Girard College - Corinthian Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

Page 11 text:

To Stephen Girard To most people the dawning of January 21 will mean just another day, but to the Class of January 1943 it will be something of great personal significance. It means the sad termination of a period of years during which we have grown from small boys to young men, the time when we must go out to face the turmoil and strife of the present-day world. We ' ve fought, played, and loved one another side by side as brothers through ten of the formative years of our lives. The friends and acquaintances we’ve made at Girard are countless. Our experiences have been manifold and varied. Our education has finally been brought to a point of termination, but the thought uppermost in our minds at present is that we now have the chance to fulfill the desires and wishes of our great benefactor, Stephen Girard. It is he more than any one else who has made this wonderful school possible, and it is to him that we extend at this moment our deepest expression of gratitude for what he has done to enrich our lives. From cabin boy to philanthropist Stephen Girard worked his own way up among high ideals, perhaps the greatest one of which was to build for boys a school in which facts and things would be well taught. He has accomplished all that in the greatest legacy of all time. Now that we have come up through that school, and have finished its course of study, we can go out into the world with clear consciences and gain names for ourselves and Girard that any school on this earth would be proud to possess. No doubt, if Stephen Girard were living today, he would look upon the alumni of his college, his students, and his school with satisfaction and happiness, for what is happiness but the by-product obtained from work well done? My deeds must be my life. When I am gone my actions must speak for me.” No saying or ideal of Mr. Girard should be cherished by the members of this class with greater seriousness. What foresight and vision was his when he planned this foundation as it is and selected the site of the old Peel Hall Farm which was on the outskirts of Philadelphia in 1831. And what vision on the part of The Board of Directors of City Trusts to have since that time invested the legacy in a manner that guaranteed appreciation and growth! Girard College has grown into the largest boarding school on earth, and naturally we believe the finest. Have his students and alumni paid him the proper tribute in their accomplishments and characters? We believe they have, and thousands of them have passed through the gates into outside lives of honor and usefulness. And now they go on to frontiers of freedom throughout the world. The Class of January 1943 will attempt to carry on these ideals and actions of Stephen Girard until the name Girard outshines all others. May we often pause to think of the Founder with admiration and respect. May we keep him enthroned in the loftiest towers of our hearts. Whether for God or for Country— or for both—when the call for service comes, let no man of January 1943 hesitate or falter! 1943 [ 7 ] (Eorintljtan

Page 10 text:

“My deeds must be my life. When I am dead my actions must speak for me.” SIjp GLnrmthian [ 6 ] January

Page 12 text:

Prayer for a Warrior Lord, before the battle give me might, Lord, let me stand for what is right; If ever l fight for what is wrong, Lord, make me weak instead of strong. Lord, if during the battle l must die, Lord, let me when death draws nigh Face the foe with sword in hand; Lord, let me fight while l can stand. Lord, if retreat is ever blown, Lord, if my comrades all have flown, Give me strength to stand, firm and true, Until, in death, my soul goes up to you.