Page 2 THE DIALETTE THE EVERLASTING SPIRIT The beginnings of our nation are rooted in the promise, the faith, and the assurance given people by the everlasting Spirit of Christmas. It is a beautiful sentiment. It is a beautiful faith. It is the trusting, the strong faith of a child. Whether in time of \var or in time of peace, whether it be a period of happiness or a period of strife, Christmas comes as the years come. Not in modern times has there been greater reason for rejoicing than now. The world is not lost. It was saved two thousand years ago in Bethlehem. And so our faith in the Spirit of Christmas does not falter, and our souls may join with the Heavenly Hosts in singing the joyful hallelujahs. —Adapted from a dissertation in Titmus Tidings MORTALS AND ANGELS Funny things happen around Montreat at Christmas time. Your bed is sud&nly made up (for the first time) as if by magic. Your floor is swept, and trash is put into the trash can instead of under the rug and, lo and behold, you can find things again because your dresser and desk have been cleaned off for you. Then you might find a chocolate bar and a coca-cola by your bedside at night. There are angels at work, and I don’t mean just any angels. These are Montreat angels, and each one has a mortal, for whom she goes about doing secret good deeds. The nicest thing about the beautiful old tradition of angels and mortals at Montreat is that everyone is an angel, and every one is a mortal, representing the joy of giving and receiving at the most joyous of all seasons. It creates a loving Christmas atmosphere. We aU met and drew names in the lobbies. The person, whose name you draw, is your mortal and you are her angel. For several weeks before Christmas, nice things are happening to you unexpectedly, for you too, have an angel. The fun comes in keeping yourself secret from your mortal. Finally, on the night before the Christmas hohdays, all angels are to be re vealed. It will be surprising and somewhat touching. It is all a merry mess and wonderful for keeping alive the spirit of Christmas. —Ruth C. White. Scope of the World While most of us were in class one day in mid October, I dare say that we should have been be side our radios listening to the message the President of the Unit ed States was delivering in Chapel Hill. President Kennedy was to receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of North Carolina, but also he was to deliver the major address at the annual University Day. It is this address that we should have heard, for it was delivered to each of us, the college students of the day. The speech did not concern for eign affairs, nuclear tests, the Berlin crisis, Cuba or any other removed subject. It concerned us and that priceless opportunity which we have at this moment to advance ourselves to places of es teem in our communities and na tion. Today to be admitted to col- ABINGDON HOLDS RETREAT The Abingdon Presbytery, which is in the Synod of Appalachia, in Virginia held their annual officers’ training retreat at Montreat on November 18, 19. They attended classes on the work of the five commission chairman, — Faith, Witness, Outreach, Citizenship, and Fellowship and on that of the four executive offices—president, vice- president, secretary, and treasurer and a class for adult advisors. The groups had a vesper and commun ion service on Saturday night, fol lowing a film in Anderson Audi torium. Sunday morning the groups had a song service and a talk from a missionary with ad journment at 12:30. There were about 180 youth attending the con ference. lege is an honor. But we, as Am erican students, have failed to real ize this and we tend to use these four years as an escape from re sponsibility and reality. In other countries a college degree means much. For example, in Belgium the college graduate has three votes in an election as compared with the non-college graduate who has one. Does this fact alone not motivate us, the students of Mon- treat-Anderson College, to think seriously about our purpose here and the time that we are using and wasting? President Kennedy tells us that foreign affairs are of con cern, but he is also concerned about the seriousness of education on the college and university campus. He praised the state of North Car olina for its high educational stand ards, but he left room also for us to advance to even higher stand ards. Will we continue to be con tent or will we wake up and take advantage of the resources at hand, and realize our responsibili ties to ourselves and to others? —Ann Poe. MISS DECEMBER— (From P. 1) soon she was in the full swing of the Montreat spirit. Becky has held several offices these two years at Montreat and is now vice-president of the Stu dent Christian Association. Becky’s home is in Marion, North Carolina, where she is a member of the First Presbyterian Church. In high school she was well known, and she liked and held such jobs as editor of the school paper, show ing herself as both able and re sponsible. Becky made her debut in 1960, when she was presented at the Debutante Ball in Shelby, N. C. She plans to continue her edu cation next year, when she will be majoring in sociology. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor: I have found it hard to become homesick here at Montreat during this Christmas season, mainly be cause of the warm Christian spirit and friendliness that seems to sur round the campus. I truly am thankful for this time of year and would like to take this opportuni ty to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! —Jim Jettner. Dear Editor: I think we should all become ac quainted with some of the interest ing people around Montreat, and perhaps have an article occasional ly about them. The very “cream of the crop” of the Presbyterian Church who live in or visit Mon treat sometime during the year. For instance how many people know wonderful Mrs. Grier, who is 92 years old, and served as a missionary in China for forty years? You wouldn’t believe some of the experiences she had while doing God’s work in the interior of that heathen country. She is Miss Lucy’s mother and she loves young people. Then there are scores of missionaries all