Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-09-30
COLLEGE OPENING ADDRESS
Continued from page p
Tennyson's verse,
Stands foursquare to every
wind that blows"

Stands foursquare TO every
wind that blows"
And if we are to educate men SYM
critically we must educate them on
all four sides of thir being. The man
or woman who is not so educated is
educated unto deformity. If it were
something that sense could discern
it would look worse than a highly de
veloped body with a shrivelled arm
hanging to it. In these late days, we
have been discovering ourselves social
ly. The educational leaders have dis
covered that mankind needs social
education. And now our schools are
being made social cenjers, so-called.
So far, we'll But has this education
al genious discovered or recognized
the religious side OF man as needing
culture? Only spasmodically and
spcradically. We are glad to ack-
nowlcdge the blessed. saving grace
in many teachers, in many communi-
ties and in many school boards that
prevents complete divorce of edu-
cation and religion in the schools Of
The state. This fourth dimension"
OF manhood and womenhood, the re-
ligious dimension, the last to meet
recognition at other hands, has, from
the first, had recognition in the Am
erican Christian College That is the
only place where, today, this funda-
mental and essential element in man
meets its fullest and freest encour-
agement, emphasis and culture. 1t
was with the purpose of providing
sound learning in connection with re-
ligious training that the fathers OF
Alma College founded it nearly a
generation ago. 1t was for this they
prayed and poured OFT their treasures
and dedicated themselves to this col
lege. 1t is for this we still labor and
pray and seek richer endowment for
our college. Their never was a louder
Christian Leaders in America than
today. They are needed not merely
ao ministers and missionaries of the
cross, but as bankers, business men,
lawyers, physicians, queens of society
statesmen and as warriors too. We
here are trying with all too made
quate means, to strengthen the re-
ligious forces of the college. We
would have the English Bible as
strongly taught here as the truth in
any other department of useful and
cultural knowledge is taught. With
solicitude that is personal as touch
ing each of you; tins; is patriotic as
touching our country beloved; that is
academic as touching our College. we
beseech YOU who make up this col
lge community, you students and you
professors and instructors, to en-
phas.ze with utmost stress the fourth
end browning dimension OF education.
Above every other distinction wish
it might be The distinction of this coll
lege that here is impaired to, and
received by, every student a nurture
that, while being finely intellectual,
physical and social, is supremacy
spiritual in its regenerative power
and attractiveness.
". | have in the last paragraph
or two, touched upon one or two
things that by association of ideas,
suggest the fourth thing by the way,
Of which | should speak. / have al
luded to the insufiiciency of our means
and to the fact that, as the fathers of
the College prayed and paid money
to endow the College, so their success
ors are praying and planning for a
larger endowment. We are doing this
for the generations of youth who are
yet unborn, as you were unborn when
the fathers planned for this college
for you. We are doing this for your
sake who are now here. And we want
you who are here to help us as we are
trying TO help you. What can we
do?" you ask. A distinguished edu-
Gator, famous for getting money, was
asked what he did to inspire gifts. He
said that "his duty was to create a
vacuum into which money would nat
urally flow" All of US Alma people,
President and faculty, students and
Trustees, alumni and patrons, must
conspire to create a vacuum" here
into which volumes of money may
flow. The trustees are already en-
listed in this cause. They have secur-
ed President with reputation FOR
securing endowments. We expect
much of him. But you. right here in
college, can aid most powerfully in