The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-04-04
PREPAREDNESS
A VIVID FACT
With President v. F. PeiFCG
Of Kenyon College
HAS FORMED A RIFLE CLUB
COMPOSED OF PRACTICALLY EN-
TIRE STUDENT BODY; 700
YARD RANGE USED
HAS FORMED A RIFLE CLUB
(Ohio State Journal.) }

(Ohio State Journal.)
To President w. f. Peirce of Ken
yon college, preparedness is more
than a mere theory.
President Peirce, whose address
"If Washington Were President" will
! be a stirring number on the patriotic
program at Memorial hall Wednesday
night, believes that every American
youth should know how to handle an
army rife.
He says that real preparedness
must consist in action rather than
talk, and on this basis has organized
a rifle club at Kenyon college in Gam
bier.
Practically the entire student body
is included in the membership, as
we'll as many townsmen, while some
of the most enthusiastic marksmen
are the college professors and the
president himself.
A 700-yard range has been laid out
on the college grounds and Spring
field rifles have been furnished by the
government.
DR.. Peirce, who is clergyman in
the Episcopal church, does not think
| that defense of the nations rights is
| inconsistent with Christian ethics.
Kenyon alumni in Columbus point
out that DR.. Peirce, in assuming lead
ership in military preparedness by
the students, is following the classic
and patriotic example of Rev. Lorin
Andrews, Kenyon's Civil war presi-
dent, who was among the first men
in Ohio to enlist when Lincoln called
for volunteers, and who Immediately
organized the Kenyon students into
military company and led them to
the front in the service of the Union
The famous Fighting McCooks," "
whose picture hangs in the state
house, were members of the Kenyon
company, Fourth Volunteer Infantry
of Ohio.
Young men who know how to use
an army rifle and who have had the
advantage of military discipline will
| be able to stand their country in
great stead" said DR.. Peirce yester-
day. Our instruction in these mat
ters at Kenyon is very practical and
GERS"
w. p. Reeves, professor of English
at Kenyon, is secretary of the club,
which serves more purposes than pre-
paredness alone, he allirms. A ner.
yous person can do no better than
practice on the range, he says, be
cause target practice is ideal for the
coordination of the eye. will and
muscle.
Rifle shooting with the service
arm is no casual affair."" he says. III
develops conscientious effort, relia
bility and increased self-respect; it ii
not for the careless, irresponsible
thoughtless man. 1t is splendid train
ing in selfGontrol."
Other college and university presi
dents may follow the example set by
President Peirce at Kenyon. Presi
dent Hibben of Princeton university
is one who is much interested in the
Kenyon Rifle club.
President Peirce, as ready and of
fective an orator as he is a marks
man, will draw a powerful patriotic
lesson from the character of Georg'
Washington in his Memorial hall ad
dress Wednesday night.
All Columbus is invited to tn
meeting. Beside President Peirce
Mrs. Lindon NJ Bates of New Yorl
and former Governor Campbell vii
speak, and there will be patriotic mt
sic by the Trinity boys choir and tn
Democratic giee club