The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1910-06-09

To the Alumni Association OF Berea
College.
My Dear Friends:
|. will be for Regen. Ellis, or o,her
representatives of the Faculty u eX-
tend the right hand Of welcome at
the coming triennial reunion, but
even frUm this far place / may send
word OF greeting and goodwill.
These gatherings come only once In
three years. AID II Is one Of my chief
regrets in being absent at ,his com
mencement that | must miss the rare
aud much priced opportunity Of .N-
changing sslutations and hearing o.
your progress and prosperity from
your own lips.
When / address the s,uden.s the re-
gular formula is My Young Friends
shall | use the same form for you IL
the Alumni? Berea Is already ven
cradle institution, and some OF It's
gradua es must be attaining dignity.
/ truly nope the coming occasion will
promote acquaintance between the
younger and the older genera ions
of students. | believe that more than
half our graduates have attained thai
dignity during the present administra-
ton, since 1892 The older graduates
nave a special Importance, and We
wish their traditions and influence
TO be felt. The younger graduates have
a special importance. and We wish
their enthusiasm and fresh strength
to be felt also.
trust you all realize that l should
let the Alumni hear from me far more
frequently II II had not been for the Sc
verify OF the struggle to keep the col
lege alive-a struggle which has him
dered me from keeping up correspond
ence with my own family. and fin
ally put me out OF commission for
this long year.
We may thank Divine Providence
that the Institution has survived, and
has exhibited that best sign Of fit
ness 10 live-growth. / cannot now
flttlngly comment on the direction OF
this growth, or the enforced changes
Of the last years. The growth has
been from the bottom up-endowment,
land. students. influence growth
hat promises more growth. II the
President may be permitted 20 spend
little time In Berea personally
supervising the religious and educa-
tional work, the true significance Of
this growth may be made more appar-
ent still in spiritual results. You
will find that Berea has made many
Internal improvements since your
own student days. and that her
chief shortcomings are such as are
all but unavoidable considering the
severity OF the struggle through which
she has been passing during the past
eighteen years.
The changes eliminating in the
founding OF Lincoln Institu Q we stead
fas,ly resisted. and shall always de-
plore. At the same time there is
no reason why We Suoulu hoI hohc
the most OF such incidental advantages
as arise from these changes. The two
institutions will each have a more
simple task, and together they may
accomplish a marvellous amount OF
good
shall hope to say something OF
the Lincoln Institute when its cor
ner stones are laid In coming months.
Of Berea as the homing place of our
Alumni | will say few words now.
The college home is the mos stable
center of ones earthly attachments.
The college changes. but 1t is always
a change for the bet.er-the change
of perpetual youth. And the college
remains forever an Alma Mater that
prays for and inspires her children.
Berea is near the center of the
population of our land, beautiful for
situation" and every year more easily
reached from every quarter. She has
a large faculty of men and women
you may all be proud TO have connec-
ton with | beg you 10 become ac-
quainted with the people who are