Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-06-12
The Students Banquet.
In Honor of DR.. Hunting. Decided
Success. The Great Event of
the Year.


the Year.
III doubts have existed in the minds of any
ms 10 the depth and sincerity Of the admiration
ana loVo on the students of the College tor DR.
hunting the Farewell Banquet given i'm his
nonOr last Friday evening with the circum-
stances attending IL must have set them com
pletcly AT rest. The greatest enthusiasm has
heeh manifested throughout by all. The he ar
~ good will and energy with which the stud
ents nave worked made IL certain that the
event would be pleasing and successful one
but the perfect manner in which everything
all w. "'''' nav '''i "'0'' 1'"''' '"s ~
The dining room of Ladies Hall In W hich the
banquet was held had been very tastefully de
coiNtCd with flowers and ferns The walls
were hung with choice pictures noticeable
among which was life size crayon portrait of
DR.. Hunting Tables were set for $50 people,
ana the CLEAN OF white linen and the glitter of
SILVER contrasting pleasantly with the colors OF
the mowers scattered in graceful prOiusion
through the TO ON, made a beautiful scene
When he many good things provided for the
inner man had been disposed OF the Toast mas
ter, Mr. G. Il. Blanchard. called the company u
order and in few words stated the signiii-
casce Of the gathering. While the students
he said rcjoccd over the good record
OF the first years OF the College and were
pleased that thei. first Commencement day
was near AT hand they did not meet at this
time TO celebrate these things but 10 do honor
TO their first Pres tdent TO whose wisdom and
ability the success of the College was so
largely due, aud that whatever had been done
10 make the occasion success was with the
desire that it might be a fitting testimonial OF
their respect and admiration for DR.. Hurting.
The first toast OF the evening was THE Friends
OF Alma 'Olege' and was To have been respond
ed To by Roy. DR. Nelson. but owing to illness
he was compelled az the last moment 10 send
his regrets with pleasant letter, which was
read In response 10 his name 10y Mr.. Beckner.
lt was as follows:
st. Louis June jth, 1891.
Chas. f. Blanchard
Toast Master:
1t is with feelings
of ne ret which seldom experience from such
disappointment that. for many imperative
reasons, m myself unable TO attend ihe
banquet given tonight i'm honor OF our dis
tnguishcd ri nj. Dr Hunting BY my presence
wan you IN these overturcs and festivities, l
had meant To exhibit my perfect fellow feel
ing with the students in those sacred senti.
ments which will dominate all minds and
hearts in your gathering tonight
1t was a spontaneous feeling spread over
the whole state which at the moment of It's
origin, called DR. Hunting 10 the head of Alma
college. lie was almost the only person 10
whom the idea had not occ urred. He alone
was reluc tant. He alone was doubtful of its
wisdom, or eNpediency. But the event has
proved that his doubts were wrong. In order TO
accept the posi- ton, he had 20 make great
sacrifices, not by no means vain sacrifices.
No other influence is so potent 10 mold the
character OF an institution of learning 10
create its tone ana atmosphere. as that which
emanatcs from its President. Alma College has
received, and will continue 10 bear the indeli-
bic stamp of IFS late Presidents superb person
atty IL has already taken high rank amongst
the educational forces OF our state
The students do well to give some express
sion 10 their love and gratitude Now il the
time 10 do il, now whilst ii may contribute
something TO the Pile assure and Solace of the
object that calls Il forth such appreciation
such affection will help TO change the haze OF
his Autumn into one blaze of gold.
Yours truly.
Theo. Nelson.
Miss Nina Bristol, i'm reply to the toast. THE
Young Ladies'. speaking in their behalf al
ludcd gracefully and fceugly to the occasion
ana him in whose honor the banquet was Civ
en- and passed on to pay a meTitcd tribute TO
the first graduating class, saying that while II
must be an honor to graduate from the Col
lege aud ut this time il was also an honor TO
the COilcg e To send forth such graduates.
She spoke for all in expressing the best of
hopes for their happiness and success in life.
The Toast Master in presenting the next
toast said that the song There will lac no
more Faculty there popular in some college
had ncN or been so in Alma Not only did the
students hope thar there might be u faculty
there, wherever that was, hut they were most
happy 10 have them as their guests that even
ing. He then proposed the toast The Faculty
OF Alma College Dr. Brooks who is so much
respected ana admired 10y the students both
Tor his abilities as teacher ana his qualities
as "A man. reply iug said IL was the wish OF the
Faculty not only to increase the ltarning and
usefulness in life of the students but also So
far as they could, 70 add To their comfor: and
happiness ia College. Speaking of the rela-
lions which the President of the College sus-
tans to the students he said 10 had bccu only
within Il comparatively few years that the
President OF Colie1e has begun to be - the
students q friend and IN some sense a pastor.
The old idea was more that he should be n
police officer TO keep watch over. and If pos
slble, TO pry into the actions Of the students
and punish hem. IL had been no uncommon
thing for a President 10 prow about the
streets and buildings NJ night i'm disguise hop
ing To catch students in some Tischief This
however has largely changed and hoy much
for the better il had been was evident 10 an.
lie was sure that as he had spoken all thoughts
had turned 10 Or. Hunting as an example of
the lasting good president might do the
students and the mighty influence he could
kave over their lives.
IN res ponse to the toast The Young Men,
Mr.. A. i. Waldo said that his mOdcstv pre-
vented lengthy disScrtation on the merits and
virtues OF the young men. Whatever might
be their vices however, they had one virtue.
they were loyal 10 their college, loyal for
many reasons, but especially because loyalty
has been impressed upon them and cmphasiI
ed 10y him who would be the subject OF his
remarks. He then proceeded in well chosen
words 20 pay the students tribute of love,
honor and esteem To DR.. Hunting.
lit is with mingled feelings of pleasure and
regret" he said, that we assemble here. re-
grct because we realize to-day more fully than
before that we are soon TO lose from among as
MIN IN whose nOnOr these festivities are hcld:
regret because. after four years of prosper
Gus growth. as she IL about to graduate her
first class. Alma College loses as her president
the man whose influence and untiring efforts
in her behalf have been so cmiuently instru-
mental I'm IN liking her what she is to-day"
He spoke in the highest terms of Or. Hunt
ing in his various relations 20 the students
rs president, teacher, pastor ana friend, and
concluded as follows: ave regret DR. Hunt
ings departure from among us then because
Of the powerful influences which his consecrat-
ed life and sanCtified olOqucncc have cNcr-
ClScd over us who from year 10 year have as
scmhlcd here. We regret his departure be-
cause we believe he has been In every sense
an able president of our college; rs man of
high spiritual life and aims, wise counselor.
sympathetic and most helpful friend. Al
though DR.. Hunting goes from among us now.
yet the influence Of his life ana teaching
will 10 with MS throughout our lives. While
we regret that you are TO leave US. You who
have cXertcd over us this benign influence.
VINO during these years by so many personal
kiudncsses have convinced us that You were
not only our president and pastor but among
orr wurmCst friends; while we regret That
this College Is 10 lose you a. her president yet
We believe that lie who has called you from
among us and who holds i'm His hands this
great cause Of Christian education. has for
you somewhere n greater work. Let me as
sure you I'm the name of the students OF Alma
College that although we may he widely sep
aratrd from Won yet FOR the sanitary influence
-. 4 a