HOME-COMING GAME, NOV. 23—SMITH vs. MOREHOUSE
The University Student
Vol. 5. No. 1
LUX ET VERITAS
JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY, CHARLOTTE, N. C., OCTOBER, 1928.
Price 10 Cents.
SMITH UNIVERSITY PAYS
TRIBUTE TO BENEFAC
TRESS
By Arthur J. Clement, Jr., ’80
In one of the most impressive ceremonies
ever witnessed in the auditorium of Biddle
Memorial Building, the students and facul
ty of Johnson C. Smith University paused
in their regular routine to pay homage to
Mrs. Johnson C. Smith, the great benefac
tress of the University.
President Lauds Donor
With words of laudation and appreciation
and mentioning in a most graphic manner
the timely aid that came to the University
through the generosity and goodness of
Mrs. Smith, Dr. H. L. McCrorey, the Pres
ident of the University, called upon the
faculty and students of the University to
show their appreciation for this God-sent
woman by catching a vision of her lofty
ideals and consecrating themselves to a life
of service.
Dr. C. H. Shute Speaks
Following the President in eulogizing
Mrs. Smith, Dr. Charles H. Shute, the Uni
versity’s Chaplain, revealed the fact that
the motivating spirit that governed the
giver bespoke her Christian character. Dr.
R. L. Douglass, as the last representative
from the faculty, emphasized the fact in his
remarks that the Negro youth in America
had been given a chance by this sainted
woman, and thatVt behooved them to grasp
this opportunity to reach into spheres yet
untouched, and to conquer problems yet un
solved; for in so doing they would become a
better and more worthwhile integrant in
American life.
Cup Is Presented.
After these addresses, Mr. Geo. Newell,
of the Senior College class, and Mr. A. E.
Fortune, of the Senior Theological class,
in a manner befitting their respective ora
torical abilities, tendered the honor and
thankfulness of the student body, and then
presented to Mrs. Smith a beautiful loving
cup and a bouquet of flowers. On the cup
these w'ords were engraved: In loving ap
preciation and respect to our benefactress,
Mrs. Johnson C. Smith; from the students
and faculty of Johnson C. Smith Universi
ty. In response to the presentation of the
symbol of esteem and appreciation, Mrs.
Smith expressed her heartfelt valuation for
all that “her boys” do for her. and her
sincere hope that ‘the promise would be
realized.’
Dr. Gaston Present
Dr. J. M. Gaston, of Pittsburgh, the Sec
retary and Treasurer of the Governing
Board of the University, was present and
made a few remarks. Mrs. Gaston was also
present. Prof. Peyton had charge of the
music, w'hich was adapted to the occasion.
MRS. JOHNSON C. SMITH
BANQUETS FACULTY
AND STUDENTS
CHEER LEADER ELECTED
At an election recently held by the stu
dents for the purpose of selecting a yell
leader for this school year. Mr. V. H. Cha
vis was elected. He is to choose two as
sistants.
For the past two or three years Mr. Cha
vis has held that position and it was on the
merits of his past work and experiences,
his diligence to the position that he was al
most unanimously re-elected.
Beside holding this position Mr. Chavis
is Editor-in-Chief of The University
Student. He is also President of the Les
Peu Choisis Social Club, Recording Sec
retary of the local chapter of Alpha Phi
Alpha fraternity and a very popular young
man socially.
ALPHA OMiCRON ENTER
TAINS FRESHMEN
Saturday, October 20th, the Smith Bulls,
in their first home played game, by a fusil-
ade of forward passes and bombardment of
line drives, completely demolished the
Shaw Bears’ wall of defense. Great was
the fall of it. The cheering section of the
miniature stands were sending up a galaxy
of yells. But neither the team, as they
fought hard to win, nor the cheering sec
tion as they yelled loudly for victory, was
cognizant of what was being said in the
sport model Packard standing beyond the
West goal in our seatless athletic field.
So impressed was Mrs. Johnson C.
