Chicago Christian High School - Violet and Maize Yearbook (Palos Heights, IL)

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VIOLET AND MAIZE This combination of colors may suggest very little if anything to most of you here present, but to the student body of the Chicago Christian High School it has acquired an added meaning, a deeper implication than a mere association of colors. You probably think green should be included? Probably, but the only vision we graduates have of green is a very dim one, of Freshman reception night of 1920. You say red? We're progressive, but even if we were located in VVisconsin we would not include red. These colors, through the meaning which has attached itself to them, determine our attitude toward life which in a great measure is formed at this stage of our lives. There are great forces operating in this modern life toward which, though unconsciously, we form our attitudes. The American nation during the last few decades has made tremendous in- tellectual advances. Universities, colleges, and high schools are filled to capacity. Full courses of a highly specialized nature are offered everywhere. All knowledge and thought are being made sciences, are taught scientifically, and made practical use of in the same manner. Fire prevention courses, natural resource conservation, home economics, and many other courses are offered. Social and political sciences are stressed in universities today. All these evidences point to the intellectual advances of modern life. Sad to say, the moral advance- ment has failed to keep pace with the intellectual. A murderer may kill someone with a knife, While the surgeon aids in the saving of life and with divine help restores from apparent death to life. Both could handle the knife, but what strikingly different uses each one made of it. The intellectual faculties were brought to play in both these actions, yet the moral purpose of the latter was entirely lacking in the former. Again, what do we see about us every day? Wonderfully educated men, potentially the most useful men of the country, selling their prestige, sense of honor, and morals for a mess of pottage. It is not generally the uneducated man who most frequently transgresses the law, but the educated rogue who lacks moral stamina. Idealism in the business man has largely been replaced by an intense realism and utilitarianism. The status of present day morality is far below that of the intellectual life and the uneven advance of both causes the lawlessness and general discontent which is so prevalent today. Widespread wretchedness and wickedness have caused man to realize that only divine aid can bring him to normalcy. Men have turned to art to find some- thing which they haven't found as yet. Men work feverishly thinking that in toil they can find that mysterious something, they have traveled, have studied, have searched for ancient treasures, have done everything to find God. Toward these forces, intellectual advance, moral inertia, and seeking after God, the Chicago Christian High School graduate should have determined at- titudes. You simply must avail yourself of the opportunities offered you, what- ever line you are particularly interested in, and do not restrict your field. Most of the sciences are in their,infancy and only a systematic study will keep one abreast of the scientific times in this country. The political field offers oppor- tunities, in the community, in the city, in the nation. Enter into this field, it is your patriotic duty. Spend your leisure hours in the company of good books, keep your senses alert to see and hear things, get acquainted with the great men of all times. Today men demand that they be shown by example of conduct, and this does more good than incessant teaching and preaching. Prove the efficacy of sound morality in your own life and the exigency of clean, high living will force itself upon the minds of others. Politics today needs men of good sound morality. The voting populace de- spairs of the graft and crime which crop out in political deals as they are called. 26 Qi.. ..-.Q 2.3 QT. V

