Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-06-15
ENDOWMENT FUND STARTED
Eighteen From Regular Course
and Twenty-three From
kindergarten Graduate

Active life at Alma college came To
q close on Wednesday morning, with
the annual Alma college commence
ment, for eighteen seniors, who have
been taking the regular college course,
for twenty-three young ladies who
nave been taking the two year kinder
garten course and to one young lady,
who graduated from the Alma college
Department of Music.
The commencement week activities,
that brought a fitting close TO the
college life of this near half hundred
young men and ladies, started on Sun
day. On the morning of that day, the
Farewell communion service was held
at the Firest Presbyterian church, and
that evening, President Harry Means
Crooks of the college gave the baccal-
aureate address, to those who have
reached the top of ,ne hill and are
now finding another hill, which must
be surmounted before the battle Of
life is Ger.
With the exception of a couple rows
Of seats in the front of the church,
reserved for the graduates. and facul-
", the church was crowded to capac-
ity, and there were many standing in
the hooks and corners, from which
they might gaze at the graduates and
hear the address, wnen time for the
service arrived.
Lead by the faculty in academic
gowns, in order of their ranking, fac
ulty, seniors and kindergarten gradu-
ates marched into the church at 1880
.. M, and slowly wended their way
70 the front of the church, where their
seats had been reserved. The regu-
lar routine of church service started,
Immediately that the graduates were
seated, but there was a difference that
for good, and the idea of a speedy
could be marked. Many were leaving
parting was not pleasant to the many
who have made hundreds of friend
ships, some of which will be contin-
ued through life, but most of which
will die now that commencement is
over. Soon President Crooks arose,
stepped TO the pulpit, and a wave
swept over the large audience. That
for which they had been waiting was
coming.
The address given by the new Alma
president was a strong one. 1t could
not fail to touch the minds and
hearts of the graduates, and deeply
impress them, as it did the many who
attended, solely to hear the words of
the late conner, with whom the gradu-
ates have walked a portion of their
college life.
With an intensely sincere ring in
mis- voice, President Crooks, asked the
graduates for a life of usefulness,
and one coupled with Christianity
True success in life means useful
ness, and with Christianity many
things are opened up, that aid in max
ing the life more full, more pleasant,
and one of peace and good will.
In part President Crooks said: "We
long for life. 1t is vne greatest gift
of gracious God. To take it from an
other is the acme of crime; the muir
derer of the mortal who has longest
TO live and the most to live for is un-
r II
The family is solely to bring life
into the world and train it. The home
is the institution that makes more
than a noble animal-a biped with a
upturned face. The home is the con-
Germ of the church, the object of gov
eminent. Destroy it and the struc-
ture of our civilization lies in more
hopeless debris than the fragments
of skyscraper after a San Fancisco
disaster or a modern bombardment.
With life so desired, so protected
and so cultivated it is only to be
expected that attempts have been
made to create life anew
What vain search it has been. To
produce real life in every-so-low a
form, so low that the ordinary lay
I, man can be convinced it is life at all
Ut is impossible
Far away from the glory that was
Greece and the grandeur that was
Rome there dwelt long ago a peculiar
people. Their own government was
gone. There remained memories of
kings, who had dwelt in splendor and
wealth, whose knowledge had been
profound and whose justice sure.
Their national spirit was crushed. Oc-
casionally an ancient saying found ut
terance again that great king would
come and to him the rest Of the world
would come bending for terms of
peace. Many had abandoned hope Of