KM\ET Meredith College / / Raleigh, North Carolina J Quarterly Bulletin A RETROSPECT A PROSPECT CENTRAL CIRCULATION BOOKSTACKS The person charging this material is re- sponsible for its return to the library from which it was borrowed on or before the Latest Date stamped below. Theft/ mutilation, and underlining of book* are reasons for disciplinary action and may result in dismissal from the University. TO RENEW CALL TELEPHONE CENTER, 333-8400 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN NOV 3 1992 When renewing by phone, write new due date below previous due date. L162 Series 18 JUNE, 1925 No. 4, Pt. 2 (Pen ^^g^@^SW^B%^fB^%l -JfaAuuf.- (Permission of Biblical Recorder) Series 18 JUNE, 1925 No. 4, Pt. 2 Meredith College QUARTERLY BULLETIN 1924-25 A RETROSPECT A PROSPECT Published by Meredith College in November, January, March, and June Entered as second-class matter, January 17, 1910, at the post-oflfice at Raleigh, N. C, under the act of July 16, 1894 Supplement g35 ALMA MATER 1 R. T. N h it Vann (y •> is s t ». 1 J . V J ^ 1 ■ iHl 1 m * -^—f— s- d v -. — J— ; i- -ff- -4- fc=J= ~^— 1. We sa - lute thee, Al - 2. Thou hast come thro' trib 3. In thy path the fields 4. Where the rho - do - den - 5. Where the sons of Car ^ ^ J. is h ma Ma - ter, ■ u - la - tion shall blossom dron blush - es • o - li - na v- \r we sa - and thy and the on the taught a 2 ^ r lute robe des - bur na - 1 -#- * thee with a is clean and ert shall re - - ly mountain's tion to be h in r^ -#- J -m- — & ■ 1 song, white, joice, breast, free, 1 fi\* « # # 9 P % • S a p r r 1 W I « * * • i* i* m * 1 ! & \ ■* r i i 1 ( v v v i * b 1/ 1 U f V 1 1 r rrm V al the At thy feet our loy Thou art fair - er than In the wil - der - ness a In the mid - land, where the And her daugh - ters taught their h V- I their mer ing deer love era to i r trib in foun ^- V I i ute lay ; its bloom, tain spring; to roam; be brave; I I i zpzr l fs I s p | V s 1 IS h x !/ IS IS 4 • ^ J ^ J n 1 /Pi ■" 9 4 ^ J J ^ * m * J I \(\\ m J S s m ' Z * - 1 \s\) m 9 m — m 9 f r i i i P /^ ' J i> C r J 1/ 1/ 1 1 w \> 1 f \> I We had wait - ed for thy com -ing in the dark - ness, wait - ed long, Thou art born Tan ■ to a king - dom and thy crown is all of light ; For the blind shall see thy beau - ty and the deaf shall hear thy voice, Where the wa - ter - lil - y slum ■ bers, while the cy - press guards its rest — O'er a land of i aeace-ful plen - ty, from the high - lands to the sea, t J" ! h IS |s I 1 J: J^ J. J> ; v N 1 '(•)' r m # . 9 4 9\ i S S m ^ 2 • r f 9 > m r 9 W d v —*— lL f- — k — — y — - — j h U b 1 — * \ -t v~ — +t — ~h — 1 — 1 — — 1 V - — I" ■ « i re IS ^ __J I I— 1 _ J '| 1 1 V N N 1^ J J J 1 \ / I *»~^^"j 9 9 r^ & 72 . V . i(U J J S • # f # *f • r « • m r r r x r m {P • ^ t, i/ | ^ MW 1 1 ^| 9 | j 1 1 Ere the morn - ing star pro - claimed thy na tal day. Thou shalt smile a - way the shad ow and the gloom. And the si - lent tongue their high ho ■ • san nas sing. Lo, thy suu - ny land of prom lse and thy lome. May thy ban - ner, Al - ma Ma ter, ev er wave. A - men. 111. h S 1 ^ ' -#- -0- -0- • -#- -*- -•- -<©- I -0- 1 1 R. T. Vana i 1 i S 9 9 " 73 & • j B * g= -f- f- £ r« T — »~ -f- -f^~ f? 1=r~ ~r^ \ — H^ 1 1/ ^ [y - u ^- 1 ± J 9 — 1 1 — ' 1 1 1 ' 1 Table of Contents Page Meredith College (Frontispiece) Contents 3 Rejoice, O Alma Mater, that a home 4 Richard Tilman Vann Meredith College : Retrospect and Prospect. R. T. Vann 5 Selections from the History of Meredith College. O. L. String- field 9 The Value of the Christian College. /. M. Mercer 10 Charles Edward Brewer The Needs of Meredith College. Robert N. Simms 18 Outline of Building Program. Z. M. Caveness 16 Report of W. N. Jones, Chairman Board of Trustees IT The Oaks Then and Now — But Mostly Then. Rosa Paschal 21 Meredith Girls. Livingston Johnson , 27 Meredith's Contribution to Our Denominational Life. Charles E. Maddry 30 Officers of the Student Government Association College Girls as Sunshine. C. M. Heck 32 Upholding the Colors. Elsie K. Hunter 34 From Near and Far 36 "For Auld Lang Syne" Reminiscences. Margaret Shields Everett 37 Avenue of Trees From the Alumme.... 40 Officers of the-Y. W. A. Meredith's Foreign Missionaries 51 In Memory of Elizabeth Avery Colton 60 Blanche Barrus and Dorothy Gower. Virginia Edgerton Simms 66 The Meredith's Granddaughters' Club Messages from Meredith's Granddaughters and Daughters 68 In Training for Christian Service 71 Officers of the B. Y. P. U. Roll Call of Student Volunteers 73 Meredith Club. Margaret Henderson 74 Editor's Note 76 Do You Know? (Cover) 3 Meredith College Bulletin Sonnet Rejoice, O Alma Mater, that a home Befitting thy true greatness they prepare, A spacious dwelling rising dome on dome Where thou mayst live in God's pure sun and air. Harsh noises of the city shall not break Upon thy meditations as of yore ; There clear, sweet mating songs of birds shall make Thee living symphonies forever more. But in thy going will a faint regret Pain thee, for, thou hast lived in happiness Among these ancient towers where ivies creep, And Memories which thou canst not forget Are here, these walls to hallow and to bless. Thou, Alma Mater, in thy joy must weep. Leone Warrick, 1926. (By permission of Oak Leaves.) RICHARD TILMAN VANN, D.D. President Meredith College, 1900-1901 through 1914-1915 Author of "Alma Mater." Meredith College Bulletin Meredith College — Retrospect and Prospect R. T. Vann Secretary Board of Education If you ask about the beginning of Meredith, no one can answer you. It is the incarnation of an idea. Events may be dated and chronicled, but who can trace the genesis of an idea ? How long the great scheme had slumbered in some far-seeing mind we may not say, but, as far as the record shows, it first came to light in a motion before the Baptist State Convention offered by Thomas Meredith in 1835. Defeated then, the motion was renewed at intervals for the next four years, but was smothered by the dread apprehension of failure. BIRTH AND FEEBLE INFANCY However, though smothered, the ideal still lived. After slumbering for half a century, it awoke again during the ses- sion of the convention in Greensboro in 1888, when Col. L. L. Polk offered a resolution proposing the appointment of a committee to consider the establishment by the Baptists of North Carolina of a high-grade woman's college. At the fol- lowing session in Oxford a favorable report of the committee was adopted, and a board of twenty-five trustees was appointed by the convention, with instructions to procure a suitable site, raise money for the erection of buildings, and take other neces- sary steps for the establishment of the proposed institution. Perhaps no other enterprise was ever inaugurated by North Carolina Baptists with greater unanimity or warmer enthu- siasm. And yet, within a year, the flame began to flicker; within two years it was burning low; within three it was invisible, and in four the ashes were cold. x\t first the trustees met in goodly numbers and with high hopes, and named the unborn child. But among them, too, the enthusiasm waned 6 Meredith College Bulletin all too plainly, for the movement did not seem to move. Agent after agent was appointed — some half a dozen in all — and all good men, and they toiled hard on the job, but they raised scarcely enough money to pay their modest salaries. The trustees began to drop out by twos and threes, so that within the next ten years only five or six of the original number were left. But those few refused to surrender, supplied the vacan- cies in their ranks, and kept up the struggle, till at last, as if by chance, they secured for financial agent that singular genius, O. L. Stringfield. Whatever else he may have lacked, he had a great heart, a far vision, a mighty faith, and bound- less enthusiasm. While others fainted, Stringfield stood strong; when they could see nothing, he literally saw the invisible. He spoke of the coming college with the solemn assurance of a prophet. He "roamed at large" among the people in town and country as the evangelist of woman's education until he had awakened the interest of the Baptist masses and inspired them with something of his own enthusiasm. He was not particu- larly gifted in raising large sums from a few, but, what was far better, he did secure small gifts from the many. So that before its opening the proposed college was probably the best advertised educational institution that ever opened in North Carolina. KEMABKABLE GKOWTH The present site had been selected, a contract for the main building signed, and work on it had begun by 1896. But the walls rose slowly, slowly, so slowly that some mocked, as did Tobiah and his fellows at the humble beginning of Nehemiah's wall around Jerusalem. So dim the outlook seemed to some that a college president in the city told a lady-friend of the enterprise, "Even if you ever get your house built it will be ten years before you can enroll fifty students." But brick by brick the building grew, until on the 27th of September, 1899, it opened its doors to students. And it opened with this unique experience: So many students had applied for admission that Meredith College Bulletin 7 before a single lesson was given, the trustees were compelled to buy the Adams building to house the overflow; and by the end of the first session the institution had enrolled more than four times the number which that college president had allotted it in ten years. Since that auspicious day, though starting ill-equipped and carrying a debt of $37,000, the institution has steadily grown, enlarging its enrollment every year, save the one in which the World War opened, and those other years when the limit of dormitory space forbade enlargement, an experience which the last few years have seen continuously repeated. And this, not- withstanding the loss of students from cutting out four depart- ments — namely, Business, Elocution, Primary, and High School. Instead of three units, judged by present values, required for entrance the first year, she now requires the full fifteen standard units; instead of the few promiscuous books given by generous friends, she is able to show today an admir- ably selected library of over eleven thousand volumes; instead of a pitiable laboratory, whose physical apparatus was mostly hand-made, she now has an equipment probably unsurpassed by that of any woman's college in the South ; and as to students she has become the antitype of the classic dame who lived in a shoe. THE BEST YET TO BE So much for history, where one can walk easily because the way has been blazed; but in the realm of prophecy, he may not venture far. We all, however, have noted with joyous pride that the grand old mother is about to change shoes and thus provide ample room for her growing family. One also may forecast with reasonable assurance, first, that she will continue to shape her course by the one supreme purpose of her founders. This purpose contemplated recognition and acceptance of the basic faith of our fathers; generation of an evangelical atmosphere ; fostering a spirit of world-wide service, and giving the best all-round training for such service. Be 8 Meredith College Bulletin sure her policies will ever be directed toward the accomplish- ment of these ends. And, second, her supporters will continuously enlarge her power to serve, to meet the ever-growing demands of an ever- enlarging constituency. It may be that in time a limit will be set to her enrollment and that the lower classmen will be distributed among junior colleges wisely located. But, even so, the work of these will head up in her and towards her; their students will look for the finishing touch and the last word. SENTIMENT A now, a personal sentiment. In selecting names for the handsome buildings in which the new Meredith is to live, I hope that the proper authorities will remember her first large benefactors — Mrs. Virginia Yancey Swepson, Hon. W. T. Faircloth, and Mr. Dennis Simmons. In the days of her struggle and poverty these large-hearted and far-sighted friends came to her aid, each with a bequest of ten or twelve thousand dollars; and in the days of her prosperity I hope she will per- petuate their honored names. Permit also the mention of another name which I am sure will not be considered invidious among his fellow-trustees. Eor some thirty-five years, beginning in the days of shadow, when the hearts of most of his fellows grew faint, this one man has held on, giving to the college always unstinted and unselfish service and unmeasured devotion; and in the starting of this new and larger Meredith he has been spared "to see of the travail of his soul." It would be a beautiful thing for the college to show before he dies some worthy recognition of Wesley jN". Jones. Meredith College Bulletin 9 Selections From "The History of Meredith College" By 0. L. Stringfield 1'he First Financial Agent of Meredith College MY MESSAGE No, indeed, I did not ask for money! It was given me as I went on. Exactly what I said at the close of my speeches was : "I did not come here to get your money; I came here for lots more than money. I came here for YOU. I do not want your money if we cannot have YOU. I want to know if you want the people of North Carolina to build a great school for our young women like we have for our young men at Wake Forest. That is what I want to know. Tell me, men and women, by standing this minute !" WHY WE WENT FORWARD Cotton was selling for four to five cents a pound — about the cost of production — and the talk of raising a hundred thousand dollars did not fit well together. Things were black as midnight on the earth, but it was all light above the clouds, God's throne! So there was nothing for us to do but go forward. HOW TO GET MONEY There are three ways to get money: One way is the tax way — pay your taxes or we'll sell your land. That is one way to get money. Another way is at the point of a pistol. Your money or your life! The greatest and most joyous way is to untie the string that a man has around his pocketbook, so that he just loves to give you money and thanks you for accepting it. Loosing a man's grip on his money is not a baby job. Try it some time. 10 Meredith College Bulletin How I love to think of the poor women who knit socks and sold eggs to get ten dollars to help build Meredith College, saying : "I didn't have any chance for learning. I want others to go there." LED BY THE SPIKIT God attends to his own business, in His own way. I had to believe that before I could even undertake this work. I had to believe every word of the New Testament and understand that it was His love-letter to me before I could move an inch. "I will instruct you and teach you the way I would have you go. I will guide you with Mine eye." I had tried that out when I was in the middle of the Yadkin River one dark night. So I counted on Him for guidance. THE WOMEN'S PRAYER After the wave of public sentiment for the education of our young women started, the women over the State, led by Miss Fannie Heck, of blessed memory, began to pray for the com- pletion of Meredith College. Mothers who could scarcely read were praying that their daughters might be given a chance like we were giving our young men at Wake Forest College — a thing we were very careful to do and have done from the day Meredith opened until this day — twenty-five years later. We never could go back on that prayer. By His help, we never will ! The Value of the Christian College I. M. Mercer President Baptist State Convention Our conception of Christian education has been a gradual development. Originally we thought of Christian education as an education gained under Christian influences; that is, an education in a community where the principles and spirit of Christianity prevailed and where Christian teachers did the DR. CHARLES E. BREWER Meredith College Bulletin 11 work. Later there was added to this conception the idea that Christianity's Book, the Bible, should form a part of the course of study. And so the Bible, in its history and great funda- mental truths, was added to the curriculum. This did not mean that the study of the Bible was compulsory, but that a thorough course in the Bible was recognized as a legitimate study, and credit for the same was given toward degrees as for any other study. In recent years it has also been realized that Christian education should have as a part of its avowed purpose the preparation of young people for active, intelligent, personal service in their own churches when they returned to their homes. And so today Christian education, broadly speak- ing, includes the Christian atmosphere, the Word of God as a recognized course of study, and the intelligent training of young men and women to be Christians worthwhile in the building -of God's cause in this world. The first essential value of the Christian college is that it gives all that the secular college gives, plus the creating and building of moral and spiritual character. The secular school can develop the physical powers and the mental powers. It may also touch the ethical or moral nature; that is, the proper relations of man to man. But even when it comes into this latter realm it is indebted to Christianity for what it teaches. But the secular school can go no farther than this. It cannot enter into the making of the spiritual character and life of the student; it cannot discuss his relation to God and eternity, the great verities of every man's life; it cannot undertake to teach him how to adjust his life to God and His program and His purposes. On the other hand, the Christian college can and does touch and build the whole nature, the body, the mind, and the soul. It deliberately undertakes to create in the stu- dent his spiritual life; that is, to bring the student into right personal relations with God, and that through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Because of this function we see our Christian high schools and colleges in the course of each session deliber- ately holding special evangelistic services for their students. 