Eastern Mennonite School - Shenandoah Yearbook (Harrisonburg, VA)

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Page Thirty ASTRAL SOCIETY AVIAN SOCIETY NATURE SOCIETY

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Page Twenty-nine PHILOMATHEANS The meetings of the Special Bible Term literaries were held on Tuesday after- noon. The regular societies meet each Friday night at seven-thirty except the first Friday of the month. Each student has the privilege of becoming a member of one of these societies. On the first Friday of each month we have a public literary. Programs for these meetings are furnished by different classes or groups in the School. One program this year was given by the Special Term students, another by the Oral Expression Class, and still another was a reading contest among the college students. Literary at E. M. S. is strictly a student activity. We have our own organizations, prepare our own programs and render them. A Literary Committee of three Faculty members approves the programs and gives suggestions. They are greatly interested in literary work; in fact, the Chairman has been connected as student or otherwise with the literary activities of the School in some way nearly every year since the liter- ary work of the School was started twenty years ago. To the literaries we of the senior class now bid adieu. Probably some of our number will be back to participate in your activities next year. We who are leaving not to return must say we have appreciated our work in this field and give our best wishes to all future activities. —John M. Lehman. ADELPHIANS

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Page Thirty-one Astral Society About thirty-six resident members took an active part this year in the work of the Society. On clear evenings our star-gazes on the roof of the school or on the front campus were enjoyed immensely. Star-drills were a regular feature of our monthly programs. Early in the year we had an interesting lecture and demonstration on “The Universe to Scale” by Bro. Brackbill. At the April meeting we had the privilege of hearing a lecture on “Measurements of Star-Distances” by Mr. Leonard Barcus, graduate student of astronomy at the University of Virginia. On Saturday evening, November 6, 1937, thirty-nine of us drove to the Leander McCormick Observatory at Charlottesville, Va. Here through the large 25-inch re- fracting telescope we had an excellent view of Saturn and the Ring Nebula and the double star in Lyra. The boys in the Astral society are constructing a six-inch, newtoman type, re- flecting telescope. By means of this the dark bands of Jupiter and the ice caps of Mars can be seen. This telescope is a donation to the Astral society by the present members. On February 7, 1938, we celebrated the eighth anniversary of the society. The total membership now is one hundred fifty. Our next reunion is scheduled for the coming Christmas vacation at the Fels Planetarium, Philadelphia. We anticipate a good program and a large attendance. Ad Astra! —Esther Good. Avian Society The membership this year has reached the record height of forty-nine. With Bro. D. Ralph Hostetter as sponsor and Bro. Melvin Ruth in charge of the hikes we have had a number of interesting as well as instructive meetings. Each month this group of bird-lovers migrates to the Biology Laboratory where programs are given. Some titles of interesting programs we have enjoyed this year are, “Mechanical Side of Bird Life,” “Voices No Longer Heard,” “Attracting Birds,” and ‘“‘Senses and Behavior of Birds.” These programs consist of talks, readings, music, and illustrated lectures. Yes, the Avians still possess the hiking spirit. Saturday morning usually brings them out to some nearby woodland. Armed with binoculars, bird-guides, and with their thoughts far from history, Latin, or Greek they test their knowledge in identify- ing birds and searching for the less common species. Last fall a group enjoyed an interesting illustrated lecture on birds by Dr. Allen at Washington and Lee University. Spring brings with it the annual trip to Sparkling Springs, an event Avians look forward to. This is a glimpse of our activities and what is in store for future Avians. —Andrew Gingerich. Nature Society The Nature Society, organized this year for Junior class members, had its be- ginning under the direction of D. Ralph Hostetter. This organization was only the beginning of many delightful times the thirty-three of us have enjoyed. Our pro- grams have been interesting and helpful. Best of all were the trips to interesting places where nature rules free and even its freaks were seen. By the help of our sponsor we have seen and learned to appreciate many things we did not notice before. We leave to the following students the unlimited privilege of building a bigger and better Nature Society in the years to come. We have enjoyed it and we know you will too. —Miriam Virginia Lehman.