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ters for God's present work, and
anything even remotely approaching
the grandeur and costliness of Solo–
mon's templewas out ofthe question,
nevertheless, to honor one so
GREAT
as the living creator God, as far as it
went, this auditorium, as a place for
God's name, must be of the finest
available materials and craftsman–
ship.
But
1
could not simply take it into
my own hands to build such a build–
ing. If it was to be God's house - a
place for his name -
1
had to know
whether it was
his
will.
1
took the
matter to the living God in prayer.
1
was impressed to go far enough to
choose a basic architectural design
for the extemal form and shape and
then submit it to the entire church
membership. If God, through them,
provided the complete financing by
SPECIAL FUNDS FOR THAT PURPOSE,
aside from, and over and above regu–
lar income for the work of the gospel
and the college,
1
would know God
approved.
1
asked him if he would
show his will by whether be provided
the tinancing in this special manner.
So
1
requested our architectural
firm, DMJM, to provide me with a
number of quick rough sketches of
various possible externa! designs. An
idea had come to my own mind of a
building surrounded by tall pillars
with over-hanging roof, the pillars
rising out of an approximately half–
acre lake. And of all the sketches of
exterior design the architects sub–
mitted, I chose the one I had sug–
gested. The sketches were forwarded
to me at the English campus. I re–
member tacking the sketches all
around the walls of the radio studio.
All at the English campus were unan–
imous in the choice of design.
Even prior to this 1 had ·aiready
created a building fund for campus
expansion. But now 1 sent printed
copies of the chosen sketch to the
entire church membership.
1
ex–
plained the quality and character this
building would require.
Butjust at this time - about Octo–
ber 1963 - we leamed that the state
highwaycommission was planning to
run a new freeway right through the
20
middle of our proposed campus. We
were using the buildings on the hill
on which the academic complex of
the Pasadena campus is located and
were already purchasing rroperties
below the hill, but had not yet started
any construction below, except for a
handball court.
If
we could rush the
construction of a major building in
the lower area and cómplete it within
a year, showing the commission our
intent to occupy that area witb cam–
pus buildings, we learned the pro–
posed freeway would be routed one
block farther east.
lt was going to require two ormore
years to complete drawings for the
auditorium and another two years or
more to build it. Our architectural
tirm, DMJM, was unable to design
and construct any buildingwithin the
required period. Another tirm in Pas–
adena, combining architecture, engi–
neering, and construction in one
firm, was able to design and build a
gymnasium within the prescribed
time. The gymnasium would haveto
serve as an auditorium, with folding
chairs for seats, until we could build
the auditorium.
It must have been about Novem–
ber 1963. The O. K. Earl Company
rusbed the plans to completion. We
broke ground for tbe combined gym–
nasium and natatorium in February
1964, and it was completed by No–
vember 1964.
1 hoped, if God so willed, that the
auditorium could come next. But as
the student body of the college ex–
panded, a dining hall became im–
perative. The auditorium once again
was preempted. Next, new classroom
facilities sidetracked the auditorium.
Then carne the Hall of Administra–
tion, 1968 and 1969, the new printing
plant, and a new men's dormitory in
Pasadena.
But, at last, January 6, 1972, our
mortgage bankers announced they
had secured 89 percent financing for
the auditorium, by way of long-term
(15 or more years) insurance com–
pany 1oans and at an interest rate
that, as oftoday, is one-and-one-half
percent below the prime rate. This
was one hundred percent financing,
including the cash balance in the
building fund and interim financing
from our bank.
Such financing is almost unthink–
able for a college or a cburcb. Cer–
tainly this, at last, made God'swill for
the auditorium assured!
Ground was broken shortly after
the middleofJanuary 1972. The con–
struction was finished, at least so far
as necessary for the opening concerts
on April 7 of tbis year by the Vienna
Symphony Orchestra, wbich was
conducted by the eminent Cario
Maria Giulini.
During the almost two-and-a–
quarter-year construction on the au–
ditorium, following more than two
years of design and producing the
working drawings, the men working
on the project - architects, engineers,
craftsmen (including severa! brought
to Pasadena from other areas) and
workmen, all seemed to realize they
were working on
a
once-in-a-century
character ofbuilding, to be dedicated
to
THE HONOR AND GLORY OF
THE
uvrNG
Goo.
Their work really seemed to be
dedicated to the honor and glory of
the living God. Their work seemed to
refiect an almost awesome reverence
for wbat they were aceomplishing - a
once-in-a-lifetime editice. o
GLITTERING CRYSTAL
sets themood
for distinguished guests and enthusias–
tic music lovers (center right). Cario
Maria Giulini conducted Beethoven's
Egmont Overture, Stravinsky's Fire–
bird Suite and Brahms' Symphony
No.
1
in a moving inauguration con–
cert on April
7,
1974 at the Ambas–
sador Auditorium. After a standing
ovation, Giulini joins in a scíntillating
díscussion at the receptíon follow–
íng the concert (upper left). Abáaltafi
Sa/ah, Jordanian Ambassador to the
United States, chats with Herbert
Armstrong (center left). Kenneth
Hahn, Chairman of the Board of
Supervisors of Los Angeles (bottom
right), warmly converses wíth Her–
bert Armstrong and Stanley and
Níkki Rader. The 11/uminated egret
sculpture and fountain (bottom left)
delíght guests duríng the intermís–
síon.
PLAIN TRUTH August 1974