Salisbury University - Evergreen Yearbook (Salisbury, MD)

Page 31 text:

story, everyone felt and expressed gen¬ uine humility. Unselfishness and gener¬ osity, also a part of this service, were ex¬ pressed in the gifts piled under the Christmas tree. These gifts were later given to the welfare association for dis¬ tribution to underprivileged children. Other traditions are no small part of the Yuletide season at S. T. C. For, the ex¬ cellent turkey dinner, carolling, decora¬ tions, and the faculty tea all add to the fullness of this holiday season. Inspiration, enthusiasm, humility, gen¬ erosity, unselfishness — small words in themselves, but infinite when grasped in their full significance. In this way S. T. C. students perpetuate the true meaning of Christmas. 27

Page 30 text:

IN THE changing world of today there is a certain security in being a part of something, however small, which re¬ mains unchanged. Perhaps that accounts, in part, for the feelings of zest, commu¬ nion, and fellowship in the observance at S. T. C. of those Christmas rites, which through the years, have become known as tradition. Candlelight service, decora¬ tions, carolling, Christmas dinner, faculty party — all of these are traditions at S. T. C. As the students gathered in the Social Room for the impressive Candlelighting service, perhaps some of them thought of another group back in 1925 who partici¬ pated in the first service of this sort. At this memorable meeting some sixteen years ago, a small group of girls met in the library to commune for a short while in a Christmas vesper service. On this occasion a candle was lighted and a tra¬ dition founded both of which have lived until the present day, and will live as long as there is a feeling of fellowship between men at Christmas. For, it was at this meeting that our candle, the Spirit of S. T. C., was lighted and its light has con¬ tinued to glow in the hearts of all who have ever been connected with the col- lege. Candlelight service, December 19, 1940, although more elaborate, maintained the same spirit and inspiration begun in that meeting sixteen years ago. As the stu¬ dents solemnly and silently filed into the Social Room to light their candles from the large one, enthusiasm and inspiration were transmitted from one to the other. And as they sat upon the floor, sang carols, and listened to the first Christmas 26

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THESE TWO pages might have been blank if some members of the faculty had not remained near the college and been particularly active during the Christmas season, while students were “resting” in their homes. I fowever, before the last bus or car loaded with students and parcels left on Decem¬ ber 20, “Coach” and Mary Maggs had wished each one a Merry Christmas — at least they had permitted their beauti¬ ful Kerry Blue, “Tuffy” to do so for them. Almost a tradition by this time is Miss Matthews’ blue spruce tree which she always lights in time to sav “Merry Christmas,” not only to all the students, but especiallv to the carollers who, on their last day in college before the holi- dav season, awake faculty folk. And Mrs. Thomas — Well, evervone knows what a seasoned traveler she is! Almost as soon as the doors of the col¬ lege were closed, she hopped a train — headed for the “suns” and shores of Miami Beach. Boston cream, fudge, sea foam, almost every kind of candy, to sav nothing of stuffed dates and stuffed — well, you finish it — helped make the Christmas Variety of interests 28