Gettysburg College - Spectrum Yearbook (Gettysburg, PA)

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(Che lUnman's (General league of (Gettysburg (College Him. Georg ,V. I.a $er F.W. indeed, have been privileged to dream such practical dream», to «tee virion ot such far-reaching influence a» ha Mr . Mary G. Stuck- cnborg, pioneer in th? Women Missionary work of the Lutheran Churen, and originator and founder of the first College league on the territory of Gettysburg College. Inspired with the desire to aid the college authorities in dee| - « ning the moral and religious atmosphere of Gettysburg College; in developing higher standard of life among ita students, and in safe- guarding them, in the moet susceptible years of their lives, from evil companionship and habit», Mr». Stuckenb?rg conceived the plan of soliciting the women on the ter- ritoiy of Gettysburg Collige f ir subscriptions to be applied to th. support of a student secretary at the college. In liXiK, with the approval of its President and Board of Trustees, she canvassed th? college territory and organized into leaguvs the women c;f York, Pittsburgh and Harrirburg. About th? game time the College Aid Society wns formed at Gettysburg to meet local needs. During the change of administration in the college in 15110, because of th? incom- plete organization of the I.iagu -, subscriptions fell t:ff. Upon the suggestion of President Granville, the Lcagurs were revived and, realizing their latent pnwer, the Board of Trustees recommended the organization cf new Leagues. Accordingly, the four existing leagues, guided by Mrs. Marie E. Richard, proc.-cded to strengthen their own organization and to organize other leagues, as well as the Woman's Gen- eral League, which held its first c invention in Gettysburg, on November 2. 1011, with representatives from seven leagues. The provisional officers were: Mrs. Mary G. Stuckenbprg, president; Mrs. J. F. Hartman, first vice-president; Mrs. C. F. Stifel. recond vice-president; Mrs. F. C. Harper, recording secretary; Mrs. C. F. Sanders, corresponding secretary; and Mrs. Hurry McCreary, treasurer. Mrs. Stuckenberg served th? League as president during two years; Mrs J. K. Hartman, of Philadelphia, for two years; Mrs. William Hamilton Bayly. of Washington, for two years; Mrs. George N. I. offer, of Altoona, for four years, and Mrs. II. W A. Hanson, of Harris- burg. has entered upon her second year of service. The General Leagu is composed of thirteen sub-League», located at Altoona. Bal- timore, GhamlMTsburg-Grrencartle. Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Huntingdon, Johnstown. Philadelphia. Pittsburgh. Shippenrhurg. Washington and York. It ha a membership of ahout 2,2(10, and at ita la t convention had contributed oh ut $40.000. Believing “that the Christian College is necessary to all missionary advancement, and to the »ucces of the Gospel ministry everywhere,” the aim of the League ha been to aid Gttysburg College in a financial and moral way. This it did by supporting a student secretary for a period of four years, when it was deemed advisable to secure the aervices of a Seminary student to direct the Christian work among the student The League was now obliged to undertake new activities, and immediatelv it b gm to contribute to the support of the chair of English Bible, the Library, the Prohibition and Literary Societies, to scholarships, and to purchasing n piano for the College Chapel. Though It» effort? had always been for the promotion of the religious and cultural welfare of the bovs and had been Mt in the eanvsss for endowment, and in the in- creased enrollment of students, the Executive Committee realized the necessity of con- centration of effort upon one definite object. After consultation with President Gran- S'M

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(Tltf Ulouiatf» (Bnural l-racim of ®rttu burci (Cullrcir vilU and the Board of Trustees, it decided to recommend the erection of a Y. M. C. A. Building on the College Campus. This was done at the 1915 Convention of the League, and the recommendation was enthusiastically adopted. At the 1916 convention plana for the building were presented and the site dedl cated. It was also decided to name the building in hon r of Ur. Robert Veideii all, one of the most distinguished alumni of Gettysburg College, who had rendered fifty years of service In the Y. M. C. A. work. National and international conditions delayed the erection of the building, but the General league went steadily forward, collecting funds, awakening the interest of the Church in Gettysburg College, guiding young men to it as our Church school, and endeavoring to influence them to the Christian ministry. On June 11, 1919, the formal ground-breaking for the Y. M C. A. Building took place, ami on November 6, 1919. the corner-stone was laid. Building operations were again delayed because of the abnormal cost of building materials and the scarcity of labor. In the spring of 1921, the students of the College excavated for the swimming pool, and in September of the samr year actual building began. The building is pro- gressing as rapidly as can be expected, and it Is hoped that the dedicatory services can be held during Commencement Week of 1922. While the Lraguc is concentrating its efforts upon the completion of the Y. M. C. A. Building, it realises that the building itself Is not the end toward which it is striving, but only the means to the end—the end is the moral and spiritual development not only of the present student body, but of succeeding generations; the maintenance of it upon the twst standards, and securing for it the services of a trained, efficient, Christian worker, who shall endeavor to give to the boys the proper social, moral and religious influences, which shall mould and develop the highest Christian ideals and character, that they may reach out and up to m«et and grasp the opportunities which shall be theirs for the Christian uplift and betterment of mankind. The Woman's league has realised the great obligation it sustains to the Church school upon its territory—Gettysburg College—and has in part, at least, assumed its responsibility, strengthening the hearts and hands of those in the work that they may do greater things in the future, and thus perfect and fulfill the mission of the college to our loved Church. It has seen the necessity of bringing God as a reality into the lives of the students of Gettysburg College, that they may go forth into the world with a vision of God. with faith in God, with the fixed purpose to uphold Christian ideals and principles before men, that Christian liberty shall prevail: that th love of Christ shall dominate the lives of men; that the peace of which the angels sang shall be upon the earth. Eithi