The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1918-09-21
Procession Marches to Zion College Building
With Flags Waving and Bands Playing
Opening Address By President Wilbur
Glenn Voliva
&C. B. W.


parting from the trodden path and blazing a
trail through the virgin wild whenever an ad-
vantage is to be gained.
All precedent was broken on September IL,
when the Third Year Of Zion Educational Insti-
tutions opened ON Friday-always regarded as
the last day Of the school week-instead Of on
Monday as is everywhere customary.
The advantages to be gained by this ar
rangement are varied In the first place, un-
like other Places the school year in Zion opens
with great parade through the streets, Of the
students and teachers, with banners and flying
colors, headed by Zion Senior Band.
Is not this enough to stir the hearts Of the
children and cause them to look forward to it
for weeks? To us who received our education
from a meager five months in the year in
little backwoods country school, what great
event it would have seemed in our childhood
days!
The parade is followed by opening exercises
in the Zion College Building, during which the
Word of God is read and an address delivered
by the President to the students and faculty
and the visitors present.
On the first school day of the two preceding
years, this occupied considerable portion of
the forenoon and broke into the regular work
attendant upon the opening OF school.
This year, a large portion of Friday was oc-
cupied with the preliminary work. such as
registration-no small task when nearly
thousand children are involved-and the
signment of books to the pupils. The students
then had the remainder Of the day and all day
Saturday in which to purchase their books, and
by Monday morning everything was ready to
move right out without delay or confusion.
The wisdom Of this arrangement was shown
by the fact that the eight grades Of the Junior
Department opened session on the tick OF the
clock Monday morning, and went right
through the class work according to program,
accomplishing full days work
Zion was again favored, on last Friday, with
beautiful weather for the reopening OF school.
Before a. M the children, students and
teachers began gathering at Shiloh Tabernacle
to form in line Of march for the parade to the
College Building. Hundreds of pupils could be
seen coming from all directions
AS they assembled in Shiloh Tabernacle they
were arranged in grades and sections on the
main floor of the auditorium, the location Of
each being designated by banners.
President Darms read portion OF the
One Hundred and Nineteenth Psalm:
how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all
the day.
Thou through Thy commandments hast made
wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me-
l have more understanding than all my teachers:
for Thy testimonies are my meditation
L understand
keep Thy precepts.
I have refrained my feet from every evil way,
that 1 might keep Thy word.
| have not departed from Thy judgments: LOT
Thou hast taught me.
How sweet are Thy words unto my taste! yea,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Through Thy precepts l get understanding
therefore 1 hate every false way.
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and light
unto my path.
l have sworn, and will perform it, that will
keep Thy righteous judgments.
1 afflicted very much: quicken me, o Lord
according unto Thy Word.
Accept, beseech Thee, the freewill offerings OF
my mouth, o Lord, and teach me Thy judgments
My soul is continually in my hand: yet do l not
forget Thy law.
The wicked have laid snare for me: yet erred
not from Thy preceptS
Thy testimonies have taken an heritage for
ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
l have inclined mine heart to perform Thy stat
utes alway, even unto the end.
Apostle Darms then led in prayer, asking
Gods blessing upon the children and the homes
represented, and closing with the words, q Keep
us under the shadow of Thy wing, safe and Sc /
cure until Jesus comes'
Immediately afterward, the procession was |
formed on the circular driveway north Of the
Tabernacle
The line of march was east on Shiloh Boule-
ward; south on Elijah Avenue and west on
Twenty Street to the College Building
AS the color bearers began to move forward
with flags flying, with the band playing and
with hundreds of pupils in line, it would have
stirred the enthusiasm of the most Indifferent
One could not imagine more beautiful or in
spring sight; nothing like it could be seen
anywhere else in the world.
The Zion Senior and Junior Bands played al
ternately during the entire march from the
Tabernacle to the College Building
Borne by Zion Guards at the head Of the pro-