Editorial: Commentary
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Montreat-Anderson is a "Christian liberal arts" college, an interesting enough fact in
itself. It suggests several questions worth asking and attempting to answer. Where is the
line drawn between worldly concerns and the church? Should there be visible signs of
Christianity on the Montreat ? Who comes here as students? Lastly, what are the
advantages peculiar to a church-related college like ours?
Let's begin by dealing with the first question. It's difficult to assess where the secular
ends and the sacred begins at MAC. Actually, the two areas frequently impinge on one
another. Some persons at this school possibly treat every aspect of campus life as touched
by the spiritual. Others, who feel strongly in another direction, might regard all religion
as hypocrisy and hokum and say so. Both types of people generally practice the hard sell
and try to persuade others to their way of thinking. As a result, opposites may meet and
attract or clash. Because the Christian espouses and the atheist crusades are at such
extremes, they converge at the center.
We must conclude it's hard to say where the Montreat church ends and the other phases
of life begin. However, you will please note that Montreat-Anderson College is not
so hypocritical as to advertise falsely. The road sign in Black Mountain indicates
Montreat-Anderson is two miles away rather than the City of God. Don't expect everyone
here to be ready for canonization. No, one does not genuflect upon entering a
classroom. How much should Christianity be manifested at Montreat?
Not everyone that applies and is accepted for our school intiie valley has a firm
religious commitment. That's all right. Wavering is permitted, if not encouraged. But,
interested parties may want to look around for signs of the Christian presence. Certainly,
one indication isn't the stone chapel. There are many other similar buildings in the world
at large. Nor is the statement that we are all members of the SCA proof of piety. That
may or may not be an expression of noble sentiment. Not to blaspheme, mind you, but why
don't we make every student a member of the SAW (Student Atheist Wing) as well as
the formerly mentioned group? Then, one can choose which organization he desires to
take an active part in.
For Montreat-Anderson draws a variety of students. Looking only at geographical
distribution, we can see this. Obviously, people from such a wide area have diverse
backgrounds, regardless of where they come from or where they're going. To a four year
college, presumably. This is their immediate concern. No one earns a visa to heaven with
seats down in front because he happens to attend this particular college. So, no advantage
is gained in the after-life investment area.
What are the benefits? We need mention only one. It suffices and gives MAC a true
"raison d''etre." A squat-bodied, pug-nosed Greek is credited with saying it. "The
unexamined life is not worthMiving." Thank you, Socrates. You're MACs ablest
apologist. Montreat-Anderson can serve as a place of self-examination.
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by John Mullins
Each of us should mark the dates of
November 17-19 on our calendar of events
to look forward to. These are the dates
when five students from Union Theological
Seminary in Richmond, Virginia, will be
on our campus. They will live in the dorms
and eat in our cafeteria and actually become
Montreat students for three days.
The team will begin by heading the
Sunday morning worship service.
Monday, and Tuesday nights, they will
hold a coffee house type affair with group
discussion and conversation with our
students in the S. U. Monday and Tuesday
chapel periods are on a voluntary basis
when these five students will have the
programs. These are to include personal
experiences and panel discussions. Since the
Union group will stay in the dorms, they also
hope to meet with groups or individuals for
late-night discussions.
The students coming here are Charles
Raynal, Benjamin Kirkland, Sam Shumate,
Doris Harwell, and Jackie Richards. The
SCA will sponsor the program. Mr. and
Mrs. Mitchell and Mr. and Mrs. Kercher
are faculty advisors and Nancy Carlton is
FVogram Chairman. Meg Grote is publicity
chairman, and Stebie Wells and Danny Dixon
are the chairmen of the Entertainment
Committee.
Other members of these committees are
Martha Groseclose, Al Wilson, fbm Whitelock
Charlie Lance, Greg Boyer, David Walters,
Willie Faires, Linda Edwards, Beverly Hill.,
Sue Witmer, Fbm Mayo, John Mullins, Doug
Matz, Carol Winkler, Nancy Finley, Curtis
Brooks, and Nancy ,DuFliy.
Look for next week's follow-up article
for further details about the time and place
of various events. Also, see the next issue
for more on "Five Saintly Sinners."
Montreat-Anderson's leading organization,
membership wise, is the Drama Club. The
Club advisors are Mr. and Mrs. Mark Steil.
They both are former MAC students and were
in drama productions. Mrs. Steil has been in
summer stock since she war 7. Her husband
has been in a number of plays.
This year the club will get underway with
three one act plays scheduled. They are:
"If Men Played Cards as Women Do, " "The
Dear Departed, " "Passion, Poison, and
Ftetrifaction cr the Fatal Gazogene."
The Drama Club's newly chosen name is
the Greybeard Players. Casts for the initial
plays include the following: Sam Fields,
Dave Shafferman, Bill Howell, Jeff Garner,
Rick Smith, Jim Sutton, Wayne Tarrant,
Doug Matze, Cheryl England, Beverly Hill,
Nancy Crooks, Laura Hall, Caroline
McDonald, and Kathie Schob.