Manchester College - Aurora Yearbook (North Manchester, IN)

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Prrfare HIS being the twenty-fifth anniversary of the transfer of Manches- ter College to the Church of the Brethren, it was thought expedi- ent that someone write a brief account of the growth of the school. To depict correctly all of the activities of an institution for a quarter of a century, to do justice to all concerned, to reflect the school life in all of its phases and make it real is no small task. Only those who have lived through the days can know how many things that reflect the spirit of the school elude the pen of the writer. The matter of organization in a work of this kind is a problem for the his- torian. We have found it convenient to divide the history into three periods. The first period 1895-1902, the period of Private Ownership, when the church assumed no responsibility for the financial support of the school. The second period 1902-1910, the period of Lease, when the school was owned by the church but leased to a board of management. The third period, 1910-1920, the period of Church Ownership and Control. The divisions, as all divisions in history, are arbitrary, and the plan has many objections, but it seems the most practicable for present purposes. Each period is divided into three parts — a section of Administrative History, a sec- tion of Eeligious, Literary, Social, and Athletic Activities, and thirdly a sec- tion of Contemporary Notes and Personals. A general conclusion sums up the whole matter. If Ave have succeeded in showing the main lines of activity and develop- ment of the Institution, and how it has been of use in preparing young men and women for Christian service, our purpose shall have been attained. An attempt has been made to select suggestive materials and to mention repre- sentative names. Errors may have escaped our notice due to a lack of time for verifying every statement with source materials. The writers express their appreciation for valuable source materials re- ceived from Professor I. B. Book who supplied them with an almost complete ale of College Standards; to Olive Miller, W. D. Fisher, Mrs. Otho Win- ger, D. O. Cottrell for pictures, papers and helpful suggestions. President Otho Winger and Prof. L. W. Shultz have read the manuscript and have of- fered several valuable criticisms. V. F. SCHWALM, Editor. ELIZABETH POSTMA, Assistant Editor. Page 7J