Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-06-15

year. BY the time for the exercises
to start, the chapel was crowded, ex-
cept of course for the seats reserved
for the graduates. At 10: 90 the acad-
emic procession from Wright hall
started and slowly, the members of
the faculty, board of trustees, the
graduates and almuni wendell their
way to the chapel
Rev. Hugh N. Ronald opened the
exercises with the invocation, after
which the Women's Glee club render
ed a charming selection. President
II. NJ. Crooks introduced the COM
mencement speaker, Rev. Joseph
Vance, ID. d., of Detroit, who spoke ON
the subject, The Soul of America"
In his splendid address to the
graduating class, Rev. Vance took the
idea that the history of any country
is the expression of the soul of the
country. American history is the ex-
preston of the soul of this country.
In American life there is a certain
spirit that is constantly reaching out,
and giving fruit in national life. The
old American stock holdss way, against
the many who come into the United
States. The children of the emigrants
are caught in the grip of Americanism
and absorbed. That American stock
holds sway is shown from the fact
that with one exception, all of our
presidents have been from stock that
resided in America before the Revo-
luton. He said that the most foolish
word of Henry. Ford's was that he
never read history.
People have not hesitated to say
what they thought about America,
but globe trotters cannot get ac-
quainted with America. They skim
over the surface, and he quoted to
some length from various works to
show the countless number of different
conceptions that the European has Of
America.
Among the characteristics of the
Soul of America he put forth a
love for liberty. Ii breathes in every
line of the constitution and of Lin
coins Gettysburg address. 1t has
made countless great men, and they
were enumerated from the time of
Washington, down through the pres
ent day leaders of America.
Another was a love of fairplay,
showing i'm the first amendments to
the constitution of the United States,
with which everyone, from the grades
up is most familiar
A passion for work a third great
characteristic of the Soul of America.
The American loves TO crowd in work,
has always been in the country. Amer
hasalways been in the country. Amer
leans may talk too much of size, but
size is all right when it's a home
run. With facts and figures he proved
that overwork in America was not
the cause of our great insanity" and
early death, that American had less
of each than the leading European
countries. He also disputed that time
honored idea that America worships
the dollar. He claimed and rightly,
that America admires that talent that
made the dollar-the might of the
man who can make it-not the dollar
The last characteristic Of the Soul
of America is national idealism. Ideal
social life, and to achieve the ideal
with the supreme word, struggle to
become better, one and all. Proof,
enough of this. The milionares, who
create, and found new institutions,
that education may be democratic.
America, which gives more to religion
than any other country, because
America believes in religion.
In closing he brought the idea to
the graduates that it was up to them
to aid in the work of keeping Amer
lea rejuvinated, TO go through life,
not numbering men, but loving them.
With the close of the address the de-
grees, honors and certificates were
awarded to the graduates of the reg
ular collegec curse, the two year
kindergarten course and the music
Following is a list of the graduates
of the regular college course, and the
degrees and honors conferred upon
them by Alma college: Oscar Ander-
son of Omena, A. b. (Artium Bac-
calaurei); Edward Bahlke of Alma,
A. B.; Alonzo Beshgetoor of Alma, S.
b., (Scientiae BaccalaureD; Marica
Ann Carl of Howell, A. B.; Ralph
Chisholm of Breckenridge, A. B.;
Auda Gill of Pellston, A. B.; Bernice
Ireland of Grand Ledge, A. b., mag
ma cum laude; T. f. Johnson of Cold
water, A. B.; Otha McCracken Of AL
den, A. b., cum laude; Monte Nc
FarIane of Linwood, A. B., cum
'laude; Arthur John Mcintyre of
Alma, A. b.; T. Lucille McQuade of
Detroit, A. B.; Alfred Papworth of
Howell, A. b., magma cum laude;
Marion Parsons of Charlevoix, A. B.;
Thomas Arnold Robinson, of Alma, A.
b.; Harry Staver Of Saginaw, A. b.,
cum laude and Verne NanDuZen of
Breckenridge, 5. b.
The twenty-three students finishing
the kindergarten course Of the X. G..
department of Alma college are:
e Ill.
field of Yale, Christina Bromley of
Mecosta, Bess Brown of Farwell, Edna
Campbell of Alma, Ermah Colling of
Mayville, leila Conner of Deming, New
Mexico; r. Lucille Lott OF Holt, Eva
NJ Merrill of Breckenridge, Helen X.
Mitchell of Harrisville, Gladys Myers
of Owosso, Vera G.. Reid of Lapeer,
Irene Remington of Norwalk, Ohio;
Miss Esther Ricketts, of Pana, Illinois;
Emily Slocum of Mt. Clemens, Ber-
nice Sweet of Alma, Hazel Tuck of
Marlette, Martha Volz of Saginaw,
Gladys Watkins of Milford, Ruth Yves
ton of Sault st. Marie, and Ethel
Zipp of Bay Shore.
Certificates in music were awarded
to Miss Eva Barnes of Charlotte, Lena
Beverly of Alma and to Merle Mckay
of Brown City.
Following these awards, the degree
of d. d., was conferred upon Rev.
Barnes. and announcements relative to
the meeting of the board of trustees
before mentioned, were made. The
commencement exercises were brought
to close with the Alma colleg song
and the benediction by Rev. George
Barnes, ID. d., of Battle Creek.
Immediately following the COM
l1nchenn was held at