Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-06-13
18TH Anniversary.
Continued from page one

came 10 Alllld SOlleSc lIOlll very
successful pastorate of the First Pres
byterian church at Kalamazoo. The
first president at once endeared HIM
self to all the students and faculty
by his goodness of heart. His fine
religious, social and intellectual quail
i6cations caused him to stand out
conspicuously while his bearing and
eloquence won for the institution
many firm and staunch friends. DR..
Hunting served as president from
September in 1887 until April, 1891.
Upon the acceptance of his resigna-
ton. DIR. A. +. Bruske was unani-
,lously chosen as his successor,
From the beginning, Dr. Bruske
has been conspicuously identified
with the colleges welfare and life.
Through his influence and work he
had given to the infant institution
great strength Because of his work
and the exceptionally strong charac-
ter, DR.. Bruske was elected to the
presidency.
AS is true with all institutions of
its kind, the first years of its exist
ence saw the college in dire financial
straits that often threatened to ruin
al the hopes upon which it had been
founded. The college needed a strong
man at its head who could pilot
through the uncertain years of
youth and bring a firm and sure foun-
dation.
The qualifications of President
Bruske have many times been proven
but the greatest fact in evidence is
the institution, Alma college as she
stands and lives today. But there is
the evidence of the early life of the
president which was considered by
the trustees. Born in 1S47 at Rochen,
Germany, DR.. Bruske immigrated to
this country with his parents in the
year 1856 and settled at East Sagi
nav, from which place the family
moved the next year to Nankin town
ship in Wayne county. Here the
Doctor spent the rest of his boyhood.
At the age Of twenty-five, he had
finished at the Academy of Adrian
college and graduated from the col
legiate department At the begin
ming of his college course the great
Civil War was raging at its height.
The call of country came to him and
at the age of seventeen he enlisted in
the .rmy of the Potomac, seeing two
years of hard fighting. Upon receiv-
ing an honorable discharge at the
close of the war, he returned to his
college work AT the completion of
his college course he took a course
at Drew Theological Seminary, fin
fishing at that school in 1871.
DR.. Bruske accepted a call from
the FIRST Congregational church at
Charlotte the same year that he fin
ished at Drew Seminary. A very sue
cessful ministry marked his six years
at Charlotte from which place he was
called to field of larger work, be-
coming pastor of the First Presby-
terrain church at Saginaw and at once
he became one of the leading minis
tiers of the state President Bruske
continued his work with extraordi-
nary success at Saginaw until 1891
when he accepted the Presidency of
Alma college.
The work of President Bruske is
best shown by the comparison Of the
college at the time he became its
head and the college of this, his re-
firing year. In 1891 the college had
a $4,000 endowment This has been
increased to over $400,00O In 1891
there were one hundred and twenty
five students while today the college
has three hundred. The music de-
partment has been built up. The fac
ulty has been increased to twenty-six
members. The Museum, Gymnasium,
Wright Hall, Library, and Davis
Field have all been acquired through
the endeavors of President Bruske
These are ear marks of success that
stand out so plainly of the Presidents
extraordinary executive ability
This year marks the closing Of Dr.
Bruske's work as head of Alma col
lege. The building of Alma college
has been his lfe's work. He has
built we'll Where another would have
undoubtedly failed, he has succeed
ed and to measure the success Of his
work take the work the college has
done, the college itself and the great
and faithful alumni that are winning
their laurels in the different nations
OF the world
To complete the history of col
1ege there is needed the mention of
the student activities. There are six
fourishing literary societies, the
Classical and Science clubs, the Ath-
letic Association the Oratorical Asso-
citation and Debating League. The
Y. NJ c. A. and the Y. w. c. A. are
two strong religious organizations.
The Albanian, the weekly paper pub
1ished by the students is one of the
few, that is published by the colleges
of the west. Each year the Junior
class puts out an annual In Ath
1etics Alma is leader in the Michi-
gan intercollegiate Associations. Her
record in oratory and debating makes
her feared upon the platform. Her
gospel teams composed OF members
of the Y. M. c. A. are doing a