12 Meredith College Bulletin The whole life of the school for the time being is so arranged that the entire emphasis can be put upon these meetings, and every student is led to realize that, above all things, his college is seeking to bring him into the true relation of his soul to God. How many a man, active and happy today in the King- dom of God, can look back and realize that it was his Christian Alma Mater that brought about his salvation and led him to become a child of God. 'No secular school dares to undertake such a work as this for its students; it recognizes that this is beyond its sphere, and it does not undertake to point its stu- dents to the Lamb of God. The second great service of the Christian college is that, while it continues to give all that the secular school gives, it also puts before its students the highest and noblest ideals and purposes of life. The secular college holds before its students two ideas: First, that of making a living; second, that of becoming a true citizen of the commonwealth, a law-abiding, intelligent, and faithful member of society. But it can look no higher than this. On the other hand, the Christian college puts before its students the highest and noblest conceptions of life that the world has ever known. The Christian college teaches and prepares its students not only to make a living, but also to make a life. It holds before them the ideals of the brotherhood of men, of the life of service to God and fellow- man, of the life of sacrifice for the good and salvation of others. It holds before its students Jesus Christ as the great model and ideal Man and Worker, and bids them walk in His footsteps. It gives the vision of a life of sanity, of service, of good-will toward men, of fellowship with the Infinite, and, therefore, the vision of a life filled with true success and satisfying, abiding peace of heart. Because of these superior and priceless values, no other col- lege can truly compare with the Christian college in what it offers to young men and young women. Meredith College Bulletin 13 The Needs of Meredith College By Robert ~N. Simms Trustee of Meredith College These words may cause surprise to some. They may say, "I thought Meredith had a million dollars and all its needs were supplied." Not so. It has not a million dollars now available, nor are its needs supplied. Of course, its endowment is not available for building purposes. That fund must be sacredly kept to help make available the needed funds to supply a teaching force. The Baptist State Convention authorized the issuance of $750,000 of bonds in its name as part of the needed building fund. The sale of these bonds, after payment of the costs of the campaign and other efforts to sell them, and after adding the interest which has accrued on the proceeds, will net us $720,291.72. The real estate owned by the college at the old site, it is estimated, will bring us about $250,000. Thus we hope to have available from all sources $970,291.72. But what are we required to do with this? It was desired to erect buildings that would cost at least a million dollars. When those that were needed were planned the price was more than double that sum. All were eliminated save only four dormitories, a building for dining room and kitchen purposes, and a combined administration and library building. These six structures were denuded of all that was not essential, and still the best contract price we could get for their erection was $910,100. These buildings are being constructed in permanent, fireproof form. It was, of course, necessary that we should also construct three temporary structures to furnish music rooms and lecture rooms and laboratories and an assembly hall. These are being builded of wood in the plainest possible way. They will cost us at least $82,500. There are always "extras" that occur in every building enterprise. These have accumu- lated to the extent of approximately $30,000. The architect's 14 Meredith College Bulletin fees are $50,000. The cost of putting in the water and sewer- age systems will be more than $30,000. And then we shall have to erect a storage tank and tower. The cost of removing a high-tension power line from across the property and where the buildings are located was $11,824. The cost of building a spur railroad track into the property, not only for building purposes, but for permanent use, was approximately $14,000. The total of these items of expenditure is $1,128,424. These are the figures furnished by the Chairman of the Building Committee. In addition to these things there are others we are bound to have to make the buildings usable. We must have furniture for the rooms, which will cost at least $30,000. We must have equipment for the dining room and kitchen that will cost at least $5,000. We must have equipment for the laboratories of the departments of physics and biology and chemistry at a cost of not less than $5,000. We must have equipment for the library which cannot be acquired and installed for less than $8,000. This is $48,000 more to fit the buildings for occupancy, or a total of $1,176,424 we shall have to have. This is in excess of $970,291.72 of available assets by $206,132.28. There are other things we ought to have. We need an organ that would cost $10,000. We need a fence that would cost $15,000. We need to expend at least $10,000 in beautifying the grounds. More than these, we need the four other fireproof structures that are a part of the permanent plan for our buildings. These are called "head-houses." They would cost about $35,000 each, or $140,000 for the four. They would furnish rooms for lec- tures and recitations, for laboratories, for student activities, for parlors, rooms for the members of the Faculty, and other much- needed space. We ought to have a thoroughly equipped kitchen and dining room for our club, which would cost about $40,000. The club has been of great assistance to 'us at Meredith and has made it Meredith College Bulletin 15 possible for many students to attend the college who otherwise would have found it impossible to come. We, of course, have a place for the club in the dining room building being constructed, but it is in the basement and not what we would desire, and would provide for the purpose if only we had the means. We ought to have an infirmary in a separate building instead of placing it in the attic of a dormitory, as we are obliged tem- porarily to do. This would cost approximately $40,000. We ought to have a gymnasium and a swimming pool. We have the natural site on our premises for an ideal lake or pool. Some day we shall have to have either individual residences or apartment houses for the married members of our Faculty. There are none near enough to be available for the purpose. We need immediately a home for the President. Other items could be mentioned, but surely here are enumer- ated enough to show that the needs of Meredith College have not been supplied. More than ever in its history it needs the love and prayers and loyalty of its constituency. More than ever in its life it craves the privilege of keeping hold upon the heartstrings of the great Baptist folk of North Carolina. If it can but hold the heartstrings it has no fear of unreleased purse strings. It covets large gifts from worthy sources to make possible the erection of these sorely needed structures with dispatch. Surely, no finer place can be found for men and women of means to place memorial structures than here, where the Christian womanhood of North Carolina is to be safely taught. Men of moderate fortunes could erect these structures and build for themselves or their loved ones monuments more enduring than metal or stone. Churches, missionary societies, Sunday school classes, associations could furnish parts of the needed equipment, and serve not only their day and generation, but also those to come after them. Many individuals of modest means can make gifts that in the aggregate will accumulate a great fund. And all who love the college can pray for it. All who love it believe in the power of prayer. Conceived by men who loved 16 Meredith College Bulletin the Kingdom of Christ, it was born in answer to prayer. It Avas builded by faith and sacrifice on the part of many. It has staunchly adhered to the faith of the fathers, once for all deliv- ered to saints of old by divine revelation and inspiration. It has muzzled no truth; neither has it permitted error or specu- lation to masquerade in the guise of established truth. It stands for light. "Lux" is engraven upon its seal. It would carry the torch committed to loving hands by Him who is the Light of the World. It is a front-rank college, classified by the Association of Southern Colleges in the A grade. It is set in the heart of the most progressive Southern State, located at its capital. It has a commanding physical site. It has a faculty of fifty mem- bers. It has an enrollment of nearly five hundred students, and can have a thousand when it can give them room. It means more to North Carolina than countless factories and commercial enterprises. It means more to Christendom than any school for men. It means more for civilization than aught else but like institutions and the preaching of the Word. It has had and must have the favor of Almighty God, Who has hallowed its days. Let those who love His cause hearken to its appeal. Outline of Buildiug Program Z. M. Caveness Chairman, Building Committee New Meredith consists of nine buildings at present, six of which are fireproof, permanent buildings; three are temporary wooden buildings. The six fireproof buildings form a quadrangle, the sides of which are enclosed with four dormitories, two on either side, which are three stories in height. The four will accommodate five hundred girls. The dormitories are arranged for four girls to a suite, which consists of two rooms with a connecting bath. In the rear of the quadrangle is located a dining hall Meredith College Bulletin 17 and kitchen building. In front is located a library and ad- ministration building, three stories in height. The first floor is given over to administration, the second to the library, the third to literary society halls. The grand court enclosed by this quadrangle is 285 feet wide and 570 feet long. The buildings are connected by corridors, making it possible for the girls to go from any given point to another point of these buildings without being exposed to the weather. Around this quadrangle it is planned to build in the future other dormitories and science buildings which will, when com- pleted, accommodate one thousand girls. The central group forming the quadrangle will thus be the center of the greater Meredith when completed. Just east of this quadrangle the temporary buildings are being erected. The first building is the auditorium, which seats one thousand and which has connected with it music studios and practice rooms. The second building is for science; the third for class and lecture rooms. All of these temporary structures are modern, in that they have heat, lights and water, and will be as comfortable as if they were fireproof. Report of W. N. Jones, Chairman of Board of Trustees, Commencement, 1925 OUK OBLIGATIONS MET This college commenced its career in 1899, and has been in existence as an educational institution since that time. I have been called upon, as President of the Board of Trustees, to make a statement at college commencements each year since the college started. It is interesting to some of us to look back now and see ,how the college has come along its way to the present time. We cannot, however, dwell upon that now. Suffice it to say that each succeeding year the college has been 2 18 Meredith College Bulletin able to report progress. This year is no exception to the years that have gone before. The college has, from its regular receipts, this year, as in former years, paid current expenses. We owe nothing on that account. We are grateful for the past, we are hopeful for the future, and we believe it will bring the college great things. In these later years the college plant has not been able to accommodate the patronage of the college; hence, there could not be any marked increase in attendance. The management here has been doing the best it could to take care of the board- ing patronage on these premises and near-by residences. These accommodations have been exhausted for some time, and the college has had to look elsewhere for accommodations for its patronage. To do this, as you know, the college has obtained a new site on the Hillsboro Road, about three miles west of here, and on this site it is now having erected buildings to accommodate 500 boarding students and the faculty of the college. This site is a beautiful one, and the buildings will be imposing and attractive. There are six concrete buildings in the course of construction, and three wooden ones which are temporary until the college can do better. The board of trustees did not see its way to do otherwise than to erect these temporary buildings. NEEDS OF THE COLLEGE It is going to cost considerable money to pay for the site, the buildings, and the equipment necessary for them when the college moves from its present site. I should say they will cost at least $1,250,000. By authority of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, the college has given an encum- brance of $750,000 on all of its property, except the endowment funds, amounting to $415,300, and except also about 1,300 acres of land in Wake and Chatham counties. These were not included in the encumbrance, but the property on this square and two pieces on the two squares just east of this square are Meredith College Bulletin 19 in the deed of trust, and also the new site with the buildings and improvements which are now being put upon that site. The Baptist State Convention has also authorized its officers to endorse in its name these bonds. These bonds are coupon bonds, which run for fifteen years from January 1, 1924. Fifty thousand dollars of the principal of these bonds is to be paid each year and the interest on the whole by the conven- tion. The $50,000 falling due January 1, 1925, and the interest on all the bonds to that date has been paid, and this will con- tinue yearly until all the bonds are paid. All these bonds have been sold, and the proceeds are now being spent in the erection of the buildings on the new site and some other necessary expenses, such as the spur track from Hillsboro Road to the college buildings. In addition to the funds realized from the sale of these bonds, the college hopes to realize some $250,000 from the sale of the land and buildings on this square, this to be used in paying for the new plant. We should then lack, I should say, $250,000 to pay for the site, the buildings, and the equipment. DIVINE HELP NEEDED So, you see, the college has a large task before it to get the new plant finished and ready for occupancy; but, notwith- standing the largeness of the task, the denomination and the friends of the college can accomplish it with unity and deter- mination. Our people can do this thing if we let them know the situation and the necessity the college has in hand. We should know that we must have divine help to accomplish the task. I mention divine help because I think it should be men- tioned and not forgotten. I have sometimes felt that in carry- ing forward the affairs of the Kingdom we do not look for divine help as much as we should. In cataloguing the names of those from whom we expect to raise money for such enter- prises as the college now has in hand, we fail to catalogue divine help first, as we should do. We learn from the Scrip- tures that the Lord watches over his people with a very tender 20 Meredith College Bulletin solicitude. We are living in rather a materialistic age; but I believe it is still true, notwithstanding the confused voices of some, that the spiritual and intangible touches and moves the material and the tangible. Faith still removes mountains. The unseen finger — the divine finger — touches the hearts of men and moves them. From what I have learned in the history of this college, I should say we should pay attention in this effort we are now making to the spiritual and intangible. We can get the help of men and women better in this way than in any other. Meredith has fairly earned its right to larger facilities. What a great and noble service it has rendered since it com- menced work in 1899 ! May I not say that no college in this section has a finer record for scholarship and for high and noble service than Meredith? The value of having an insti- tution like Meredith in which to educate our young women cannot be estimated. The college needs these larger facilities we are now seeking; the State needs them; the Kingdom of God needs them. I believe that our people will furnish them when the matter is fully presented to them, and that they will go to the task gladly. EXTENT OF COLLEGE PKOPEETY In closing this statement, perhaps it will be well to state what the college has and what has come to it during these years: The college owns this square of four acres with build- ings on same and two pieces of property on adjoining squares worth at least $250,000. We have been offered this for it. The college owns its equipment^ worth, I should say, $25,000. The college owns 1,300 acres of