February 3, 1908, at 3:00 p.m., a document was filed with the register of Davidson County, state of Tennessee. The document was a charter for the Free Will Baptist University of Nashville. The charter gave the university power to establish a school of universal learning, impart instruction, examine students, grant diplomas, confer degrees in arts, sciences and professions and, incidental to the institution, establish a publishing house to publish books, periodicals and magazines of general educational and religious character.
Six men and one woman signed the charter. Polston Hall on the campus of Welch College campus honors the woman, Mrs. Fannie Polston. Another signer was Dell Upton, pastor at Cofer’s Chapel Free Will Baptist Church.
When the university opened in the fall of 1908, only one student came–John L. Welch.
In the January 1909 issue of the Record, a paper originating at Cofer’s Chapel, Dr. Upton wrote, “Nashville is our natural center. We have a church here, a publishing house, and we are building a school.”
In the same issue, E.L. St. Claire of Georgia wrote: “My purpose here (Nashville)…was to inquire into the charter of the new university granted to Dr. Upton…I am well pleased with the situation…Each large city in the South would like to become headquarters, but the Free Will Baptists of Nashville have taken the first step.”
Thirty-four years after the charter was granted, Free Will Baptist Bible College opened in Nashville, September, 1942. Today, Welch College remains the official denominational school, although additional regional institutions have been established as well.
About the Writer: Mary Wisehart served as chairman of the Free Will Baptist Historical Commission.