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QI IE CLASS PROPHECY OF THE GENERALS . It was in the Spring of I934 when I finally persuaded Mrs. Dearquest Cformerly Jennie Ballj to leave her husband for a few months and accompany me on a trip to Europe. She suggested that we sail to Africa and take a glimpse at the Sahara, then travel through Europe according to my plans. So, three weeks later, after a most delightful voyage, we landed at Morocco, where without much trouble, we found a suitable hotel. After resting a few hours, we hired a pair of camels and rode slowly along the desert plain. Suddenly, our conversation was interrupted by a jerk from my camel which set me very graciously upon the hot sand. Upon investigation, we found that the camel's ankle was sprained. The sun was setting, warning us to return, when suddenly a camel came into sight, to our great relief. Its rider, perceiving that we were in trouble, came to our aid. Fortunately, he was a veterinarian and soon enabled the animal to travel quite smoothly. It was now dusk, and as we returned to the hotel, our slow journey was made pleasant by the humor of our new friend. The fluency with which he spoke English surprised us. I also noticed something strangely familiar in his voice which prompted me to ask his name. To our great astonishment he replied, John Ter Maat . He was equally taken aback at the revelation of our identity. During the many chats in the days that followed, we learned that John had grown tired of city life and that he had come to the desert to enjoy peace and to increase his wisdom by the study of astronomy. Much as we would have liked to remain here a while with John as our host, a week was almost spent and we must travel on. Two days later, we found ourselves on a prettystreet in Paris. As we had decided to inquire for a good hotel instead of searching for one, I used my unpolished French to address a fashionable lady. She very kindly accompanied us to the hotel at which she was staying, informing us that her errand had been to study fashions and make purchases for her little shop in Detroit, while her sister took up foreign languages for these few weeks. They were to return the following week. As I gave my name at the registering ofhce, our companion gasped. Upon recovering her breath, she exclaimed, Why-I'm Etta Bultema . It was our turn to be amazed. An excited conversation ensued and before we realized it, six o'clock had come. Anna appeared at 6:15 and a most enjoyable Evening followed. Jennie and I altered our plans and decided to return home with the Bultema rsters . About a week after this, we boarded the Rotterdam. It was noon and as we entered the dining room, we received a passenger list. Almost instantly, Anna pointed excitedly to the first page where we read Captain Jack Van Bruggen . It can't be Jack-it must be another Van Bruggen, we argued. But just then, many of our fellow-passengers rose and bowed respectfully as a distinguished looking gentleman in uniform smilingly passed through the room. We all knew him to be the captain. It is Jack, remarked Jennie. In spite of our repeated efforts to visit Captain Van Bruggen, we reached New York before having the opportunity. We left the steamer, feeling quite sad, and after our luggage had been examined, we took a taxi to the Woodstock Hotel. As we were about to enter, a beautiful blue Nash drove up before the building. An aristocratic young man emerged and followed us into the hotel. We heard him addressed as Mr. Hamstra, and the familiarity of that name made us feel quite Hustered. Curiosity got the best of us and while registering, Etta asked if a Mr. Hamstra was an inmate of the hotel. The answer was, Mr. Bernard Hamstra owns this hotel. Our exclamations brought an amused smile to the clerk's lips and he promised to arrange an interview between the millionaire and our- selves. Thru the clerk, we were invited to Mr. Hamstra's residence the following afternoon. Accepting the invitation, we arrived quite early and were welcomed to the marvelous dwelling by Bernie himself. As it was a lovely day, we decided to spend a few hours outdoors. Then Bernie began his story-how Droste's Cocoa and Frow-Frow were the cause of his wealth-how he had remained unmarried and lived with his father and mother instead. When we discussed our absent classmates, Bernie told of a letter he had recently received from Henry Hoeksema, who had become president of the University of Chicago. This welcome news did not surprise us greatly, as we had always expected Henry to be one of the world's best men. We learned also that Henrietta Kramer had taught at the University of Chicago for three years and had now married a famous minister, pastor in Portland, Oregon. We soon left Mr. Hamstra to continue his luxurious life of good work, and left for our respective homes. When I arrived at Chicago, alone, I received a hearty welcome. I soon learned that the new C. C. H. S. building had been completed, and it was the pride of the city, perfect in every detail. How could it be otherwise when Mr. Ben De Boer had been its architect? The student body, consisting of 8oo, with a staff of forty teachers, were to occupy the new building within the next two weeks. They would then resume their work, free from the hindrances which formerly had retarded their progress. Aucs VAN HATTEM. 25 Q .. . E

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It is the duty of the Chicago Christian High School graduate to help keep the moral status of the country at a par with the intellectual. Those that seek God shall surely find Him is the promise. A wholesome, religious view of life offers the only respite from the heated life of today. And now that we graduates are about to enter upon the complexities of life, we desire to express our sentiments toward them. We cannot but confess a twinge of sorrow when we leave the Chicago Christian High School, with its life of work and play. Yet we hope to keep in touch with it from time to time. It is our earnest hope that the Chicago Christian High School may continue to be a bulwark of good sound Christian morality in this city. HENRY HoExsEMA. TEACHERS, PARENTS, RELATrvEs, FRIENDS! As president of the combined Commercial and General class of 1924, I have the great opportunity and honor to speak a few words to you this evening. This honor that is bestowed on me is indeed a great honor as this class has worked and studied under the guidance of our school's largest faculty, now num- bering seven. We have had the advantage of seeing our school grow from a number of approximately fifty students, who came from all parts of the city and suburbs, to its present large number, reaching almost 120. This graduating class, in whose honor you have gathered here this evening, is the product of the untiring and ever-faithful faculty who through our whole school course have been a shining light in our path, and have always taught us that The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge . To this faculty we are indebted to a large extent for help and advice in the completion of the hard tasks which have come up during our school days. From two to four years most of us have been with our school. We have all taken part in the good times at our C. C. H. S., but have also had to fight for this institution through thick and thin. The great advantages, however, out- weighed our disadvantages. No doubt we wish that these good times would return, but they are gone forever. Commencement is now at hand, and we must struggle with it. While treading along the various pathways of commercial life, let us not forget the valuable lessons which we have learned at the C. C. H. S. Let us ever be true to our class motto, Let deeds proven. While in school we have been taught how to face the world, now we shall have the opportunity to face it. Let us profit from the experiences offered by our instructors so that we may be true to our school and also true to our God. During our religious careers we shall also have ample opportunity to look back upon the profitable discussions which took place in our school. As we hope to be better business men and better citizens on account of our training at the C. C. H. S., we also hope to be better workers in God's Kingdom. So far we have all traveled along the same road. Tonight our pathway diverges. VVe shall each have to travel our own way. Sad as this parting may be, a ray of joy appears when we realize that we shall be accompanied with the happy memories of the days spent at the C. C. H. S. and the many friendships that have been formed there. And now, friend graduates, my most earnest desire is, that whatever you may undertake to do you will always uphold our class motto, Let deeds prove , and, with this in mind, I hope success will attend your way. JACOB VAN BRUGGEN. 27 EZ ah as