Concordia College - Corona Borealis Yearbook (Edmonton, Alberta Canada)

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cordia Choristers) gave the first sacred concert in the North Alberta Jubilee Auditorium on April 28, 1957 - four weeks after the auditorium had been dedicated, before an audience of 2300. The Concordia Choral Society, which flourished in 1931 and ' 32, was composed of faculty personnel and other singers of the city. One night, two hours before a cantata, Mrs. Baepler suffered a painful sprain of her foot, was carried into a car, into the vestry of St. Peter ' s church, then into the sanctuary behind other singers, and while resting her knee on a chair sang her important solos bravely and beautifully. Concordia, with the cooperation of district officials, organized, in 1951, The Concordia Bible Institute - A Night School for Adult Christian Training. Two one-hour lectures were given on 8 successive Monday nights from October to December. Seventy-five attended the first year; 39 the next, and 27 the third year. A former student visited friends in a dormitory bedroom after 10 o ' clock, which was con¬ trary to the rules. As the inspector (who was the present writer) stepped into the room with his flashlight, the visitor made a headlong plunge for safety under a bed; but unfortunately, in the process he got caught with the back of his belt on a bolt, so that he could move neither forward nor backward. The sight of the lad ' s position was a scream! A picture of it would have taken first prize in any North American photo contest. Another good picture would have been that of four boys sitting in their pyjamas on the cold terrazzo floor in the washroom, at 1 A. M. , playing pinochle ! Blazing Headlines FRED GABERT, OF CONCORDIA LUTHERAN COLLEGE, CHAMPION DISTRICT ORA¬ TORY CONTEST - these were the blazing headlines underneath a 6 x 4 picture of the winner. And then followed the long story - 42 inches - in the Edmonton Journal of February 16, 1929. Said the Journal: With the applause of more than 2000 people ringing in his ears, Fred Gabert, of Concordia Lutheran College, was named the champion of the Edmonton district, at the conclusion of the finals for this district in the Canadian oratorical contest, held in the McDougall church, Friday night . . . Thunderous applause at the conclusion of each 10 - minute speech attested to the impres¬ sion the speakers made on the audience. And it was a mature audience . . . By far the great¬ er portion of the gathering was composed of adults. In addition to the 2000 people who heard the five young orators in the finals thousands of unseen listeners heard the program over CJCA, the radio station of the Edmonton Journal (only 6 years old. ) Speaking on ' The Unification of Canada ' Gabert, representative of the Teutonic type who have helped to pioneer in this Canada of ours, with the rugged sincerity of his speaking won the judges and the audience alike. Here is a country with a sharp cleavage in natural, racial, and religious factors, this boy said, and yet Canadians are surely and steadily overcoming these handicaps. Divergent problems must be met and grappled with, but none of them will prove unsur- mountable to a people who have already conquered successfully so many difficulties, Gabert prophesied. Then followed a change of scene to Seventy-first Street from 112th Avenue to the College, at 11 P. M. Here followed perhaps the wildest demonstration ever put on by the students and the faculty men and women, the latter with bewildered children at their side and infants in their arms. To this day we are grateful to Concordia ' s neighbors for not having called the police to send a riot squad! What a victory! And it was the first time that a Concordian was heard over the radio. Certain Absolutes After World War II, Dr. Sidney Smith, president of the University of Saskatchewan made the following statement: There was a period between the wars when there was nothing in our papers and magazines but debunking, and doubt. We must have open minds. But I suggest they should not be so open that everything which blows in will blow out. We should have CLOSED minds with respect to certain absolutes, certain standards, and certain imperatives. That is the very educational policy which from the beginning of our school in 1921 has been, by the grace of God, the foundation of all our work. We have the solid conviction that there ARE certain absolutes, certain standards, and certain imperatives. And we firmly believe that these have not originated in the brain of any ancient or modern philosopher nor in the experimental laboratory of any famous scientist, past or present; but that these certain absolutes and standards and imperatives are to be found solely and alone in the eternal truths of the Holy Bible, a Book which we regard as positively inerrant and one in which God speaks from the first word in Genesis to the last word in Revelation. Foremost among these absolutes is that by his transgression of God ' s Law every man is