farming land in Wake and Chatham counties, given by friends of the college, worth about $35,000. The college owns the new site and the improvements on it, worth at this time $1,000,000, and which when completed will be worth at least $1,300,000. The site cost us $60,000. It is now worth, so real estate men tell us, $200,000. The college THE OAKS— New Site (Permission of Oak Leaves) Meredith College Bulletin 21 has an endowment of $415,300. The foregoing amounts aggre- gate the sum of $1,725,300. The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina has assumed the payment of the bonds for $750,000 and has paid the yearly installment of $50,000, leaving $700,000 to be paid in fourteen yearly installments of $50,000 each and the interest accruing on them until they are paid in full. I have no doubt that the convention will keep its con- tract. I know some of our brethren are disposed to be a little restive on account of the large debt assumed by the convention in the issuance of the bonds I have mentioned. They are thinking about other things. We cannot discuss that now. Our honor as a denomination is at stake. The only wise thing to do now is to bend our energies to meet the obligation we have deliberately assumed. I take pleasure, on behalf of the trustees, in thanking the faculty of the college for their efficient and faithful service during this school year. They deserve the plaudit, "Well done." We also desire to commend the work of the student body. Students generally are not always so good as they might be, but our students, I am sure, have been very good, and, along with the faculty, I wish them, one and all, a pleasant and happy vacation. As they go from us I can say to them cheerily, "Hail and farewell!" We hope we shall meet again. Then and Now— But Mostly Then Rosa Paschal Dean, Greenville Woman's College (8. C.) We have from the very beginning expected great things of our college, which, no doubt, accounts in some measure for her gratifying growth and development. Even as an infant she might be described with the adjectives "lusty" and "growing." The founders had no thought of "ailing" or "weakling" ever being descriptive of her. "Advantages for our Baptist girls 22 Meredith College Bulletin equivalent to those of their brothers at Wake Forest" was heard on all sides. If this did not mean the acme of ideals, at least we as students thought that was what was meant. Our first trustees planned a building which they thought would be ade- quate for the first few years at least. But some weeks before the opening date it was realized that more students wanted to come than could be accommodated in the Main Building. So East Building was bought and equipped as a dormitory. Ever since they have been finding that more space must be provided — even as in the beginning. STAND AKDS Good standards, from the point of view of standards of 1899, were established from the beginning. In this respect Meredith has no past but what is highly honorable. However, in those days we heard little about standards except that we must have a high-grade college. The measuring of high school work was in its infancy; indeed, the unit was not defined by the Carnegie Foundation until 1906, although the North Central Associa- tion had been using the term since 1902. The Southern Asso- ciation of College Women was not organized until 1903. While the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools was organized in 1895, its acquaintance was quite limited. There were only six charter members,* and in 1899 only two other institutions had been admitted. Eandolph-Macon, the first woman's college to come in, was not admitted until the fall of 1902 — after our first class had graduated. So, in those first years, while we had no yardsticks for measuring our stand- ards, we had the aim and purpose of giving good college educa- tion. Today we have grown to the stature of the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and to the American Association of University Women, and the members of our faculty are eligible to membership in any of the edu- *Two of these were in North Carolina : the State University and the present Duke University. Meredith College Bulletin 23 cational associations, as, for example, the Association of Amer- ican Professors. Here, as in practically all Southern colleges for women at that time, preparatory classes were maintained, and the school and the college blended into each other so that it was impossible to say just where the one ended and the other began. A few years later they were separately organized and students were classed as being in the one or the other. FACULTY AND DEPARTMENTS The following tabulation will make clear the growth in the faculty and the scope of the curriculum. The differences in the number and the standard of the courses offered are likewise sug- gested. Of course, most of the courses offered in the opening year were of freshman or sophomore grades. The college rec- ords show that 220 students were registered in 1899. This number probably included all the grade children. In 1924-'25 there were 457 college and non-resident music and art students registered. 1899 1925 Dr. Blasingame, President President Student Stenographer Secretary to the President Library College Dean Two Students Librarian and Five Student Mr. "Watson Assistants Mathematics and Bursar Mathematics (Two Instructors*) Miss Stone Bursar English English (Five Instructors Miss Perry One Student Assistant) Latin Latin and Greek Miss Patton (Two Instructors) Greek Religious Education Philosophy Social Science Bible (One Instructor) 'Instructor is used to mean teacher and has no reference to academic rank. 24 Meredith College Bulletin Education and Psychology (One Instructor One Student Assistant) Miss Young Modern Languages (French and German) Mr. Kesler Natural Sciences (Chemistry, Biology and Physics) Mrs. Kesler History Dr. Dixon Physiology and College Physician Mrs. Watson Matron Mrs. Seay Dietitian Miss Eckloff Grades Miss Parry Business Department Miss Reynolds Expression Physical Education Miss Poteat Art Piano Mr. Henri Appy Director of Music (Piano, Violin, Theory) Mrs. Henri Appy Voice Miss Lovie Jones Assistant Miss Julia Brewer Assistant Because of considerable growth of the department there were added during the year: Mr. Henry Gruhler Piano Mrs. Henry Gruhler Voice Modern Languages (French and German) (Four Instructors) Chemistry (Two Instructors Three Student Assistants) Biology (One Instructor One Student Assistant) Physics, Geol. Astronomy (One Instructor) History and Economics (Two Instructors) Physiology and College Physician Nurse Dean of Women (Three) House Director Dietitian Stewardess for M. Club Discontinued Discontinued Expression Discontinued Physical Education (One Instructor One Student Assistant) Art (Two Instructors) Piano (Five Instructors) Violin (One Instructor) Voice Culture (Three Instructors) In the music department have been added Organ, Pedagogy, Harmony, Counterpoint, Compo- sition, Orchestration, Music His- tory, and Public School Music. In addition to the College Music Department is a Prepara- tory Piano Department, with Five Instructors. Meredith College Bulletin 25 The Home Economics Department leading to the degree of B.S. has also been added. Not less significant than the growth in the number of instructors, departments, and courses offered is the change in the training and experience of the faculty. In 1899 there were in the faculty five M.A.'s and one A.B. At present there are four Ph.D.'s, one Mus.D. and one Th.D., fourteen M.A.'s, four A.B.'s, and one B.S. PHYSICAL PLANT In 1899 we had four acres of land on which were the Main Building and East Building. The New Meredith is to have one hundred and thirty acres of land with adequate buildings for the various departments as provided for in the architect's plans. 1899 : Chemistry Laboratory — one of Main Building class- rooms. Biology Laboratory — one of Main Building class- rooms. Physics Laboratory — a small amount of apparatus in lecture room. Library — one of Main Building class-rooms. Infirmary — one of Main Building class-rooms (on Chapel floor). As there was no nurse, students, when ill, generally stayed in their living rooms and were looked after by their room- mates with supervision by the matron and Dr. Dixon. (She was not Dr. Carroll then.) I recall that in the evenings when Dr. Dixon was having callers we would knock at her door and ask for pills. She had a difficult time teaching us what uses were to be made of office hours. 26 Meredith College Bulletin ORGANIZATIONS FOR EXTRA-CURRICULA ACTIVITIES A Missionary Society, the Philaretian and Astrotekton Literary Society, and a Glee Club were organized the first year. There were no class organizations until the fall of 1901-'02, when the senior class was organized and given certain senior privileges. Two seniors were allowed to walk together without being accompanied by a teacher. I have never felt more dis- tinguished than I did when some of the lower classmen, seeing me out walking without a teacher, would exclaim "Senior !" in an admiring tone of voice. The first Annual was pub- lished by the Class of 1904; the Acorn was first published in 1906 ; the Twig in 1921. The Y. W. C. A. was organized in 1902. The departmental clubs have all been organized in the past five years. STUDENT PRIVILEGES AND REGULATIONS There must not have been many of either, since I can't remember them. Student government was quite new in 1899, and probably none of our students had heard that there was such a thing. One of the teachers took the student body to walk each afternoon. I recall with what ease and yet how rapidly Miss Reynolds tripped along. When she got home there would probably be a half dozen girls with her. The others were limping somewhere along the way. We shopped in groups of twelve or fifteen with a teacher. This was discouraging to shop- ping proclivities. I recall going down town to buy two spools of thread and having to spend the whole of Monday morning doing it. I did not shop for a long time thereafter. We did not put our lights out, but they were switched off for us at ten o'clock. My roommate used to give me shivers. She couldn't go to sleep without reading at least one or two verses in her Bible. Sometimes she did not get this done before ten P. M. and would strike matches to read by. Meredith College Bulletin 27 NAME One cannot close an article like this without speaking of the name of our college. It was opened in the days when the word "female" still went in good society, though the day had passed when it was presented as the most honorable of the company. Meredith had its birth as the Baptist Female Uni- versity. "Female" continued to lose ground, and in 1905 the Baptist Female University became the Baptist University for Women. It was Dr. R. T. Yann, at that time President of the College, who suggested the beautiful name of Meredith. He, in cooperation with Miss Elizabeth Colton, led the faculty in inducing the trustees to adopt the name which brings a thrill to so many hearts today. The college has an added honor in bearing the name of Thomas Meredith, and his glory honor are greater for having so worthy a namesake MEREDITH COLLEGE. Meredith Girls By Livingston Johnson Editor Biblical Recorder Almost since the first day that Meredith College opened its doors the writer of the following article has been in close touch with it, and has had opportunity to obtain first-hand information about the students who have attended through all the years since the first class was graduated. ON THE CAMPUS It requires considerable stretch of the imagination to speak of the "Meredith Campus." The institution, at present, is located in the very heart of Raleigh, adjoining the square on which stands the Governor's Mansion. What is left of a four acre square after space for eight houses has been taken, con- 28 Meredith College Bulletin stitutes the campus. This square is surrounded by prominent streets, over which automobiles and other vehicles are constantly passing. This, of course, gives the Meredith girls very little privacy. But with these unfavorable conditions, the deportment of the students on the campus is so circumspect that no just criticism can be offered. Though the distractions are many, and frequently quite annoying, the demeanor of the girls is very lady-like. The lack of private grounds and sufficient space for exercise and athletic sports was one of the chief considerations which led to the selection of the new site for the college. IIST THE CHAPEL Every morning at 10 :30 classes are suspended and the students gather in the chapel for devotional exercises. This is a very helpful and inspiring service. It is worth the visitor's while to drop in just to hear the Meredith girls sing. With Dean Dingley Brown at the organ, and the large choir to lead the songs in which the whole student body joins, the music is soul-stirring. This is especially true on occasions when "Alma Mater" is sung. The words and music of this beautiful hymn were composed by Dr. R. T. Vann. Dr. W. J. Mc- Glothlin pronounced this the best college hymn he had ever heard. That song is sung in the chapel of Meredith College as it is no where else. One rarely has the privilege of talking to a more responsive audience than the one composed of the students and faculty of Meredith. This writer has the pleasure of conducting chapel exercises at Meredith occasionally, and the marked attention given to what is said makes this an easy and pleasant task. These chapel exercises could not be what they are if it were not for the fine spiritual atmosphere that surrounds the insti- tution. Meredith College Bulletin 29 OUT IN THE WORLD It will interest any one who glances through the alumnae handbook of Meredith College to see how widely the Meredith girls are scattered, and how many places of usefulness they are filling. In a recent hurried inspection of the handbook I found that seventeen of the Meredith alumnae have gone to foreign fields as missionaries, while many are doing special work in the homeland. Others are devoting their lives to teaching, and many have become wives and mothers in Christian homes. When pleading for money to build Meredith College O. L. Stringfield used to say, "If you educate a man you have an educated individual, but if you educate a woman you will have an educated home." There is much truth in that saying, as the homes presided over by Meredith girls prove. Complaint has been made that some of the Meredith girls, who come from country churches, do not enter heartily into the work of their churches when they go back home. Such cases must he very rare. This writer has travelled over the State quite extensively for the past twenty-five years, and has met Meredith girls in many communities. He has taken pains to inquire about their interest in church work, and with the rarest exceptions he has found that they were leaders in Sunday- school, B. Y. P. U., W. M. Societies and Sunbeam work, and were anxious to serve in any way that opportunity offered. In one church from which two girls had come to Meredith com- plaint was made that they took no interest in the work of the church when they returned. Investigation showed that these girls suggested some innovations which they felt sure would be helpful, but were given such a "frost" that they decided to let things go on in the old way. The work of the Kingdom, at home and abroad, has been greatly enriched by the lives of the Meredith alumnae. May the New Meredith preserve the spirit and traditions of the Old! 30 Meredith College Bulletin Meredith's Contribution to Our Denomina- tional Life By Charles E. Maddry, Corresponding Secretary, Baptist State Convention of North Carolina When the Baptist State Convention was organized at Green- ville in 1830, there were only about ten thousand white Mis- sionary Baptists in the State. It is estimated that the Hard- shell branch that split off from us about that time, numbered some thirty thousand. They were opposed to Missions, Sunday- schools, and an educated ministry. Wake Forest College and the Biblical Recorder were established within a few years. Our people were few and widely scattered. Our ministry, with half a dozen exceptions, was uneducated. But an intense spirit of evangelism, an educated leadership and a world-wide missionary program have brought us in ninety years to a mighty host that out-numbers all other denominations in the State combined. We waited seventy years to establish Meredith for the educa- tion of our women. In this twenty-five years since we estab- lished Meredith for the training of our womanhood, our denomi- nation has gone forward by leaps and bounds. The women gave more than one-third of all that was given by North Carolina Baptists during the five-year period of the 75-Million Campaign. Last year North Carolina women led the Baptist women of the South in amounts given to the Kingdom. In efficiency, in leader- ship, in donation to Christ's cause, in amount of money given to Kingdom causes, our denomination has multiplied many times over in ten years. What is the secret of this marvelous growth? I believe it is largely through the growing and accumulating influence of Meredith College. In hundreds of churches and communities, you will find Meredith College graduates in places of leadership and responsibility, toning up the whole denominational life and Meredith College Bulletin 31 inspiring our pastors and churches to higher and better things in the cause of Christ. Dr. Charles D. Mclver used to say that when you educated a man, you educated a citizen, but when you educated a woman, you educated a family. We may almost say that wherever a Meredith graduate goes, it means a church transformed and a whole association set forward. Just one illustration: In one of our Eastern Associations, a Meredith graduate married a Wake Forest graduate and settled in the home town. The little Baptist Church was weak and struggling and despised. The church house was on the edge of the town surrounded by a fast growing negro community. The house itself was wholly in- adequate and disgustingly ugly. The pastor came once each month and the whole surrounding country was given over to sin and lawlessness. This young Meredith graduate, with cul- ture and a beautiful, attractive personality, first turned her young husband in the right way, and together, he as Superin- tendent of the Sunday-school and leader of the men, she as teacher and leader and inspirer of the women, have made over in twenty years the whole Baptist life of that community. Today, there is a beautiful and well appointed church house on the main street of town. The pastor gives all of his time to this one church, and lives in 'a beautiful home owned by the church. I may go further and say that this Meredith graduate has transformed the life of the denomination in that county and district association. She has made it her business to organize and set forward the whole life of the churches in the surround- ing country in a marvelous way. JSTow the country churches and pastors send for her to come and lead them in every phase of their work and life. She is the outstanding personality in the life of the association, and her ability and talents are sought for in the life of the denomination far and wide. This is but one illustration of many that might be given of the contribution of Meredith graduates to the life of the denomi- nation. 