Capital University - Capitalian Yearbook (Columbus, OH)

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Alumni CAPITAL UNIVERSITY Has existed for more than a half century and has graduated classes each year. These graduates have entered many professions and some have climbed high on the ladder of success. The majority of them, however, are men of only moderate circumstances and this accounts to some extent for Capital’s comparatively small endowment fund. Other Alumni from other universities often bequeath large fortunes for the founding of professorships and fel- lowships and the erection of buildings. Though Capital has cjoyed the bequests of several graduates, on the whole she relies on the church at large to raise funds for improvements. Yet her Alumni, too, should be specially interested in her growth and ought to do much more than they have done to increase her resources. Some are faithful year after year in finding new students, but others show carelessness, and some who are financially well fixed are never heard from at times when their support would be greatly appreciated. Yet we believe that in the past five years our Alumni have been more active than ever before and as Capital’s fame spreads throughout the land many more will no doubt be interested in exalting the school from which they received their diplomas. For some years an Alumni Association has existed which meets annually at Com- mencement time, hears inspiring speeches and holds a jolly banquet. For a long time it was merely a “get-together” meeting and had few tangible results in the way of increased activity in behalf of the school. But in recent years the Association has not only heard inspiring addresses, but has gone back home to achieve great things for the school. It has been supporting the Scientific Department of Capital and as a result the Leonard Hall of Sciences was dedicated in June, 1914. The cost of remodeling a former boarding hall for this purpose was $3600. It must not be forgotten, too, that it was the Alumni Association that in 1887 presented the school with the southeastern section of the campus on which the Rudolf Library has been erected. Individual Alumni have shown interest in the building of the Rudolf Library and in other recent improvements. It is to be hoped that the Association as such will continue to rouse the Alumni as it has attempted to do in the past two years so that permanent memorials of their loyalty will be seen on the campus. A good beginning has been made in this direction by some of our more active Alumni in Pittsburg. About a year ago, in the spring of 1914, they held a banquet at Fort Pitt Hotel and resolved to make it an annual event. About twenty-nine gradu- ates were present and President Otto Mees, who was there as a guest, has nothing but hopeful and optimistic thngs to report of the affair. Eleven hundred dollars were pledged in a few minutes for the new Science Hall. Another Alumni branch exists in Oshkosh, Wis., which, though yet small, has a bright future before it. To secure wider interest on the part of our Alumni a good plan might be to organize branch Alumni clubs in different parts of the country where the needs of the school can be discussed and plans evolved and executed to remedy them. Such clubs might be formed in centers like Dayton, Columbus, Toledo. Pittsburg, Wheeling, Detroit and Baltimore. A good beginning has been made by the Pittsburg and Oshkosh gradu- ates, but the movement should spread from coast to coast. The present officers of the main Association are: Prof. E. Pfeiffer. President; Rev. H. Melcher, Vice President; Prof. S. A. Singer, Treasurer, and Rev. F. O. Schuh, Secretary. 32

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ALUMNI EQ 31

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Alma Mater Oh, Alma Mater, list, we pray. Thy sons will sing their choicest lay. Their choicest lays make known thy praise Ye sons of “Cap,” your voices raise. To mother dear we all will sing. Kind words of cheer to her we’ll bring. These notes will stir her loving heart. So many sons she’s seen depart. She truly yearns from day to day. For tidings from those far away. Dear Alma Mater, richly blest. Of mothers all, thou art the best. The best of homes thou dost provide, Wisest instructions hast supplied. No place can share in charms with thee, No face as fair as thine to see— No look so loving, heart so true. None, virtues purer, faults so few; The friend of all, the foe of none— The love of thousands thou hast won. Fair, Alma Mater, good and kind. Right faithfully we’ll bear in mind Whose sons we are and what thy fame— Guard jealously thy blessed name— Thy name forever honored be. Oh, may we never disown thee, Continue on thy hallowed way— God give new strength for every day— And may thy life’s descending sun. At eventide find all “well done.” 33 Rev. H. P. Long, ’99.