HISTORICAL SKETCH
In 1906 “ The Fisherman’s Club,” which combined Bible Study and sdul-winning, was organized for the young men of the Immanuel Presbyterian Church by Rev. T. C. Horton, assistant pastor. The following year, Mr. D. H. Steele, an elder of the same church and manager of a department store, requested Mrs. Horton to open a Bible class for the young women employed in his store, offering a large room for the purpose. This group was named “The Lyceum Club” and grew to include other young women besides the employees of the one store. These two large clubs of young people presented the challenge of further study and training. The Bible Institute idea was not entirely new; as early as 1901, Mr. Lyman Stewart, a Christian layman with a zeal for the Lord’s service and an almost prophetic eye to the future, had planned for such a school in Los Angeles. Now, in response to an immediate need, Mr. Stewart and Mr. Horton became co-founders of the Bible Institute of Los Angles. In the fall of 1907, through the -.cooperation of Rev. A. B. Pritchard, pastor of Central Presbyterian Church, some classes were held in the lecture room of that chiirch. It soon became evident that more space was needed, and after several weeks spent in search of a building, a location was secured on South Main Street, not ideal, but the best that could then be obtained. On February 25, 1908, a meeting was called to effect a permanent organization. At this meeting the following persons were elected as officers: Lyman Stewart, Presi dent; A. B. Pritchard, Vice-President; T. C. Horton, Superintendent; R. A. Hadden, Associate Superintendent; B. C. Atterbury, Secretary; and Leon V. Shaw, Treasurer. There was a rapid development of the school. Messrs. Horton, Hadden, and Pritchard formed the Faculty and took up the teaching work. From the beginning, the school was evangelistic in character. Shop meetings were taken over and conducted, Bible Women’s work was organized, a work among Jews was commenced, as was also Spanish Mission work and work among the men of the oil fields, and Extension classes were organized in the city and surrounding towns. In 1911 the Board of Directors decided upon an advance movement and called Dr. R. A. Torrey as Dean. Dr. Torrey entered upon his duties in January, 1912. In order to meet the enlarging needs and to provide a more suitable and permanent home for the school, a new site was purchased at Sixth and Hope Streets and a building was erected, ground for which was broken on June 22, 1912; and the building was dedicated the following year. Dr. Torrey continued as Dean until 1924, when he again entered the evangelistic field. Owing to the growth of the school and the increase of responsibility thereby entailed, a reorganization was effected and the work divided: a President to care for 7
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