Beulah College - Echo Yearbook (Upland, CA)

Page 21 text:

,dnl l 4 , - X 'rf' --xl'Nf ' f- e A - f N e . .. sf X ic is - il l, l p llietnzeimllilll The Arch of Experience ANNA M. l1h's'1'n1i Many have been the triumphant arches which have been erected for emperors and kings in ages past. For centuries some ot' these arches have stood the sto1'm and sunshine as monuments of noble and heroic deeds. Others have crumbled and decayed within a few years, leaving only the ruin and the name. Or, perchance, even the name has passed into oblivion. The great arch-the arch of experience-is continuously being erected from our daily encounters throughout. life. These experiences may be great, or they may seem of little importance. yet they are built into the arch-experience. The essential requirement of the structure is that these experiences may be genuine and upright, or they, like the temporary structures of the day, will crumble and in a few years will be gone forever. Every arch consists of at least. two piers built upon a foumlation. These piers finally reach the desired height, and the arch is formed by the impost, springers, voussoirs and extradors. The consummation of the arch is made by the final rock being placed in the center of the arch. This is known as the keystone. As tl1e arch is constructed from material substances. so the arch of experi- ence is likewise fashioned from encounters of human life. The two piers may be considered as the temporal and spiritual experiences of life. Both of these are essential in the formation of a well-constructed arch. ttFor human experi- ence, like the stern lights of a ship at sea, illumines only the path we have passed over. Let us first consider the building of the temporal side of the arch. As in any structure, the foundation is of fundamental importanceg for if it, like the house built upon the rock, is constructed upon a true foundation, the remaining part of the structure is assured of perfection. Vtlhcre will these foundation stones be laid? The first stones of the temporal-the intellectual, and the physical-experiences are without question laid in the home. It is in the home we are awakened to consciousness concerning those about us. It is here that the psychological pha.se of life is Hrst roused, and the foundation of thought, mem- ory, and attention is established. lt is in the home that we receive our first social experiences in playing with other children, and learning phases of un- seltishness and eo-operation. If these are not acquired in the home, greater and harder problems will later be ours. Through the home we first learn to know the world. lt is comparatively small at first, but enlarges as new knowledge becomes ours. These foundation stones of experience are of incalculable value in the formation of our arch of experience. The eventful day which occurs in each child 's life at length arrives, and new knowledge is revealed in the school room. It is here that. a. new and broader vision commences to unfold, and like a moving panorama, continues to grow and enlarge each year. These experiences gained in the class room are essential to our intellectual development. Knowledge along one phase of intellectual development is not sufficient to complete our arch in a symmetrical fashion. Book knowledge is therefore not the only experience that is necessary. One essential substance is our social development which began in the home and expands to our schoolmates and friends in general. Our friends, therefore, play a. large part in building our arch of experience. ' Page Thirz'ccn

Page 20 text:

Page Twelve N If H Abilene, Kansas Vice-president Ciceronian Literary Society, '24-'25, Class Reporter, '24-'25, President College Sopho- mores, '26, Secretary of Bryce His- torical, '26g Beulah Purity Band, '25-26. An equal mixture of good humor and good sense. Waukena, California Beulah Purity Band, '25-'26, Bryce Historical, '25-'26, Webster Liter- ary, '25 5' Debating Club, '26g Presi- dent College Freshmen, '25, Vice- president College Sophomores, '26, President Bryce Historical, '25 5 Religious Editor, Echo Staff, '26. The warmth of genial courtesy, the calm self-reliance. Upland, California Valedictoriang Beulah Purity Band, '25-'26, Bryce Historical, '25-'26, Debating Club, '26, Literary Edi- tor, Echo Staff, '26. So unaffected, so composed a. mind, So firm, so true, so strong, yet so refined. Ramona, Kansas Vice-president Bryce Historical, '24g Webster Literary Society, '24, Treasurer College Sophomore, '26, Bryce Historical, '26. Always jolly and light hearted, with a lofty ideal.

Page 22 text:

A ' ' - f 'z.f ' X., f'5'r ZW ,xx .e p 43 - i . 1 , , K. 5 fg ayayw f i i ii !lIfl. mm2i'miina, - 1, c ' , It ti The one side of the pier-intellectual. experiences-have been continually in the process ot' construction by our various stones ol? knowledge. The quality olf the stones has depended upon the earnestness, the enthusiasm, and the ambi- tion which has prompted these experiences. Realizing the necessity ot the highest and best for our architectural structure, we choose For our creed the following words o lf Browning: ll Stake your counter boldly ever wit, Venture as warily, use the same skill, Do your best whether winning or losing it, ll' you choose to play!--is my principle. liet a man contend to the uttermost For his li'l'e's set prize, be it what it will! No arch is complete with only one pier. There must be at least two. The spiritual and moral experiences must keep pace with the temporal, that the arch may be a perfect one. The l'oundation ol' this pier is laid in the home as well. Here we are taught our first prayer. llere we hear Mother sing those good old-l'ashioned songs that lay the first stones 'l'or our structure. Here we are told the fascinating Bible stories, which make a great impression upon our childish minds. Here the principal ot right and wrong early becomes a detinite experience, and serves as a guide in the following years. ln the Sunday Srhool our knowledge continues to increase. The stories which our teacher narrates produce lasting effects, and our instructor becomes our ideal. Gradually the Christ ot the New Testament reveals himself in a greater manner. He no longer is only an Ideal, a l'ascinating character ol' the New Testament and the ifhrist ot' our Father and Mother, but He is Jesus Christ who deserves an entrance into our hearts and lives. Realizing the im- portance ol' having the right builder 'I'or our arch ol' experience, we, through confession and faith in the atoning merits of our slain and resurrected liord, invite Jesus Christ to be the Master Mason a11d Builder of our Arch. This experience is ot' inestimable importance, 'l'or upon this knowledge the remaining spiritual experiences rest. As the years tly swittly by, we learn to apply the lessons which we have formerly learned. The experience in truth, honesty, and 'fair play open up new avenues, and our knowledge becomes broader. Another round ol' masonry is laid when early the tact ol' standing For the right amid the taunts and jeers ot' our companions becomes one ot reality to us. The experiences are the stepping stones to greater ones, and, should we tail in these, our 'future stones will be marred. Christ is sermon on the mount gives us a vast amount ot basis mate- rials in our daily encounters with the world, and with God as our Architect, and Jesus Christ as our Master Builder, our experiences will complete the pier in the most beautiful manner. Our piers are near completion, but without the knowledge, appreciation and deep sympathy for tl1e aesthetic, they will be bleak and ba1'e. Both the intellectual and spiritual piers need this orna.ment.ation. All nature, from the song of the birds. the chorus ot the frogs, the rustle ot' the leaves to the music of the never-ceasing waves, unites in bringing to us the appreciation of God's creation. The voice of music with the message ot literature and art give us vital experiences which serve toward the final embellishing ol' our piers. The pie1's have reached their consummation, and the imposts, springers, and voussoirs are next to be added. The imposts are those portions ot? the arch Page Fourteen K N