SOUTHWESTERN
STUDENT CONFERENCE
PROF. R. O. ALLEN TELLS OF THE
NOTED GATHERING IN AR
KANSAS LAST SUMMER.
A. & M. QUARTET WAS THERE
“The Southwestern Student Y. M.
C. A. Conference held at Monte Ne,
Ark, last June, was a great meeting
in more respects than one. It was
great in the wonderful natural heauty
and: perfect climate of the place; it
was great in the contagious and irre
sistible feeling of fellowship and
brotherhood which permeated the
very atmosphere; it was great in the
power of the leaders and the mes
sages they brought; it was great by
reason of the presence of the Spirit
unifying and inspiring everything and
everybody. This writer never before
experienced anything quite so pleas
ing, helpful and uplifting. From start
to finish, the whole conference was
on a mountain top in more senses
than one.
“Within the limits of this article,
one can scarcely speak of the pro
gram of studies and of the different
teachers and speakers. It was all a
rich bill of fare. Dr. George Truett
was there, a tower of strength, an
impelling force for righteousness, a
great, magnetic, consecrated person
ality irresisistible in his appeal for
nobler living. Dr. O. E. Brown, Dr.
Traywick, Dr. Henry Iraels, and yet
others, all men great of mind and
heart, were there to lead the study
groups and to impress upon the con
ference high ideals and great pur
poses. So sane, so worthy, so single
was the spirit of the whole confer
ence that rarely did a speaker fall
short of a great message.
“Of the special features of the con
ference, perhaps the twilight service
and the morning watch were the most
notable. Each evening as the sunset
splendor gradually faded from the
mountain tops and cool shadows
thickened upon the lawn, we sat on
the grass under the stars and sang
and prayed and bore testimony or
listened to the heart-to-heart message
of the leader for the evening’s devo
tion. At these quiet hours, sky and
hill top seemed almost to touch,
while the Divine Presence came
down to meet the hearts of men striv
ing upward. The morning watch was
the time for personal devotion, the
time for communing with one’s self,
the time for gaining, through contem
plation and study, strength and poise
for the day. In the cooling freshness
of the new day, as the silver-gray of
morning melted into pearl and gold,
an early riser could have seen here
and there a man sitting by the door
post of the lodge, book in hand, or
with measured tread walking the
graveled road across the hill top.
Each had his favorite spot and his
own way of spending this half hour,
but all agreed that the morning
watch, begun as an experiment, soon
became a privilege and a habit from
which a new source of strength was
opened.
; “The reader must not get the idea
that the whole time was spent in
study and religious observances. The
afternoons were given over to everj'
form of manly sport and exercise.
White River with its wonderful pali
sades and its clear waters was only
a mile or two away. Here we fished
and went swimming. There were
caves to explore, famous orchards
and vineyards to visit, and long
tramps to take over well kept gravel
ed roads—the Ozark Trail is famous
—or one might lose himself in miles
and miles of primeval woods. The
various college sports were well pro
vided for, and there were spirited
contests in baseball, volleyball, bas
ketball, tennis and a regular track
meet.
“This sketch would be incomplete
without some special mention of the
Texas A. & M. College delegation and
the part they took in the conference.
The delegation was in every way a
worthy representation of the college,
and the A. & M. quartet sang itself
into the hearts of the whole confer
ence. No other single feature con
tributed so much to the success ol
the convention; no other group of
men became so well and so favorably
known to the conference. During the
whole ten days this quartet sang sev
eral times daily; yet they could never
quite satisfy their delighted hearers.
Case seemed always at his best; and
in the open-air auditorium or on the
mountain top as we sat in the even
ing shadows, under the open sky, the
wonderful richness and sweetness of
his voice filled and thrilled every
heart. The other men—Steger, Bres-
ler and Gray—were less only by com
parison; and to say they were “less,”
when each was so excellent, seems
too near disparagement. That the
A. & M. quartet won golden opinions
for themselves and reflected great
credit on the institution they repre
sented at Monte Ne, is putting the
matter modestly; and that the other
delegates—“Red” Allen, Col. Hogue
and the rest—did their share in up
holding the honor of the A. & M., is
just as true. It is but merited recog
nition to say that Secretary Steger
was one of the best loved men in the
whole conference. He was every
where, in a kindly, sympathetic way,
whenever a man was needed. He
showed himself a leader who men
delight to follow. The writer can
never forget his own pleasant asso
ciations with these A. & M. men at
Monte Ne.
“Men, if you want a perfect outing,
if you want to know the bonds of
fellowship, if you want to find your
own best self, if you want the time
of your life, try to break into such a
conference as the one at Monte Ne
was.” PROF. R. O. ALLEN.
Those grease spots easily removed
with some of Charlie Nitch’s clothes
cleaner.
Let us supply your materials for Club Feeds.
“EVERYTHING TO EAT” AT
HARDY NEWTON’S STORE
GROCERIES — Staple and Fancy
Phone us your wants. We handle nothing
but the best. Always on hand—an up-to-
date line of Toilet Articles and Stationery.
W. G. BOYETT
The Campus Grqcer
It is our business to take care of your desires.
A large assortment of fresh Confections,
Tobaccos and Cigars.
THE CAMPUS CONFECTIONERY
The Quality House
Solicits the banking business of the cadets and
all the other A. & M. folks
The First State Bank and
Trust Company of
Bryan