetings. It actually was a time when enrollments topped 5,100000. What amount of students which pastored regional churches improved this new school’s come to.
Whoever are someone
At a time, it absolutely was prominent observe multiple BJU students for the local political government and in the state legislature. The institution is actually a required prevent to possess traditional GOP presidential candidates, out of Ronald Reagan so you’re able to George W. Plant. “Just about anybody who was simply somebody showed up,” Guth said.
Previous BJU chairman Bob Jones III told you from inside the 1980 one homosexuals should be stoned as he and you may several fundamentalist preachers went along to the Light Home with a good petition other the new expansion of your own Civil rights Operate so you’re able to homosexuals. He apologized inside the 2015.
“Abreast of today learning these types of much time-lost terms, it appear to myself because the words owned by a total complete stranger – was my personal name maybe not connected, “ the newest apology said. “I can not erase him or her, but would you like to I am able to, because they do not portray the belief off my personal cardiovascular system to have the content off my preaching.”
Conflict exploded once again inside 2000 strategy whenever Sen. John McCain generated an issue of Bush not condemning brand new university’s ban on the interracial relationships during the a promotion stop into campus. Jones III afterwards said through the an interview on the “Larry Queen Alive” the newest prohibit try repealed the day in advance of their appearance towards let you know.