32 Meredith College Bulletin College Girls As Sunshine Charles M. Heck If you do not believe in the reality of human sunshine come with me some Sunday morning and stand up before my Sunday- school class of Meredith Freshmen. "Yes," you say, "but real sunshine does its best work in brightening up places where darkness would otherwise reign. If theirs is real sunshine, it will go beyond the walls of church and college and seek out the lonely places and the dark corners with its brightness." My girls agree with you and have already a record that will prove to all that theirs is the real kind of sunshine. Now we are not peculiar in wanting to do good and scatter happiness where ever we may; we do not tell of our work to prove our superior earnestness. Rather to encourage those who like us have found it hard to find the opportunities and the freedom for service, do we tell of the "Sunshine Group" and its activities. Boy scouts can go where and when they please on missions of light, but college girls find more difficulty. Yet it is not impos- sible for them to do such service. And indeed it should be made possible, for if girls do not learn to serve while in college and that in a manner similar to what they may find oppor- tunity for in after life, when will they ever learn this practical side of Christianity and leadership ? So we called for volunteers and arranged for activities. Come some bright Sunday afternoon and go with us. Let us suppose it is one of their trips to the colony of unfortunates out at the Epileptic Home. Though mentally normal most of the time, the inmates of this home have somehow been missed by other organizations and are doubly grateful for this ray of outside brightness. They gather around the group with a new light in their eyes and listen with intense interest to the girls as they sing and recite according to the prearranged program. Were you with us, I am sure the idea would come to you ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^™__^^^ OFFICERS STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION, 1924-1925 Winnie Rickett, President Maey Bowen, Vice-President Elsie Elkins, Treasurer Elizabeth Purnell, Secretary (Permission of Oak Leaves) Meredith College Bulletin 33 at once as it came to me. Studying music hour after hour and reciting day after day, only at such moments do the students realize the full worth and power of their acquirements in school. Not as before a blase audience already overfed with entertainment are these girls stimulated to employ their newly gained talents, but with a thrill that must have been the daily inspiration of the Master, our girls sing out their souls to these who hunger for what they have to give. "Won't you sing 'Where is my wandering boy tonight' " one of the unfor- tunate inmates calls out at the end of one of the recitations. Possibly here in this request lingers a tragedy that culminated in placing this poor soul in the institution. At any rate the girls through their voices send out their hearts and a prayer for this poor soul and every one of them will remember for years their joy as they sung. Or it might be on a more personal mission that you would like to join our girls. This time they go to the house of some shut in. The chances are that there can be no program and each must use her initiative and tact in a way that tests her true education to make the visit of the smaller group of girls accom- plish its purpose. It is into smaller groups that the larger sunshine organization breaks for such visits. Rather would we have you get the Thanksgiving spirit with us in one of our trips to the hospital. Or you might go with one of our dozens of dolls to the Orphanage and note the sun- shine there reflected in the eyes of the little tots whom the Sunshine Group have helped to make glad at Christmas time. But let's go to the hospital with our group and see how naturally and how sweetly they go around among the sick with their words of cheer and their funny decorated apples so artistically made into happy faced dolls. In the children's ward the girls almost lose their courage; that is, their courage to tear them- selves away from the children, for their love of the little ones there grows so strong that the tender caresses and little talks of love can hardly be stopped, they do so love to be sunshine. 3 34 Meredith College Bulletin And so I have brought you our story as a part of our sunshine program. To know that our Meredith girls do these things brings sunshine to you, I know, for we all love Meredith. But to know that we can give opportunity for girls to learn more and more of the way the Master trod, and that too while they are in school, gives to you and me still more of gratifica- tion. Yes, they can, and it is real sunshine they give, and real education they get from service like this. Upholding the Colors Elsie K. Hunter Treasurer North Carolina Woman's Missionary Union This present work-a-day world of ours affords a large "army of occupation." Just the world we know and with which, by some means, we come in contact embraces a host. We have possessed the land; how well are we occupying it? Our own State has risen in the last few years from low to high rank along industrial, economic, and educational lines. And in our church life during the past five years we have gone beyond what the most optimistic of our early leaders could foresee. A well-planned, commodious school building is seen in every district. From every section of the State the boys and girls are going up to our higher institutions of learning. There they are trained for their places in this "army of occupation." From the halls of Meredith, since its founding, scores of girls have gone out to take their places among those who "occupy" well, joining the ranks and throwing their strength where most needed. As citizen and leader of the best thought, the Meredith girl is using her influence for the further betterment of economic and industrial systems, for the improvement of health, for law enforcement, and in giving an impetus to a general upward trend of all civic conditions. 'FOR AULD LANG SYNE' (Permission of Oak Leaves) Meredith College Bulletin 35 As teacher in the elementary, vocational, and high schools, she is helping to mould the young lives of her generation. And in her chosen subject, she is holding first place as professor in college and university. In the business world, by her clear thinking and quickness of execution, she is making herself in- dispensable. But in no sphere of service does the leadership of the Mere- dith girl reach its ascendency as in her church activities. Her training fits her preeminently for this. A wholesome Christian atmosphere permeates the college; the Bible and kindred sub- jects are taught in the class-rooms ; there are the B. Y. P. XL's and Y. W. A. within the institution, as well as opportunities in nearby churches for Sunday-school and young people's work. In the home church, or wherever her work may call her, you will find the Meredith girl teaching in the Sunday-school, or even leading the Sunday-school where there is no one else to do it. She is church organist, choir leader, president of Woman's Missionary Society, leader in the several young people's organi- zations, and the ever-ready pastor's helper at all times. ISTot only does she foster every branch of the church work at home, but she is active in her county, association, and State. She multiplies herself many times in the young lives reached through her varied activities. While these are "occupying" well the land at home, there are a number who have heard and answered the call to service on the far-flung battle line. As missionaries, — teaching, evangeliz- ing, nursing, healing, — they are upholding the colors of the King and of Meredith, as they lead on in the fight for all that is worth while. See a Meredith girl as superintendent of a woman's hospital in China. Oh, the poor broken lives that come to its doors! She takes in all that can possibly be cared for. They are treated, nursed to health, given the word of life for the sin-sick soul, and sent out with a new hope in their hearts and a light on their faces to tell the story of their cure and of the Saviour. Many others come because of their testimony. Her training 36 Meredith College Bulletin of the Chinese nurses is a blessed part of her ministry. Her personal touch and daily influence leads them to a life of conse- crated service. The Meredith girl, whether in the "army of occupation" at home, or on the far-flung battle line, feels the obligation which her training has placed upon her. And that she measures up in a great way is the testimony of those who know her work and who come under her influence. From Near and Far MEREDITH — Her influence is felt on every side — in the market- place, the social life, the religious and church life of the entire State. With her increased facilities for even a larger work, which she will do well, the city and State do rejoice. E. B. Crow, Raleigh, N. C. FROM THE FATHER OF A MISSIONARY It affords me much pleasure to give my testimonial of appreciation for the great service rendered by Meredith College in training young women for usefulness. I believe the College has turned out some of the finest women that ever tread upon American soil ; yes, some who have taken active part in Church and Sunday School work and have developed into the very best home-makers. Some have chosen for their occupation, religious work in foreign lands, and I believe every admirer of Meredith College ought to have special times of prayer for those who have dedicated their lives to the Master's service. L. W. Norman, Hertford, N. C. I think that Meredith is doing more for the girls who attend col- lege than any other institution of the State. All the girls from Andrews are very loyal and offer themselves for service in both church and community. All the girls who attended Meredith College that live here are engaged in some special work of our church. It can be safely said that Meredith breathes that Christian influence that sends the girls into the world with a spirit of loyalty and AVENUE OF TREES— New Site (Permission of Oak Leaves) Meredith College Bulletin 37 service very noticeable to all that know them. It is, therefore, the duty of every Baptist in the State to stand by and make great sacrifice for her great future achievement. L. P. Smith, Pastor Andrews Baptist Church. Ninth Avenue Church has been exceedingly fortunate in having Meredith girls as her very best workers and leaders. L. R. Pruette, Charlotte, N. C. In my own town there is a graduate from Meredith College who is active in both religious and civic matters pertaining to welfare of the town and community. We have had some serious difficulty in getting teachers for the High School who were competent and tactful enough to measure up to the occasion. But in this Meredith girl there is a rare combination of sound learning and good judgment, and as a consequence she can cope with all occasions. But perhaps it is in the church that she has done and is doing some of her best work. She is teacher of the Philathea class — one of the largest and most aggressive classes of the Baptist Church. In spite of the fact that she was already overworked, the teachers of the Sunday school selected her for teacher of the Teacher's Meeting. She served in this responsible position during the many months we were without a pastor, and to her belongs much praise for the splendid work she did in holding the Sunday school together during this period. Thanks to Meredith College for sending her back to us with enlarged vision for service in the Master's Kingdom. R. L. Randolph, Bryson City, N. C. Reminiscences Margaret Shields Everett (Mrs. S. J. Everett) Trustee of Meredith College Meredith College has proved to be not only a paragon, but a polygon. The many-sided experiences gained there vary and greatly enlarge one's life and stimulate one's activities to give the very best service to family, church, and community. Many 38 Meredith College Bulletin agencies of the college influenced, helped, and inspired me while a student there, and the influence has increased in geometrical progression as the years have passed, the faculty, the student body, the literary societies, the opportunity afforded to know and to be associated with great men and women. Our life, after all, is patterned after the expression of our ideals as found in individuals. Many of my ideals were con- cretely revealed in the faculty of Meredith. Mrs. Appie fulfilled one's ideal of a singer whose life found expression in her song. Miss Sadie Perry (Mrs. R. C. Josey) satisfied the ideal of a wonderfully inspirational Latin teacher and the wisest counsellor afforded a Meredith student. Miss Young — what more wonderful ideal for a college freshman or senior ! — the highest expression of culture and charm, combined with that wonderful personality. Miss Ida — the girls' friend, her understanding heart, her comprehending smile! What Meredith girl has not had that insatiable desire to be like her, and has made the resolve to fulfil the desire? Twenty-five years ago few girls numbered a professional woman among their acquaintances. To have a woman physi- cian to teach you, to lecture to the student body on Hygiene, to live among you — this seemed beyond one's grasp. What Dr. Dixon Carroll's course in Physiology meant to Meredith in its early years cannot be estimated. There was no State Board of Health, no Health Bulletin. Hygiene was not in the gram- mar schools of North Carolina. Dr. Dixon rendered the Baptist womanhood of North Carolina a service that cannot be meas- ured. In its practical application in my own home it has meant more to me than has any other course offered by the college. "Aren't you glad you had English at Meredith?" so spoke a former Meredith girl as we sat hearing Robert Mantell in Merchant of Venice. I remember Mrs. Stone, how she could quicken and inspire the imagination and her wonderful inter- pretation of Shakespeare and of Browning and other poets! Meredith College Bulletin 39 Who can define the influence of the Astrotekton Society upon its members? How well do I recall the conference in Miss Young's room that resulted in the organization of the societies — the mystery of it all, the name, the motto, the pin, the initia- tion. I can still feel that thrill! Society spirit loomed large in the student's life in the early years. Class spirit had not had its birth. The society developed in the student an origin- ality and individuality of expression not accorded her elsewhere in college. The training received in those halls stands one in good stead in club work and civic activities in this new day of freedom and of the ballot. What a wonderful heritage memory is! The individuals of the student body stand out before you with their varying charac- teristics. The loyalty of that first student body can never be surpassed ! Out of the newness of those first years was born the Meredith spirit, that indefinable something which has grown and developed with the years. Dr. Vann, "at his feet our loyal hearts their tribute lay!" He gave to us our wonderful Alma Mater, the personal expres- sion of Dr. Vann himself in those early days, for out of the chaos of 1899-1900 was born the Meredith spirit. To this man the college owes a debt it can never pay. He "came through tribulation" ; with poor equipment and no endowment, the stand- ard of the college, through his efforts was steadily raised. By judicious planning and personal endeavor he improved the standing of the college among the colleges of the South. The constructive work done during his administration helped to make the Greater Meredith of today. The Meredith student of former days had the opportunity of knowing and being influenced by many distinguished men and women of our State. Governor Aycock daily passed the campus at the recreation hour and exchanged greetings with the