Franklin College - Almanack Yearbook (Franklin, IN)

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PROF. E. S. GARDINER

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English Department HE aim of this department is two-fold. First, to give a student the principles which will enable him to express, correctly, his thoughts in both Writing and speaking. Second, to bring him in touch with the best English authors and their pro- ductions. The student is required to write themes and to study, critically, portions of the best litera- ture. Lectures are given in the class room by the professor. Special work is given for library study. All these methods are used to make the student see and appreciate the beauties in our own language. This department is very strong because the pro- fessor has mastered the subject and teaches it in such a way that to be thorough soon becomes the desire of each student in his classes. Rev. E. S. Gardiner has been at the head of this department for five years. In that time he has developed, in all the students, a love for good Eng- lish. He has done his best to make Franklin's English department as strong as any other in the State. It is true that this aim has not been reached. Still great advancement has been made as a result of Professor Gardiner's work. Professor Gardiner is a descendant of sturdy New England stock. His father was a man of strong convictions and so thoroughly pious that early in life his children were made to think about religion. His mother was a motherly New Englander who knew how to keep her boy in the straight and narrow way. He received his first degree from Colgate University, after four years of hard work. Two years were spent in Crozier Seminary. After this he entered upon the work of the ministry. As a min- ister he was true to the trust the Master gave him and was used for the glory of God. He is a man of great intellectual power and broad experience. This enables him to be a thorough teacher. He is a man of strong Christian character. Professor Gardiner has had charge of the library for the last year and is improving, in many ways, this important part of our college. The library has grown so rapidly that it has been atburdensome task for a professor to manage it aside from his other duties, especially when his department requires him to correct so many papers. Nevertheless, Professor Gardiner has proven himself an excellent librarian and never complains about being overworked. As a member of the gymnasium committee, he has done some good work for the gymnasium.

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Department T is the aim of this department to give the student a comprehensive view of the great movements in the worldls history, and to arouse a desire for further investigation. ln order to settle present problems, it is necessary to have a knowledge of past experience. So to understand past events that we may apply their principles to the problems of today, to get a true sense of proportion, to have a broad sympathy growing out of broad understanding, this is the purpose of the true student of history. The method of study can only be acquired by an emphasis upon movements not mere events, by careful reading and discriminating use of original material, and by constant outlining of the matter under discussion. The libraries of the college are well supplied with the material for investigation, the government docu- ments being especially valuable for the students of political science, and the Freeman Library contain- ing the best books of reference. The improvements contemplated in the department, such as cataloguing the library, purchasing new books and beautifying the room will tend to increase the interest of the students in this work. The chair of History has been filled during the past year by Arthur Eugene Bestor, a gradutte of the University of Chicago. Professor Bestor was of History born in Dixon, Illinois. He spent one year in Beloit College Academy at Beloit, Xlfisconsin, and four years at Vtfayland Academy, Beaver Dam, YX'isconsin. He took the highest honors of his class, which entitled him, upon graduation, to the Colby Scholar- ship, yielding three years' tuition in the University of Chicago. Here, in 1901, he took his A. B. degree and secured such high rank that he was one of the fifteen from his class of two hundred and ten to be elected to membership in the Phi Beta Kappa fraternity. His scholarship and standing in the university were recognized in many ways. He was elected to the presidency of the Senior Class, was leader of the Michigan and Columbia Debating teams: repre- sented the university in the Northern Gratorical League at Oberlin in lSElSl, where he won second place 5 was one of the editors of The Cap and Gown in l.90U, and at the Decennial Celebration of the university last spring gave the address in behalf of the students and alunmi. He is a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity. Professor Bestor has the enthusiastic admiration and respect of all the students, and his influence as a teacher is doing much to strengthen and advance the interests of the college.