over the place, either on furlough or re tired. The Gartrells, for instance, have been in the States on fur lough since May, from Brazil, and are fascinating people to talk to. They have five children, who can speak Portuguese like true Brazil ians, even the little ones. And of course we should all know the Thielmans, the Bells, and the fam ous Grahams. These hills are just filled with the most exciting char acters imaginable. I have met a few of them and have been thor oughly entranced. I urge our read ers to get acquainted with our neighbors. It is a blessing and an inspiration just to hear them talk. —Ruth C. White. BUSINESS CLUB The Business Club met recently to elect officers for 1961-1962. The officers elected are: president, Jim Nance; vice-president, Judy Atkinson; secretary, Delores Per ry; treasurer, Gail Erskine; re porter, Carl D. Hash. The advisor of the club is Mrs. Woody. The club decided to become an active member in the FBLA (Fu ture Business Leaders of Ameri ca). It will present several as sembly programs this year, which will include talks by several out standing business executives and a program in which the members participate themselves. The club further decided to keep an attrac tive bulletin board with news of interest to the entire student body. The club is still open for mem bership. Boys are especially urged to join. Dear Editor: Montreat-Anderson College is an excellent college and has a faculty of wonderful Christians guiding it. Many of the Montreat students personally know Jesus Christ and are searching to know and love Him better. However, the spiritual power that could prevail at Mon treat is not able to. We, the stu dents, have failed to stand with Jesus constantly thus far at col lege, doubting our Lord and be coming very liberal and compla cent in our Christian life. We who are saved have a great responsibil ity to be true to our calling in Christ. Many times we act just like the lost people that come to school here. Editor, why can’t we, the Chris tians, become lost in Christ so com pletely that the lost of the world might find the Saviour and Salva tion so dear to us? J. E. A S T U D E N Although the chief goal of a person who has found Christ per sonally is to want others to know such a wonderful Savior, I wonder if the Christian shouldn’t take a closer look at himself. I’ve heard people say so often, “I can’t pos sibly see how that person claims to be a Christian.” . Christians, I’m writing this article to you—and myself. Quoting from an inspira tional message, “You cannot bring others any closer to God than you are.” Observing the people on the campus who are so eager to go shout the fact—“Look at me! I’m a Christian, I know everything there is to know about God. Come to me for advice and I’ll help you.” I have only this to say: Our lives should so radiate the love of Christ that we do not have to tell others, for our lives will show it. “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.” Matt. 6:16. Drama From The Couriroom Are there any potential lawyers in our midst? Are there those who are fascinated by courts of justice and court procedure? What happens in a courtroom can be and often is dramatic and compelling. What happens in a courtroom of ten captures the attention of a na tion or of the world. In NINE FAMOUS TRIALS John Evarts Tracy, a distinguished mem ber of the bar who grew up in Tennessee, recounts these trials with all their excitement, their pre cedent-setting importance, and their human interest. Tracy in cludes the little details and aspects so often over looked. The trials of well known and lesser known personalities are in cluded; yet each trial, each verdict is one which left a profound im pression on those who make and interpret laws. The trial of Aaron Burr, the impeachment and trial of Andrew Johnson, president of the United States, the trial of Mary Queen of Scots and such lit tle known people as “sailors at sea,” Arthur the Miller, and Anns- ley are typical of the trials Mr. Tracy discusses. “At once instructive and enter taining, NINE FAMOUS TRIALS is a dramatic account of moments when a man’s life—or fortune, or reputation—hung literally in the balance . . . when there was no sound in the world more ominous than . . . the simple falling of a gavel.” T SPEAKS Don’t misunderstand me; I, too, want to see others find the joy of knowing Christ personally, but many times, by setting ourselves on a pedestal, we drive people away from Him. Shoving it down peo ple’s throat is no good. They want to see something real, not just words. “Actions speak louder than words.” How often has someone seen Christ so evident in your life that he has come to you and want ed to know the secret of your hap py life? We do have a secret for controlling our temper, being hap py, having complete peace, and loving others. Each time we lose our temper, are “down in the dumps,” are critical of others, and many little things, we fail the Lord in our Christian life’s wit ness. These things are human and the only way we can overcome them is through Christ. “I can do all things thru Christ who strength- enth me”. Phil. 4:13. Let’s im prove our own Christian life. Let’s keep Christ on the pedestal, not self! —By Anne Gilliland. Official Publication of MONTREAT-ANDERSON COLLEGE VOLUME 5 NUMBER 4 DECEMBER, 1961 Published monthly except June, July, Aug. by Student (jovernment Association of Montreat-Anderson College. SECOND-CLASS PRIVILEGES AUTHORIZED AT MONTREAT, N. C. Editor Judy Wildermuth Assistant Editor ....Warren Coker Business Manager— Mary Frances Hendley Advertising Manager— Barbara Pound Assistant Advertising Manager— Gipsy Bevins, Carl Hash Circulation Manager....Ruth White Layout Manager....Martha Johnston Feature Editor Sandra Dickens News Editor Waldo Miller Sports Editor Ronnie Morris Photographer Steve Harkins Reporters: Ann Jolley, Judy Nave, Mary Alice Payseur, Ann Poe, and Margaret Dodd. Typists: Gail Byrd, Ann Jolley, Gloria Leach, Jo Bost, Myra Col lins and Polly Garten. Faculty Adviser: Miss Carol Wil liams. (The Editorial policies of this paper are not necessarily the views of the students at large. All un signed editorials are written by the editor.) *