Beyond the main events and people of Southern’s heritage lies a collection of interesting stories amassed over the years. The Archives presents in the links to the right a number of facts and curiosities that illumine the character of a Seminary rich with lore.
Boyce’s Teaching Method
James P. Boyce’s teaching method required students to memorize and recite textbook passages verbatim, with mistakes resulting in a zero.
Broadus’s Rebuke
John Broadus warned W.O. Carver that romance could distract him from seminary, but Carver remained committed and later taught at Southern for over 40 years.
Broadus and Higher Criticism
T. T. Martin recounted how John A. Broadus powerfully defended biblical authority at a Chicago meeting, leaving the audience stunned and swaying sentiment against higher criticism.
The Seminary Survives
John Broadus recounted how James Boyce’s persistent prayers for a $50,000 endowment were answered by a generous gift from Senator Joseph E. Brown, securing the Seminary’s future.
Stern Words
An 1888 student criticized ministers for prioritizing entertainment over preaching solid gospel truth, blaming both preachers and audiences for favoring amusement over instruction.
DeMent’s Memory
As a teenager, Byron DeMent memorized the entire New Testament to win a prize, an achievement that deeply shaped his faith and ministry.
Mullins Becomes President
When E.Y. Mullins was called as Southern’s president in 1899, he personally handled the telegraph communications, briefly resuming his teenage role as an operator.
Sampey and Lee
John R. Sampey’s deep admiration for Robert E. Lee was so strong that students playfully teased him, and in a chapel sermon, he momentarily compared Lee’s goodness to that of Jesus.
Sampey Visits Germany
n 1934, John Sampey attended the Baptist Congress in Nazi Germany, where he observed German officials using propaganda to promote Hitler’s regime.
Moody Makes the Grade
As a student, Dale Moody impressed his Greek professor by sight-reading and translating Philippians 3, though he secretly had it memorized beforehand.
Dr. King’s Visit
In April 1961, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered a calm, powerful speech on racial tension and the emergence of a new age at Southern Seminary, followed by discussions with faculty and a police-escorted tour of Louisville.
The Jesus People
Duke McCall reflected on the unexpected surge in enrollment at Southern Seminary during the 1970s, sparked by the experiential, emotional Jesus Movement, despite the school’s intellectual reputation.
SBC Presidents
Southern Seminary has long supplied the Southern Baptist Convention with capable leaders, including several SBC Presidents who were either students or professors at the seminary.
Seminary Presidents
Four early presidents of other SBC-affiliated seminaries were Southern graduates.
Colonel Sanders Knew More than Chicken
Southern Seminary hosted Colonel Harland D. Sanders’ funeral in its Alumni Memorial Chapel on December 20, 1980, where hymns by Pat Boone and tributes from pastors celebrated his faith and legacy.
Important Quotations
Quotations primarily from Mueller’s History of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
The Development and Role of the Abstract of Principles
James P. Boyce’s 1856 address led to the creation of the “Abstract of Principles” in 1858, which established Southern Seminary’s commitment to doctrinal orthodoxy, a commitment that endures today.