James Madison University - Bluestone Schoolmaam Yearbook (Harrisonburg, VA)

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the heirs of salvation, bring to us wisdom for every decision, courage in every struggle, and hope for every day. We come to Thee, Our Father, with a special plea. This hour for all of us gathered here is an hour of special moment, and we voice a special prayer. This hour has hovered in our visions, and has been longed for with fear an 1 trembling, yet with a stirring fulness of hope and joy. It is an hour full of meaning to us all, and to the men and women who shall stand here and work here in the years to come. This hour is at once a goal and a beginning : a goal of toilsome progress and the beginning of a glorious work. We give Thee thanks for Thy mercies and blessings, and pray that Thy favor may continue to smile upon us, and that Thou wilt crown our labors with full success. Bless all who have labored for this school hitherto, and all who shall labor for it henceforth in any capacity. Bless the school ; may it become a sacred place — a shrine, as it were, devoted to liberty and to truth. Standing upon this hilltop, under the rising sun, may it grow as a mighty oak or a cedar of ancient Lebanon, and in its shelter may health and glad- ness abound. Like the hills and mountains round about it, may it be strong and steadfast ; like the skies that smile above it, may it be bound- less in its compass and ever full of light ; like the hills and plains that surround it, may it be both fruitful and beautiful ; like all the works of righteousness, may it be fostered and blessed of God. Give these, Thy servants who teach, knowledge and wisdom and power; give the Trustees of the Commonwealth, who shall direct us, foresight and wise discretion ; may all labor unto Thy glory and the good of mankind. And now, O Lord, as we end our petitions, we voice one more special prayer. Bless these young women in their lives and in their work. They hold in their hands the cure of many ills, the key to many joys ; and they too are standing at this hour in the dawn of a great future. The skies are bright above them, and hope calls them forward. Give them grace and strength and wisdom, O Lord, and guide them into usefulness and all those forms of special service for which Thou hast so richly endowed them. Give them hearts of love and sympathy and sincerity, and through them bless the land — the State, the Nation, the World, for Jesus Christ ' s sake, Amen. —21-

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(iur PrFhtatnrir Age EVERY institution that is truly great had its real beginning in some- body ' s visions, lived first in somebody ' s heart ; and no matter how massive the dark stone walls and red tiled roofs of the Harrisonburg Normal now, it was just a little while ago only a castle in the air. When, last October, the Board of Trustees met at the school and for the first time looked upon their work and found it good, the eyes of strong men were dim as they grasped hands and rejoiced together over dreams come true. But mere dreaming could never have wrought this achievement. While enjoying the results, we are apt to forget the struggle previous to the foundation of such a school, and the strong, persistent effort required to build up an institution. Let us, therefore, go back and, with the aid of the facts and figures so carefully filed away in the office, review that part of the brief but intensive history of the Harrisonburg Normal School that dates before its beginning. The need of such a school was fundamental. The general public awoke to the necessity of bringing the school into touch with the life of the people. The child must be taught how to live in order to contribute and give back to society at large what society has given to him. For this, professionally trained teachers are absolutely necessary. Virginia came to realize that she must have more and better teachers every year. By actual calculation it was found that fifteen hundred new teachers are now required annually. It was clear that one normal school, however strong, could not supply this demand. Then too, little by little, the State came to believe that she had not bsea quite fair to her daughters in the matter of higher education. Realizing these things, the people of Virginia, through their represen- tatives in the General Assembly, by an Act approved March 4, 1908. provided for the establishment of this State Normal and Industrial School at Harrisonburg. Two years earlier that body had appointed a committee to travel over the State inspecting locations. This committee had been very favorably impressed with Harrisonburg, and had recommended it, together with other possible sites. We must not think, however, that appropriations for this school were obtained without struggle. Some men were hard to convince ; the State was torn with many pressing claims for money ; and for a while the result —23-