The Rustorian

Issue date: 11/30/09 Section: News

Initiating Founders' Week activities are Dr. David Beckley, Rust College president, and his wife Dr. Gemma Beckley, and Rev. Edward Moses of Asbury United Methodist Church.

The Bell Ringing Ceremony to kick off the 143rd annual Rust College Founders' Week Celebration occurred Sunday, Nov. 1, at the location where the institution first began, the Asbury United Methodist Church in Holly Springs.

Rust president, Dr. David L. Beckley, gave brief comments about the ringing of the bell and its history. Beckley said the late Ruby S. Owens, a one time staffer and administrator at the college, was the person who proposed the idea that Rust annually go back to its roots at Asbury to initiate the week-long Founders' activities.

"Rust grew out of Asbury, or some might say that Asbury grew out of Rust," Beckley said, jokingly.

Rev. Edward Moses, pastor of the church, led the congregation in prayer before the college band played a solo. Afterwards, Beckley walked the participants to the courtyard where he and his wife, Gemma, would continue the tradition of ringing the bell.

Naomi Taylor, an administrative secretary in the vice president's office, said the total number of times to strike the bell on each occasion signifies the number of years Rust College has been in existence, and, "I think it's important that students know the history of the institution."

Fifty-two people rang the bell, including some students. Every person who rang the bell was initially contacted by the coordinator of the event, Emma Miller, director of church and parent relations at Rust. Miller has attended every bell ringing since the start of the service 18 years ago.

"I always thought it was a wonderful idea and is a good way to kick off our Founders' Week festivities," Miller said.

This story first appeared in The South Reporter, Nov. 12 edition.

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