Girard College - Corinthian Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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January, 1936 CHRONICLES 5 The Need The repeating of the oath of allegiance in the morning assembly of May 19, 1932, marked the beginning of a new phase of life in Girard—the National Honor Society. The idea was not a new one. More than a year before, in a meeting of the Faculty, there had been voiced the need for an organiza¬ tion for boys—a society—which would do honor to those members of the stu¬ dent body who, by high scholarship, fine character, leadership, and influence, distinguish themselves during their stay here. After long study and much de¬ liberation the National Honor Society was chosen as the desired mark of dis¬ tinction. That inaugural ceremony was an answer to an urgent need and the ful¬ filment of a highly constructive dream. What are the Society’s objectives ? Character We consider Character the sustaining power behind all great action. It con¬ sists of an amicable combination of principle and energy guided by the ability to be either pliable or inflexible on occasion, which is, in reality, the exercise of will. The possessor of char¬ acter makes enemies, but “he makes no friends who never made a foe.” Scholarship Education, of which scholarship is an important part, should be the greatest interest of any thoughtful boy. Its purpose is to develop, to unfold to their fullest extent each of his capacities. The result is an enjoyment of life which is best in quality and endless in amount. Leadership The product of Character.and Knowl¬ edge is Leadership. Knowledge makes one ready; Character makes him willing. The leader is always at the head of any movement, and he guides the others. If the goal is ever abandoned, he is the last one to consider such an act. Good and wise leaders are an everyday neces¬ sity. Service The words of the Bible, “Show me thy faith without thy works and I will show you my faith by my works,” ex¬ emplify the true aim which the Society represents. After all, why be a student, why be a leader, why a man, if not to serve ? Doing something for some one else is service to the doer.

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4 CHRONICLES January, 1936 To Six Distinguished Alumni William E. Littleton He was one of the first three hundred boys to be admitted to the College. He entered December 1848 and left April 1855. For many years he was an Attor- ney-at-Law and served as President of the Council of Philadelphia. As such, he was the first alumnus to sit as an Ex-Officio member of the Board of Di¬ rectors of the College. Harry Brocklehurst He had charge of some building operations for the Girard Estate. In his will he left a fund of $50,000 to be applied for the use and benefit of for¬ mer students of Girard College. He came to Girard in February 1864 and left June 1871. James E. Lennon For many years he, too, was Presi¬ dent of the Council and also an Ex- Officio Board member at the College. He left a fund of $1000 for the pur¬ chase of books for any of the Alumni who are pursuing their studies in other schools. Admitted to the College in January 1870, he left in July 1877. John R. Neison In Mr. Neison we have an example of the plodder who started at the very bottom with the Ajax Metal Works of Philadelphia and at last gained its high¬ est position. His recent death revealed that he gave to the Board a residuary fund of approximately $125,000 to be used in helping needy Alumni or to aid an Alumnus in furthering his education. He was in the College from February 1871 to November 1880. Henry Kraemer The shining light of the Philadelphia School of Pharmacy was Dr. Kraemer. He was admitted to Girard in June 1877 and left in January 1884. Ultimately he became an authority on Chemistry and is revered by students of that science. William H. Kingsley We all know Mr. Kingsley. He is a familar figure in our Chapel services. For fifty years he has been connected with the Penn Mutal Life Insurance Company and is at present first Vice- President. Mr. Kingsley has the added distinction of being the first alumnus ever to be appointed by the Board of Judges as a member of the Board of Directors of City Trusts. He is the only living Alumnus on this list. He entered Girard December 1877 and left Febru¬ ary 1885. Whom We Strive to Emulate

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6 CHRONICLES January, 1936 {Bashful ylmateurs The first real plays we ever took part in at the College were those annual lov¬ able Christmas plays of the Middle School which depicted life at the season of Yuletide in Old England. We enjoyed the custom of adding some new part to the old script every year and keeping it as a regular scene if it were successful. Our new scene was “St. George and the Dragon,” and we were immensely inter¬ ested in performing it. The background we received there in those grade school plays doubtless laid the foundation for all our theatrical triumphs since then. We Try Again It was in the Seventh Grade that we gave the play, “The Old Sleuth” and so revived our dramatic interests. As you may recall, we also attempted “A Christ¬ mas Carol” on the same afternoon! We claim no successes from these small efforts, but they were great fun, and even at that they served their purpose. “Stephen Girard ” It may be safely said that “Stephen Girard” is the play which will remain longest in the minds and hearts of all those who are connected with Girard College and who saw it. The charac¬ terization of the Founder was quite authentic and was well executed. The supporting cast is still to be congrat¬ ulated again at this late date. We are proud to have taken so large a part in the rejuvenation of the man to whom we owe our all and to give to those who would take it, a clear, accurate and las¬ ting picture of him who has so often been criticized through sheer lack of knowledge of him. Minor Roles in Outstanding Plays It was the good fortune of some of us to have participated in such other excel¬ lent performances as “The Merchant of Venice,” “She Stoops to Conquer,” “Jean Valjean,” and “Christmas Eve.” The training we received in public speak¬ ing and the uses we made of it are, in addition, only to our credit, and we hope to the credit of the College.