Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-06-15
Successful College Year.
ITS PAST AND FUTURE.
AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM.
Laying OF the Corner stone of Library
Building.
AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM.

On the l4th of September last,
the friends and founders of the
Alma College, having perfected all
preliminary arrangements to that
end, formally opened this new college
to the public patronage with some
misgivings, as to its ultimate sue
cess, Notwithstanding the very favor
able auspices under which they were
able to make their first public an
nouncement. 1t was believed
by the friends that such an
institution was needed; indeed that
the educational ecessities, of this
portion of our beloved state, ur-
gently demanded its establishment,
but to what extent the public would
respond in their support, and patron
age, was the question, which the
College, with its faculty were anX-
iously considering, but fortunately
for the College, that question has
been answered in such way as to
give the best possible augury, of its
ultimate success. 1t is almost with
out precedent, that College planted
within a rural population, should
during its first College year, attain
an enrolment Of One Hundred,
yet this has been accomplished here.
The first years practical work, of
the College Faculty only serves to
emphasize the wisdom and good
judgment of the management in its
selection. A faculty composed of
gentlemen of marked ability, each
seemingly eminently fitted for his
peculiar line of work, There seems
to be a unity of aim and purpose
existing among the faculty, which
adds much to the efficiency of their
labors.
The president of the College. Rev.
George f. Hunting, has happily
blended in his make up all those
God-given blessed traits so absolute
ly essential to a successful Christian
College president, of tenderest sym
patty, of large hearted benevolence,
of kindly social qualities, he has a
very large share, and having rare
ability as an eloquent preacher with
eminent attainments as scholar,
together with the happy faculty, of
making friends of all with whom
he comes in contact, he is eminently
fitted, for the responsible position
luckily for the College, that he has
been called upon to fill, which he is
doing with much credit, to himself
and to the College. He enjoys a
wide popularity as a popular lecturer,
and while answering the numerous
calls made upon him, in this line of
labor, is ever, and always, an earn
est advocate. and worthy represent
ative, of the in tcrests Of the College,
and thus enabled, to Go much to in
crease its number Of friends and
patrons.
Although this is the first year of
the College, there are two societies
in connection with it, known as the
Y. w. c. A. composed of 45 mem
bers, and Y. NJ. c. A. of %, which
are doing very effective work in
their respective spheres of labor,
many of the young people of the
village are connected with them,
and arc deriving much benefit from
such association The Y. NJ. G. A.
have orgonizsd several Sunday
Schools, in adjacent neighborhoods,
which they arc maintaining, with
good success, thus the "good seed"
is being sown that shall in Gods
good time yield bountiful har-
vest of blessings in the neighbor-
hoods fortunate enough to enjoy
such labor.
After a very successful initial
college year, profitable to the pupils,
and extremely gratifying to the Fac.