Literary Societies of Wingate Junior College at Third Annual Society Day, Oct. 9, 1923

Young Hopefuls Show the Public . . . Wingate Students Come Into the Open and Tell How to Do Things

Wingate, Oct. 6—The four literary societies of Wingate Junior College today forgot their friendly rivalry and joined hand in hand to celebrate in a fitting manner their annual Society Day. Live orations, a spirited debate, and special music featured the morning exercises, while the evening program consisted of declamations, recitations, readings, quartets, trios, and special instrumental numbers. A large audience for the evening exercises gives its approval of the exercises in no unmistakable terms.

The exercises began in the morning at 10:30 with orations. Tilero Threatt, representing the Gladstone society, spoke first on “Southern Progress,” tracing the development of the South, especially in the last few years.

He was followed by Howard Williams of the Philosophian Society, who spoke on the unique topic, “Justice to the Jew.”

Clyde E. Baucom, Gladstone, spoke next on “Friendships,” while Platt Russell, Philosophian, concluded the orations with the thoughtful subject, “Talented Ambition, the guide to success.”

These orations were followed by some vocal selections rendered by the college quartet. They were preceded by a special piano duet, “Overture to Tancredi,” played by Misses Cox and Irvin.

Next came the debate on the question, “Resolved that the United States should join the permanent court of international justice.” The affirmative was presented by Grant Britt of the Gladstone society, and Carl Parker of the Philosophian society. The negative side was upheld by Cyrus Helms of the Gladstone society, and Robert Gaddy of the Philiosophian. The decision of the question was given to the negative, unanimously.

The concluding part of the day’s program was held this evening, beginning at 7:30 o’clock. The first part of the program consisted of four declamations by representatives of the Gladstone and Philiosophian societies. Charles McIntire, Phi., spoke first on “The Home and the Government.” He was followed by Perry Bowers, Gladstone, who spoke on “The Demand of the Present.” Benton Edwards, Phi., third declaimer, gave the speech “Royal Manhood” and Bryce Parker ended this part of the program with “The New South.”

The second part of the evening program was given by representatives from the McNeill and O’Henry societies, and proved one of the most interesting. It consisted of the following:

Piano solo. Faust Waltz, Verdi Perry, O’Henry;

Essay on John Charles McNeill, Beatrice Burrell, McNeill;

History of the O’Henry Society, Daisy Tucker. O’Henry;

Recitation—The Willing Worker, Gladys Bass, McNeill;

Live of O’Henry, Marian Funderburk, O’Henry;

Vocal solo, In the Time of Roses, Ailean Crews, McNeill;

Reading—Iscariot, Ruby Perry, O’Henry;

Prophecy of O’Henry Society, Alma Moose, O’Henry;

Recitation—Alameda, Nora Lee Gaddy, McNeill;

Vocal trio—Bonnie Harrell, Joe V. McManus and Hester Freeman, of the O’Henry society;

Reading, Helen Secrest, O’Henry;

Piano solo—To the Sun, Torjusson, by Elizabeth Graham, McNeill.

This occasion makes the third annual celebration that the four societies have held jointly, and it grows in interest and popularity each succeeding year, to-day’s celebration reaching the high water mark for such events. This public program helps to stimulate interest in society work, and it gives to the public an insight into what the societies are doing for the students of the school. For, week after week, behind closed doors, these young hopefuls declaim, recite, “extempo-rare,” and argue every conceivable question, deciding momentous questions for our government and the other nations of the world, but profit by their decisions. So this public demonstration is simply a public way of showing what is being done. The public today showed its appreciation by the large attendance, especially at the evening exercises. The day is expected to develop into a regular home-coming occasion when old students will return and revive “Their Yesterdays” with their former classmates.

The third annual Society Day of Wingate Junior College is history.

From the front page of the Monroe Journal, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 1923