Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-06-21
FIFTH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT.
A Most Enjoyable Season.
Graduating Exercises Of the Dit
ferent Departments OF Alma
College.

commencement cAtIClScb VI @hiliia
college began with the baccalaureate
sermon by President Bruske in the
college chapel last Sunday afternoon.
President Bruske's subject was "The
place of the christian student in the
army of REFORM" and the sermon
was a mastery effort. He cautioned
the student against extreme radical
ism along narrow lines, and advised
broad, christian conservatism along
all lines. lie emphasized the neces-
sity of higher education, especially
in reform work, and exhorted the
students to earnestness and persist
ence in their work, SO that men shall
be better for their having lived. He
said the law cannot make men better
They must be taught better, and this
is the great work of the christian
scholar.
One very pleasing feature of the
exercises was the solo "The Holy
City" adams sung 10y Miss Estella
Wood, a graduate of the Kindergar-
ten department. Miss Wood has a
very sweet voice, and charmed all
who heard her.
The chapel was crowded to hear
the baccalaureate sermon, and this
feature of the commencement eXer-
cises is pronounced the most success
full in the history of the college.
In the evening the chapel was
again crowded TO hear the address to
the Christian Associations by Rev.
w. III. Mcpherson of Three Rivers,
whose subject was "Symmetrical Ed
ucation." Mr.. Mcpherson made an
earnest plea for the equal cultivation
of the physical, mental and spiritual
natures. He dwelt with much en-
phasis upon the necessity, primarily,
of a well developed physique, as the
body is the only temple of the Holy
Spirit, and without this development
of the physical nature the mental
and spiritual would be warped and
inefficient.
The graduating exercises of the
Commercial department occurred in
the chapel Monday evening. The
exercises opened with piano duet
by Misses Lottie and Eleanore Bush
nell, after which DR.. Bruske invoked
the Divine blessing.
Mr.. Beckner sang in his usual
charming manner, "lIeaven Hath
Shed Tear" (Kucken) with violin
obligato by Edward c. Marsh,
Rev. John a. McGreaham of St.
Louis delivered the address before
the graduating class. He said that
character was essential IN the sue
cessful prosecution of any business,
and cited the cases of historical per
sonages whose only capital in the
commencement of their career was
the character they had. Thoughts
gained III the class room were i'm
portant, but they are secondary TO |
character. He laid much stress on
the talents the student may possess,
some one, some three, and some FIVE.
He said that we are not responsible |
for what nature has done for US, and |
that it is the duty of the one with |
only one talent to use that one to the
best advantage.
The address was brief, but was
replete with suggestions of practical
value to the student.
After the address by Rev. Me-
Greaham, Miss Rosa Messenger ia
vored the audience with Ballet
Music" (Meyer-lIelmund), and the
benediction closed the exercises,
The graduates of this department
are Alice Hazel Nliet, Cora Edith
Wheeler, Thomas Gowdy Suther-
land.
The graduating exercises of the
kindergarten department occurred
Tuesday morning. Every seat in the
chapel was occupied, evidencing the
interest taken i'll this branch of
our educational system. The exer-
cises opened with prayer by Prof. j.
w. Ewing, after which was a piano
duet by Mrs. Berger and Miss Koon,
exceedingly well rendered.
Physical Culture was the subject
of Miss Coleman's essay. She began
W giving ehtlCu VI luG lie anu
work of Delsarte, and an explana-
ton of hisemethods, and then said
that we form our estimate Of per-
sons character by his physical bear.
ing. The great law of personality
must be kept in mind in studying
physical culture, and she defined
personality as the outward express
sion of what we are-the visible ex.
preston of our inner life. Referring
to physical culture in kindergarten
work, she said the language of the
child begins with movement, and the {
child expresses itself thus before it t
can use words. Perfect development
can be obtained only by training all
the senses. Ideas and actions must $
go hand in hand. She then showed t
the work of the kindergarten in this |
as taught by Froebel.
hn