Concordia College - Spire / Concordian Yearbook (Fort Wayne, IN)

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3 THE PIONEER 19 15 sr: IT WAS in the fall of 1909 when fifty-four youngsters, destined to con- stitute the class of 1915, entered the ranks of Concordia. As might be expected, the first few days of our stay at a place so strange to us were none too pleasant. We had to get used to entirely new and strange conditions, only a few had friends here, and a continual longing for home made matters still worse. After several days, however, we learned to like the surroundings, and roamed about the place with the air of seniors. But alas ! alas ! After a few weeks of this gay life were over, it was impressed upon our minds that we were only sexties and that as such it was our solemn duty to get busy and help the rest of the common herd, or lower classmen, in what might be called house-cleaning. The use of the broom and mop and other cleaning utensils was practically demon- strated to us, with such effect, that even now the members of our class can give the newcomers valuable hints and instructions in this noble art. But this is not to give the impression that all our spare time was devoted to such work. On the contrary, some very good times were enjoyed. Who, for instance, can ever forget the exciting meetings of our Sexta Debating Club, when such all-important questions as Which is tne more useful, the horse or the cow? were debated upon by some silver-tongued orators of the class? Class spirit was soon awakened and literary clubs, baseball, and basket ball teams were organized and heartily supported. In this manner, the first year passed by, and although all were glad to leave for home, it was only with the determination to come back to Concordia the next year. In this manner, year after year rolled by. Each year brought with it harder studies but also more fredom and independence. Of course, we were far from being entirely free and left to ourselves. Countless days of fatigue, acquired by all kinds of transgressions of that famous law called Hausordnung always reminded us of our duty when in danger of going the wrong road. Especially that most popular of all punish- ments, dumping the cans, whereby justice is exercised upon the too- ardent consumers of Tuxedo or Prince Albert, will always linger in the memory of those who had the privilege of wheeling this Chariot of Misery from the dump to the crematory. But we lived through all these hardships, and even learned to like them. 17

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£ THE PIONEER 1915 $i OS 1—1 O 02 O 16

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3 THE PIONEER 1915 $ Looking back over the six years spent at our dear Alma Mater, one must admit that there are many things left unaccomplished, and still we many consider ourselves an average class. We do not claim that we were the leading class in everything, but some things were done by our class whereby it served as an example for other classes. One of these is, that this is the first class since the founding of our college, which has succeeded in publishing a class annual. In athletics also, our class has held its own with the others. Very few games of baseball were played while we were in the lower classes, but in these we always managed to overcome the classes under us. In our third year, however, our team lost to the class of 1916, without regaining its proper standing until two years later. In basket ball, our class has always been exceptionally strong. As early as in Tertia, one member of the class was on the big five and in the last two years over half the team was composed of members of our class. The class championship was also won by our Secunda team, when they downed the erstwhile champions, class 1914, in an exciting contest, 19-17. Our class track team has always had what might be termed hard luck. While in the lower classes, we had abundant material for a good track team. Later on, however, several athletes were lost every year, who turned out to be track stars in other classes. Still we always manage to get a fair number of points in the annual field meet. And now that the day of our departure from the institution, where six of the happiest years of our life were spent, draws nigh, it is only with a feeling of sorrow that we reflect, that after commencement the class of 1915 will probably never again assemble as a whole. Of course, the ma- jority intend to continue their studies at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Mo., and for them the happy days of college life are not quite over. It will only be a short time, however, before all are compelled to face the world with its hardships, and the time will come when all will feel a long- ing to return to the care-free college days at Concordia and to meet and know their classmates again as they knew them in former years. This, however, is impossible. But in order to give everyone something wherein the good wishes of his classmates can always be found, the class decided to adopt a motto. After much discussion, the motto Nee aspera terrent was finally chosen as the most appropriate. At college, this motto has been followed, for no hardships here have been able to strike terror into our hearts. May it also prove a safe guide in the years which must fol- low, and may it prove the clarion call which will hold our class together forever. 18