Bridgewater State University - Alpha Yearbook (Bridgewater, MA)

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NORMAL OFFERING 19 Cgrahuatinn. T last, the never to be forgotten day had arrived. Thursday, June twenty-sixth, graduation day, dawned bright and clear. From the time the rising bell rang in the morning, there was a hushed note of excitement in the air. Visitors began to arrive early and soon the streets outside Normal were crowded with machines from all over the state. At ten o'clock, the members of the graduating classes were all in their places in Chapel. Prayer was offered by Mr. Boyden and the response sung by the Glee Club. Mr. Boyden then introduced Dr. Payson Smith, Commissioner of Education for Massachusetts, who gave the graduates a pur- poseful, interesting address, on the duties awaiting them as they went forth to prepare their places in the educational world. After a pleasing selection by the Glee Club, Dr. Smith presented the diplomas, and the class of 1919 passed on to become alumni of Bridgewater. K. E. C. '20. Uhr Fling frmarrh. OMPARATIVELY few of those who gaze each year at the Ivy March, as it is given here at Normal, realize that it is some- thing more than just an Ivy March, ending with the commonplace planting of a bit of ivy. Commonplace? Ah, no! Symbolic of love and devotion, expressive of human life? Yes! At the appointed time, members of the Junior Class, green oak boughs in hand, may be seen forming on either side of the walk that leads to the school. Boughs raised high, they typify the living strength of the school. Clear, piercing, distinct, come the notes of the bugle, sounding the call to life with its manifold duties, and as the echoes die away, the members of the graduat- ing classes, marching two by two, pass on to the Campus, the field of life. As the Campus is reached, the double line changes to one of single file, illustrating the manner in which the individual life becomes of more pronounced importance, for the greater prob- lems of life are solved by the individual alone, with the assistance only of a Divine Aid.

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18 NORMAL OFFERING Earralanrrair. ' ACCALAUREATE Sunday, June twenty-second, at four 'M oiclock, the class of 1919, gathered in the Assembly Hall for Vespers. A most inspiring address on the Evolution of Better Things was given by our principal, Arthur Clarke Boyden. As a speaker Mr. Boyden has an individual charm that grips his audi- ence and keeps it intent on each thought he develops. Several pleasing selections were rendered by the Glee Club. The class of 1919 will long remember this afternoon as one of their red-letter ones. K. E. C. '20. iliarnlig iKPrPpIinn. ' ACULTY Reception, one of the big events of Commencement ig VVeek, was held Vllednesday evening, June twenty-fiifth, nineteen hundred and nineteen, in the Gymnasium from eight until eleven o'clock. In the receiving line vvere all the members of the faculty. The grand march was led by Mr. Boyden with Miss Ferguson, and Mrs. Boyden with Mr. Casey. After a short period of dancing, Mr. Hunt presented a new invention of his, a mechanical device, Which, when cranked, brought to life the be- loved nursery characters found in Mother Goose. Miss Moffat as Mother Goose, Mr. Bixby as 'fLittle Boy Blue,', and Mr. Sinnott as Little Jack Horner, were the hits of the evening. Merriment reigned supreme as each character was introduced to the audience. After the entertainment, refresh- ments were served in the balcony and the evening came to a close with a. grand march led by Miss Pinnick and Mr. Casey. Then the Seniors gathered for the last time as a class in the quadrangle, and sang their school songs, ending with Alma Mater. Ten minutes after the Seniors were in the dormitory the Juniors serenaded them, as is customary after Faculty Reception. And so ended the last real day as undergraduates, for on the next day they became graduates of Normal and members of the Alumni of Normal. K. E. C. '20,

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20 NORMAL OFFERING The graduates, ivy garlands in hand, encircle Campus Pond, Which symbolizes, in the images of themselves which they see reflected in its Waters, the truth that all We do is reflected in life's mirrors to our credit or dishonor. Next they stand near the spot Where the ivy is to be planted, and hear just a few Words from their president before they part for class day exercises. And' to the listeners, comes the thought that, after all, life is but a class- room, golden vvith opportunities. The classroom of life With all it contains, is theirs to use to the utmost, to develop, to improve, and to brighten with cheerful, devoted service. Then, the ivy is planted, a symbol of love and affection for Alma Mater, and the graduates go on to meet life, still a question to some, but one demanding ever the best they are capable of giving. So in the Words of Corinne Roosevelt Robinson in her poem Life, a Ques- tion, the graduates of Normal may Well say :- Life? and Worth living? Yes, with each part of us- Hurt of us, help of us, hope of us, heart of us, Life is Worth living. Ah! with the Whole of us, Will of us, brain of us, senses and soul of us! Is life Worth living? Aye, With the best of us, Heights of us, depths of us,- Life is the test of us. K. E. C. '20, oi Wo .llw 1 I , f, T -.-i,.,1 - is A Q , 1' f! ' 3 - X S 16,471 , 1 ,ef ' . -:,, 5:13, . N wasnt f f X A'- 1 ,SHN ,fu . 2- VY: S' 1 x. X ' I-+R rw' Z 5 -1 K-73523 Q' Lil-' X A '- ,XWQVQ 5 , 1 ,, . .. 5,71 :ilwf X X35 X ix c ' ' il? QM, H . 1 We - 4 fi 5