Western Illinois University - Sequel Yearbook (Macomb, IL)

Page 11 text:

To JOHN E. McGILVREY a thoro student, a firm friend, an ideal teacher, this ninth volume of the Sequel is dedicated by the class of 1912.

Page 13 text:

SEQUEL IN MEMORIAM • Altho almost a year has passed, it seems but a few days since our loved and honored Principal walked among us and with us in our school life. In the splendid life of Alfred Bayliss there was no hint of show or disposition to augment self; but his modest manly bear- ing soon made one aware that he was a strong man in no hurry to be known; or we may better say a man so truly devoted to life ' s work that he was fgrgetful of all self-assertion. He grew in our minds daily. At first we thought him austere, but his perfect candor soon dispelled our fears; his fairness made us trust him; his patient consideration of every phase of our difficulties, and his clear judgment, his open statement, and his helpful advice led us to honor him; his keen sympathy and cheering humor made us love him. He was a man of so substantial character that he seemed entirely indifferent to appearance, and no hint of affectation was ever seen in any act of his, but the minutest detail essential to any matter seemed never to escape him. One could not know Mr. Bayliss on short acquaintance, and many students have testified to the change of impression of him with time. With his entrance upon the work as principal of the school, there was a noticeable coldness on the part of the student body, which lasted in lessening degree thru the first year and part of the second. A few leading spirits of his first class, 1907, began to know him and led in the movement to place a large granite boulder on the campus and had inscribed on it his name and the class. It was the first real ex- pression of appreciation of his worth. His influence with the stud- ent body grew gradually and as naturally as grows the grass and flowers. This influence was not the result of brilliance on his part, not of telling speeches, nor of emotional interest, nor any of those things which so often make a man popular. It was the slow but nor- mal growth of the student mind into a knowledge of his clear grained human worth and a complete reliance -on his honesty, his judgment, and his good will. We feel that it was most unfortunate that he should pass from us just when his real influence was beginning to be felt in the Military Tract thru his work in the Normal School. Some of the significant problems that he wished to further towards solution are the better- ment of the one room school and how to bring the Normal School into more vital relations to the same, out of which grew the Country Club ; the following up of the Alumni in way of helpful criticism of their work in the public school with the purpose of awarding a second di- ploma for Assured Success is a most wise and beneficial measure; and the work of Normal School Extension is now looked upon most favorably by the leading superintendents of the Military Tract, both county and city superintendents. He gave emphasis to the courses in Agriculture, Domestic Science, Manual Training and others. His policy seemed to be to attain the practical in all things. To him men and women are valuable in the world for what they can and will do. We lament the loss of our great leatler, but we feel that it was our good fortune to have known him and to have been privileged to catch some inspiration from his life so noble in thought and action. The impress of his life is left in the Western Normal School and will not pass. When we think of high ideals of manly honor, of devotion to duty, of standing for the Square Deal of the spirit of helpfulness, of the courage that knows no compromise with wrong-doing, and of a life of purity, both public and private, our thoughts will revert to our honored, loved and trusted Principal, Alfred Bayliss. Page Nine