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To speak or to preach German was considered by a number of people to be identified with the Kaiser or later with Hitler. This in turn stigmatized us somewhat as being disloyal to our adopted country; while as a matter of fact you could find nowhere a greater love for our God-blessed country than at Concordia. To overcome such prejudice, it was of some compensation to be appointed to the member¬ ship of the Alberta National War Loan Committee, to the chairmanship of the Building Committee of the local Bellevue Community League, and to other civic endeavors - honors which were accorded me over the course of the years. The same may be said of the corona¬ tion medals received from King George VI in 1937 and from Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 in recognition of the contribution made to education in Canada. But Concordia did much more for the building of western Canada. For this especially one of its staff members was responsible - Dr. Alfred M. Rehwinkel. The hate propaganda of World War I had placed the German element in western Canada at a great disadvantage. To correct this situation and to defend his people against unfair dis¬ crimination, Dr. Rehwinkel organized the German-Canadian Association to bring concerted action to bear on this problem. He conducted mass meetings in different localities to discuss this matter with the people. He met with government officials to secure their cooperation. He contributed articles to the German press. He carried on an extensive correspondence with people in all parts of western Canada. He translated the Canadian national anthem O Canada into German for use in public meetings, and in many other ways conducted a vigorous cam¬ paign for a fair and equitable treatment of their ethnic background. But Dr. Rehwinkel ' s ultimate aim was to lead his people to a better understanding of the meaning of the citizenship that had been conferred upon them when they were naturalized, and to encourage them to take a more active and conscientious interest in the public affairs of their community and the nation at large. The fact that the graduates of Concordia were able to provide the new Canadians with religious services in their language and instruct the young in the language of their parents and to share with them their way of life helped to make the transition a gradual and normal one. There was no sudden rupture between the children born in Canada and their parents with the Old Country background; and the change took place imperceptibly, without any serious family disturbances. This was an important social and patriotic contribution the early Lutheran missionaries made in western Canada toward the building of a new nation; and Concordia College has al¬ ways felt happy that it was able to advance the welfare of Canada through its graduates and particularly through Dr. Rehwinkel. (Selected items mentioned above may be found in the fascinating biography of Mrs. Rehwinkel entitled DR. BESSIE, copyright 1963, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Mo. ) Some More Recollections In 1937-38 and again in 1940-41 not a single student discontinued his studies. When dozens of beautiful evergreens had to make way for the present Guild Hall, they weHe transplanted by the City in Borden Park. The first Yearbook was published in 1942. With their many pictures of student life, these yearbooks became popular in many families. A common statement on the part of the young¬ sters was: I know you. I saw your picture in the Yearbook. Our first lady teacher on the staff was Miss Edith Lechelt, from 1948-53. Our first office secretary was Miss Marie Bassendowski, who, in 1936, put in one hour a day. In 1956, the senior basketball team won the City B high school championship under Coach Clyde Kaminska. The team lost only one game during that season. In the 1934 commencement exercises, graduates delivered recitations in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. During 1945-46 two calls were declined - one by Prof. Riep to the presidency of Concordia Seminary, Adelaide, Australia; and the other one by Pres. Schwermann to the presidency of Concordia College, Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Thechildrenof Concordia ' s graduates began to succeed their parents when Marvin Janz enrolled in 1948 and Lorraine Maschmeyer in 1949. The people who gave the longest service in our college kitchen were Ma and Cap Chris Fuhr. They served faithfully from 1937 to 1959 - 22 years. In 1936 the students ' choir sang Schiller ' s Das Lied von der Glocke by Albrecht Brede. Beautiful! In 1950 Prof. Arnold Guebert visited historic places in Europe and took a summer course at Oxford University. The office of the dean was introduced when Prof. Erich Von Fange began his duties in 1955. The Lutheran Choral Society of Edmonton and District of 170 voices (including the Con-

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a sinner subject to eternal damnation. This sin is removed not by any ethical conduct, but solely through faith in the God-Man Christ Jesus, Who died for the sins of the world and was raised again for our justification. May Concordia ever remain faithful to these absolutes and standards and imperatives as long as God permits her to serve! Recollections - they have brought back to mind so many favors received from family and a host of friends. God was good to me. Goodness and mercy followed me all the days of my life. I am grateful. Time marches on. In 1954 the Rev. Walter M. Wangerin became the second president, and in 1960 the Rev. Roland A. Frantz the third. The college has an able staff of 14 teachers. Since my retirement in 1963, I have had the opportunity to observe Concordia from the out¬ side. The conviction grows that Concordia is a GOOD school. I recommend it highly to my fellow Christians! December 1, 1964. Teaching Staff of Concordia College, 1921 - 1964 PERMANENT STAFF TEMPORARY ASSISTANTS Albert H. Schwermann 1921-63 Alfred R. Rehwinkel 1921-22 John H. Herreilers 1922 Herman D. Seyer 1921-22 Alfred M. Rehwinkel 1922-28 H. Earl Miller 1924-25 Walter A. Baepler 1923-35 Fred Baepler 1925 M. W. Riedel 1926-42 Karl J. Arndt 1925-26 Arnold Guebert 1928 Edwin Kretzmann 1926-28 Albert R. Riep 1942 J. Floyd Dreith 1928-30 John E. Herzer 1943-56 Melanie Lange 1928-30 Harold F. Witte 1945 Herbert Lindemann 1930-31 Walter M. Wangerin 1954-59 Henry J. Boettcher 1937 Erich von Fange 1955-62 Walter Schwane 1937 Albert F. Reiner 1957-64 Harold F. Witte 1937-38 Albert H. Miller 1957-62 Albert R. Riep 1938-39 Walter C. Beck 1957-61 Herbert G. Turner (choir) 1942-45 Walter V. Schienbien 1959 Clarence I. Klewer 1942-43 Roland A. Frantz 1960 Victor L. Meyer 1942-43 Carlene Helmkamp 1960 August J. Mueller 1942-43 Bernhard Lutz 1961-64 John C. Yates (P. E. ) 1943-44 F. Loring Younce 1961 Floyd Searle (P. E. ) 1944-45 Lowell Eckert 1961 Edith Lechelt 1948-53 Walter Seehagel 1962 Arthur Appelt 1948-50 Walter Lobitz 1962 Herman Dorin 1952-54 Norma F. Schwermann 1963 Irma Lucht 1953-54 John Borger 1964 Mrs. Charles Sherman (P. E. ) 1953-54 Thomas Buck 1964 Marion Lauder (Music) 1953-54 --- A. E. Burden (Band) 1953-54 V —, Dorothy Schmidt 1954-57 y Ls —■ ' v k Clyde Kaminska 1954-56 ( h Kenneth P. Mueller 1953-54 Walter F. Schoepp 1956-59 X Donald Thoemke 1956-57 1 Marlys Ross 1958-60 V George Rode 1959