Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1919-05-09
A VICTORY RALLY
AT COMMENCEMENT

AT COMMENCEMENT
With a message of gratitude which
President Thomas sent out this week
to the alumni and friends who helped
Middlebury College to weather the
storms of war, he makes a rallying call
for a Victory Commencement this
year, hoping for the largest reunion Of
alumni and friends that Midd has ever
known. The commencement dates are
June 2l-23.
Especially, he says do we want
everyone back who has served under
the colors in the army or navy. Bring
your uniform and let it be seen what
Middlebury has done to help win the
war. Brigader General Foote, the
ranking Middlebury man in the army,
has already accepted our invitation to
| be present. What would we not give
today for a photograph on the old cam
pus of the Middlebury men who fought
from 6l to 65-General James M. War
ner, Colonel Aldace F. Walker, Major
Edwin H. Higley, and all the others?
Let us hand down such photograph
from this war Let everybody come "
1T has not been appropriate to urge
commencement attendance for several
years past. Several class reunions have
been postponed. But now is the time
to rally. Let each class Secretary get
busy at once. We shall have an at
tractive program, with several new
features. Remember the dates,-Sat-
urday, Sunday, and Monday, June 2l-
%"
Reporting on his resumption OF col
lege administration after six months
army service DR.. Thomas says he finds
the college in excellent condition.
The student attendance is 3l6, there
being 157 men and l59 women, which
is gratifying considering that enlist
ments in the army and navy and de-
mobilization of the S. A. T. c., last
December left the college with only
20 male students.
"The Liberty Endowment Fund" he
reports has enabled US to weather the
storms of war, as was promised when
its completion was so strongly urged.
100000 of the Fund has already been
collected, and the income from the
Liberty Bonds and other securities re-
ceived toward the Fund or purchased
from cash payments to April |, or for
the first ten months of the current
fiscal year, has been $9,05795. 1t is
the income from this fund which prom
ises to enable us to close this trying
war wear without a deficit
"We cannot be too grateful that the
college has come through the war per-
iod so successfully. While our atten-
dance has been seriously reduced, this
must be a temporary setback only,
from which we shall speedily recover
Financially we have actually effected
greater gain than in any equal number
of years in the history of the college
The increase of endowment since Won
Bernstorff received his passports has
been larger than the total funds col
lected by the college in the first 100
years of its history.
1.-TWO years ago great fear weighed
down our hearts We remembered the
disastrous period following the Civil
War, when the college was threatened
with extinction. Even if similar mis-
fortunes could be averted, it seemed
inevitable two years ago that growth
would be checked, and that the hope
full movement toward our historic par
ity with the best New England small
colleges would come to a stop. But
we need be no longer fearful The great
danger is over, and while we have still
much distance to traverse before we
reach our proper goal, the outlook for
the college was never brighter nor the
opportunities for service more at
tractive.
"On account of the illness of Pro-
fessor Wright soon after my commits
sion as Chaplain on October l. the
brunt of the labor and the response
bility for the management OF the col
lege since that date has fallen upon
Professor Edward D. Collins. The
period was a most trying one The dif-
ficulties and complications arising from
the Students Army Training Corps
were serious and constant. The sudden I
rehabilitation of the unit in December
made a virtual reorganization neces- ,
sary. Doctor Collins met the situation
with signal success and to him the col |
lege is deeply indebted for efficient SER
vice at a critical juncture.
"The spirit of the students was never
better than just now Harmony pre-
walls and ambition to raise Middlebury
in every respect. The col /
lege has the best of material to work .
upon, more to work with than ever be-
fore, and the brightest hopes for its
future are clearly justified. To all who
have contributed to its present pros
perity and whose kindly interest and
loyalty are the basis of con-
fidence for the coming years, l return