stu- dents in the most neighborly fashion. His inspirational Chapel talks are a treasured memory. Mr. John Pullen, Mr. John E. Ray — two great Christian characters — visited the college many times a week. Mr. Carey Hunter, as Chairman of the Building 40 Meredith College Bulletin Committee, was on the campus every morning of that first year. Miss Fannie E. S. Heck, who manifested such keen interest in the girls, was a personal friend to each one of us. Dr. J. L. Kesler, the honored science teacher, gave to the "Immortal Ten," the first graduating class, this terse bit of advice: "Young ladies, many move, but few leave a clean house." This spirit of perseverance which he would have inculcated in us has become a Meredith characteristic, inspiring the alumnae to leave no task, however difficult, unfinished. May the spirit of those first years — loyalty and willingness to suffer for the good of the whole — still be counted among Meredith's virtues. From the Alumnae New Meredith ! New Meredith ! The very words themselves speak of growth and are alive with happy prophecies for the future. Meredith, full-grown, can only be through the loving faithfulness of each of her daughters, through the prayerful and unselfish wisdom of her faculty, through the far-reaching faith and the generous loyalty of the Baptists of the State, and through the assistance from friends everywhere — friends who have caught the vision of real Christian culture. New Meredith will mean alumna? who look back with love and gratitude, but who press forward toward the realization of the dreams of years. New Meredith will be the dream of the founders come true, in that she represents the continuation and the genuine revival of that faith, love, and sacrifice in which she was born and nurtured. Mary Lois Ferrell, President, Alumnce Association, 1923-1925. OFFICERS Y. W. A., 1924-1925 Annabelle Abbott, President Odessa Arnette, Vice-President Grace Neatiiery, Secretary-Treasurer Meredith College Bulletin 41 One day a little girl sat at her mother's knee trying to get a glimpse of the picture on the front page of the Biblical Recorder which her mother was holding in front of her. Sud- denly the mother lowered the paper and, pointing to the picture of the Main Building of Meredith College, which was then under the stupendous name of "University," said, "That's the school we gave a little sum of money to Sunday at church, and if it continues to grow, when you are ready for college, your father and I will send you there." It was that day that I decided that the big building with the turrets and spires should be my school, and from then on I thought nothing, dreamed nothing but Meredith. Six months before I was to enter Meredith this mother who had given me this ideal of a college education was suddenly taken from me, and the whole world grew black. It seemed utterly impossible that I, the only girl in the family, could leave a father and six brothers, one of whom was a mere baby, and heartlessly con- tinue my education. For several months no mention of the future was made, until one day, with a break in my voice, I said something to my father about what I would do the next year, as, "of course, I can't think of going to Meredith now." A look of amazement crossed his face. "Of course you are going. We boys will get along. It was your mother's most cherished wish, and you must go." That seemed to me to be the first ray of sunshine that came to dispel the cloud of despair that had settled 'round my heart. So to Meredith I came. I can say in all reverence that, in the truest sense of the words, Meredith then became my "Alma Mater." I loved her and she returned my love. She met my every want and filled my every need. She gave me the oppor- tunity to fulfill my childhood ambitions, to realize as far as possible the ideal given by my parents, and to prepare myself for my chosen profession of teaching. I owe to her four years of happy association with some of Carolina's best daughters, from which came many delightful friendships. To her devotional chapel periods I owe some of my best impulses 42 Meredith College Bulletin and highest aspirations. To her various student organizations I owe much valuable training in the knowledge of how to meet and understand various types of girls. I credit much of my success as Dean of Women at Howard College to the training I had at Meredith as Student Government President. To Mere- dith's faculty I owe much more than the mere knowledge given in the classrooms. Many of this noble group will always remain in my memory as the greatest influences of my life: Miss Colton, with her stern ideals of scholarship; Miss Law, with her sympathetic understanding and encouragement; Miss Poteat, with her charming and winsome personality; Miss Paschal, with her fair decisions and impartial judgments, and, above all, her President, Dr. Brewer, with his big heart full of kindness for all. To him directly I owe my place at Howard College and to Meredith I owe the training and the inspiration for graduate work that made it possible for him to recommend me. This and much more I owe to Meredith. I am proud and grateful for the privilege of calling her my "Alma Mater." French Haynes, 1919. Howard College, Birmingham, Ala. Perhaps I should tell my friends what four years at Meredith meant to me. Judging from my "manner of living," some have, no doubt, become rather sceptical and are wondering if Mere- dith really had ideals in those ancient days. Let me assure them that then she was richer in ideals than in anything else. Ideals of the highest order had to abound when Dr. Vann and other choice spirits determined the high plane of living and thinking. I say "Meredith," but in those good old days her name was really B. U. W. What if she has been honored with a better name! Her personality continues, and not a single worthy ideal has been lost. My love for my "Fostering Mother" is deep and abiding and cannot be altered by either prejudice or criticism. It is not her fault that I have not realized all of Meredith College Bulletin 43 my God-given possibilities. She revealed them to me and bade me strive toward that end. It was while in the midst of her awakening influence that the yearning for real living, rather than mere existence, was aroused, and that passion still troubles me. " 'Tis life, not death, for which we pant ; More life and fuller that we want." Thus, in part, I interpreted her ideals, which seemed more vague then than now. Not once since leaving her walls have I been ashamed to answer the question, "Where did you attend college?" Today, if possible, there is a greater thrill of pride accompanying my answer than ever before. It gives one a certain prestige, but prestige to be used only in establishing Meredith's worthy ideals. Doka E. Cox, 1908. Winterville, K C. Meredith is my Alma Mater. Had I gone elsewhere for my college course, what difference would it have made in my life? It is like asking who I should be if I were not my own mother's daughter. Meredith became my mother by mutual adoption. May she never be brought to shame by this child ! Meredith taught me some facts thoroughly. Last year it gave me a thrill of delight to open my Trigonometry, closed nineteen years ago, and feel at home once more with sines and tangents. In my day the Science course was quite elementary, but the frequent use I make of it in enlarging the universe for my children is a continual pleasure to them and to me. At Mere- dith I was taught Science by one who felt that "God made it all," and, believing this, I would pass on the torch. "Let knowledge grow from more to more, But more of reverence in us dwell." 44 Meredith College Bulletin My introduction at Meredith to foreign tongues, history, philosophy, literature, and the Bible was so entrancing that every year finds me eager to dig more deeply into their riches. Meredith gave me companionship with choice spirits: with those who taught me much by their classroom lessons and even more by their lives; with girls eager to search for truth and to serve others; with kindred spirits who with me questioned youth's questions, dreamed girlhood's dreams, and wondered at life's wonders. From them, scattered over the earth, come love and faith that have inspired me all these years, messages that help to make up the happiness of my days. These friendships alone would make me Meredith's everlasting debtor. Highly do I value the intellect of my college mother, but I am even more grateful for simplicity of her social grace and for her deep spiritual interest in her children. In her new home as in her old may she cherish these three attributes as a priceless heritage for every one of her daughters — and mine. So, on this tenth day of May I wear a red rose for two mothers : for the mother who gave me life and for the mother who gave me more abundant life. God bless them both ! Ethel Carroll Squires, 1907. Wake Forest, K C, May 10, 1925. The greatest force for righteousness in my life, outside the influence of my own home and mother, has been Meredith College. The very name of my Alma Mater suggests to me thorough-going, honest, well-rounded scholarship and the ener- getic pursuit of all other worthwhile things — not only mental, but, as our freshmen love to put it, physical, spiritual, and social. I think of our college as a mighty kind of workshop, where aspiration, great enthusiasms, undreamed-of powers, last- ing friendships, and Christian character are industriously and joyously wrought. Meredith College Bulletin 45 Meredith graduates, as a rule, are genuine. They discredit superficiality of any kind. They have drunk deep enough to know there are deeper draughts; they have learned enough to realize the vastness of the unknown ; they have attained enough to wish to press on. This is one thing I like about our college : I love to watch our girls go on from good to better and best. It inspires me to go on, too. As a girl of fifteen I found at Meredith the same ideals and principles that had surrounded me all my life, but, instead of one mother to guide and inspire me, I found many mothers; instead of a few sisters I found hundreds of big-souled, happy, wholesome girls, glowing with intelligent purpose and compell- ing each other to catch step in the march. When I consider the personality of those Meredith folk who are most distinctly Meredith, beginning with Mr. O. L. String- field, whose service for the college in early days can never be forgotten, and including the trustees, the two presidents I have known, the other officers, the teachers, and those students who are my own personal friends, something in me bows down in reverence to the unchanging virtues that shine forth like stars in their lives. These virtues are faithfulness, vision, consecra- tion, and a passion to serve. One and all, these distinctly Mere- dith folk have seemed to find the best that life has to offer in the whole-hearted serving of God and man; and so I have come to think of our college as a golden chain that binds us in sweet fellowship of service about the throne of God. Ella Graves Thompson, 1910. Leasburg, ~N. C. "Then felt I like some watcher of the skies When a new planet swims into his ken." Closely akin to the watcher was one ambitious young dreamer when, in 1906, she experienced the thrill of a wonderful fresh- man fall term at Baptist University for Women. The possi- 46 Meredith College Bulletin bilities were so many, the hopes so high; life loomed ahead with such compelling invitation; the present itself was so glori- ously full and satisfying! My daily duties, in spite of groans over quizzes and heaped up work in general, were a delight to me; the Sundays with their full program were full of inspira- tion. In the college, apart from the church worship, were the volunteer Bible and mission study classes. I believe these, with the fine student leaders, plus the Young Woman's Christian Association — no B. Y. P. U. in those days — meant far more to me than did the lesson or the sermon at church. I am sure that I came out of that first year with an ideal of service that has never left me entirely. Service! Yes, I am sure that if Meredith left any one im- pression on my mind standing out above all others, it was this of service. I trust that my humble work for the public school children of North Carolina has not failed to reflect, at least in some measure, the inspiration of those college years. Teachers and matrons, I feel, never know what fine life- lessons they teach unconsciously. It would be too personal to mention names here, but some who read this will know to whom I refer. My opening quotation was about the wonder of the new life that Meredith presented. The wonder still persists. My great- est hope and aim for my own students is that they may be inspired to go on, to seek more knowledge, a fuller measure of wisdom. This stimulus to pursue, not to stop, was implanted at Meredith. The doctrine I could trace back to Mother Mere- dith. The old walls, the grounds hallowed by a thousand priceless associations, are soon to be ours no more. Regret is forgotten almost in pride and hope for the new and shining robe of our loved Mother Meredith. But, whatever changes come, may she, continue to guide and inspire the higher life; may each graduating class catch truer visions of her meaning to the State, nay, even to the nation and to the world. Plokence Page Williams, 1910. Boone, K C. Meredith College Bulletin 47 Looking back today over the years since I left Meredith I think of many tasks which I have somehow been able to do in spite of the fact that they seemed at first beyond me. I give her the credit for having taught me not to shirk, but to attempt and to do the difficult assignment. Her training is so varied that one finds it of practical use in whatever one undertakes. Life is so full of surprises and diverse requirements that this broad training never comes in amiss ! When I was graduated from Meredith it was my ambition to secure a position in some progressive North Carolina high school and teach there indefinitely. Such was not my fate for long. The next year we were in the World War, and the year following I was in Washington doing clerical work in a Gov- ernment department. Then a new ambition developed. I wanted to get into the business world; so, to a commercial school I went, out of work hours, and took a secretarial course, for which course, I might remark in passing, my college course was a most valuable foundation. Because I had had the college work plus the business training I was chosen out of many appli- cants to go to Coblenz, Germany, to teach commercial subjects in the school for American soldiers there. This opened the way for delightful experiences of travel and adventure. Back in the United States I have been variously occupied in North Carolina towns, in Rochester, N. Y., in New York City, and now in the attractive resort town of Asbury Park, New Jersey. Here I have come back again to my original interest — high school aca- demic work. I teach history, and am reminded almost daily of the debt I owe Miss Mary Shannon Smith in this field. When I think of Meredith I think of the personalities that have made the college great. Meredith has certainly been for- tunate in her officers and teachers. They have kept the stand- ards of the institution high, and their influence has been greater than they know. The college has never lacked for students nor for support from the denomination which founded it. It has lacked buildings and equipment. In spite of limited facilities, 48 Meredith College Bulletin it has accomplished much, and now that the dreams for Greater Meredith are being carried out, we who know and appreciate what the college has done under great handicaps are quite con- fident that in the new environment Meredith will be able to render a more perfect service to an ever-increasing number. Esther L. Royster, 1916. Asbury Park, N. J. Having never written for a college bulletin before, I hesitate about the form of such an effort. Should it be formal, or does one say "Dear Bulletin," as if writing to old Meredith friends? At any rate, if it is to be an expression of my own appreciation for benefits received, it must necessarily be more or less a per- sonal recital. I cannot say all I should like, but must be con- tent to hit a few high spots as they touch several experiences of happy China days. Eight here I feel like saying in capital letters, "Firstly, my brethren," I should probably never have reached China had it not been for the wholesome, earnest Christian spirit of Mere- dith. Thank God for Christian colleges where the missionary fires burn strong and steady ! Like vivid pictures stand out yet various evenings of mission study classes; Sunday afternoon cabinet meetings with Miss Phelps; a passionate chapel appeal from Miss Anna Hartwell, of China ; visits from splendid Y. W. and Student Volunteer traveling secretaries; most vivid of all, the snowy, heart-stirring trip to the Rochester Volunteer Con- vention, in company with Blanche Barrus and Miss Young. Perhaps some one will laugh at the next thing I mention as an asset in missionary training — a love of beautiful things, which originated in Miss Ida Poteat's Art History class, and grew even more in her Bible study course, called "The Life of Christ in Art." That long line of good prints in the upper hall had its own silent influence. Many a time in China, walk- ing through temple courts packed with beggars, or picking my Meredith College Bulletin 49 way through crowded streets where sin and disease and misery were almost overpowering, I have looked up with a sense of relief at a glimpse of the exquisite beauty of mellow tiled roof lines; of