Houghton College - Boulder Yearbook (Houghton, NY)

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WE HA VE EEU OUR LIVES' CHANGE E felt strange the first few nights we were in Houghton- a little homesick, perhaps, a little ex- cited, certainly ill at ease. We were starting a life that seemed new and im- portant, though as yet unfamiliar to us. We were thrilled by the very idea of be- ing in college. Still, there was a disturb- ing sense of insecurity that made us try to show how clever and mature we were. Gradually, we began to realize that college meant more than we had expect- ed. We learned of the traditions that are Houghton's-the dream of a few men of faith, the time, the energy, the prayers that had gone into her foundation as a school, High in Standards, Low in Ex- pense, Fundamental in Belief. Hough- ton had meant much to herifounders, and to those administrators and teachers who had carried on the work and had furthered her growth. We saw that college had given the old- er students an easy mastery of situations which appalled us. We saw sportsman- ship that we admired, talent that we coveted, maturity that we despaired to achieve, We hoped that someday we might approximate thet-r capabilities. Time passed swiftly. With each succeed- T9 us college has meant intellectual stimulation

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PUBUSHED BY THE JUNIOR CZASS HOUGHTON 6'0llE6E I-IOIIGHTON, NEW YORR YMOND CODDINGTOM BUSINESS MANAGER XA NDER

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ing year we felt more and more that we were a part of Houghton, that Houghton was a part of us. Then came Pearl Harbor and war. Each month numbers of our men were called into their country's service. As we saw them go, as we saw the cost of living soaring, as we heard rumors of other small liberal arts colleges being forced to close, we wondered. We won- dered if Houghton would 'be able to maintain her standards, if the college of which we had become so much a part must cease to function. We felt the spir- it of Houghton in the choir, in the bas- ketball games, in the publications offices, in our bull sessions, in our associations and even in our clandestine pranks. We felt it in chapel, in church, and in our class devotions. Houghton and Houghton atmosphere meant more to us than we made any attempt to say. With the war, the spirit which has al- ways distinguished Houghton became even stronger in order to keep alive, not only the school itself, but also the activi- ties and the ideals of 'the institution. When we returned this fall, we found a I Houghton, which, though changed, still preserved her standards, her principles, 'her faith. We saw her strong spirit ex- emplified in our faculty who, diminished in numbers, carried heavier schedules that we might enjoy college as usual. We understood a little of her spirit when we heard our president say, But for God, the existence of Houghton would be im- possible. We realized, when we heard from our servicemen, how great was our responsibility to deserve the opportuni- ties we had in Houghton. We felt that we should maintain and improve her qualities of scholarship and spirituality. Grown from an insignificant semin- ary, grown to a distinctive college, grow- ing to a fuller, wider influence, ,Hough- ton symbolizes not only scholasticism, but also idealism, not only intelligence, but also maturity, not only knowledge, but also spirituality. So it is to Houghton College, for her past accomplishments, for her present vitality, and for her future potentialities for service, to her teachers, her students, to her Christ, to the intang- ible spirit of Houghton we dedicate this, the l9-44' Boulder. .. . and social maturation.