Commencement Exercises at Union College by R. C. Porter

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 21, 1906

Commencement Exercises at Union College

By R. C. Porter

The school year at Union College closed May 20, 1906. The enrolment during the year had reached three hundred and seventy-five. During the past year the school has enjoyed one of the most prosperous years in its history. The senior class was not so large as usual on account of changes having been made in the course of study, there being but five members. Four of these had completed the ministerial course in the Scandinavian department, two from the Swedish, and two from the Danish department. These will enter the ministry. The other member of the class completed the business course. The class motto, “As Recruits to the Front,” very forcibly expressed the sentiment of the class as their object in obtaining an education. The spirit of the entire commencement was of a missionary character.

Just before the close of the school year a canvassers' institute was held, conducted by J. S. James, J. B. Blosser, and the State agents of the Central Union Conference. As the result of this institute about forty students entered the canvassing work.

Thursday of the closing week of school was class day. Each member of the class participated in the exercises of that evening by delivering an oration on the line of work in which he was especially interested. Sabbath forenoon the baccalaureate sermon was delivered by Elder M. D. Mattson. In this discourse he very ably presented the sins of the great nations of earth which have caused their overthrow, and showed how these were all culminating in our own day, preparatory to the final overthrow at the coming of Christ.

Saturday evening a musical recital was given by the music department of the college at the request of the graduating class. This recital showed that very thorough work has been done in the music department, and that much attention has been given to organ and chorus work.

Sunday evening the class address delivered by the writer was a presentation of the theme, The Motive and Reward of Service. In it was presented the spirit of sacrifice that should accompany the missionary in his work, and the importance of the home base of supplies being adequate for the support of the workers sent to the front.

At the close of the class address, the class presented to the college a missionary map of the world, with golden threads running from Union College to each missionary station where students or teachers from the college were engaged in work. The exercises closed with the presentation of diplomas, both to the class and to the graduates from the music department, by Prof. C. C. Lewis. They were presented with a beautiful but brief missionary address by Professor Lewis, in perfect keeping with the spirit of the commencement exercises.

In the farewell students' meeting, nearly every student in the school took part. Nearly all expressed themselves as determined to return home to engage in some way in work for their fellow men, and to labor to bring other young people with them to attend Union College another year in preparation for future work in the cause of God. We are greatly pleased with the missionary spirit that pervades the institution and its work. I believe that with the spirit that prevails, the success of Union College is assured. R. C. PORTER.