On Wednesday morning at 9 o’clock Elon College opened its 36th annual session. The first official act of the opening was the chapel service held in the Mooney Building of Christian Education. The student body was called to meet there and take part in the opening chapel exercise.
President W.A. Harper presided at the service and made a few remarks of welcome to both old and new students. He then continued with a few very timely remarks on the purpose of a college, laying particular stress on five points which go to make up this purpose. He told the new students that they were to look for these five things here at this college, and if they did not find them that it was their duty to themselves and to their Alma Mater to help develop the mind to see that they became a part of the college life. The first of these was scholarship and development of the mind. It being the most obvious thing toward which a college should strive, takes first place, but in so placing it first Dr. Harper inferred that it was not to be put so far ahead that we would lose sight of the others, which are physical development, self-expression, or leadership training in the classes, societies, debates, religious organizations, and on the field of athletic endeavor, character development that leads to the well-rounded Christian womanhood or manhood.
His remarks were then concluded by saying that in these five things were found the real test of what a college was worth, and whether or not each individual student made them his individual goals determined the worth of that student.
Dean A.L. Hook was then introduced to the students and he made some announcements relative to matriculating.
Professor Velie was then introduced to the students, and he gave a short talk on “The Place of Music in College Life.” Professor Velie made a very interesting talk and paid some very high compliments to the physical features of our campus, which we all love so dearly. He said that the appeal of music was three-fold. It makes its appeal to the intellectual, to the spiritual and to the physical side of life. Following this up he went on to show how this made music the universal language.
The audience was then favored by two musical selections, a duet by Miss Fisher and Mrs. Velie and a violin solo by Miss Shoop.
Dr. Harper then made a few more announcements and in doing so he very highly complimented the college publication, and advised all of the student body to always give it their most loyal support.
Then there was a number of the program which brings back memories of many other days to the old students. The college song was sung by the student body and thus was demonstrated the eternal spirit which comes to us from years gone by and which is ours to keep and to elevate to yet higher planes.
Dr. Alexander made a short talk on “Self-Adjustment to Environment.” He said, “Religion is the only course in the curriculum which every student can take and take successfully.” The College pastor went on to say that not all students can successfully pursue English or Mathematics or Foreign Languages or the Sciences, but there is no student who cannot take the practice of religion with good success. He spoke of the place of the religious life in the Christian College, and urged all students to give due attention to the development and culture of the spiritual along with their pursuit of the literary and professional subjects.
Dr. Alexander’s opening sermon to the students will be on the second Sunday in September at the 11 o’clock hour in the Whitley Auditorium, and students will look forward with pleasure to hearing him at that time.
As is the usual custom President Harper will make the opening address on the first Sunday morning. Dr. Harper’s power as a religious speaker is well known to all who have heard him, and this opportunity to hear hi is always looked forward to by all old students.
Dr. J.O. Atkinson dismissed with prayer.
From the front page of the Maroon and Gold, Elon College’s student newspaper, Sept.2, 1925.
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/2015236757/1925-09-02/ed-1/seq-1/
No comments:
Post a Comment