Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-10-17

Standing AT the head. the first UNI
conscious builder OF Alma, is a stall
wart figure. In physique, in mind,
in initiative. in energy he was stall
wart A dominant personality looked
forth through his eyes. He had a
command of a vertable Captain of
Industry He had the spirit of the
pioneer. He laid the axe upon the
great trees. made clearing and
carved OUT a fortune. With the value
of education in appreciation of Alma,
he began to build educational insti-
tutions here. And he builded better
than he knew. When the Synod sent
out its committee to consider the
founding of the college and to dis
cover the means of founding the in
stitution, il did not know of him.
The committee did not discover him,
but he discovered IT, He heard their
needs, he learned their plans, he
weighed their purposes and motives,
he made them his guests for day,
and, then this princely gentleman, Of
another communion, laid down at the
feet of this committee of Presby-
teriaus. grounds and buildings worth
at the very least $4,000, the nucleus
of great educational equipment.
And from that moment the existence
OF Nina college was made a certain
~ by the generosity OF Mr. Ammi w.
Wright He added yet other gifts
as the years went by, till the grand
total must be hardly less than $780,
600 And more than that he gave
himself as the friend and counsellor
of Alma. By his freshly made grave
we pause today in grateful memory
of his generous gifts
The address continued with fine
tributes to Alexander Folsom of Jay
City and especially to DIR. Wight, for
it seems TO that notable gentleman,
more than To any other is due the
lions share OF the credit for the real
beginning Around him were attract
ed by the force of his wonderful per-
sonality and infinite endeavor group
of noted men. who through his in
fluence were attracted to the project
OF the college and gave literally to
its founding and preservation Among
them was the Hon. Nathan b. Brad
ley, member of congress and a
wealthy lumberman He was one
of Natures noblemen. A man of
large vision and great business in
terests. his time, his wisdom. his
money were freely given to the max
ing of Alma
To the ministers of that day grand
tributes were given and especially to
Darwin c. Smalley, Rev. VIM A.
McCorkle and Rev. David Mack
Cooper, D. D., for their great wis
dom and guidance. Speaking of Dr.
Cooper. the following was said: He
sent to Alma the Benjamin of his
heart 10 be trained there, and the
stored treasures of wisdom that had
enriched his own life, were laid by
him in Alma's library"
In the highest terms were Dr. Ct.
+. Hunting, first president OF the col
lege, Miss Mary c. Gelston, the first
ladies principal, DR.. Kendall Brooks,
and Prot J w. Ewing, that noble
man and father Of the present Prof.
Ewing" spoken Of
and here Is another that must be
named in the honor roll of Alma
He was pioneer in the enterprise,
lie was one Of the first trustees IL
was the second president of the col
lege. called to that high place before
the first college class had been grad
uated and there to give every dip
Iona hitherto conferred by the col
lege. was Rev August +. Bru>ke.
D. d., IL. ID. DR. BruSke was called
to the presidency in critical period
of the history Of the college. He left
most attractive passionate to take
this weighty charge upon him. And
from that time on for him to live
was Alma. This one thing | do"
was his motto. He thought Alma, he
talked Alma he dreamed Alma He
was Alma incarnate. After twenty
one years of such service to this
synod in its college, DR.. Bruske asked
to be relieved of its executive duty.
He laid down the presidency full of
labors and Of honors. Your repre-
sentatves of the Board of Trustees
released him and conferred upon him
the highest honorary degree given by
the college and they babe him, in
your name, go apart and rest awhile.
If you would see his monument and
the monument of the mighty men
who wrought with him unto this day,
look about you
and now turning in the tenderest
regard from a past pathetic splendid
and inspiring, we face the Turing fue
ture We clasp hands with the new
order and the new opportunity. We
hail the incoming administration We
pledge t Our prayers, our gifts and
our condolences and our cooperation
1t finds Alma brick May it leave it
stone. 1t finds an endowment of a
few hundred thousands; may it leave
it millions. 1t finds here already es-
tablished, solid reputation for
sound learning. May it leave it a
luster of letters full high advanced.
1t finds here enthroned the Christ