Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-09-18
GOOD ATTENDANCE
At ALMA COLLEGE
Presbyterian Institution Opened
Yesterday with Bright
Prospects for Year.
JOHNSON GAVE THE ADDRESS
Clear Thinking, Service. Honest
Motives and Faith Are What is
Needed. He Said.

Alma college opened for its thirty
second year Wednesday, with an at
tendance of over two hundred on the
opening day, and which is expected
10 increase to such an extent that
before the year is over the college
will have the best attendance in its
history.
At noon yesterday the enrolment
had reached 20S, and it was certain
that few Of the students had not
registered 1t is also expected that
z few will enter late. OF this num-
Der nearly 100 were enrolled for the
regular college courses.
This attendance will, if it does not
create a new record within the COM
ing weeks, place the present college
year among the three best in the
history of the Presbyterian institu-
tion, and speaks well for the school
IN the face of the fact that few
service men have been able to return
and take up their college work. This
means that a large number of the
students at the college this year are
new comers to Alma, as the upper
classes at the institution had been
hit hard by the large number of
young men who were called to the
service.
1t was stated yesterday afternoon
that every room at Wright hall had
been taken, and that there were a
number of men on the waiting list,
who are seeking rooms in Pioneer
hall
The opening address Of the college
year was given at the first chapel
service which was held yesterday
morning, the speaker being the Hon.
T. +. Johnson of Coldwater, super
intendent of Public instruction for
Michigan. This was the first ap-
pearance of Mr.. Johnson in Alma
since he became superintendent of
Public instruction, and the students
of his Alma Mater greeted him
warmly, when ne was introduced by
President II. NJ. Crooks.
Mr.. Johnson in his address called
attention to four things which were
needed to make life worth while. TO
think clearly, to be of service, to have
an honest motive, and to have faith
and trust.
In bringing out the need of clear
thinking Mr. Johnson called attention
to present day conditions which are
keeping the world in a termoil, and
called attention to the fact that they
r.,ttlA n,,ltr ha aI ~ dfe.,,ee,o,,
and by clear thinking, and not be
having thought stified.
In calling attention to the need Of
service a strike of kindergarten
teachers in one city in the west was
brought out as an example. They
had struck for three hours teaching
work instead of three and one-half
hours, and yet they had in their
hands the moulding of the lives of the
young that they might later become
serviceable citizens. 1t was brought
out that there was great salts
faction in service rendered.
His plea for an honest motive
caused him to turn to his own pro-
fession for his example. He called
attention TO the millions which were
being spent for good roads in Michi-
gan. because of the trust that every
one had in Frank +. Rogers, state
highway commissioner. and then
brought out the hard task that he
had had in securing $4,000 from the
Legislature for his work in connection
with the public schools of the state,
intmating that greater confidence
was needed in the department by the
hard-headed Legislators, to bring the
results, which could only come
through honest motives.
In closing he brought out that with
faith and trust all things of worth,
and the fulness of life might be
gained.