Smith at the exhibition of the fighting
spirit of “her boys” during the first half,
that she said if the Bulls should emerge
victorious she would give the students a
dinner.
So on Tuesday evening following, it came
to pass. The faculty and their wives and
students indulged in a quite sumptuous
dinner. Every one ate with a ravenous and
sharp appetite. It was indeed a pleasant,
timely and appreciated -diversion from the
accustomed “carte du .iour.” The gratitude
and exultation of the students were dem-
onsti'ated by the singing of the Alma Mater
and the showing of rah rahs and applaud
to this angelic and altruistic personality,
Mrs. Smith.
Mrs. Smith has been residing at her cot
tage since the opening of the fall term,
.September 18. The cottage was built dur
ing the svmme.r.
CORNER-STONE OF JOHN
SON C. SMITH UNIVER
SITY CHURCH IS LAID
On Tuesday, October 23, at 4:30 P. M.,
the corner-stone of the Johnson C. Smith
church was laid. The ceremony was at
tended by Mrs. Johnson C. Smith, Dr. John
M. Gaston and wife, faculty and student
body and a small number of friends.
This church is another gift from our
benefactress, Mrs. Johnson C. Smith,
through whose munificence we have Smith
Hall, Berry Hall, Science Hall, the Gym
nasium and arch. The cost of this struc
ture is 8125,000. It is to be equipped with
a $5,000 pipe organ.
The following program was rendered:
Invocation, Dr. H. L. McCrorey.
Introductory words. Dr. John M. Gaston.
Doxology, Congregation.
Scripture Lesson, Dr. Yorke Jones.
Hymn, “I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord.”
By Double Quartette
Declaration of Faith by Faculty.
Hymn 130, “The Church’s One Founda
tion
Is Jesus Christ Her Lord.”
By Double Quartette
Announcement of Contents of Box
Dedication
Dr. Gaston.
“Still, Still With Thee.”
University Quintette
Dedicatory Prayer, ,,Dr. L. B. West.
Hymn 164, “Onward, Christian Soldiers,
Marching as to War.”
Congregation.
Benediction, Dr. J. M. Gaston,
A very striking feature of the occasion
The entire Freshman class was the guest
of Alpha Omicron chapter of Alpha Phi
.41pha at a get-together meeting Wednes
day evening, October 10, 1928.
The meeting was held on the “gym” floor
proper of the- new gymnasium. The chairs
were arranged in a semi-circle effect, fac
ing the movable platform. On this plat
form sat a very sweet-toned orthophonic
victrola which furnished music for the oc
casion.
The meeting was featured by three
main speeches by members of the fraternity,
namely, the President, Vice-President ani
a graduate brother.
The President, Prof. G. F. Woodson, in
his introductory address, welcomed the
Freshmen to the occasion and to the fra
ternal atmosphere of the University. He
also pointed out to them the origin and
seriousness of fraternities and the frater
nity idea.
The Vice-President, Mr. .1. T. Wilson, at
tempted to point out some of the advant
ages of being a fraternity man, the im
portance of wise selection and the ways to
make that selection. He also gave them
an idea as to the necessary steps to take
to become affiliated with any fraternity.
The third speaker, Coach Randy Taylor,
gave them a brief history and some of the
main principles of Alpha Phi Alpha. Some
of the prominent men of the fraternity
were alluded to as models of the Alpha Phi
Alpha type.
After the speeches were made each mem
ber of Alpha Omicron chapter was intro-
!uc.:d to t.'ic Fi.'si.iiiau class by tne Sec
retary, Mr. V. H. Chavis. The Sphinx
Club was introduced to the Freshmen as a
group.
The while the entire assembly was being
so highly entertained by Paul Whiteman,
Gene Austin and other famous musicians,
made possible by this very efficient ortho
phonic victrola, a delicious ice course was
served.
Just before the Alpha Phi Alpha hymn
was sung by the fraternity each Freshma^n
introduced himself by rising and giving
his name and home address. The meeting
was dismissed by the Christian Endeavor
benediction.
