Religious Groups are Active
These articles describe the religious atmosphere on East Carolina's campus in 1958. The first talks about all the denominations that held meetings for the students. This and other articles may be found in the University Archives.
Citation for this article is: "Religious Groups are Active," The Daily Reflector, May 14, 1958.
The second article gives a brief history of the YWCA on campus: "Early Start by YWCA," Daily Reflector, May 14, 1958.
"Over one-half of the students at East Carolina College are contacted directly by one of the denominational groups on the campus," pointed out Dr. Cleveland Bradner, director of Religious Education.
At the present time there are eight denominational groups organized on the campus to meet the spiritual needs of each of the students, besides the Young Men's and Young Women's Christian Association, and the Inter-Religious Counicl.
The Inter-Religious Council served to coordinate all student religious activities, to supervise Chapel, and to sponsor new approaches to religious emphasis among the students.
Under the direction of Dr. Bradner, the council includes in its membership representatives of the various denominational groups and the YMCA and YWCA counselors of these groups, and members of the Greenvile Ministeria Association.
Denominational Groups
Bradner pointed out that the denominational groups include the Presbyterian Youth Fellowship which is called the Westminister Fellowship; the Baptist Student Union; Canterbury Club for Episcopal Students; The Wesley Foundation for the Methodist; The Disciple Student Fellowship composed of Disciple or Christian students.
The King Youth Fellowship for Pentecostal Holiness, the Assemblies of God, the Church of God, and other Full Gospel churches on campus; The Christian StudentAssociation organized last year for student members of the Disciples of Christ; and the Catholic Students Discussion Club which meets weekly to discuss topics of interest from a religious aspect.
YWCA Oldest Organization
"The oldest student organization on campus is the YWCA which began the first year the college opened," pointed out Dr. Lucielle Turner of the English Department.
According to Dr. Turner, the YWCA was the largest student organization for a number of years and they sponsored many special events that are now special pages of college history. The Young Men's Association was organized in 1939.
The YMCA and YWCA meet regularly at the Y-Hut for devotionals and religious and social activities. They also sponsor a reading room where students come at their pleasure to read or study.
General Religious Activities
Each Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Austin Auditorium voluntary chapel services are held. Dr. Bradner conducts these services where special music is rendered by the college Music Department and the Chapel Choir.
"Once a year Spiritual Emphasis Week is held at the college when outstanding national leaders are brought to campus," explained Bradner. A special Committee of 100 is in charge of the Spiritual Emphasis Week program.
In adition to the vast network of religious activities which serve the college men and women, Dr. Bradner pointed out that courses in religion are being taught daily at the college by him and are considered electives.
"As East Carolina has grown in size, the religious activities have also grown to sastify the spiritual needs of all the students," added Bradner.
Early Start by YWCA
The Young Women's Christian Association was the center of the religious interests of East Carolina Teachers' College during the twenties. This association was organized in 1909. All students were urged to take an active part in that phase of the school's work.
Regular devotional meetings were held and several different courses in Bible and mission studey were given.
More than fifty per cent of the students in 1920 enrolled in these classes.
Every year this Association sent delegates to the Southern Student Conference, held at Blue Ridge, North Carolina, where methods were studied for the prosecution of the ensuing year's work.