rare old peonies blooming; of noble faces here and there among the worshippers or shoppers. Like precious jewels are memories of many scenes in China land : avenues of grand old cedars ; the white purity and spiritual quality of the Temple of Heaven under a summer moon; the keen, wind-swept air of beautiful Kuling Mountains; the gleam of beaten copper and brass in a tiny, dusky shop ; the flare of firelight against a bare brown chest as our neighbor blacksmith swung his hammer far into the night — why, I would write a poem about it if I could ! And the heart to understand the beauty of these things was first stirred years ago in Meredith days. Volunteers, elect Art History! It will not only give you joy without end, but make you better fitted to understand the beauty that lies deep in the hearts of those whom we are sometimes tempted to call our inferiors. There was another thing that was a great help — training in speaking, however boresome the effect on the audience. Much training along this line came later in the Training School. It, is invaluable in mission life. Y. W. prayer meetings, society meetings, and many occasions made it necessary to think quickly and to speak instead of to read what I thought. The memory of my first desperate, trembling effort at a sentence-prayer in the left-hand corner of chapel during my first year came back to me especially on one unusual occasion in Peking. We were trying that winter to help outside people realize the splendid type of work done in our school, where nearly four hundred students of many lands and races were studying the Chinese language. The foreign faculty was very small, though we boasted a hundred and forty Chinese teachers. After much discussion we decided on a dinner, to which were invited the American Ambassador and his wife, various dignitaries from other legations, our entire body of trustees and wives, nearly 4 50 Meredith College Bulletin all missionaries of much experience, plus other important heads of various organizations. The list was formidable enough ! It fell to my lot to plan the meal and superintend the cooking, decorate the dining room, buy the place-cards, make the salad- dressing, and a dozen other things which seemed burden enough to add to regular school duties. When the president announced in a casual manner that he had me down for a speech I blinked a blink and shook a bit, but said, "About what?" instead of "I can't." !No, it wasn't much of a speech, but I did it. Do you remember how Mr. Ray used to say in the "Corner Class," "Young ladies, he couldn't but he did, didn't he?" It was like that. By way of iparenthesis I might add that I presided at the head of that long table, with the American Ambassador, a bit deaf, on my right, and a monocled British representative from the Tokyo legation on my left, and that in the face of so much dignity, not to mention scorched soup, I dared stand up and speak my mind about our work. Oh, well, who said a missionary's life was dull or that one did not need to grasp eagerly every opportunity to learn anything that offers in col- lege days? The Bulletin lady said in her letter, "One page or more." I've long since passed the limit. And now, "What shall I more say?" For time will fail me to tell of all those whose strong, earnest lives made Meredith days full, not only of happiness, but of blessed work and play and growth. That the atmos- phere was one where Christ was very real and near; that the college was small enough for us to feel that the faculty knew us and had an interest in us individually; that hard work was honored; that high ideals were lived before us day by day — for all these things and many more, I thank you, dear Alma Mater. Minnie Middleton Anderson, 1911. Warsaw, K C. Meredith College Bulletin 51 Meredith Foreign Missionaries Mrs. Maude Adelia Burke Dozier, was born in Statesville, Worth Carolina, September 18, 1881. She is the only living daughter of Delia T. and Harry Burke. Her father is a lawyer, and a member of the Presbyterian Church. Her mother is a member of the Baptist Church; her deep missionary spirit has greatly influenced the lives of her children. At the age of ten, Miss Maude gave her heart to Christ and was baptized into the membership of the First Baptist Church of Statesville. She received her elementary training in the graded schools and attended Statesville Female College, and then took a partial course in the Normal and Collegiate Insti- tute, Asheville. In 1903, she graduated with A.B. degree from the Baptist University for Women, Raleigh, !KT. C. The year following, she studied in the training school of the Theological Seminary of Louisville, Ky. During the period of preparation, she gave some time to the study of music and art. While in college, she was leader of Bible and mission study classes, and president of the Young Woman's Christian Association. From very early childhood, she had been interested in missions — this interest grew into a purpose to give her life to the service of God. She was appointed April 4, 1906, to the work in Japan. Miss Sophie Stephens Lanneau was born in Lexington, Missouri, August 19, 1880, the sixth child of John F. and Louise F. Lanneau. Added to the influence of earnest Christian parents was that of personal contact with visiting missionaries. In 1890, her father became a professor in Wake Forest College, North Carolina. Early influences grew stronger in the spiritual atmosphere of Wake Forest. On April 10, 1892, after pro- fession of faith, in a special meeting, she was baptized by her faithful pastor, W. R. Gwaltney, into the fellowship of the Wake Forest Church. The idea of foreign mission service was in her mind through- out her girlhood. In 1898 she entered Franklin Seminary, 52 Meredith College Bulletin Franklin, Virginia. The year of 1901-02 was spent in study at the Baptist University, Raleigh, N. C. When the College Y. W. C. A. was organized, she was made its president, and in February was sent as a delegate to the Student Volunteer Convention in Toronto. Here the growing impression of years settled into conviction. Returning as a Student Volunteer, the first mission study classes in the school were formed, with the help of interested fellow-students. She was graduated with the B.A. degree summa cum laude, in May, 1902. A year later she returned to Raleigh, teaching Latin and French in the University for two sessions. The winter - of 1905-06 was spent in the Training School Home at Louisville. Difficulties, mental and spiritual, were cleared in the months of instruction and inspiration received from the lectures and lives of the Seminary professors. It had long been her intention to devote her life to work among the women and girls of China. Numerous forces com- bined to form and maintain this purpose. Against the many temptations to turn aside from it, the influence of one clear impression was active. This was caused by the reading, years ago, of a tract written by Miss Fannie E. S. Heck, on the theme, "I was not Disobedient Unto the Heavenly Vision." Miss Lanneau sailed for China in the fall of 1907. Miss Laura Cox was born near Winterville, ~N. C, Novem- ber 29, 1872. She was converted at the age of fifteen and was baptized in 1887, becoming a member of Winterville Baptist Church. The conviction to work for her Master on the foreign field came with conversion, but, having lost her parents while a child, she could not begin the needed preparation until nineteen years of age. She received her education in the country schools in Pitt County, JR. C, two years at the State Normal School, Greens- boro, "N. C; three years at Meredith College, Raleigh, ~N. C, Meredith College Bulletin 53 where she took her B.A. degree, and one year at the W. M. U. Training School, Louisville, Ky., 1909-'lO. She was appointed by the Foreign Mission Board for service in Mexico, June 3, 1910. Foy Elisabeth Johnson was born in Scotland County, N. C, October 6, 1887. Her parents are Rev. Livingston Johnson and Mrs. Fannie Memory Johnson, of Baleigh, N. C. At the age of eleven she was converted and joined the First Baptist Church of Greensboro, of which her father was pastor. She attended the graded school in Greensboro and the Cary High School. Her college course was taken at Meredith Col- lege, Raleigh, N. C, where she graduated in 1907, taking the B.A. degree. For four years she taught very acceptably in Meredith Academy. On the 7th of June, 1911, she was married to Rev. Calder T. Willingham and appointed to the work in Japan. They sailed August 19 from New York, going via Europe and Siberia to Japan. Her husband died in October, 1918, and she returned to America in May, 1921. She is now Mrs. J. S. Farmer, of Raleigh, K. C. Miss Lelia McNeill Memory McMillian was born in White- ville, 1ST. C, March 1, 1889, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Memory. Her father was a well-known merchant of that place. She was converted at the age of eight years and united with the church at Whiteville. She attended the local schools and spent four years at Meredith College, Raleigh, N. C, from which she received a music diploma in 1909. For three years she taught music at Buie's Creek Academy in North Carolina. It was here in this school, which has such a splendid missionary atmosphere, that she first felt the call of God to go as a foreign missionary, in November, 1910. For the year preceding her appointment she taught music in her home town, Whiteville, 54 Meredith College Bulletin N. C. She was married to Rev. H. H. McMillan on Septem- ber 25, 1913, and was appointed a missionary of the board for the work in Shanghai, China. They sailed with a large party of about twenty missionaries from Seattle, October 7. Miss Pearle Johnson is the daughter of Robert P. and Clara G. Johnson, of Pittsboro, N. C. She was born at Mount Vernon Springs, Chatham County, N. C, where she spent her early childhood. She was converted at the age of ten and united with the Baptist church of that place. Her father was a teacher, and it was he who prepared her for Meredith Col- lege. After her graduation from Meredith College she taught six years — two in the public schools, two in Round Hill Acad- emy, a mountain school in western North Carolina, and two years at Dell School, a denominational school in eastern North Carolina. In 1913 she entered the W. M. U. Training School, from which she graduated in 1915. During the summer of 1914 and a part 1915 she devoted herself to settlement work at the "W. M. U. Training School's "Good-will Center," in Louisville. She was appointed by the board at its meeting, July 15, 1915, and sailed for China on October 8, 1915. Mrs. Anderson, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leonidas Middleton, was born near Warsaw, N. C, December 31, 1889. She united with Johnson's Baptist Church at the age of nine years. She graduated from Meredith College in 1911, and was instructor in English there during 1911-'12. The following year she was principal of the public school in her community. She received the B.M.T. degree from the W. M. U. Training School in 1915. During the winter of 1915-'16 she visited the colleges of the Southern States in the interest of W. M. U. work. She was for one year each in North Carolina and Ken- tucky as vice-president of the Student Volunteer Union. Meredith College Bulletin 55 She was married to Dr. John T. Anderson, of Woodruff, S. C, June 29, 1916, and was appointed by the board on June 14, 1916. She sailed with her husband for Chengchow, China, on August 24, 1916. After the tragic death of her husband, November 13, 1918, she returned to America. Miss Alda Grayson is a native of Rutherfordton, N. C. At the age of eight she united with the Baptist church. She re- ceived her high school education at Round Hill Academy and Columbia College, Lake City, Fla. In 1915 she received the B.A. degree from Meredith College, and then went to Louis- ville to attend the W. M. U. Training School, graduating there in 1917. Following this, she took her hospital training as a nurse, putting in a part of the time at the Rutherfordton Hos- pital at Rutherfordton and the remainder at Fordham Hos- pital, New York City. While she had talked ever since her conversion of becoming a missionary, her definite decision in that connection was not made until her junior year at college. She grew up in a missionary atmosphere, her parents being active Christians and many members of her family being preachers. She is head nurse in the Kathleen Mallory Hos- pital at Laichowfu, China. Mrs. Celia Herring Middleton was born of missionary parents in China and united with the Baptist church at nine years of age. In 1914 she came with her parents to the United States on furlough and remained in North Carolina to complete her education. She graduated from Buie's Creek Academy in 1915 and from Meredith College in 1919. The year following her graduation she taught in Watauga Academy, a Baptist moun- tain school at Butler, Tenn. On July 6, 1920, she was married to Gordon K. Middleton, of Warsaw, N. C, and together they are doing educational work in Kaifeng College. 56 Meredith College Bulletin Mrs. Nell Fowler Olive was born in Elkin, N. C, in 1892, but her family moved to Statesville in 1906, where she grad- uated at high school in 1910. Following this, she spent two years in Mars Hill College and later entered Meredith College, where she graduated in 1916. She spent the next years teach- ing in Dell School and Mars Hill College. On June 2, 1920, she was married to L. B. Olive. They are now in China. Miss Valeria Greene was born at Canton in 1892, and was taught by her parents until she came to the United States and entered Oxford College in North Carolina, later going to Mars Hill College, where she graduated in 1912. Following the death of her father in 1912, she returned to Canton, where she helped her mother in the Woman's Bible School at Canton. Realizing the need of some special Bible training, she re- turned to North j Carolina and took some pedagogical work in Meredith College, and later graduated from the Training School at Louisville, She went back to Canton to teach in the Woman's Bible School. At Ashton, N. C, on September 27, 1891, Rosa Beatrice Hocutt was born. She was converted when she was about four- teen years of age. She entered high school at Delway, N. C, during her seventeenth year. It was there that she received her first impressions for foreign mission service. Soon she entered Meredith College, Raleigh, N. C. During her stay there she often expressed her desire to become a missionary. It was after graduation from Meredith in 1917 that the final decision to go as a missionary to Africa was made. The deci- sion came about in this way : She was engaged to a young man at that time a student in the Seminary at Louisville, Ky. He announced to her the fact that he must go to Africa. Imme- diately she wrote him to do the Lord's will, but leave her out of the matter, because she felt she could not go except God Meredith College Bulletin 57 sent her. This message to him brought in return a message from one of his best friends asking her to reconsider and to decide to enter this great field of service. She hesitated, but after prayerful consideration decided that she would follow. Mrs. Kuth Cook Phillips was born in La Crosse, Ya. At the age of nine she was converted and joined the Baptist church. She received her high school training at Chase City Academy and college training at Meredith College, Raleigh, K". C, re- ceiving a diploma in Music, in 1912. Following graduation she taught music in denominational high schools in North Carolina. In 1916 she was married to Rev. A. R. Phillips, going with him to Louisville, where she took the Training School course. She and her husband were appointed on October 12, 1921, to do educational work in Buenos Aires, Argentina, sailing from New York, February 16, 1922. Miss Katie Murray, the oldest daughter of William B. Murray and Janie B. Murray, was born February 8, 1897, three miles from Kenansville, ~N. C. When the little girl was eight her mother died, leaving her, a younger brother and sister, all of whom went to Rose Hill, JST. C, to live with their uncle and aunt, who loved them as their own. At eleven years of age she was converted. Through a word spoken by her father she was led to confess Christ publicly, and was baptized by Rev. J. M. Page. She was fortunate not only in having a home where Christ's name was exalted, but in receiving her education in a Christian atmosphere. She took two years of high school work at Dell school, preparatory to entrance into Meredith College, where she received her A.B. degree in 1919. Soon after conversion, one day at school when compositions were read on "What I Am Going to Do," to the astonishment 58 Meredith College Bulletin of her friends, the little girl read, "I am going to be a mis- sionary." She thought very little about it until her junior year in college, when Dr. E. M. Poteat was making a missionary address, the call came strong and forceful. It was not as easy now as she thought at eleven, for her head was full of other ideas and plans. The following summer she was a member of the party from Meredith who attended the Y. W. C. A. Con- ference at Blue Ridge. Here her vision of service were broad- ened; she felt the call, but thought she could not yield. The struggle went on; a miserable, unsettled summer followed graduation; then in the fall, one Sunday morning up in the attic of her home, came peace and joy, when her life was sur- rendered for service. The next year she entered the Baptist W. M. U. Training School, receiving the degree of B. M. T. in May, 1922. She sailed for China, September 2, as educa- tional worker among Chinese girls at Chengchow, Honan Province. Mrs. T. Neil Johnson, who before her marriage was Miss Belle Tyner, was born October 2, 1879, at Lumberton, 1ST. C. She received her A.B. degree from Meredith College and also attended the W. M. U. Training School at Louisville, Ky. On July 9, 1916, she was married to Mr. T. Neil Johnson. On June 14, 1923, Mrs. Johnson and her husband were appointed as missionaries of our board. They were in Shanghai, China, at the time of their appointment, Mr. Johnson teaching in the Shanghai Baptist College and Seminary at that place. