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F
IRST,
let me quote from a letter
written by Mr. Arthur S.
Mann, FAJA, senior vice–
presiden! of the world-girdling ar–
chitectural and engineering firm of
Daniel, Mann, Johnson and Men–
denhall. Then I want to tell you how
this achievement carne about.
14
Mr. Mann writes:
This letter is about the new
auditorium and is a panegyric
to a magnificent accomplishment
that we believe is without peer in
al! of North America .. ..
The auditorium has the classic
dignity of the ancient Grecian
Parthenon. and a suggestion of
that famous design. although of
different proportions. The sur–
rounding colonnades are of glis–
tening quartz which glow in
contrasting whiteness to the em–
erald green-black walls of the
building. The column soffits of
ltalian glass and white and gold
mosaics al so recall the greatness
of Greece and Rome. and a de–
gree of craftsmanship that many
believe had disappeared in this
century.
Of all the buildings of North
America [he might have said of
the world) created since the land–
ings of the first English and Span–
ish colonizers. there is none that
exceeds the magnificence of the
new Ambassador Auditorium in
quality of materials. craftsman–
ship. and felicitous design. The
precious stones. rare woods . fine
fabrics and metals which grace
the outside and interior are the
finest available. as are the build–
ing' s modero mechanical and
electrical systems. They are ...
materials which will endure for
centuries. providing economical
maintenance and daily .enjoyment
and inspiration.
Within the three decades of our
firm 's international architecture,
planning and design experience.
there has never been a structure
like the Ambassador Auditorium,
and we count it as our finest and
mos t outs tanding accomplish–
ment.
As Solomon's Temple was the
pride of Israel. the new audito–
rium is the symbol of the glory
and accomplishment that is Am–
bassador College.
The design considers the build–
ing not only as a place for listen–
ing and hearing, but also a place
for worship, a dignified environ-
ment for scholarly interchange
and symposia, and a lively and
luxurious center for cultural and
musical events. The building is a
multi-pu rpose community center
of a size and grandeur not as yet
seen in any educational in–
stitution of the English-speaking
world, nor on any other continent
in our contemporary times.
Because God will be within its
walls as he was in the hearts of
men to inspire its creators and
benefactors, Harry Clausen and 1
and all the many members of
DMJM ' s project team who
worked on the project over the
years extend our thanks for the
privilege of working with you and
the other members of Ambassa–
dor College.
Fame Spreading Worldwide
In London and elsewhere we
have learned that the fame of the
new Ambassador Auditorium is
spreading around the world in the
field of music, the performing arts,
and such circles. Articles are being
written in periodicals in these fields,
stressing
its
dignified grandeur, es–
pecially the perfection of
its
acous–
tics.
An official of the Royal Albert
Hall, London, asked: "Doeso't that
auditorium have a gold-lettered in–
scription something like 'Dedicated
to the honor and glory of the great
God'?"
Who Financ.ed
I q uo te here an explanation
which appeared in the inaugural
program which was handed to al!
attending the three performances of
the Vienna Symphony Orchestra,
under the baton of Cario Maria
Giulini, April 7, 8, and 9:
"Welcome: Ambassador Audito–
rium is more than a college audito–
rium or concert hall. We could not
have justified producing a structure
of this magnificence for college pur–
poses alone.
"Ambassador College is affiliated
with the Worldwide Church of God,
whose headquarters is in Pasadena.
This auditorium has been made
possible by special gifts from mem–
bers of the Worldwide Church of
God, as a monument to the honor
and glory of the living God at the
present headquarters of his church
and his work.
"God's way of life is that of serv–
ing, giving, sharing.
It
is, therefore,
our purpose and desi re to share the
benefits of this edifice on frequent
occasions as a cultural contribution
to the community."
In gold lettering on the center of
the onyx wall of the entrance lobby
(foyer) appear these words:
AMBASSADOR A UDITORIUM
MADE POSSIBLE BY GIFTS FROM
THE WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
DEDICATED TO THE HONOR ANO GLORY OF
THE GREAT GOD
1
think it appropriate at this point
to mentioo that none ofthe tithes and
otferings sent us for the gospel work
has ever been used, as
1
am informed
from our business office, for the con–
struction ofthis auditorium or any of
the building projects on our three
campuses. All have been financed by
a specia.l fund established for this
purpose.
How lt Carne To Be
The idea of such an auditorium
actually germinated about 196 1 or
1962. We had needed an auditorium
on the Pasadena campus. There was
no proper place for the weekly fo–
rums and assemblies for student
body and faculty, nor for the services
of the growing church associated
with the college.
1
happened to read again in
II Chronicles 6, 11 Samuel 7, and
other places ofhow, as Solomon said,
"Now it was in the heart ofDavid my
father to build an house for the name
of the Lord God of Israel but tbe
Lord said to David my father, Foras–
much as it was in thine heart to build
a house for my name, thou dids t well
in that it was in thine heart."
David was not allowed to build it,
however, because he had been aman
of war and had killed so many
people. But God decreed that his son
Solomon should build it.
This generated the thought, not of
PLAIN TRUTH August 1974