Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-06-10

McDowelFs Etude No. SO. Rev. Lewis
Brooks of the class of '96, offered the
Invocation. In the salutatory, Mau-
rice Cole brought out the great debt
that the presnt civilization owes to the
men and women of past years for the
wonderful treasures of learning that
have been handed down. He spoke i'm
part as follows. "Since the beginning
of time, sacrifice for brothers has been
one of the most powerful forces for
the advancement Of the race. Only
thru the unselfishness Of those who
have gone before our present state Of
development has come TO exist. Only
thru the toll and sacrifice of the mil
lions that have lived and passed on,
could the comforts and advantages we
now enjoy be possible. Thus we see
that the whole problem Of life is a
social one. We cannot live unto our
selves alone. We cannot rest content
to secure for our individual selves.
pleasure and happiness. Our world
must be the world of our fellows; our
acts must contribute to the welfare
Of the race"
Miss Gladys Dershem in her Vale
dictory address, reviewed the four
years Che present seniors had spent
under the guidance of Or Bruske and
Dr. Blaisdell, and Of the many tri-
umphs and downfalls that they had
met with. She spoke at length on
what Alma as a college for Charac-
ter" had done for the graduating class
of the learning that had been instilled
in them and of the great love they
would cherish for their Alma Mater.
Professor Veatch rendered Leonca-
vaiio's (Pogliaec) in a very pleasing
manner, and then the audience stood
and sang JOY to the World.
The Commencement address by the
Rev Charles Ernest Scott. Of the class
Of '9s, on the subject of "A Vision of
the Worlds need of Christ, was one
of the most masterful talks ever given
before an Alma audience. Rev. Scott
is deep thinker; man of exceptional
literary ability, which was conclusive
ly proven by his wonderful use of the
English language and an orator of the
highest type. Give a man these three
essentials and a great understanding
of his subject, and an audience can not
help but be moved and inspired to
greater action.
Rev Scott in very interesting and
highly instructive way, reviewed the
history of the present European war,
and of the countries participating in
it, showing how all the so-caled civil
lized countries of Europe were being
weakened financially, and too, in a far
greater way, by the loss of the young
manhood of their countries. What
does this bear towards the worlds need
of Christ? 1t means that European
countries, while in the midst of a great
war which is sapping their very life
out, cannot keep up their work in for
eign mission fields. Millions of lives
must be lost in heather countries be-
cause Europe must keep money, that
otherwise would go to foreign mission
airy work, at home to buy ammunition
to kill thousands of Christian young
men. Ii is now up to the college gra-
duate of the christian college OF the
United States TO come to the rescue
of the heather countries. Rev. Scott
brought out the great disaster that
VIII come as result of the war, be-
cause of the contact of heather ma
tions on civilized countries. Graduates
of Alma and all other Christian col
leges can do great service to them
selves, their civilization and their Mas
ter, by taking up this great need of
Christ in uncivilized nations. This
work cannot be done by old people.
but must be carried on by college
graduates, who have the advantage of
college training, and who have the
vim and energy to take up the task.
Rev. Scott will be remembered by
many Alma people as he was brought
up and educated in the schools of this
city. While in Alma College he was n
leader in all branches of social life.
being an orator, student, athlete and
a Christian worker. II was pleasure
for his many friends to hear him de-
liver such a wonderful address.
Immediately after Rev. Scott was
given his honorary degree of Doctor
of Divinity, Doctor Barley of Detroit
who is President of the Board of
Trustees, called Doctor Blaisdell to the
center of the platform, and irf behalf
of the board which he represented.
thanked the retiring president of the
college for the wonderful work he had
done in making Alma college known
all over the United States.
After the benediction was offered
by Doctor Barley, the college song