Springfield College - Massasoit Yearbook (Springfield, MA)

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: prinsfi£lii College— Jlistorp E ' en a superficial survey of the origin, growth, and development of our college must impress the reader with the fact that a success so marvelous and a growth so sure and unfaltering arc rarely found in the early history of an educational institution. This article does not purport to be a detailed history of our Alma Mater, but a l)ricf survey of the outstanding events in its past, and a statement of the forwartl ste]:)s that may reasonably be expected within the near future. It is a far cry from the little group of men, meeting in old Hope Church, under the supervision of one paid instructor, to the two hundred and eighty men who use seven modern buildings on a thirty acre campus, studying under the direction of fourteen professors. And yet all this is the growth of a little more than thirty years. And more and more one realizes that this school must have had brooding over it from its inception the spirit of ( ' lod, aiding and strengthening the men who have guided its destiny along the j)aths of success. Air. David Allen Reed, pastor of a Springfield church, realized that there was no adcc|uatc work for young men being done in the city. During conferences with various Young Men’s Christian Association secretaries regarding the founding of an Association in the city, the fact was brought out that the Association was suffering from lack of trained leadership, and that owing to this lack it was not doing the work it might do. As a result ol this conviction, Mr. Reed was instrumental in founding, in 1885, the School for Christian Workers. The few men who enrolled met in the old Hope chapel, under the super ision of Mr. J. T. Bowne, who was instructor in Association methods. It is interesting to note that Mr. Bowne has been connected with the faculty ever since. In addition to Mr. Bowne’s course, there was instruction in Bible, church history, biograidiies ot successful laymen, rhetoric, comj)osition, and light gymnastics. These courses were given by ministers, etc., who were i)ressed into service. Many prominent Association men were consulted al)oul the founding of the school and the mai)ping out of the curriculum, although the Association did not affiliate itself with the young institution in any way. The story of the years that follow is a story of steady addition to the equipment and resources of the school, and of constant broadening of scope and influence. Within a short time a Ituildlng was secured on the corner of State and Sherman streets which contained class rooms, d(jrmitor ’, and gymnasium. A little later it was realized that there was a pressing need of trained physical directors as well as trained secretaries, and so the men of faith who had Page eleven

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Ilcon VeitI), Paterson, Jlctu fersep. iHcmfaer of Class of 1916. Jilorn December 14, 1892. Dicb August 14, 1915. + + + + + + CImer Jfrancis C. itloulton, 5i?rocfeton, iHlassatfjuscUS. itlcmbcr of Class of 1917. JSorn jFcbruarp 25, 1893. IDrobjneb Sugusi 7, 1915. + + + + + + MUjen comes tlje i eaper Beatfj Reprinted from The Spriniijicld Student. W hen comes the I ' fea])er, Detith, with with ' rin hand, And ftills amltitioiis couth when longing heart Would see ot life the full in this fair land, Sa we, “(lod willed he live ol life hut part”? W hen visioned men their life ' s wa ' consecrate d ' o mankiiifl lift, to cheer man ' s earthly stay. If knocks the Re;i|)er grim uiion his gate Rtiise we the (|uer , “W hy this shortened flay”? W hen love its suhtle, powerful claim has made, W hen friendship ' s bond is tried and strong and true. If, tetiring loose alieclion ' s grasp. Heath said, “, ow come, need fond ones weej) for me, tor you? ( )ur li cs in tull we live e ' er ceases breath; ()ur characters we mould, then falls the veil; rile magic — or the mystery — ol detith, . eefl fear ol either stir the motirner ' s wail? If to itisjiire tin ' fellows in ni ' yotttli. Re thiit the tiisk my ( aid has given nu — ( )ld itge or early, I have learnetl a tritth — 1 love life, i shall love the lile to be. — Jo.s. B. Bunker, ' 16.

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( ' harge of the institution unhesitatingly undertook this l)ranch of work, securing Dr. Luther Halsey (nilick, then in Oherlin, to work out the course. This was in 1888. Stuck ' uts were l)eginning to come to the school in larger and larger numbers, e ' en from foreign lands, and the need of a satisfactory location for a school which wotild eventually be several times larger than it was during the late eighties was felt. With marked wischmi and foresight for the needs ot the two departments, |)hysical and secretarial, thirty acres of land on the shores ot Lake Massascjit were i)urchased. ’ear l)y ear funds were secured for the erection of buildings and the addition of faculty meml)crs, and to-da ’ a large dormitor ’, two splendid gymnasiums, axjds Hall, the boathouse, and our beautiful librar} ' building overlook the placid clearness of the forest- girdled lake. Four spacious athletic helds, one of them among the hnest in the country, and a new natatorium are included in the physical equi])ment. Otir own power house lights and heats the buildings on the campus, and the latest addition to the school i)ro])crty has l)een a home for the president. As may be imagined, the financial I)iirden of this tremendotis and almost startling increase in equipment, in addition to current expenses, has been ver - heavy. Only the loving gifts (d consecrated, far-seeing men and women and the de oted and self-sacrihcing work of the men in charge cd the scho(d ha e made it pt ssible, and the hearts of Sitringheld men the world around are warm with gratittide and lo e ha ' those who thnmgh their geiKTosity have built up the school to its ])resent position. In 1895 the c ' ourse of stud ’ was extended to three years, and many courses added. The aim throughout its history has been to giw the hnest p(xssible technical training in Association work and physical education, a thorough religious education, and the main elements ot a liberal culture. Ot recent ears it has become the ])olic ’ to re(|uire original investigation, and t this end a thesis is lunv re(|uirc“d of each man who is graduated, which is the Iruit ot his own research. h ' (jur years ago, through an act ot the Lc ' gislattire ot Massachusetts, the name (d the institution was changed to “The International d)img Men’s ( hristian Association C cdlege,” and the authorit} ' tc honor graduates ot th(‘ Sc ' cretarial Dejcartment witli the degree cd Bachelor cd Humanics, and ot th(‘ Physic al I )e]xirtmc‘nt with Bachelor ot Physical Fducaticjn, wasgi en. In 1914 the ( ' ounty W’ork Department, tcjr the training of men tor the rural work of the Oung Men’s C hristian Association, was added as a sub- dc-jjartmcmt cd the- Secretarial Division. This de|)artment is under the supc ' rvision of Mr. W. J. C ampbell, who wasadded tcj the facility at that time. We have ' strivc-n to give an idea cd what the college is to-day, with an indic ' ation of the- marvc-lous way in whic ' h its influence has broadened and ■’ugr twelve