EDMOND—Herbert W. Armstrong College launched its ninth year on August 17, beginning with an orientation lecture from Chancellor Gerald Flurry reviewing the purpose behind the college’s name.
It was on Dec. 3, 2005, that Mr. Flurry announced the name change of Imperial College to Herbert W. Armstrong College. In that sermon, Mr. Flurry stated that he believed this name was inspired. “I’ll tell you why I think that, because there surely is not a man on this Earth or who has ever lived, I believe, who’s taught more about true education than Herbert W. Armstrong, to more people.” As recipients of that education, “we’re getting ready to teach the whole world, and they really do need to associate Elijah with true education.” The remarkable point is, said Mr. Flurry, “it all started with a man who had no formal education!”
Speaking to faculty, headquarters employees, and the 46 students, including 20 freshmen, at this year’s orientation, Mr. Flurry asked, “Why would God want us to name this college Herbert W. Armstrong College?” He outlined the Church’s reservations about using the name, saying Church officials thought detractors might view our stance as worshipping a man. However, Mr. Flurry stated that God imposed this name on us. He made the point that if people were curious about the name, and sought to understand it in the right way, they would eventually find the living God. He emphasized that “there may never have been a more important name for a college.”
Mr. Flurry reminded those present that “we are here to make this Work really flourish, and be spiritually strong the way it was under Mr. Armstrong.” He said that the Church is not original, but traditional, following in the footsteps of Mr. Armstrong, who was “the example, the signet, that we look to in this age.”
Mr. Flurry compared Mr. Armstrong with the renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who aside from studying engineering had no formal education in architecture. Mr. Wright’s view of education in general is unconventional. He wrote, “Where have we [most architects] been going [for their education]? Going to the armchairs of universities, going to their hallowed musty books, going to the famous armchair men who were tutored by armchair men, themselves famous offsprings of the armchair.” Mr. Flurry pointed out that this is the problem with much of the world’s education. Yet, he said, Mr. Armstrong was a man without formal education, who raised up three colleges, and became the man used to teach the missing dimension in education.
Mr. Wright believed in making architecture a festival for the eye. God’s land, in particular His house, will be a festival for the senses, Mr. Flurry said. It will feature an incredible combination of the arts. For instance, the Swans in Flight by sculptor Sir David Wynne will stand in the reflecting pool in front of the auditorium; onyx from Iran will complement two spectacular candelabra; Austrian crystal will hang in the chandeliers; all of which will accompany the best the human spirit can offer from the artists who perform onstage. Mr. Flurry placed these physical details in context by pointing out that the greatest architecture is God recreating Himself in man.
