PAGE TWO
THE PILOT
DECEMBER 19, 1961
THE PILOT
Published Monthly by the Students of
Gardner-Webb Colleen
Vol. XVI December 19, 1961
STAFF
Editor
Business Manager
Assistant Business Manager
Sports Editor ..
Staff Writers -
Photographer
Art Editor .
Faculty Advisor ..
Tillie Wilson
Vivian Hamrick
.. ElizsiJbeth Ledbetter
Charles Secrest
.. Mike Cha.mpion, Jo Lee Loveland,
David Moore, Rob Weir
.... Joe Phillips
Jon Ward
Michael H. Palmer
Merry Christmas
Winter's Chill
Stroup Party
Lot Of Fun
“The Pilot” staff wishes everyone — faculty, students,
staff — a very merry Christmas. The traditional phrase
is worn and seemingly trite, but it carries from us to you
with sincerity. We wish for all a safe trip'home and a safe
return — next year. By the way. Happy New Year.
It's The Ssason
There’s no doubt about.it, it’s the Christmas season.
Christmas is revealed everywhere — in the beat of “Jingle
Bells” or in Handel’s “Messiah.” Christmas is heard in the
clanging of'the bells of the sidewalk-Santas or in the majes
tic chimes of a great cathedral. Christmas is seen in the
dazzling colored lights on the Christmas tree or in the spark
of a single dripping candle. Christmas can be tasted in the
' fnaits and nuts of the “stockings hung by the fireplace with
care.” The smells of Christmas are in the branches of frag
rant pine and spruce or in the cranberries simmering on the
stove. Yes, there is Christmas everywhere! Yet all the
familiar signs of Christmas do not make Christmas the day
that it is. What is Christmas really?
Beneath all the festivities and decorations of the Christ
mas season lies one mindful fact — the birth and life of
Christ in all its tragic gk>ry. And because of His birth the
value of our souls has more meaning than any other event
in history. Therefore, Christmas is not something you see
or hear or taste or smell on the outside, it comes from within
with all its ecstasy.
At Christmastime this ecstasy belongs to us when we
celebrate the birth of Christ. In fact, it belongs to us at all
other times of the year. The basis of this ecstasy is faith.
The faith to believe in the ultimate Power. The essential
message of the Christian faith is “take up your cross and
follow Me” even though your steps may falter and the earth
may crumble. Good will prevail.
This is the true meaning of Christmks and the joy that
fills ^ur lives.
Be-eng Collegiate
Today ees the day I am go-eng to Gardner-Webb Col
lege to see my freend who ees there. I am anxious to be
there and sea all this stuff he ees oomplain-eng about Gard
ner-Webb not be-eng collegiate.
Wheen I hafe come, one of the first thengs I do ees go
with heem to chapel. Here ees vera nice place weth good
man speaker. Thees ees way I learn that students are vera
smart. They can do two thengs at one time. While they
are lesten-eng to talker, they are also read-eng a book or efen
sle^-eng. How they can do thees, I do not know.
Eet ees not vei-a much later til I am go-eng to deener
weth my freend. Eferybody ees laugh-eng for to hafe a good
time. Some of theem are throw-eng bread all ofer the room.
Some students are tum-eng all kinds of food in one plate to
make a beeg mess. Others ees beating on plates and tables.
I am wonder-eng eef they are still hungry and would like
some more to eat. Eet ees so bad I must shut my ears.
Wheen we hafe eat deener and my freend has feneshed
go-eng to hees classes, we are go-eng to library Een thees
place ees many books. The peeple are in a beeg room and
ees vera much talk-eng, also once in a while somebody laughs
out loud. At a desk een the meedle ees an almost fight.
Eferbody ees waiting til last day to do outside reeding and
ees want-eng the same reserve book ees what my freend
tell me.
When we oome back to hees room, I ask heem eef thees
ees the way one ees be-eng collegiate but he does not answer
my question.. Maybe eet ees that you could tell me?
Students in Stroup Dormitory-
entertained men residents De
cember 8 with a Christmas party
and tour of the Dorm. To start
the “get-together” rolling, “Mom”
Goodvifin led a troop of men and
women through the halls of the
girls’ dorm to view the door dec
orations. Each door was decorat
ed by the girls occuping the
Following the tour,
Christmas tree decorating project
was staged. Almost everyone had
a hand in stringing lights, twin
ing tinsel, putting on ornaments,
and hanging iciples. The tree,
placed in the center of the parlor,
stood from floor to ceiling.
A variety of music, including
seasonal songs, was furnished by
hi-fi. Games were also played,
including “Cow” and “Slap.”
To keep the Christmas party
traditional, Santa Claus dropped
in to pay his respects. Students
and teachers alike, following the
, pattern of the eager, younger
set, sat on "Ole Santa’s” lap and
told him what they wanted for
Christmas. In brief, little ones
such as “Mom” Goodwin wanted
a fur coat. Miss Copeland asked
for better students, and Mrs.
Poston specified a diamond. Dr.
and Mrs. Poston also followed
another tradition, . after being
caught under the mistletoe.
Refreshments consiste d of
doughnuts and hot chocolate.
Snow covers the ground. Children search for a steep
hill upon which to slide. Their sleds may be brightly colored
with shining runners, or they may be improvised materials
such as trays, washing machine lids, and huge cardboard egg
cartons. Whatever the vehicle, the fun is all the same.
