Oakwood University - Acorn Yearbook (Huntsville, AL)

Page 12 text:

President's Address Excerpts from the Address of Norman Simons At a long, long last we lift our feet out of plains of romance and peace into the mountains of more serious realities. At last we contemplate the actual taslt of Being an example to the believers. The stern challenge of the world, the even more serious challenge of our Master has been heard here. We have counted the cost, we have weighed the tasl4, today,,clear mindly, cheerfully, even eagerly we accept the challenge and throw our weight into the time long fray for right and for God. We are aminated by the same unconquerable, indomin- able spirit that has actuated youth in every age and time, to arouse to the call of special events and situations, leaving behind impressions on time and the heart of man that are even more ineffacable than the time honored granite. for the more lasting pieces have enured for only a few thousand years at most, while Christian young men ahd women have had their names and figures carved in bas-relief and placed among the art treasures of God. Some one has said, The world's interests are under God, in the hands fff the youngf, Dictators and rulers recognize the importance of youth for military conquests'- for they form the flower of their battalions of death. Lilcewise God has placed much importance on us as youth for spiritual confiuest. Today the ranlts of aged color bearers issthinning, death and iniquity talce their toll leaving gaps to be filled with the new generation, today the new genera- tion is filling those gaps and tomorrow this new corps armed with the mighty sword of God shall complete the taslc begun some five thousand years ago. It is the worldys supreme hour'it is the supreme hour for youth. Youth that triumphed in the past will not falter now. Courageous youth has dared the impossible, lt has altered nations, held the banner of God in the high places of the earth, faced persecution and death, spanned continents, and surmounted the worlds crests. Youth have conquered physically, youth have con- quered socially, youth have conquered politically. lt has stood at both poles, conquered innumerable diseases, charted unltnown seas, mastered pathless wilds, in times of stress and emergency it has born the brunt. Today the people of the seven seas call, for that call in this day we muster unprecedented fearlessness and faith and say Ul3y the grace of God,fl.et the world come on. Class Cration Excerpts from Speech delivered by Clifford Clemmons. SPIRIT OF DEVOTION And David longed, and said, Ch that one would give me to drinlc of the water, of the well of Bethlehem which is by the gatel And three mighty men bralte forth through the host of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and brought it to David, nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the Lord. And he said, 'Be it far from me 0 Lord, that l should do this, is not this the blood of men who went in jeopardy for their lives? Therefore he would not drinlc it. Judged by material standards, this is a tale of folly from beginning to end. It seemed foolish for David to utter this wish, it was doubly foolish for his captains to rislc their lives to compass it, it was trebly foolish for him to waste the gift which had been won at so great a price. l do not mean that all who read this story would criti- cize it the same way, but when we are dealing, not with exceptional matter of ancient history, but with this every day world of the twentieth century and begin to place values on little deeds of heroism, instead of the great ones, we are prone to use material standards and call them common sense. We are apt to judge worlc by its definite and measurable results and to malee these results the motive for service, and the criterion for success and to condemn as misplaced sentiment, anything which sacri- fices or risl4 a tangible manifestation of loyalty or devo- tion. All the achievements of modern science and de- mocracy will be worth little, if in the long run, they teach people to regard lcnowledge for the salce of the return which it brings, and measures success in life by the concrete resultwith which men can credit themselves. Now may we say as did paul, l am persuaded that neither life nor death nor angels or principalities nor things present, nor things to come nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate me from the love of God which is in Christlesusf' May it be our privilege to preach this gospel of self-sacrificing action and share in revealing the meaning of this gospel to the generations which are to come. Thus living out in our lives the Spirit of -lrue Devotion.

Page 11 text:

1939 L IDA JEAN EA IGI-IT Jean Collegiat neat and sweet, from the crown of e ead, to the sole of her feet. ' Ac Start Sem ar Pianist BX, i 5 .f s xy,-1 WALTEQQMEKRILL smizits sam KJ f9Qa?Lemic A merry heart doeth good like a - medicinef' - NA Cappella Choir Male Chorus Asst. Young People's Lea r Vice-President Seminar f 'X l X Awc HRW AN TORRANCE Ai Pr ultsing by nd. Q Ca ella ir Aco ni Sta ' hearte 'irl who is everyone's CEQA ir 'A YN, x li VIOLA ERNESTINE WASHINGTON Vi Normal l-ler laugh is just like music, it lingers in the heart, And when it's melody is heard, the ills of life depart. Y. P. M. V. Society Young Ladies Literary Society Acorn Stall Russm THADDEus with Thea Ministerial Nrrrm l-le's never..cont'e-ngth doing anything but the Hbest however unimportant the occasion. .m'x'xT E ROY 0 NF RD Big Stan of good. and Lea er of Seminar ch l X, . I, Ministe li! ul-le 'I rongfbut always Fights on the ' -x lv cl - L , ls. CT if X ,I ROSETTA ISABELLE TOLSON Rosy Pre-Nursing Her best possessions are her thoughts and her friends. S. S. Teacher Y. P. M. V. Society Young Ladies Literary Society CLARA ETTA TURNER Clara', Collegiate She believes with Edison that Genious is 'I per cent inspiration, and 99 per cent perspiration. Y. P. M. V. Society Young Ladies Literary Society CORINNE MABLE WILLIAMS Corinne Pre-Nursing She always stays in pigeon-hole of her right place. S. S. Secretary A Cappella Choir Prayer Band Leader S. S. Teacher Vice-president Seminar Acorn Staff S. S. Sentinel