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are still doing splendid work in connection with the Baptist College at Shanghai. Mrs. Ida Rachel Flake Hurley was born August 13, 1897, at Wadesboro, N. C. After graduating from the Wadesboro High School, she attended the North Carolina College for Women at Greensboro Meredith College Bulletin 59 for one year and Meredith College for three years. She at- tended the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for two years. At the age of thirteen she was converted. For years she had a desire to do mission work, and finally decided to give herself up to foreign mission service. On July 27, 1922, she was married to Rev. Daniel T. Hurley. She with her husband was appointed by the Foreign Mission Board on June 14, 1923, and sailed for Roumania on Sep- tember 12. Mrs. Phillip Ernest White, who before her marriage was Miss Mattie Macon Norman, was born in Hertford, N". C, January 9, 1900. She is the daughter of Louis Whitley and Josephine Elliott JSTorcnan. Mattie Macon was converted and baptized into the fellowship of the Hertford Baptist Church at the age of twelve- She graduated from the Hertford High School in 1916 and entered Chowan College the following fall. After remaining there for two years she entered Meredith College, where she received her piano diploma in May, 1921. She returned to Chowan College and taught piano for two years. The inter- vening summer she attended the ~New York School of Music and Arts and received a teacher's diploma. During her. years at college the question of foreign mission work presented itself and remained unsettled, but while teaching she decided to go to the Woman's Missionary Training School, Louisville, to better to prepare herself for service in Glod's Kingdom. While at the Training School she volunteered for foreign mission work. She was married to Mr. Phillip Ernest White on June 17, 1924, received her appointment to interior China from the Foreign Mission Board on July 10, and sailed for her field of service on September 11, 1924. 60 Meredith College Bulletin In Memory of Elizabeth Avery Colton By Mary Leal Harkness Black [In response to the editor's request that she might reprint the following tribute to Miss Colton which appeared in the Journal of the American Association of University Women, Miss Mina Kerr, Executive Secretary of the association, said: "She did a great piece of work, and it gives me joy to know that other women are remembering and honoring her for her difficult and devoted service." — Editor's Note.] The setting sun of August 26, 1924, saw the close of a life of great influence for true and high educational ideals in this twentieth century. Miss Colton's work was done mainly for and in the South. Although for a time a member of the faculty of Wellesley College, she is identified rather with the educational development of the states in the territory covered by the South- ern Association of College Women. This organization appealed to her as the agent through which she might best carry forward her supreme purpose, the creation in the South of right stand- ards of collegiate 'training, and of the ability to distinguish between the sham college and the real one. At the time of her election as general secretary of the S. A. C. W. in 1912, the Southern states boasted over three hundred self-styled "colleges" for women. The courage and labor demanded by the task she undertook — to show up by actual study of these institutions to what degree they approximated the dignity which they claimed — would (have daunted any but a soul on fire with a passion for educational honesty. Her pamphlet, "The Approximate Value of Degrees from Southern Colleges for Women," published in 1916, raised a storm in southern "collegiate" circles, and evoked more than one presidential threat of a libel suit, while the enduring quality of its effect is shown by the fact that requests for copies of it are still received. In 1914 Miss Colton was elected president of Meredith College Bulletin Gl the S. A. C. W., and held this office for five years. During a part of this time she was also vice-president of the Associa- tion of Colleges and Secondary Schools of the Southern States, and her influence in shaping its policies was widely recognized. Her health gave way completely in 1919, although she re- tained her professorship in Meredith College for nearly two years afterward. Her last three years she spent in the Clifton Springs Sanitarium, with such courage, that a friend who visited her wrote, "She is nothing but a little wisp of courage." Our Association has rarely had a member whose ideals were so high, whose labors for education were so untiring. (The appreciations of Miss Colton appearing below are re- printed by courtesy of the Twig, from the issue of November 21, 1924.) In thinking of Elizabeth Avery Colton as I knew her I jotted down three things: which seemed to characterize her whole life and work. These three things are (1) culture, (2) sincerity, (3) high aims and purposes dedicated to service. Next, I asked whence came these. The answer was ready, namely, from her home life which was that of a missionary family of the Presbyterian church of the latter part of the nineteenth century. Those who have known such homes would tell us that culture, sincerity, high aims and purposes dedicated to service were typical of them. In a period when few Southern girls aimed at anything more in the way of education than graduation from a nearby college, she won a master's degree from Columbia University. She had to be responsible largely for the financial outlay, for naturally extra money wasn't plentiful in a missionary's family. On coming to Raleigh Miss Colton promptly identified her- self with the community interests. She moved her membership to the local church and was interested in meeting and knowing 62 Meredith College Bulletin the people of her adopted city. Likewise, she very promptly became identified with the general college interests. Just at this time the question of changing the name of our educational institution from "University" to "College" was being agitated. She at once took her stand on the "College" side and at the re- quest of the faculty gathered together the reasons for the change and put them into shape for presentation to the trustees. We know the final result, namely, the name of Meredith College, suggested by Dr. R. T. Vann, was chosen. We think of Miss Colton especially in connection with college standards. From the time of her engagement at Meredith she was exerting herself to bring nearer the day when we could meet all requirements for a standard college. She thought and talked and dreamed of it. Her educational interests, however, were not confined to the college in which she taught ; they were South-wide. She united with thati small group of women who in July, 1903, at Knoxville organized the Southern Association of College Women. One of their declared purposes was to raise the standard of educa- tion for women in the South. The task was large, but these women never faltered. When the history of the educational awakening of the South is adequately written, the work of these women will be put in large letters. For a number of years Miss Colton was counted their foremost leader. Sincerity was the keynote of all her work. She hated shams — sham anything. Her pen and voice were brought into use in behalf of sincere college work. "Let Southern girls know which are standard and which are imitation colleges" she pleaded. ''College work for college degrees" was one of her much used phrases. Sincerity marked her class work. There was another movement which she was backing and leading (if one may do both at the same time) and in behalf of which she would doubtless have continued to fight had illness not intervened. I refer to the movement to have passed through the legislatures of all of the Southern states a bill setting certain Meredith College Bulletin G3 standards which must be reached before an educational institu- tion could bear the name of "College." Such a bill was passed by North Carolina and I think by one or two other states. Courage, the handmaiden of Sincerity, was one of her out- standing characteristics. She published a number of pamphlets giving the status of Southern colleges for women. There were many to dispute her findings and law suits were threatened. One college president wrote her definitely that if she didn't retract her statements about his college he would go at once into the courts. She said, "If I could find any reasons for think- ing my statements are incorrect, I would publish apologies and corrections any where I could get space, but as long as I'm sure I am correct I will go to jail rather than retract a single state- ment." And she would have done so. She was generous in her personal giving. I recall one occasion when an appeal for some object came. She remarked, "I don't know when I ought to stop giving. As long as one has any balance in the bank she can write a check. I guess I will give them something and trust to the Lord to take care of me if I get helpless." Elizabeth Colton was my friend, loyal and true, honored and valued. I take as my consolation in her death that she "though dead yet liveth." Rosa Paschal, (Dean of Greenville' Woman s College) It was in the spring of 1909 that Miss Alice Meserve of the Latin department urged us to start a branch of the Southern Association of College Women in Raleigh. It was out of the two groups of the faculty and the "S. A. C. W." that Miss Colton's work started which lead her to tabulate the standards of the so-called colleges for women in North Carolina, and later for those of the South. She read a number of papers on this subject before the Southern Association of Colleges and 64 Meredith College Bulletin Preparatory Schools that were spoken of as "high explosives/' but which were looked for as one of the events of each con- ference. As the years passed it became evident to us all that she was breaking, but the work for Meredith was so far advanced that others could continue it, and she lived to see the college accepted by the Southern Association of Colleges and also by the Ameri- can Association of University Women. Elizabeth Colton would not wish to be remembered for her physical pain, but for her fighting spirit. Much work still remains, and it is toward that work her spirit would direct the college, and the college women of her beloved South. Mary Shannon Smith, (Professor of History, Converse College) As a teacher, Miss Colton's first desire for the girls who came under her care was that they should learn, both in writing and in speaking, to use their native tongue worthily. She founded the tradition of sound training in composition which has ever since charaeetrized the teaching of English at Meredith, and which I hope will never be forgotten there. She was determ- ined that no student should go out, with the seal of college approval, who was either ignorant of or oblivious to the claims of good usage. In realizing this ideal she had a large measure of success, for her resources were infinite. There was help, abundant and patient, for those who would avail themselves of it. But the careless and the unwilling learned to their cost what batteries of wit, sarcasm, and scorn she could bring up against them. Unhampered by false sentiment, and courageous enough to inflict pain when she deemed it necessary, she was yet generous in her praise when it was deserved, and her commenda- tion was worth working for. But her students, if they were apt, learned more than good usage. She taught them logical processes of thought, and she Meredith College Bulletin 65 made them understand something of style by her insistence on economy of utterance, and by her love for distinction of phras- ing. As a teacher of literature, Miss Colton proceeded upon the sound principle that appreciation is grounded in the under- standing of an author's thought. Many a student, too, awakened to an enjoyment of the best as a result of hearing her read. She was a beautiful reader ; and some of the best-loved cadences in English poetry are in my mind associated with her voice. But this is not all. During those last years, when her life was bounded by the walls of a hospital room, she was still a teacher and she taught those who saw her lessons to be cherished beyond those of the class-room : how self-forgetful and gracious one can be under suffering, and how brave the human spirit can be when it faces the dark. Such seems my former instructor, as I look back over the days during which I was fortunate enough to be associated with her. If we teachers of the second generation can pass on to others something of the training and ideals which we had from her, we shall not fail to be of some service in the world. Maey S. Steele, (Professor of English, Bessie Tift College) Never did a great general upon a fiercely contested battle field make a more gallant and heroic fight for victory than did our friend for her life. Her unconquerable spirit triumphed over the ills of the flesh for nearly three years and, when at last her physician held out no hope of a recovery, she yielded, sustained by her unwavering faith and an unfaltering trust in Him who doeth all things well. To the very last she was interested in and rejoiced over the progress of Meredith College. , To her host of friends who con- tributed so generously in material support during the last year and a half of her life, her heart went out in loving grati- 5 66 Meredith College Bulletin tude. After the long martydom of pain, the end came peacefully the 25th of last August when she fell asleep in the arms of Him who giveth His beloved rest. Catherine Allen, (Professor of Modern Languages, Meredith College) Blanche Barrus and Dorothy Gower The keynote of one of the speeches made at the exercises for the laying of the cornerstone of New Meredith was embodied in the spoken words "Meredith Marches On." This has been true of Meredith all through the years gone by and we trust will be her slogan always. Meredith marches on, — not only in a physical way, as ex- pressed by the wonderful new expansion in brick and stone, not only by the development of her academic courses, until she now ranks second to none in our Southland, but in a way even more triumphant, though much more difficult to estimate, she marches on through the lives of those upon whom she imprints her spirit and worth. Truly, she marches on through, the lives and in- fluences of these, her handmaidens, unto the uttermost parts of the earth. There are many through whom she is speaking actively to- day; there are others, who, having borne their testimony, have gone on to the better land, but still speak through the lives they touched and influenced while here. Oftentimes we wonder why it is that many who appear thoughtless and aimless live long, useless lives, while others who seem born with the purpose and determination to succeed and serve are cut short in a mysterious way. So it seems with two splendid spirits — two daughters through whom Meredith surely marches on, though they were here so short a time. Although widely separated in point of years, Blanche Barrus and Dorothy Gower had many points in common. Possessed of THE MEREDITH GRANDDAUGHTERS CLUB Alice Graves Hunsucker, President Ruth Janet Sikes, Secretary-Treasurer Catherine Baines, Reporter Mary Allison Estelle Pittman Martha McCullen Emily Cheek Meredith College Bulletin 67 unusually winning personalities, sweet and sunny-haired, each girl, one in 1906-10 — the other 1920-24, soon came to be a leader in college life, — both intensely interested in the work of the College Young Women's Auxiliary mission study and all that pertained to the uplift of the student body. Eager to give their best to their Master, each one found herself desiring more than any other thing to serve her Lord in the foreign fields as a medical missionary. This desire was intensified with the older girl, Blanche Barrus, by her service when through college, as Corresponding Secretary for the North Carolina W. M. U. Having been in- fluenced in her own life decision by the inspiration of Miss Fannie E. S. Heck, the founder and for many years the presi- dent of the North Carolina and Southern Baptist W. M. XL, she was a particularly fine leader for North Carolina women in their missionary endeavors. All through the State she went, winning friends for her Master everywhere, sowing the seed in countless young lives that have gone on bearing fruit, when she herself could no longer serve. Tireless in her devotion and determination, she broke down in health completely while taking the last years of medical training for the fulfillment of her lifelong ambition, and instead of going to minister to the suffering and bedridden ones of China, she herself was for many months a weary sufferer. Even then, though, her courageous spirit triumphed, and nurses and doctors and many fellow patients testified to her wonderful influence and self-sacrifice. So passed a beautiful life. How fitting it is that North Carolina Baptists are naming