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

Page 20 text:

Director M. Luecke, to whom this book is inscribed, has proved himself equal to this task. He has and he holds the love of his college boys. And this he has managed to do in spite of the fact that a large number of different things connected with the in- terests of the college are claiming, and threatening to distract, his attention every day. It IS his duty to superintend the campus and the kitchen, the gymnasium and the hospital, the heating plant and the general repair work in the various buildings as well as many other kinds of work for the institution. All these duties, however, in spite of being always conscientiously per- formed by him, have never been permitted to interfere with the care which he devotes directly to the boys. The class which dedicates this book to him does so because its members have felt his kindness and his love; they wish to express in this manner their appreciation of his good intentions and of the benefits conferred upon them by his care and management; they offer the dedication of their class book to him as a proof of their gratitude for the education which they have received under his directorate. In con- clusion they take great pleasure in express- ing the sincere wish that the college may be blessed with many more years of his success- ful management and that he himself may continue to enjoy his work in the future, as he did in the past. L. D.

Page 19 text:

Dedicatory gcc;89y Day or night, the door of my house and the door of my heart will always be open to you! These words were addressed to the stu- dents of Concordia College by the Reverend Martin Luecke, when he entered upon his duties as director of the institution. They form a fitting expression of the sentiment uppermost in his mind and heart throughout the performance of his duties as ' house father ' of the college family which consists of the boys confided to his care. Love for his college boys is the leading characteristic revealed in all his planning and in the execu- tion of his numerous duties as well as in his general attitude towards the students. The position of a director in our college is an extremely trying and difficult one. In a facetious mood a prominent educator of our country once said that college boys were ' a set of civilized barbarians. ' This may be an overstatement of the case, but still there is some truth in it. To gain and to retain the love and confidence of young independent Americans and, at the same time, to govern and lead them with a firm hand is almost as difficult a task as the work of winning a lot of real barbarians. It requires the heart of a father, the mind of a diplomat, the perseverance of a trainer, and the firmness of a ruling monarch.

Page 21 text:

' oreworc We offer here the product of our work. With the request that you, our most dear friend, Seek not in this, our book, for wisdom deep. Or diction ' s faultlessness, or perfect style. Tis but to call to mind the golden days Of youth, when you your happy school days spent. In learning ' s quest, were carefree, young, and gay And in your work made errors as do we. ;