Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades - Mechanic Yearbook (Media, PA)

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10 THE MECHANIC MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 1921: Dear Young Friends: As the time draws near for your departure from Williamson, I am sure you grow more concerned about your future growth and development. This important matter will be transferred to you, thereby putting the entire responsibility in your hands. 'lt is indeed a responsibility since those who have gone before have made a record for graduates of Williamson which requires keen interest, sincere effort, and a substantial determination to maintain. You are well qualified to contribute your share, and to avail yourselves of every opportunity before you. This, I am sure, you will do with great pride and pleasure and prove to your employers that Williamson men grow better with each succeeding class. Those of us who have had the direction of your aifairs during your stay at Wil- liamson feel privileged to make this demand of you, and I personally wish for each member of the graduating class a full measure of success and prosperity. Very sincerely your friend, r 99- CX ' President.

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WILLIAMSON SCHOOL 9 TO gizaialq Hdllillizrmsun ANY persons of large means are philanthropic, but often their philanthropy is not productive of permanent good because they lack the power of foresight. It was not so with Mr. Williamson. He was a man of broad vision, and among other things he saw that the apprentice system in vogue in the mechanical trades was operated more for the advantage of the employer and journey- man than for the instruction of the apprentice. He determined to do all in his power to make it possible for the young mechanic to reap the benefit of his own efforts. With this purpose in view, he drew up his deed of 1888. endowing the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades. The work of the school is to instruct boys in the principles and methods of a number of trades in such a way that the advantage lies entirely with the apprentices. Ever since its founding, the school has been subjected to criticism. However, criticism did not hinder the work that our honored benefactor had started. The school maintained its standards and soon criticism was changed to praise. Mr. Williamson was marked by many admirable characteristics. He loved and desired to aid those in poor circumstances. He had the means at his disposal to carry out his desire and he used his means in an intelligent way. It is our fervent desire that the good work of Williamson may inspire other philanthropists to use their funds in just such a manner. Editor.

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WILLIAMSON SCHOOL 11 Cliiiin Qlnurage The young man going into the industrial field needs civic courage. In meeting the problems of life the individual has a certain civic duty to perform requiring courage. K IAMES A. PRATT, Direcror combat the tendency within is greater than the former. In the United States The path of advancement is and evening schools. The designer, and manager of to ourselves The people of our nation decide its destiny. If the people, young and old, do not have the courage to stand for principles of fair dealing' in business, our nation cannot continue to exist. The United States is a place of opportunity. It always has been a place of opportunity and al- ways will be such as long as- we retain our present form of government. Of course, it is not a place of opportunity for those men and women who are indifferent to their own interests, who are too indolent to prepare themselves for opportunity, these people make up the personnel of society'si failures, usually fail- ures because they Want to be such. Such people are anxious to get away from the trfed and only true path to success, namely, that of rendering service to society for pay received. Many persons are much interested in the pay received, but only slightly, or not at all interested in the service rendered. Earning is not an im- portant part of their code of ethics. If we are to continue as a land of opportunity, the young, as well as the old, must have the courage now, and in the future, to stand by the old-fashioned doctrine of earning their living, not simply getting it. This requires the civic cour- age to combat by word and act those who op-pose such a doctrine. It also requires courage to to become indolent. Frequently this latter task the laborer of today is the expert mechanic of tomorrow. open to him through the medium of technical papers, books, expert mechanic of today is the foreman. superintendent, UIOITOW. Our whole industrial organization is built from the bottom upward. In no other country on the globe do we find such opportunities. Indolence will eliminate these opportunities. If we are to keep the paths of opportunity open, we must see to it that the idler, the man or woman withoutAmerican ideals, is educated to our standards. Every indi- vidual must take his or her place as a teacher in the school of Americanism. The teaching is done both by word and example, Americanism and idleness are opposed and the teacher in this school must be a worker himself and not an idler. With his own busy life as an example he can and should courageously advocate the useful life in preference to the idle life. The worker should, and must, have adequate pay for his work, and the manufacturer, as well as the merchant, must have a reasonable profit. We must be satisfied with reasonable pay and profit, for if we are not, we will reach a state of no pay and no profit. For reasonable pay and profit we must render reasonable service. Young men who have had the opportunity of three years at Williamson should have the civic courage necessary to spread the news of America's opportuntiiesg they should be examples of good Americanism, industrious, serious, thrifty, and conscientious in their endeavors. If principles such as those outlined form the foundation of their industrial life, the graduates of Williamson, 1921, will attain that success which all their friends heartily wish them. Faithfully yours, JAMES A. PRATT.