Bethel University - Spire Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

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s T HE ACORN how proud of it we were, for we had been told that it was an American lady. 1 chanced, to glance at the inscription on it —what! did my eyes deceive me—there I saw the name of Mamie Lindblom. Strange indeed it was that I had not recognized her name, when 1 had seen it in the newspapers! But to see it here, and that perfect likeness of Miss Lindblom—I knew it was the same whom I had once known at Bethel! And now she was teaching astronomy! While at Bethel, however, t had noticed that the moon and stars had always fascinated her and on bright nights she would always go on long strolls, talking to the stars. Then, I thought it a mere girlish fancy, but now I saw its result. Full af expectations we left Stockholm for Gothenburg. Here we found people streaming in from all parts of the world. We were on our way to the great church when just in front of me I saw two men walking together in a most affectionate manner. On nearing them I heard the one remark: “Weil, it's just simply this way.” How often had I not heard that voice before in the geometry class at Bethel! I knew it at once to belong to Arthur Hcdberg. Yes! it was Arthur and his dear friend was none other than Doctor Person. Strange, that I should find Arthur at the conference, and yet It was not at all strange, for he told me that he had come as a representative from the biggest Baptist church of Japan, his native land. He told me of how lie had always planned on becoming a minister, and how living in Japan had always appealed to him. He claimed that this life was to him a paradise on earth, and he certainly did seem happy. That day Mr. Hedberg made a speech which thrilled every person in the audience, his subject being, “Bethel Academy, Twenty Years Ago, and Bethel University of Today.” He had the previous year visited Bethel and marvelled so at its progress that he felt he must tell the world of it. But here we parted, each his way, and at the close of my journey I did feel as tho I had seen every marvel of this world in having seen all my classmates of Bethel. “LO. I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS.” Harvey This is a scientific age and because 1 know that there are good people who fear the scientific spirit, 1 am anxious to remove from their minds their doubts in the soundness of the scientific spirit. I am sure that each reader all thru his life has noticed certain things, or has heard certain facts from which he drew conclusions. That is the natural process of thinking. You first see. then you think, and then conclude. That is the scientific spirit and men are now applying this method of thought to everything. A few days ago I was repairing a typewriter in the homo of a friend who has some very beautiful and natural children —as all children generally are. While I was looking over the machine to discover Stallard the trouble these children stood around and very often I could scarcely see the machine for the heads of the children. You say it is provoking, but I tell you, that if you have any love for humanity, if you have any understanding of the mental processes, you will welcome the children, the natural investigators. God gave them eyes with which to see. and they live in accordance with His Divine Will when they strive for a place to see the object pending investigation. Children are not silent watchers, like older people who try to hide their ignorance by keeping still. They are filled with questions of why and how. Now you ought not to be provoked when children give expression to their Divine Nature as they do in ask-

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THE ACORN i very much amazed to see at its summit a modern ami beautitul home. Our guide explained that this was the largest orphan asylum in the world and that the founder and matron of it was ail American lady. Our curiosity getting the better of us, wo begged to be allowed to go ashore and visit the asylum. On approaching the grounds we saw everywhere children playing at various games and all seemed extremely happy. were ushered into the drawing room, where we found our illustrious lady seated at a piano, from which she called forth most beautiful strains ot music. Can you imagine my surprise on being introduced to Miss Ellen Swanson? I asked the secret of her success and what had suggested an orphan asylum. She told me of her love for music and the wonderful effects music had had upon human nature, and that she wanted to prove to the world that music had the magnetic power of developing the noblest and best characters. And for this reason she wished ;o give the poor orphaned children a fair chance, giving them the best environment and the best music the world could offer. 1 had no need of asking her if her plan had been a success for I had but .to behold the smiling faces .about her to see that it was only too apparent. My time being limited I was forced to hasten on, promising to some day return to learn more of Miss Swan-.son’s plans and philosophy. After an extended tour through Germany Ave took a flying trip to Paris, France. Safe in Paris our first thot was to visit the famous art galleries. We came to the largest gallery and sauntered up and down the aisles admiring the wonderful pieces of art. Just as we were about to leave, the guide told us that he had yet the most famous picture to show us. He led us to ‘•.Melissa”, but I scarcely saw the picture, for what attracted my attention was a man Avho stood intently gazing at the picture. His hair was snowy white, he wore large-broad-rimmed glasses and his face had a sad, careworn expression. Holding his high silk hat with one hand, the other rested on his gold-headed cane. The frown on his face seemed familiar. Where and when had I seen it? in answer to my questioning thoughts, a red speller and the reading room at Bethel flashed into my mind. What! Was it Mr. Person? I must have said his name aloud, for he turned around and looked at me squarely. It was Victor Person, or rather. Dr. Person himself! He had just come to Paris from Palestine, where, for so many years he had lived in quiet as a practising doctor. He said that he had always been interested in leprosy and had tried to find a cure for it. His success had come slow but sure and now the whole world was singing his praise. When we began to talk about dear old school days at Bethel he assured me that he had finally conquered that red speller, hut as a result he had always to carry that deep frown on his face. He was now taking a vacation in travel, and promising to meet me at the conference in Gothenburg, we parted. It was now the latter part of July, and wishing to visit places of interest in Sweden before attending the conference, we deemed it wise to set out for Stockholm. We left Paris in an aeroplane, thinking this means of travel more expedient. I had often heard of the famous University of Stodkholm and being anxious to see it, we turned our course thither. At the University we were received cordially and shown the different colleges. Having heard of the illustrious professor of astronomy who had discovered the other side of the moon, we asked the guide it' it would he possible for us to see her. He told us that she was then spending her vacation in Italy, but that we might see her portrait in the large hall. Ah! how majestic that picture hung on the wall, and

