Springfield College - Massasoit Yearbook (Springfield, MA)

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THE MASS ASOIT — 1912 11 work. The school met for some time in the old Hope Chapel but during this year the building at the corner of State and Sherman Streets was started, being finished the following year. This new building had dormitories, class rooms, a gymnasium and a suite of rooms lor the Armory Hill Young Men’s Christian Association. This association was the outgrowth of the “Men of Hope,” an organization orginally formed by the young men of Hope Church to work especially for the young men on Armory Hill. It was felt from the first that the students should have practical work to supplement their studies, and this they obtained in the Armory Hill Association until the new building for the Central Association, which had been organized, was erected. As the school grew and the needs of the association were studied, it was seen that physical directors as well as secretaries should be trained. Dr. Gulick, who was then at Oberlin, was called to work out the details of this department. During this school year ’87-’88, Mr. O. C. Morse came to take charge of the finances and to teach the Bible course. His zeal and skill were a great inspiration and his success relieved the faculty of many heavy burdens. These three men, Mr. Bowne, Dr. Gulick and Mr. Morse, laid the best foundations for a great institution, as the results clearly show. The growth of the institution has been remarkable considering the short time it has been in existence. The first problem was the framing of a suitable curriculum. The course as outlined above was what was required at the beginning, but this has been changed f rom year to year, always with the ideal result in mind. It was decided that every student no matter in what dcpaitment should be expected to receive a religious education and, unless lie had secured it elsewhere, the main elements of a liberal culture. The foundation of the curriculum was social and religious, based broadly on the study of humanics — the science of human nature — physical, social, intellectual and religious. Built upon this general course are the two technical courses — the secretarial and physical. These two courses have increased in their technical character and in the normal practice required. In 1895 it was decided to extend the time required for graduation from two to three years. The promotion of original study and graduate courses have also been added. It is expected that every student who receives a degree will be trained as an investigator and will produce an original thesis. The courses now offered still follow the two main original lines, but embrace in the secretarial course besides the general association secretary, boys’ secretary, social settlement work and religious directors; the physical department embraces besides the general physical director for the association and school or college, boys’ physical director, camp director and playground director. The greatest problem before the trustees was the securing of a suitable faculty. This was more difficult than can now be realized and testimony of this difficulty is seen in the fact that eight of the present faculty are grad-

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10 THE MASS ASOIT — 1912 Z )t Ctoolutton of Z. HE development of a college may be considered from several standpoints. One method of measur- ing its growth is by noting the increase of students, another the installation of new courses and the improvement of the old. We may also consider its expansion from the standpoint of the alumni, who by their loyalty to their Alma Mater are always influencing the communities in which they live, and are thus silent factors in increasing the number of its friends, thereby helping to build up the institution. A third standard of measurement is a consideration of the material growth and progress. At this time when the name of our school has been changed to the “International Y. M. C. A. College” it is fitting that we glance back over the years intervening since the inception of a “School for Christian Workers” and trace in brief something of its rise to the present standard of efficiency and achievement. We are conscious of the fact that much of this material has appeared in print before, but as “history repeats itself” we give the facts below with unblushing candor. The Muse of history carries us back to the early eighties of the past century. When David Allen Reed came to this city in 1881 there was no Young Men’s Christian Association and no special work for the young men of his church. The young men of the church were organized, and consulted with association men in New York and Boston about the conditions in the city. It was found that it was very difficult to obtain good leaders and although the associations of the country were growing rapidly, they were greatly handicapped because of the lack of men qualified for the general secretaryship. To help meet this need and to train laymen lor other lines of Christian work, a plan for a special school was worked out. Messrs. McBurny, Morse and Uhl of New York, II M. Moore and Russel Sturgis, Jr., of Boston, and D. A. Budge of Canada were consulted and offered to help in any way they could, without committing the associations to the plan. The course of study as then worked out was to be two years, to include the Bible, church history, biogra- phies of successful laymen, rhetoric and composition, music, physiology, light gymnastics and a course in all the phases of association work. The school was opened on January 5, 1885. Local clergymen and a physician were pressed into the service as instructors in the general course and Mr. J. T. Bowne was secured as an instructor in the association

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12 THE MASS ASOIT — 1912 nates of the college. The college is able to reproduce itself, an indication of strong vitality. The faculty have been obliged to work out their own courses of study and to adapt them to the new problems as they were presented. Bv the material growth of an institution its advancement can more readily be determined. The insti- tution began its independent life in 1890 without resources or equipment, except the Historical Library of works on the V M. G. A. and the Gulick Library of works on physical education. The property on the shores of Mas- sasoit Lake, consisting of thirty acres of land, was purchased with marked foresight for the building of a great institution. The first building to be erected was the old gymnasium in 1894. This was presented by Preston B. Keith, Benjamin Thaw, Colonel Charles A. Hopkins and Roland Hazard and was the first building erected for Christian physical education. During the years 1893-’97 funds were secured for the erection of the “Dormi- torv Building used for general school purposes as was also the emergency fund of $50,000. These financial efforts under the leadership of Oliver C. Morse placed the school on its feet ready for the developments that were to follow. In 1904 Mrs. Eleanor S. Woods presented the school with Woods Hall, to be used as a social center and a dining hall. In 1910 funds were received for the erection of additional gymnasium space, with the result of the addition made to the old gymnasium known as the West Gym. Also in the same year Mr. Herbert L. Pratt of New York City presented the school with the beautifully enclosed athletic field. The following fall this same generous person erected the new grandstand, of 1.100 seating capacity. Funds have been secured for the erection of the much needed library; the corner stone of which the present graduating class hope to lay before leaving for their work. Of the possibilities for further expansion nothing definite can be said. However, we can state a few things which the faculty and trustees are striving to bring to pass. At the dedication of the new gym nasium on the sixth of February last, an appeal was made for funds with which to continue the building program. A generous response on the part of our friends should result in some or all of the following “air castles” taking shape in brick and stone: the completion of the tower on the gymnasium, a swimming pool, a new dormitory large enuf to replace the present structure, which then might be completely remodeled into an administration building, the enlargement of Woods Hall, the erection of a science building and in time a chapel. All of these things are greatly needed and must soon come if we arc to continue to grow. Onlv one more tln’ng needs to be mentioned and of this one it may be added that prospects are somewhat more certain than is the case regarding what has just previously been chronicled. The course of study will, ver aion perhaps, be further improved by the addition of another year, making four in all. Then, indeed, will we have a curriculum equal or superior to any other “best.”