A creek may run at the bottom of the hill offering more
thrills to the happy sledders. One must be able to steer well
or be quick enough to jump off his flying sled before landing
in the sluggish water.
Icicles drip from the eves of houses and from the trees,
sparkling in the sun like a thousand diamonds. One’s breath
freezes in the air.
A leaping fire crackles in the fireplaces. Twilight comes,
bringing with it more snow, softly sifting to the earth.
Children press their noses to the window to view the drifting
flakes.
This is January.
The
President’s
Corner
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when
you hear the word “Christmas”? — Santa Claus, cards,
fruit cake, bells, reindeer, mistletoe, snow, gifts, a baby, shep
herds, Wise Men, God, God with us? If it is possible, each
one of us should re'-examine his life at this time of the year.
There is something about Christmas that gives us an oppor
tunity to look at our lives in the light of eternity.
I have been in the process of re-examining my life for
the past months. At this season I plan to go a little deeper
into my own personality. I must oome face to face with my
self that I might come face to face with God in a deeper way.
Christmas is “God with us.” Is He with us?
Eugene Poston
Travelling With Tillie
By TiUie WUson
.Contributions
Top $2,000
Memorial contributions to
Gardner-Webb College for the
late O. Max Gardner, Jr., of Shel
by, have exceeded the $2,000
mark. Memorials to date for
Gardner were established by 135
individuals and families and
four businesses or groups.
Gardner, benefactor and a
former treasurer of the College,
died Nov. 10, after suffering from
multiple sclerosis for several
years.
Ironically, the Book of Memory
was begun by O. Max Gardner,
Jr., in 1947. He bought the book
and had the names entered in it.
The custom of memorializing
loved ones grew slowly at first,
but in recent years hundreds of
alumni and friends have used
this method of remembering lov
ed ones.
O. Max Gardner, Jr., conceived
the idea for th? Book of Memory
shortly after the death of Am
bassador O. Max Gardner, the
great benefactor for whose fam
ily the College is named. At the
time of the Ambassador’s death,
the family requested that instead
of flowers, donations in his mem
ory be sent to Gardner-Webb
College for the endowment fund.
Now in its fourteenth year, the
Book of Memory contains several
hundred memorials, established
by hundreds of relatives and
friends.
The waves beat upon the rocky
shore, sending a spray of salty •
mist into the tangy air. Auto
mobiles whiz by on the highway
nearby, sometimes hidden by the
giant redwood trees. This is the
greatest fascination of California
'— redwood trees and rolling
The highway leaves the sea
and stretches on through dark
forests. Sunlight filters through
the thickness of the trees and
dapples the road. A damp cool
ness fills the air.
The ageless Sequoias in the na
tional parks stand in grandeur
with General Grant and General
Sherman lords of the forest. Gen
eral Grant, in Kings Canyon
Park, is the second largest tree
in the world. It has a greater cir
cumference than any other, but
relative shortness makes it bow
to Sequioa’s General Sherman,
which is the largest tree in the
world.
ONLY SEQUOIA TREES
This strip of land in California,
where the redwood forests stand,
holds the only Sequoia trees in
the world. These hardy trees have
a tremendous will to live. Their
bark is extremely thick and they
have great recuperative powers
from scars of disease and fire,
which cannot destroy them. The
most fragile parts of these giants
are the roots, which are near the
surface of the earth.
One immense tree lies prostrate
upon the fragrant needles. As it
is hollow, men walk through it
with plenty of head space left
over. Children climb over the
giant, finding footholds in the
knots and imperfections of the
tree. Having at'tained their goal,
they stand surveying the sur
rounding forests in a proud
manner as if they had just scaled
the highest mountain peak.
The sea roars as waves splash
against august black rocks or
bound far up on the short stretch
of sandy beach. Driftwood is hurl
ed upon the shore with every new
surge. One particularly far-reach-
ing wave swirls foamily around
the ankles of a green, unwary
Punchburg Address
by Jerry Punch
Fourscore and seven minutes ago, our roommate, Allen
Proctor, Jr., brought forth upon this person a new argument,
conceived in anger and dedicated to the proposition that I,
Jerry Leroy Punch, shall not play his record player at his
command.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether
his temper or my temper, ^ conceived and so dedicated,
can longest endure.
We here highly resolve that these opponents shall not
hpe feuded in vain; that Punch shall, under God, have a new
birth of freedom, and that the complete and sovereign rule
of Punch, by Punch, for Punch shall not perish from Room
110, Decker.
CORMORANTS
On the coast at La Jolla, cor
morants swoop low over the
waves, obtaining food ■ for their
young, nested in towering cliffs
overlooking the sea. Black wings
glisten in the sunlight. (La Jolla,
California, is the only place in
the United States where the cor
morants raise their young.)
California holds not only the
majestic grandeur of nature, but
also the enormous work of man.
Ten-lane highways provide routes
for bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Gleaming bridges span miles and
miles of water. Huge anchored
ships--sway with the waves.
Buildings tower skyward.
One such building is the El
' Cortez Hotel in San Diego. An in
teresting feature about this par
ticular structure is that one of
the elevators carries its passen
gers up on the outside of the
building. The elevator is made
of glass and the occupants have
an am.azing view of San Diego
as they travel up and down.
A majestic tower rises glow
ing in the setting sun. A little
farther on, a lighthouse sends its
rays over a gradually changing
sea, a beacon for approaching
night.