The Freshmen gave a yell as an expres
sion of appreciation to the fraternity for
the friendly advice.
was the Declaration of Faith by the Facul
ty as follows:
“We, the members of the Faculty of
Johnson C. Smith University, desire at this
time to reaffirm our faith in the Bible as
the Word of God, the only infallible rule
of faith and practice; our faith in the
Church of the living God, b.v whose ministry
the world is to be brought to the foot of
the Cross; our faith in Jesus Christ as the
only and well-beloved Son of God the Fath
er. We also desire to pledge our loyalty
and obedience to the rules and ideals of
.Johnson C. Smith University, as revealed
in the history of the institution.
A box was placed iri the cornerstone con
taining an English Bible, University Bulle
tin, Alumni Journal, University Student,
Charlotte Observer, Charlotte News and
Shorter Catechism.
The church is to be completed by Spring
and dedicated at the 1929 commencement.
THE Y. M. t. A. ENTER
TAINS NEW STUDENTS
AT RECEPTION
Among tHe many events which featured
the opening of school, perhaps the most
brilliant and entertaining was the Annual
New Student Reception given by the Y. M.
C. A. Several notable things went to make
this the best of all previous receptions. The
number of distinguished visitors far sur
passed any of former years. Mrs. Johnson
C. Smith headed the list of important per
sons, followed b'y Dr. J. M. Gaston and his
wife.
Varying in many respects from the past
leceptions the program began with the
singing of “Our Alma Mater. Then fol
lowed a solo by Miss Louise Bass.
Mr. T. M. Tolbert’.s saxophone solo was
also a very pleasing number. The encore
number was even more beautiful.
Dr. McCrorey’s welcome speech was in
deed timely and left the auidence with a
spirit of friendliness. The new students-
who had previously shown signs of ner
vousness seemed to rest at ease after this-
What to us was the real feature of the
evening was the appearance and encourag
ing remarks of our beloved benefactress,
Mrs. Johnson C. Smith. The interest she
showed throughout the whole program gave
all the participants a feeling of relief. Af
ter she had spoken all felt even less of the
tension that had taken possession of every
one.
Dr. Gaston put real pep into the affair
and his request for a yell was answered by
the three hundred or more lusty _throated
men who caught the spirit of the occasion
and expressed themselves as only true
.Smithsonians can.
The whole program left an indelible im
pression upon the incoming students and
also served to give a true portrayal of what
the Y. M. C. A. stands for.
During the latter part of the evening a
delicious ice course was served which was
no doubt the most interesting part of the
program.
GRAVER ACCEPTS NEW POST AT
SHAW UNIVERSITY.
Although unanimously chosen by the
Student Councils of the Y. M. C. A., at
their last sessions, to continue his services
as National Student Secretary, Mr. Wil
liam Curtis Craver, who, for ten years has
been a national student leader, has declined
the offer and accepts the position of Field
Secretary of Shaw University, Raleigh, N.
C. Shaw University is under the auspices
of the American Baptist Home Mission
Society, New York City. The new office
was recently created by the combined ef
forts of the Society, the University, and
Baptists of North Carolina and the Alum
ni. The Society plans for improvements,
new’ buildings, enlarged endowments and a
general extension of the work at Shaw
within the next four years that will call
for expenditures of nearly a million dol
lars. Mr. Craver will be called upon as
Executive Financial Secretary to take the
leadership in this forward movement for
the University.
This year Professors Williams, Bruyning
and Thornton are the recent additions to
the faculty. These men come to us herald
ed as masters in their respective fields, and
much is expected of them.
Mr. H. C. Dugas, formerly of Augusta,
Ga., is now business manager of the Uni
versity, and is residing on the campus. His
family, with the exception of three daugh
ters, is here with him. Two of his daugh
ters are at Atlanta and one is at Talladega.
We wish to welcome this family to our
University and school life.