Rebuilding: Mooney Christian Education Building
The Mooney Christian Education Building was presented on October 3, 1926 in honor of Revered Isaac Mooney, of Towanda, Kansas. It was one of the five built after the fire of 1923 burned down the Administration Building. The building was funded by Mr. and Mrs. Michael Orban, Jr. of Whittier, California, the daughter and son in-law of Mr. Mooney. The building was completed and first used on the first Sunday in February, 1925. This building was used for religious activities and was also a place for students to socialize.
Transcript for newspaper excerpt to the left: CORNER STONE IS LAID FOR MOONEY BUILDING. Building Given By M. Orban, Jr., Just Completed. To Be Dedicated Later. January 24 was the 2nd anniversary of the meeting of the Board of Trustees following the fire of January 18, 1923, which destroyed the old administration building. Six days after that disastrous event the trustees met in extraordinary session and launched the greater Elon program of rebuilding, out of which have come for the college five thoroughly modern fire-proof buildings, a beautiful campus, and the very latest of equipment for the administrative group. The fifth of these buildings has just been completed, the Mooney Christian Education Building, given by Mr. Orban, Jr., of Whittier, California. The corner stone for this building was laid Saturday at 11:00 o'clock in a brief but fitting ceremony as marking the second anniversary of the actual beginning of the new and greater Elon. The services consisted of a brief statement by President W. A. Harper of the place and purpose of the building in the life of the college and the community. Prof. S. A. Bennett, director of the Week Day School of Religion, which uses this building as its laboratory in experimentation, read the scriptures. The College pastor, Dr. W. S. Alexander, offered prayer. The copper box containing the holy scriptures, the publications of the Christian Church, and photographs of Mr. Orban and members of his family, was then deposited in the stone which was duly laid. The services were concluded by prayer by Dr. J. U. Newman, professor of Bible, whose class room is in this building. The building will be formally presented to the college and dedicated at some time this spring when it is convenient for the donor to be present, and the address will be made by Dr. W. S. Athearn, Dean of the School of Religion of Boston University.