Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1900-09-21
Opening of Alma College.

This is the opening week Of the col.
lege year. AT the beginning of each
year we have been able TO say that Alma
college opened more suspicially than
on any previous year. The opening OF
last year indicated an increase in attend
ance and good year in college work,
and the hopes inspired in the faculty
and students at that time were more
than realized, for last year was in every
way the most prosperous one in Alma's
history. But never before has Alma
college begun it years work under
such auspicious skies, never have the
indications of prosperous future been
so bright as during the present week
Students began To arrive last Saturday
afternoon. and Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday poured in, In increasing
numbers. and each train brings some
new arrivals. The enrolment is at
least 30 per cent. larger than il was last
year at this time.
All members of the faculty and those
in charge Of the Ladies' Hall had made
ample preparations to receive all who
came. Tuesday WAS spent in examin-
ing applicants for admission and in
registration and classification. Wednes-
day morning at $40 chapel exercises
were held after which +. n. Notestein,
professor of Mathematics and Physics,
gave the opening address of the year.
field; on the border line between AS
tromomy and Physical Science. He
showed how the Creator Of all things
has formed the universe. not by one
stroke or word, but by continued pro-
cess of creation and change through
ages of time. He showed the wonder
bodies, by comparing them With our
sun and pictured their wonderful We
locity through space He showed how
the stars are continually changing, cool
ing down Until they become dead stars.
He believes that the same power
which created these stars and causes
them TO continually change and finally
die, will create new life and will cause
this process of change to go on through
endless ages. This address was delight
full. Prof. Notestein opened to the
student mind new field Of Thought
He took his hearers upon mountain
peak from which they were loath to
descend.
After these exercises the work Of
was continued, with
which the remainder Of the day was
taken up AT 6:+5 on Wednesday even.
ing the first union prayer meeting of
the year was held in the college chapel.
1t was greeted by large attendance Of
old and new students and an unusual
interest was manifested. AT the close
of the prayer meeting the old students
gave informal receptions TO the new
students, the young ladies in the Ladies
Hall and gentlemen i'll the chapel The
Young Mems and Young Women's
Christian Associations are busy making
the new students feel welcome and at
home at Alma College During the
summer vacation four new rooms have
been fitted up III the main building, |
which will be used for society, music |
ana recitation rooms. The new museum
is well equipped and ready for use. 1t
is hoped that "a well equipped athletic
field will be provided during the coming |
year, and a new dormltory Will be built
this year which will not only be the
finest IN the state, but one of the finest
N the country. With the present able
faculty, the present facilities ana others
which are III sight, and the ever in.
,reasIng numbers of earnest students,
L Is safe to prophecy that in a very few
years Alma College will stand at the
very head of colleges in the west.