Page 13 text:

CLASS WILL By Ethelmae Jackson We the class of'l939, revoking all previous documents on this 'l8th day of May 1939, do make our last will and testament to be executed by our faculty and friends. Without discrimination and with due respect for merit, we bequeath the following: -lo the United States at Large: The sterling example of Qakwood in her output of successful Graduates and Nurses. l, Levi Redic, leave my uncaninness in making puny poetry and puns to lnez Tomlinson. lhermond McLoud who believes one should not be dressed at all times, bequeaths his tramp outfit, battered hat, coat, and all to J. Roy Davis. Knowing that Qakwood can't get along without song- sters, Alice Torrance bequeaths her beautiful soprano voice to Eva Sims. Charles Cunningham bequeaths his Saturday night work at the laundry to frank Jackson. A. E. Jones wills her capability to tickle the lvorys and bring forth Rhythm from the piano to Effie Rogan. -lhere is a religious side to every lnstitution, for this reason Roy Stone wills his position as chaplain of the Senior Class to Wilbert Mathis. Virginia Roberts wills her record of successful con- quest to Margaret -laylor and dares her to beat it. l, Clifford Clemmons do leave my everlasting love for food plus a few useless meal tickets to Beulah l-lerbin who is never hungry. Carmelita l-'larris bequeaths her anxiety just before tests to Jerome James. Preachers are needed everywhere, for this reason, Ed- gar Mimms bequeaths his preaching ability to Etheridge Dozier. Realizing that in order to be a successful stenographer you must type well, lda Jean Seawright bequeaths to Audrie Reese the ability to pound a typewriter. My nonchalant nature, do l, Roy Stanford, leave with Augustus Kirk. Ernestine Long bequeaths her enchanting giggle to Juliette Gary. Benjamin Abney who minds his business bequeaths this admirable trait to f-larrison Bowman. Marion Cantrell for the first time is willing to bequeath his southern accent to anybody. Ceola l-lagns bequeaths her ability to get in and out of trouble at every turn to Samuel Jackson. Gladys Cherry wills her thorough but unexpressed scholastic knowledge to any bluffer gifted with surface thinking. floyd Cole-the editorial flash of the Acorn, says if Mrs. Johnson can find a worthy successor, his stub of a pencil, half of an eraser and the editorial brain are available. Ethelmae Jackson who successsfully fails to get up with the Rising Bell, bequeaths this unique ability to Meredith l-landy. Charles Dickerson leaves his heart and other trinkets to be dealt with wisely and well to a certain Junior. Rosetta Tolson bequeaths ability to skip the third hour class in the afternoon without being caught to Ruby Bufford, who is almost as good now. Viola Jackson bequeaths her ability to act important about nothing to the coming freshman. Elizabeth Jackson bequeaths her magnetic personality and popularity to Miss Cleo Sharpe. Van Buren Watts leaves the keys to the empty Senior Treasury plus his ability to transact business to John Wise. Since cleanliness is next to Godliness, Anna-belle l-loard and Gustave Manning leaves the dust-pan, mopes, pails and brooms to La Verne Gibson. Norman Simons offers free rent-spaces in his classrooms to the unfortunate victim who inherits them. Marjorie Bland wills her ultra-sophistication to Al- pharetta Martin, who could use a little poise. -lhe lrwin l-lall Beauty Parlor with all original hair styles, do l, Priscilla Carroll wish Arthelia Watlington to Fall heir to. Jeter Cox is so busy trying to graduate, that he hasnft anything but the mere shadow of his former self let. l, Josephine McQuerry, bequeath my perfect disposi- tion to Bessie Moore. Melvyn l-layden takes great pleasure in leaving his good reputation to lroy Whitley. -lhe typing speed that made her famous is willed by -lhelma Russell to Mary frazier. Geneva Duncan wills her winsome smile and sweet disposition to -lhomas l'lill. flora Moten leaves her love for, and ability to study to Clara Mae Wesley. l, Saleaka fowler leave my seriousness of manner and appearances and duties as School Nurse to Ruth Beckett. l, Katherine Brooks leave with you Loretta Westbrooks an open bid in taking over my dates for the big social events of the coming year. Cornell Powell bequeaths his gift of agriculture plus a plow and an invention which he has patented to Ulysses Willis. Elvira Mason leaves her miniature A 84 R Grocery Store stocked with food ready to be eaten and a can opener to Naomi Shelton. Misery loves company, for this reason Mitchellena Gib- son wills her set of Elsie Dinsmore books to Bernice Childs. ln the wide field of Chemistry many are called but few are chosen, with this idea in mind, Dorthea Lawrence leaves her Chemistry Lab. experimental abilities to George Braxton. Anna Belle Mcfluerry leaves her unusual proficiency in arriving to class a few minutes before the bell rings for dismissal to any on whoffeels it a necessity to be on time. John l-lamiltoyn eaves his art in having a different es- cort everytime, he strolls the Campus to Welburn Cantrell. Mrs. Carethers regretfully and tearfully wills to Katrina Nesbitt the job as Librarian. l, -lerrell Allen leave my ability to shift my affections at a days notice to Mark Palmer. Ernest Rogers bequeaths his never wavering good hu- mor to Katherine Johnson. R Corine Williams wills her poetic ability to Audrey eese.