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THE ACORN jng questions. The mind of a child craves thought and he. should be led upon thought. You should be glad to assist the child in interpreting the facts which he sees. The illustration of the children which I have just pointed out to you illustrates uniquely the scientific spirit. It is the spuit of observing facts, arranging Tacts, and then finding out why and how. It is common sense put into application. Scientists are often charged of stepping beyond their bounds. If a scientist is one who sees, then thinks, and then concludes, pray tell me. from what in the realm or human life and experience will you exclude him. I think that people should use common sense in all things. A man possessed with the spirit of science has faith to search out all things. He says to himself that if any thing Is Truth, “I must know why”. If any thing is not Truth, T must know why . There is one field, however, with which he has nothing to do and that is the field in which he cannot make any observations, nor collect any data, nor do any thinking. That place we call unreal. The scientist deals with all things real and leaves the unreal to give wings to the foolish. It is supposed that a scientist jumps at conclusions very quickly, but no true scientist who has any respect for himself will make a hasty conclusion. Me always submits the facts and you may draw your own conclusion, he prefers to retain his opinion. I'or instance, suppose you do not believe that the earth is round. Well 1 submit these facts to you: 1. The shadow of the earth on the moon is round. 2. People hav sailed around the earth. 3. A ship sailing into harbor first presents its top and lastly the hull. Personally l do not care whether or not you believe me when I tell you that the earth is round, but i would think that you had a very quee. mind if you believed the facts pre- y seated above, and yet retained your belief that the world is flat. Such a contusion of thought would be a very good instance to show oncoming insanity. The scientist believes in gathering facts, infinite m number, and then submitting them to the minds of thinking people. You may believe or you may disbelieve or you may be indifferent. One of these three you will do. Which one the scientist does not care. But a thinking man will receive the facts and believe. This spirit has come to stay because it is the natural process of the mind working to discover. It lias made its mistakes but like a good book-keeping system, the works of the scientists are always open for correction. It has been destructive to nothing but the false. It lias removed only that which should be removed. it has made human life more desirable, human thought more accurate, human powers greater, humanity itself sacred. How cruel it would be for a human father to shut outside the eager children from his shop! How beastlike would he be if he damned up the stream of questions and made his childrens' minds stagnant! The wise parent will Invite the child to enter, arouse his curiosity, and draw forth the questions. The scientist is the man who has become as a little child, desiring to see, to think, and to conclude, and has entered the .Kingdom of Truth. He has no fear, nor doubts in his soul that he will be punished for investigating. And like the child in another way. he proceeds without any preconceived ideas. He has no whims, no prejudices, nor any mischief in his method. He i I ways selects a method whereby he can remove prejudice. Surely the Infinite Loving Father will be as gracious to him as a loving human father will he to his children. The move anxious the child is to see. o think, and to conclude, the more the father loves the child.