the Nurses' Home of their new hospital "The Blanche Barrus Nurses' Home" in memory of this young woman who was so fine an example of Christian young womanhood. Dorothy Gower, as a little child, with shining eyes and bright face, would testify for her Master in her church and associa- tional meetings ; as a young girl in college she pondered over the wonderful stories of brave missionaries in her mission study 68 Meredith College Bulletin books, and planned for her Y. W. A. girls to do bigger., better things than any other college Y. W. A. These Y. W. A. girls are now honoring her in a beautiful way by furnishing a room, which will bear her name, in the Blanche Barrus Nurses' Home already mentioned. Dorothy longed to give her best to lost souls as she eased their sufferings in far away India or China or Japan; but, while still a student, our Heavenly Father took her fine spirit home one summer day. These two Meredith daughters know each other now. Kindred spirits as they were, they understand now their Father's will. We see in part only, but we do know that in their brief years, and through their lives and their influence more good was accom- plished than in many much longer lives. Their gentle hands never realized their greatest desire — to serve the suffering heathen sister — but, who can tell how many other young lives touched by the influence of these two girls, have been given in service and will be used in their stead — their number increasing throughout the years as the ripples of the sea spread on and on. Thus, truly, because of these and many other lives, Meredith marches on. Vieginia Egerton Simms, 1904-05. Message From Meredith's Granddaughters and Daughters "Mother, please tell me a story," in a phrase that all mothers hear, but could any mother gratify that wish more than my own did when the stories were of Meredith days with souvenirs accompanying each story. There was the old "Memory Book" that held signatures of Rosa, Margaret, Ruth and many others that I have since learned must be spoken of in very respectful tones. Then there was the "First Night" story, when they all slept on the floor because the beds were not up. And one day Meredith College Bulletin 69 I found an old pennant that looked as tho' it had been through the war but on it was B. F. U. "That, Mary/' mother said laughing, "was the alma mater banner, but yours will look so much prettier. See, it will look like this — Meredith," and she took my hand to trace the beloved name which grew from Baptist Female University into the present beautiful and sacred name. From the days I traced the name Meredith on the paper it was traced on my mind, and the name of no other college entered the domain of my thoughts. Mary Allison, 1927. I have always known that I would come to Meredith. My mother entered here as a sophomore the first year Meredith opened. She went to another college, her freshman year as Meredith was not opened at the time she was prepared to go. She studied art under Miss Ida Poteat and loved her, just as all of us do who come here. Mother died when I was only four years of age, so I do not remember hearing her talk about Meredith, but my father was a student at Wake Forest at the same time my mother was a student here. Of course he was a frequent visitor and liked Meredith immensely. He has always talked about the time when my younger sister and I should come to Meredith. I have often heard him say he wished us to come here because it was a denominational college therefore the religious influences were good. I have been here one school term and have found the religious side of Meredith to be very much in the foreground of the col- lege life. We have four A-l B. Y. P. U.'s, a Y. W. C. A., a Y. W. A. and other Christian organizations too. But it is very necessary that we have a larger place in which to work. The present Meredith occupies a city block and several buildings near. There is not room for a good athletic field. This is a necessity because the body must be kept in good health so that the mind can do its best work. The dormitories are crowded to overflowing. However, there is a new Meredith 70 Meredith College Bulletin being built on a beautiful site just outside of Raleigh. The erecting of the college will need a great amount of money and earnest prayer. We are hoping that those who can will con- tribute to Meredith's Cause. Martha McCtillen, 1928. Ever since I have been big enough to know that I was to continue my education through college, it has been understood that I should come to Meredith, because mother came. She told me about the Christian spirit that prevailed among the students, the many fine girls that came to Meredith, and how nicely they treated new girls, who probably had never been off from home before. She also told me about the wonderful work of the college. I have found all of this to be true in the few months that I have been here. The students co-operate with our President, and our faculty to do the best in the interest of Meredith. Now it is unable to accommodate all the Baptist girls in our State, not counting the girls of other denominations that want to come here. We hate to turn these girls away, but it seems as if there is nothing else to do. Meredith is a splendid college for a young girl. Its standards are high and it is beautifully situated in the Capital city of our State. Meredith is trying her best to build a place large enough to hold the girls who seek an education, but she cannot do this successfully unless the Baptist people of our State co-operate with her in this undertaking. This means that every one of us will have to pray, pay, and work for this New Meredith. ESTELLE PlTTMAN, 1928. As I sit here in my cool, sweet room the question comes to me, why did I come to Meredith? It is indeed an interesting question to consider. Ever since I was a tiny girl I have known all about Meredith. But that was most natural because my mother was an old Meredith girl. One of my favorite bed time Meredith College Bulletin 71 stories was about the time daddy proposed to mother in what was then the library, and is now Mr. Perry's classroom. When I was older I had a great many cousins who went to Meredith. They often came to see us, bringing their girl friends with them. Those were exciting times for a small girl, watching the girls dress, seeing their flowers and begging to see them off with their "dates." Years slipped by and I grew up and was ready for college, myself, don't you think it was most natural for me to come back to my Mother's Alma Mater, that I had loved since I was a child? Ruth Janet Sikes, 1926. In Training for Christian Service It's not the ivied towers, nor the green grass on the campus; nor yet the old oaks that stand guard at the entrance, that make our college. If such were true, it would be impossible to move Meredith to new surroundings. It's in the hearts of her daugh- ters that one can find just what our Alma Mater really is — Meredith is not just brick and stone and wood, Meredith is real — vital, with that great spirit that makes its impression on every one who comes in contact with it. It's the heart of her, the great throbbing soul of her, that make us hope, and plan, and work, with faith in our friends and faith in God, the "giver of every good and perfect gift." Elizabeth Purnell, 1926. What has Meredith and my college course meant to me? It has meant the discovery of vast realms of knowledge, of which I did not dream in high school days. I can remember now when as a freshman I first thrilled with the feeling that I stood tiptoe on the threshold of a great storehouse of wealth, with the rosy dawn of conscious youth at my back. It has meant also the making of dear friendships. But, greater than all else, 72 Meredith College Bulletin Meredith has brought home to me a realization of the signifi- cance of ordinary daily living. At an early age I had planned to be noteworthy — famous in some line. Mediocrity was anathema to my youthful imagina- tion. As I gradually wakened to the sad fact that I had not been fitted by nature for a place in the eyes of the world, I succumbed to the materialism which was characteristic of my small-town home. For the average life to which I considered myself now doomed, I needed no great preparation. One year of college training — or, at most, two — was surely all I should need. From a mone- tary standpoint, I could see that a college graduate had no great advantage over the girl who was not the possessor of a degree. It was a natural reaction from the visionary ideals of my childhood, but was dangerously emphasized by the lack of vision and of ideals of a small town which knew no standard but the dollar mark. It was not in my case very promising material with which Meredith had to work. I had no great purpose which was to be like a lamp unto my feet. I was not impressed with the importance of college training. At the bottom of all my lack of interest was the feeling that it did not matter greatly. I had been given no special talent to the development of which I might devote my life. The world — the big world outside my family and town — would never know I had lived. In helping me to change this warped outlook on life, one not uncommon among high school students, Meredith has done all for me. Following the discovery in my freshman days of the existence of that world of knowledge which I desired to explore came the realization of the importance of college train- ing. In the atmosphere of Meredith, created by those who have made of living a fine art, gradually there has come the realiza- tion that life itself, and not the possession or lack of talents, is the important matter — that the greatest art is the art of living. , 1925. ■ "' " ' ■.'■■■ OFFICERS B. Y. P. U., 1924-1925 Edith Maynard, General President Pauline Sawyer, Secretary Leaders Catherine Cooke Bettie Hewlett Marguerite Harrison Jessamine Oldham Rosa Hocutt, B. Y. P. U. Celia Herring, B. Y. P. U. Foy WiUingham, B. Y. P. U. Pearle Johnson, B. Y. P. U. Meredith College Bulletin 73 Roll-call of Student Volunteers for 1924-25 Abbott, Annabelle, '26 Herrin, Minnie, '26 Ayers, Mary, '28 Jordan, Annie Mae, '27 Barnwell, Daisy, '26 Milton, Vera Pearl, '25 Beeker, Gladys, '28 Misenheimer, Mary, '26 Barker, Ruby, '25 Neathery, Grace, '26 Cheeves, Mary, '28 Tripp, Doris, '28 Daniel, Iona, '25 Stakes, Florence, '27 Daniel, Ruby, '28 Stafford, Lois, '27 Dunning, Dorothy, '28 Woods, Nancy, '27 Henderson, Margaret, '26 Our Volunteers at Meredith This year ('24-'25) there are at Meredith nineteen girls who have answered God's call to do definite service for Him in our foreign mission fields. Three of them are seniors and graduate this year; two of these three will soon begin their training to become nurses, one at our own Baptist Hospital, the other at Bellevue Hospital, New York. The Junior Class claims six of these girls, the Sophomore three, and the Freshman seven. Our North Caro- lina Baptist Education Board gives aid to twelve of these nineteen. Of vital interest to each Meredith volunteer is the future of her beloved Alma Mater. By prayer and hard work they strive to help her stand for the purest and noblest of Christian womanhood. It is true that they are particularly interested in the spiritual atmosphere of our campus, but they are a loyal part of every other college activity. In scholarship, several have made first or second honor roll. When this group of girls comes together for a meeting you will find among them the following: The vice-president of our North Carolina Volun- teer Union; the presidents of our Y. W. 0. A., Y. W. A., and Athletic Association ; also the vice-president of the A. A. ; two 6 74 Meredith College Bulletin members of the Executive Committee of our Student Govern- ment; seven members of our Y. W. C. A. cabinet; two members of the staffs of our publications; several B. Y. P. IT. officers; a society chaplain, and the college fire chief. As varied as their duties are now, so will their tasks be in later years. Together now, they await the day when prepared they may truly answer God's call. Early in her college career the volunteer becomes aware of the significance of the motto on Meredith's seal, and the longer she remains at Meredith, the more this becomes a part of her. Going out from her Alma Mater with the torch shining and with God's Word on her lips, surely, she will be a "light" unto a dark world. Mary Misenheimer, 1926. Meredith Club The organization of the Meredith Club was brought about for the purpose of aiding those girls who found it necessary to help themselves financially by doing some work while attending school. East Building was purchased for this purpose about 1900. Mrs. Jessie Earnshaw, of Wake Forest, began her work with the club that year, coincident with Dr. Vann's adminis- tration. As East Building was filled to overflowing by the second year, two cottages were purchased for rooming space. Mrs. Earnshaw became full-time supervisor of the club, and continued her work until the summer of 1916, except for the years 1908-1910. For the next two years Miss Mattie Wood Osborne and Mrs. Elliott had charge of the club. In 1918 Mrs. B. W. Cooper came, and is still supervising and directing the club. It is needless to say that the club has made itself a permanent part of our college, for now there is no restriction as to where our girls shall room except in Main Building. It may be interesting to trace the activities of the club girl while in college, and also after graduation. While in school Meredith College Bulletin 75 she has equal standing with all other girls. Mrs. Earnshaw states that "for those first seventeen years the larger number of presidents for Y. W. C. A., a great number of officers for literary societies, for classes and for all different organizations of the college, a larger number of delegates to various conven- tions of religious and educational interest, and the first seven Student Government presidents came from the club members." This can truly be said of the club today, for at least 50 per cent of the girls holding offices in our college are members of Meredith Club. Mrs. Earnshaw says: "Following the lives of the alumnse, we find that, of the thirteen volunteers sent to the Home and Foreign Mission fields, only one was not a club girl." Today we have nineteen volunteers for the foreign field in our college, and thirteen of them are club members. There is also a Life Service Band, consisting of eight girls studying for Home Mission work, seven of whom are club girls. Two club girls have made very successful W. M. U. secretaries, one of whom was Miss Blanche Barrus, who died shortly before beginning her work as a medical missionary, and for whom the nurses' home at our Baptist Hospital is to be named as a memorial. The only Meredith alumna who holds a Ph.D. degree was a club girl. Of the thirty-one who have been called back as members of Meredith College Faculty, sixteen were club girls. Wot only in Worth Carolina, but also in distant States and throughout the world, we find our Meredith club girls standing for all that is best in citizenship and religion, and using the equipment they received at Meredith in a way that reflects credit on their Alma Mater. There is another interesting side of our club work. The real purpose of the club, as mentioned above, is to help girls who otherwise would not be permitted to come to Meredith. The existence of the club means that two girls can earn their entire expenses, six can obtain their board, and six can secure one-half of their board for each year. During the last six years eight girls have gone out from Meredith who have earned their entire 76 Meredith College Bulletin expenses while in school; seventy-two have earned all or one- half of their board; and more than eight hundred have been enabled to secure board for $12.50 a month during the school year. The girls not only receive financial benefits from the club, but also practical benefits. The knowledge they gain and the experience they have in the club work render them more capable as home-builders; and they have the opportunity for developing a spirit of useful, thoughtful service, which makes them active community workers after leaving college. Thus, we have traced the history of the club, given an insight into our club work, and tried to show what Meredith Club stands for. Since the club through the years has served so well, shall it not be a definite part of "NEW" Meredith? Maeagabet Waed Hendeeson, 1926. [The college thanks heartily every contributor to this book of remembrance, of love, and of hope. Trusting in prayer and in the definite guidance of God's Spirit, "Meredith Marches On!" — Editoe's Note.] DO YOU KNOW — That you, as a Baptist, have part ownership in Meredith College ? — That money you invest here will yield rich dividends in trained workers? — That more than fifteen of its former students are foreign missionaries, and that many more are at work as home mission- aries, Sunday school workers, Bible teachers, and pastors' assistants? — That the student body represents seven States and one foreign country? — That Meredith College is an Al standard college, being a member of the Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools of the Southern States? — That Meredith College graduates are eligible to member- ship in the American Association of University Women? — That Meredith College graduates have secured the A.M. degree in one year from such universities as Brown, Cornell, Columbia ? —That in 1926-1927 Meredith College will house 500 girls instead of 340, as at present? — That a gift to Meredith College this year will be worth many times the value of the same gift a few years hence?