Grand Rapids Christian High School - Memoir Yearbook (Grand Rapids, MI)

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Commencement Address ' As president of the Class of '37, I esteem it a privilege to address my classmates and as their representative to say a few words to the other groups present here tonight. Classmates: We who stand at the meeting between a happy past and a beckoning future, who stand where the brook and river meet, have reached tonight, not the end, but the Commencement of a more real and complete life. Perhaps you, as well as l, have built air castles. The building of castles in the air is not quite the visionary and unproductive business as we have sometimes been led to regard it. I am reminded of the words of Henry Thoreau: lf you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost, that is Where they should be, now put foundations under them. The finest products and the greatest structures originate in the World of the ideal and find their way down from that lofty realm into the realm of fact. The architect builds an edifice first in his imagination and then places a foundation under it. The inven- tion is first a castle in the air. The inventor first visualizes it in his mind and then proceeds to give it concrete existance. Great music was heard in the silence by the spiritual ear of the composer before its strains were ever borne on the waves ofthe air. Great paint- ings existed in the mind of the artist before they ever shone upon the canvas. One important part of our education these last three years has been to learn to recognize and to hold on to the ideals that are pure. We have been enabled to some degree to build castles in the air of which the glory of God shall be the light. We, who have been taught to use the Bible as a book of conduct and of life, may sit at the feet of the divine and per- fect Teacher. We can sweeten, purify and clarify our vision by that word which giveth light and which giveth to the simple understanding. It is well that we build castles in the air, but let us build them after a heavenly pattern. We remember that the author of Revelation saw the holy city, new Ierusalem, coming down from God out of heaven. Our castle in the air, we trust, is one of those fair palaces of that golden city. We must be diligent and faithful, therefore, to place beneath it a foundation firm and sure. As we take leave of Christian High, we turn to the school board. You have been back of Christian High, guarding her material interests through trying seasons. For three years we have plucked the fruits of your labors and forethough, and as we leave Christian High, we are mindful of that. We do not forget the Ladies' Circle which has constantly been busy behind the stage of high school 'life. We turn to our teachers and to our principal to express the deep sense of obligation which rests upon us. We have spent three years of our lives under your care, and now that we are to sit no longer at your feet, we begin more justly to appreciate the worth of that daily intercourse. To you had been given the task of impressing upon our minds those truths which shall be influential in developing the most worthy of each nature. We have come to realize the importance of your profession. In distinction from other occupations which often grow out of date, yours is one of ever-increasing importance. As teacher in a Christian School, you expound abiding values, endeavor to build character, to rear a temple! We thank you for all that you have embodied in your teaching and for your genuine sympathy with all our student interests. The class is particularly grateful to its sponsor, Mr. De Vroorne. You have been patient and energetic in guiding our class activities. Our principal, Mr. Post, we will remember with honor and regard. We have felt the im- pulse of your keen insight and have delighted in your ready wit. Finally, we address our parents. You have given up that we might have, and we know that if it were not for your efforts we would not be here tonight. We cannot repay you for what you have done for us. However, we realize that the future flings us a chal- lenge to show ourselves worthy of it. And now classmates the time has come for us to part. To some of us as we look back over the varied experiences of high school life, its pleasures and trials, its friendships, rivalries, and its ambitions, this moment may bear a tinge of sadness. Yet, we know that this very past will help to dispell all gloom and suffuse with a golden glow the morning sky of the future. In the real sense of the word, we will never be separated. We will always be banded together in the ties of kindred thought, purpose and spirit that are the only real union. We need not bid one another goodbye, but simply a cheery Good- night for we are sure that there will be an ever present opportunity for each of us in some brighter clime to bid one another Good Morning. W. M. E241

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Class History 0 ' In February, 1934, a group of green recruits were sent up to Christian High from the camps of the elementary schools throughout the city - yes, and from outside. After our formal fthe historian's pen had a tendency to write informal J welcome into the student body we placed our shoulders to the wheel to begin our high school careers. ln September, an additional corps joined the force to make up the Class of '37. At our first class meeting under the capable supervision of Mr. De Vroome, whose guidance has proved an invaluable asset to our class, Chuck Bult was chosen as our president. Then, after electing our representatives to the Student Council, we fell into step as the Sophomores of Christian High. In the fall of l935 we were graduated to the rank of Iuniors. Our choice for president for our Iunior year was Al Ten Brink. Good cheer and good programs was the rule for our class meetings. Then we settled down to the preparations for the Iunior-Senior Event. This is the important event of our school's social activities. In all those nautical surroundings, did we hear someone say he was seasick? Or was he all wet ? This was held at Central Reformed Church on May 22, 1936. With the memories of the party still fresh in our minds came exams - then vacation. Once more within the familiar walls of our Alma Mater we turned again to the task of organizing our class for our Senior, and final year. Again we cast our votes for the president, and the victorious candidate was Winifred Mole- malcer, who proved herself no less capable than her predecessors. Important legislation, such as concerns a Senior class in high school, was discharged in all due solemnity. Money-making projects to raise funds for our memorial were run off in order. First came the Rummage Sale and with it a handsome profit. Nefct came the inevitable Christmas Cards and we did very well at that, in fact, we could have used more. This was followed by the skating party - a howling success despite rather stiff competition with programs booked for the same night. Then we played our ace - on April 30. The Senior class pre- sented their play at South I-Iigh and with unquestionable success. Now we look forward to Commencement, always a memorable event. But l'm not writing a prophecy. A word about our sponsor, we trust, will not be out of place. Always human, he would rather plead the cause of the student than to assert his undeniable authority with the curt finality which is so characteristic of him. We pay tribute then, to General De Vroome, tireless leader of that invincible body - the Class of '37. A great class-a great man. . . ALBERT TEN BRINK I23l

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Class Honors 0 1934-1935 Officers 1935-1936 Charles Bult President Albert Ten Brink Bernard Schaalsma Vice-President Winifred Molemaker Eleanor Hoogsteen Secretary Eleanor Hoogsteen Alice Iurries Treasurer Alice Iurries Boger Helder Vice-Sec'y-Treas. Marie Engelhard Committees Motto and Text: Charles Dekker, Margaret Knoor, Stanley Koning, Lois Van Zoeren. Flower and Colors: Alice Iurries, Helen Van Eerden, Dorothy Meyer, Elaine Dekker. Outing: Bernard Schaalsma, Annette Dekkers, Ianet Srnits, Bob Keegstra. Memorial: Charles Bult, Bertha Worst, lay Buftinga, Thressa Dik. Class Historian: Albert Ten Brink. Class Text: Be strong and of good courage. loshua l:9. Class Motto: Soar not too high to fall, but stoop to rise. Class Colors: Peach and green. Class Flower: Talisman Rose. AWARDS Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award Bert Vanden Berg, Commercial Scholarship Medal Calvin College Freshman Scholarship All-round Girls' M. C. C. Cup All-round Boys' Alumni Cup 1251