St Johns University - Yearbook (Queens, NY)

Page 12 text:

X551 ygfxfx gg-5 1 4 Q V e a - a-I -- av a it flltlwef i fi EE i ing this we were glad. Wfe felt that we were forging the first strong link in a chain that would increase year after year, and would bind closer and closer together the men who gloried in a common Alma Mater . A word more-some will wish to know, perhaps, the inspira- tion of our Year Bookifs name. We would recall to their minds an old and beautiful custom of the Italians. The middle name of an Italian is perhaps the most cherished part of his civil title. He adopts the maiden name of his mother. Every time he speaks or writes that name, he thinks of the gray-haired, sweet-faced mother, who bore and nursed and nourished him-of that mother to whom, as the immortal Lincoln says, we owe' all that we are and all that we hope to be. We have pursued a asimilar course. We have wished to honor the noble m-en who stand for our Alma Mater. VVe have wished to venerate those priests of God, who have trained our intellects and wills, wh.o have taught us the way of culture and truth and salvation-the men to whom all our future prestige and honor is due. They glory in the name of Vincentian. That name will ever recall to our minds those who have best loved and influenced us. It will ever bring to our vision the old gray walls of St. Iohn's. And as poetts have made immortal the names of their beloved, so we have striven, in our own weak way, to perpetuate the name of our beloved teachers and their patron saint, by calling our book THE VTNCENTTAN. ill -fs it A V If E Q' -iii. wlll f W' a t or w as P it - A -cs. N a- ,H- it, l+ . it.-. s ....,. V13

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1 l VJQ l q g ' , f .2511 --ig!-.1 .L 41312, 23.13-..i zj ggfgg EE- sg ...fi Q rnlngur OMEVVHERE, a poet has said, a child can tear a rose apart but only a God can make one.', The idea embodied is oit- times too true. To th.e critical reader' this little work would seem but the labor of a few weeks. But'between the lines is written the story of the struggle attendant upon the birth' of TT-TE VTNCENTIAN. Year books, like everything ellse, need public opinion and sup- port. The Senior class of IQI8, having long nourished the id-ea of an Annual , first begot such support, and then went hammer and tongs at editing THE VTNCENTTAN. At A. A. meetings-the best ever held in St. johns Gym-at Assemblies-first initiated by the IQI8 men-at Reading of Marks, at A. A. dances, at mere tete-a-tetefs, the Seniors related the deeds ot old St. -lohn's-deeds worthy of remembrance. VVitness the result. Everyone began to ask why St. Iohn's did not record her activities, and her many splendid intellectual and athletic triumphs. Aye, one noble youth even ventured to move that the A. A. publish a Year Book. The Seniors needed no secotnd invitation. Wfhile the A. A. was slowly getting oven the effects of such a momentous proposal, an editorial staff was picked from St. john's 4oO , and a plan of campaign drawn up. St. .lohnis biggest drive in history had begun with the Seniors in the first line trenches. Nobly and faithfully did our Alumni respond to the editor's stirring appeal. From far distant South Dakota one loving son of St. johnls sent in his Loyalty Loanw. From Florida and Minrne- sota, from nearly every spot whither St. johns sons had migrated. came like lettens of encouragement and support. THE VIN- CENTTAN was joining the present and the past, the College Mili- tant and the College Triumphant in one glorious union. Know- 12

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fi 213 145 if r Nl ...... l , mu , A Y -1 4 use - -' , - 5 , I 21:1-1:5 1151-E: 13.1, ' r , . E 5 Q l i ill' v , we R f'-VJ ei 55 at l l .Q -a If iv Gbur Igrnfennnrz HE feet of some of us are turned to go. We leave the echo- ing halls of youth, the scenes where all our memories linger. Trained for the vast unnumbered army of mankind, we now must muster into service. But let us shed a tear elre we pass on, and let us speak a fond word of good-bye. Well have ye sharpened the keen-edged swords of our intel- lect. Well have ye forged the weaponls of our souls. Ye Ystand as generals towering in your strength and glory. To us have ye given of that strength a'nd glory, and we thank ye for it. Ye have softened and refined us. Ye have wrapped about us a shining silvery coat of mail-our Faith-whereon the poisoned arrows of the world, the flesh and the devil, will shower and ri'ng and shriek in vain. Ere we dash forth from our guarded trench of love and safety, and go over the top , to fight awhile and die on the dull brown soil of No-Manis-Land, -we wish to thank ye for your labors. We beg ye to believe us when we say ye have our love. Even when our footsteps are heard no more upon the marble floors of old St. ,lohn's, even when our voice's no longeriwill ring outt amid the cheering crowds or echo among the rafters of the Gym -even then our hearts will warm, our eyes will moisten, our tense and careworn face will soften at the thought of you. VVe beg forgiveness for any mutiny in our ranks. We pray that health, and wealth, a'nd a peaceful, gladsome heart will crown the harvest of your labors, and' that one day all of us-the privates, the captains, the generals-will stand shoulder toshoulder in eter- nal blissful salute before the great white throne of God. 14