Cumberland University - Phoenix Yearbook (Lebanon, TN)

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The Phoemx, Nineteen Ttventy-One I mi iiii i i i ni l i iiii i iiii i ii ii iii i i ii iii i iii i ii ii ii ii iii ii iii nii iiii u iiiiiiiiii i iii iiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiifinniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiim nm] |,II| |||||| M I I I lllllll l ml IMI III M III IL IIII LI IIIIIIILIIIIIIIMI IIIIILIIIII [llllllllllllllll IllillllU M I IlimillllllUll llHill I llll limHTTTTTmr Historical Sketck of Class of 1920 N the summer of 1920 plans were completed by ninety-one men from dif- ferent parts of Uncle Sam ' s dominions for obtaining the degree of LL.B. For many weeks and months these men studied the catalogs of different schools and the inducements of each. Finally, after comparing honor rolls, costs, course of study, and all other things that make a school, they decided that the Lebanon Law School was the proper place to attend. September 8 was registration day. Each fellow went about the necessary prepara- tions with so much enthusiasm that by night on that day all necessary preparations were made for work. On September 9 the opening services were conducted at Caruthers Hall. Judges Beard and Chambers both made able addresses, followed by a few short talks by some of the prominent citizens of the to Ti. Then assignments were made for the next day. The first recitation was held on the morning of the 1 0th. It was not a perfect one, of course, because each fellow was studying his new surroundmgs more than he was his books. On September 20 a reception was given by the town in the Y. M. C. A. hall at the dormitory. For the first time the ice of social entrance was really broken, and the embryo lawyers from that time made themselves at home in Lebanon. Things now ran smoothly until a few weeks before the national election on November 2. Then the Republicans and Democrats of the school began to treat each other as jealous lovers. Warm discussions became as frequent as meals. Messrs. Tolbert, Riggs and Biggs were finally recognized as the leaders of the Republicans. Messrs. Walton, McClendon, Kensinger and Jones were the recognized leaders of the Democrats. Each party formed their clubs. The Democratic Club elected Mr. C. E. Kensinger president. Mr. J. A. Tolbert was elected president of the Republican Club. No one fought, but on the morning of November 3 the Democrats were silent and gloomy, the Republicans silently joyful. The fight was over, the climax passed. But this political fight brought out the fact that W. O. Walton was to succeed Henry W. Grady as the South ' s idol, that Mr. McClendon was to be a factor in national democ- racy, that Mr. Jones would some day be the Patrick Henry of the West. It proved also that Mr. Tolbert was the future Abe Lincoln of the U. S., and that Messrs. Riggs and Biggs would some day give the Democrats trouble in Tennessee. The fight proved clearly that there were reserved seats in Congress for both factions of the class and that they would som: day have another chance of friendly combat in the capitol of the nation. The class did not complete their organization as juniors until November 15. At this time there were no hard fights for class honors, but none of the officers elected could boast of any large majority. Mr. Burke was elected president by a majority of two votes over Mr. Ivy. Mr. Dalbey was elected vice-president, Mrs. McCouan was elected secretary. Miss Packer, treasurer. With these officers the Junior Class continued its career. The students now stormed the works of Blackstone, Kent, Greenleaf, Story and others, bravely, until the spirit of Christmas began to fill the air. Then visions of home, mother, sweethearts and friends sitting around tables loaded for the Christmas feasts began to come to each member of the class. On December 4 the homeward bound were led by Mr. Bond, and by December 22 there were only twelve or fifteen left to hear Judges Page fourteen

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The Phoenix, Nineteen Tzuenty-One l [iiii n ll(ll l lliiiiiii n i mm n|m ' iiiiiii ' iii ' i ' i ' ii ' i ' iiiiiiiimiiiiimiliniimiiiiiimuiliiiiiiiinntifmiiiinmniiiiiiNiinnmnHiiiiiiiiiimiML m n ii n r m iiii n ii i iii um nimm] i l nu ll I ll lllll l ii n iTnniiiinTmTLMIMini 11 lllllllulllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllinilMlllinillllllllllinilliirii iiiiij n il llll [ liil i i i iiiiiiiii m i i ii i ii r Beard and Chambers expound the law. On December 23 school closed until Januai-y 3. By January 3 all but five were back for work. Each person reported a good time at home. By January I school was again in full sway. On January 20 the Senior Class graduated. All the juraors attended the commence- ment exercises. Judge Gardenhire ' s address was the feature of the evening. The class made a splendid appearence. Within three days after graduation all of the seniors had gone to their respective homes to assume their responsibilities as leaders in society and champions of the law. They had disappeared to mingle in the sea of humanity and to champion the nation ' s welfare. The juniors missed them keenly. No more would they hear the addresses of Judge Buback before the Bolshevik Club. No more, until they meet again in more renowned halls, would they enjoy the associations of these departed friends. On January 20 the juniors became seniors. The class election was held January 26. Here was more fighting. For weeks the two sides had been campaigning for their respec- tive candidates. Each had sworn that they would elect the officirs from their crowd. Each side made out their slate. Mr. W. O. Walton was recognized leader of one side. Mr. Howard was the leader of the other. When the time for nominations came that morning, Mr. Finch in a well-worded speech nominated Mr. Walton. Mr. Lewis then nominated Mr. Howard in a speech of no small eloquence. Nominations for vice- president, secretary, treasurer, orator, prophet, poet and historian then followed. When voting began each student ' s nerves were tense from excitement. When the final count was made at 10:30 a. m. it was shown that Mr. Howard had won by a majority of two votes over Mr. Walton. Mr. Walton ' s supporters wept, Mr. Howard ' s supporters tore off the ceiling, plaster and shingles with their hilarious demonstrations. When all the votes were counted Mr. Snodgrass was declared vice-president, Mr. Speny, secretary; Mr. McClendon, prophet; Mr. Pierce, poet; Mr. Hill, historian; Mr. Johnson, treasurer; Mr. Tolbert, orator. With this corps of officers the Senior Class began their career. Work was now the chief feature of class activities. The graduating exercises were held at Caruthers Hall on the night of June 1 . It was an historic occasion in the history of Lebanon, and a landmark in the life of each student. There were no factions now. The fighting spirit had gone. Each student shook hands wnth his classmates and bade goodbye in assumed cheerfulness. When the trains pulled out of Lebanon on June 2 most of the students were at the depot and also their many friends in Lebcuion. Such exclamations as So long, boys ; Goodbye, girls ; See you in Washington ; Meet you in the U. S. senate, etc., were heard from each coach. But those days are gone now. The expectations of the students, however, are being realized. You can now see the names of the students in the great daily papers of the nation. Many of their dreams have come true. And as they look over the pages of this annual a flood of tender memories comes to the mind of each student, and many silent thoughts arise as they turn from cover to cover. Chester O. Hill, Historian. Page fifteen