Hudsonville High School - Pioneer Yearbook (Hudsonville, MI)

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it was the higher conception of Deity, the monotheism of the Jews, which made possible the advent of Jesus. Down through the years it has been our highest conception of Deity which has produced our Luthers and our Calvins. 1 care not what your creed or sect may be; I care not what religion you profess. I believe there is no one in this audience who believes there is no God, however different his conception of this God may be. Who can step out into a vast open space, of a calm evening, and view the mighty works of the firmament and say, “There is no God.” Who can watch the ceaseless flowing of streams to mighty rivers, the unerring movement of the stars in their course, and say, “There is no God.” Who can look upo . the return of the seasons, the green grass springing up, coming to maturity and finally dissolving to the ground from whence it came, and say, “There is no God.” All nature—yes all human achievement looks up to this great power without which there is no progress. Each individual, you and I, must recognize this light from on high, if we, individually as well as collectively, would progress. Today, we, as a civilization, as a nation, and as individuals, stand at the apex of progress—built solidly upon the achievements of the past—looking- forward hopefully on the problems of the future. New names have gone down in history and have taken their places in the progress of the world. Much remains to be done. It is our privilege, then, to obey and make the fundamental law—it is our duty to marshall all possible facts of education to improve this law, and, above all, it is our privilege to invoke inspiration from on high to lead and point the way. ■ May we meet every issue squarely, solve every problem correctly, use every opportunity justly. May we, as individuals, press forward and take our places in the cycles of uni- versal progress. Henry Wiersma. CLASS WILL We, the members of the class of 1921 of the Hudsonviile High School of the city of Hudsonviile, township of Georgetown, county of Ottawa, and the state of Michigan, being of sound mind and disposing memories, do hereby make, publish and declare this our last will and testament thereby revoking all former wills, bequests and devises of whatever nature by us made. Item I. We request that the School Board buy some railroad spikes from the Pere Marquette Railroad with which to fasten down the seats. That they supply each member of the faculty with a book of hall rules and a Traffic Officer’s semaphore for their convenience. That they pro- vide jitney bus service to and from the car line Monday mornings and Friday nights to transport the teachers at those times.

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which prepares man to see the difficulties of the present and future. Armed with the knowledge of what has preceded, we stand better ready to cope with the problem at hand. No invention, no philosophical theory, no achievement in any line of human endeavor, but it has been built on the knowledge evolved before it. There could have been no Thomas Edison unless there had been a Benjamin Franklin. There could have been no Plato unless there had been a Socrates. Without a Plato, no Aristotle would have followed. Progress, then, is built step by step on the education of the past. A government, therefore, which depends for its existence upon intelligent laws must supply the education and means foi unbiased judgment to those who w'ould both make and obey those laws. In America we enjoy these free institutions of learning. We pride ourselves on our great army of boys and girls educated in our common schools, without regard for wealth or social distinction. We rejoice with those more fortunate ones who have gone beyond the common schools and have the privilege of the high school education and, indeed, mankind looks up to that smaller remnant which succeeds in graduating from our great colleges and universities. In these higher institutions of learning, men and women, working side by side, have the privilege of studying the history of our institutions of government. They have the chance to study deep into the theory of political economy, sound economics, sociology, and, in the light of history, they have learned to see the disasters and dangers befall- ing people who neglect their duties to the law's of their nation. This educa- tion purifies and steadies political sentiment; it brings to civic problems a keener insight. God grant that the students toiling in these universities, these minature preparatory worlds, may be worthy to mingle among our less fortunate but equally deserving brothers and sisters and help to tem- per public opinion. May they expose the insidious schemes of dishonest politicians. May they dare to speak their honest convictions in the face of opposing factions. May the honorable statesman replace the unscrupulous politician, and may justice reign. Education, then, as our second necessity in the scheme of progress, steadies and purifies human relationships. With the light of history as its basis, it gives a clearer understanding of the past and, therefore, prepares for the problems at hand. But w'ith law' and education alone, progress would be a thing—cold and pulseless, indeed. A far greater quality is still needed to keep the w'heels of progress turning aright. Man-made laws, man-made theories, do not suffice undex the stress of moral decisions. A great store of intellectual knowledge is barren indeed without inspiration from on high to guide and strengthen it. Religion, then, is a crowning- essence to this progress, an indispensible light. Without vision the people perish” is still true. It has been said that civilization rises no higher than its highest con- ception of Deity. Centuries ago, in the midst of the polytheism of the age,

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Item II. We request that the janitor raise the mirror in the upstairs hall, that the benches in the recitation room be made stationary and non- tippable for “Chick” l)e Weerd, that cushion rollers be put on the sliding door between the assembly and class room for Gertrude McEachron’s benefit. Item III. We will to Mr. Louwsma eight entertainments a week so that he can call on his lady friends at least once weekly. We also will him a mouse trap to catch mice so that he won’t have to get them in May baskets. Item IV. We will to Miss Dewitt some non-skid heels to prevent any embarrassing tumbles while she is in Ann Arbor this summer. We request that she present Reynold Van Bronkhorst some buttons to replace those severed from his apparel the time he was caught eating candy in school. Item V. We will to Mr. Brink a handful of lemon drops and some extra breath for all of us when we sing “The land of the free,” in the “Star Spangled Banner.” Item VI. We as a class will our reputation for being 'good to the Freshmen class, our dignity to the Sophomores, our mentality to the Juniors, and our sweet disposition to everybody. To the Sophomores we also will and bequeath a copy of this annual written up by the Juniors in our honor, so that with a few changes and revisions it can perhaps fit the occasion and be written next year without much trouble and expense. Item VII. To Mr. and Mrs. Covey we bequeath the paper punch, which has caused them an excessive amount of work throughout the year. Item VIII. We request that the following seat arrangements be carried out next year. To Wayne Alward any back seat opposite I)oioth, Mc- Eachron, to avoid any confusion in talking by means of a secret code or deaf and dumb alphabet. John Brink as far from Airs. Pinch em, alias Ortha Mosher as possible to prevent the bruises and effects of sham battles. As individual members of the class we will the following: I, Henry Wiersma do hei'eby bequeath to “Heinie ’ Walkotten my won- derful ability as yell master of the old High School. I also urge the said “Heinie” to remember that this ability is to be used for the encouragement and help of the entire school and not just for the feminine portion. I will my position as catcher in our notorious baseball team to Keek ictoi.v. My gestures in public speaking to Mr. Laug, wherewith we hope he may be able to produce a noticeable effect and a lasting impression upon his hearers at Conklin this summer. I, Frances Patmos, do hereby give, devise, and bequeath to Marion Schut my surplus weight to prevent her from floating away in thin air be- cause of her lightness. I also will and bequeath my studious ability to Melvin Gerrits so that he may increase his vocabulary. My Physics note- book I will to Grace Heslinga, who is able to decipher most anything.