Westminster Institute
Seven Points College
Daily Courier Gazette, February 1907
WESTMINSTER AND HER SCHOOL
Westminster, Texas, Feb. 21-
Dear Editors: Please indulge
me with the few lines in regard to the above. It may interest several
 of your
readers, as at present more eyes are turned this way than ever before. Many have
expressed their surprise at the stupendous undertaking in so small a village as
Westminster, of the building of a $10,000 school building: and more is the
surprise that this small village has subscribed one-half of the amount.
Many have been those who have said such a work could not
be done. Some still say it cannot be done, yet the subscription is growing
entirely satisfactorily.
Now, let me say a few words as
to the origin of Westminster Institute, the name by which the school is known
today. In the year 1886, Rev. J. M. Harder founded here what was known as Seven
Points College. He did some fine work. Many received under him training that has
enabled them to make life a success. Judge Faulkner, formerly of McKinney,
received his education here under him. There were then only three or four
dwelling houses near by. The townsite of Westminster was owned by F. M.
Atterbury.
It was purchased by the Methodist Protestant church in 1895.
The writer was one who assisted Charley Noyes to survey out the townsite. In
1896 in Methodists opened their school. They struggled hard and succeeded in
filling the old school building with pupils. They named the school Westminster
College. The time came when they were compelled to have more room. They move
their school to Tehaucana, Texas, to a commodious building in which Trinity
College (now at Waxahachie) was held. The Collin County Baptist Association
purchased their property here, and put an addition to the school building which
cost $1,000. The school now has been run under the Baptists for nearly five
years with very little friction. Many school teachers have gone out from here,
also preachers and men of other professions. Why has destiny so flavored this as
a school town? This is a question that needs to be studied to be answered. There
is no railroad; no gold mine, nor anything that would attract anyone here except
the school. Why is the school here? Why not on some other white rock point? That
is a question your scribe cannot answer altogether to his own satisfaction. The
natural location somehow is pleasing to almost all come here. All people who
have lived here have agreed among themselves remarkably well.
They created a school atmosphere and the atmosphere remains.
Prominent businessmen have of large railroad towns have
remarked that they would be glad if they could have such a school as we have
here. Why can they not have it? We believe this answers the question. They have
no school atmosphere. Here the school is the paramount thing in view. All things
look to the school. No school no town is the slogan.
There the school in the rush of commercialism is all but
forgotten. Now this is not the case in all railroad towns, but it is certainly
sure that a school will not thrive except it have the proper environments. It
has been asked what can your school away from the railroads ever hope to
accomplish. The question has already been answered. Please look what it has done
and is doing. According to the amount invested in the enterprise it passes
anything we know of.
Please what does the railroad or the whirl and hum of the city
have to do with a boy digging out his hard problems in arithmetic? But you say
it is so inconvenient. Were it not better to have something inconvenient for
your boys?
Many well say "Let it be so." We are 40 minutes off the
railroad. We have telephone connections with all parts of the country. We have
daily mail. We can read our daily paper not long after you have laid yours down.
Yes, the situation is ideal. When the argument is in, what
have we? There can be a school anywhere there is equipment, teacher and pupils.
The further we are away from temptations the better. You have heard of perpetual
motion. We have it.
When a fellow comes here who tried to be "tuff" he finds
himself so sadly in the minority he either moves out or decides he had better be
a man and reform.
In a man comes here to get rich, he moves next day. If he
comes to run the community, his own battery is speedily turned against him and
he moves.
We are for peace, education and morality, and we are
succeeding well in holding our standard aloft. The situation is hopeful. There
is nothing to call one here except the betterments of his better self.
We are located in the highest point in Collin County. The
health is generally good-the best we believe of any location in the County. We
are on the watershed between Sister Grove and Pilot Grove Creeks. We can see
trains running on both Central and Katy lines.
The drainage is excellent. The roads are generally neither
muddy nor dusty. There are in our village six store houses, one blacksmith shop
and an undertakers' establishment, one livery stable, barber shop and Post
Office.
The population is a little less than three hundred.
We want an electric railway to meet the objection of those who
think we need transportation facilities. We will likely have a bank when the new
building is completed. We are not counting any enterprise that will not add to
the efficiency and high standing of our school. If you have doubted that the new
building will succeed, we hope to see your doubts removed soon. We will think we
see the top of the hill. Will you not help us pull.
It has been objected that we build a college here. Not so; we
call a spade a spade.
We strive to run only a first-class academy. It is our purpose
to equip it as it should be.
We are affiliated to enter the freshman year at Baylor
University for the A. B. degree.
We are an open book. Please read us not with a critic's eye.
Ask our people about us.
A READER
WESTMINSTER BAPTIST SCHOOL -North Texas
Baptist Academy a Success.
1911
HISTORY OF INSTITUTION
Deserve Success It Has Won, and is Preparing for Largest
Attendance of History.
We call attention of our readers to the advertisement in
this paper of the North Texas Baptist Academy at Westminster, Texas. Prof.
W. c. Johnson is president of that institution and is making of it a most
successful preparatory school. Turn to the ad and read it. This school is
the pride of Collin county and deserves the liberal support that is being
given it. We clip the following from their new catalog just issued:
History.
At this place, in the year 1888 Rev. J. M. Harder founded
a school known as the Seven Points College, thus sowing in this community,
the first seed for a desire for higher training. Five years later it was
sold to J. P. Rosser, then to the Methodist Protestant Church, and finally,
after fourteen years' efficient service, in 1902 it was sold to the
Westminster Baptist church. The Church then deeded the school to the Collin
County Baptist Association, under the auspices of which body it has been
manipulated since above date, a period of nine years. During its ownership
by the Collin County Baptist Association the name has been changed to the
North Texas Baptist Academy, by which name it is now known. Its growth has
been rapid and vital.
The Academy during this period of progress has striven to
maintain strictly an academy Curriculum preparing its graduates for College and hence
its course at the present time is so arranged. The helpful influence of the
school can be seen from its graduates, some of whom are now located in
various parts of the State as teachers, preachers, and business men; and
others who are in higher institutions of learning. It is an institution
which not only bespeaks the love and sympathy of the brotherhood of Collin
county, but their pride and admiration as well. It has been planted amid
tears and struggles, and by the guidance of the hand of the Almighty One, it
is being used to bless the lives of hundreds of young men and women.
Westminster
School Index
- Recommended citation:
- "Westminster Baptist School
- SCHOOLS OF COLLIN COUNTY." Collin County, Texas History and Genealogy
Webpage by Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc., <http://www.geocities/genfriendsghl>
[Accessed Fri February 13 13:37:28 US/Central 2004 ].
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