THE BATTALION
THE LIBRARY PAGE
R. H. SHUFFLER Editor
H. C. GIVENS Asso. Editor
J. R. KEITH Asso. Editor
G. M. WREN Asso. Editor
J. W. RILEY Asso. Editor
Those wishing to contribute to this
page turn work in to any member of
staff, or mail to Editor at 94 Stu
dents’ Exchange.
The following contribution the edi
tor submits to the readers of the Li
brary Page as a fair example of the
type of articles and editorials on
religious subjects often presented
by extreme fundamentalists as per
nicious collegiate cynicism. The writ
er of this bold piece of iconoclasm
takes what seems to the editor to be
a very rational view of a Subject
that is seldom treated rationally,
and expresses^ he believes, a view
point commonly held in the student
body. It is a rather typical example
of the current discussions on the
subject of religion and ethics.
A Students Credo
Yesterday, while strolling about
over the campus, enjoying the in
toxicating and stimulating air of an
approaching Spring and being in a
meditative mood, I was taken with
an announcement on the Denomina
tional Bulletin board that stands
near the student’s exchange. I do
not even recall which church pre
sented it, but it has as it’s theme,
“A Students’ Credo,” under which
were several “I believes,” namely,
“in God, in Jesus Christ, in the' Bible,
in prayer and in moral order.” And
while there was nothing impellingly
original or conducive to spontaneous
thinking about the thing, I decided,
being, as I said, in a meditative
mood, to turn the subject over in my
mind and to earnestly distinguish
my opinions on those several points
and write them down in one short
statement, if possible.
Therefore, instead of taking the
topic as a settled statement I have
added a question mark, for it is
always easier to answer a question
than build up a proof. Naturally, in
the short space available, I cannot
give a detailed or finished answer,
nor am I attacking any belief of
any individuals or group of indi
viduals, for I do believe in religious
freedom.
I believe in God?
Yes, I believe in God, the Force
of Life, the Life Urge, or whatever
it may be that is both living and
dead, but not in God, an individual
who’s eye is farseeing and who’s
control of destiny is an assured pow
er. As God is everything, I am part
of God, and it is My duty to live
Life to the fullest possible extent.
I believe in Jesus Christ?
Yes, as a great humanitarian,
who’s doctrine of Love of Fellow-
man is essentially one of the
idealistic state of social conscious
ness; and as a Son of God, only as
the rest of us are Sons of God.
I believe in the Bible ?
As undoubtedly a magnificent piece
of literature, rich in beautiful poe
try, abounding with common sense
and good ethics, and sonorous in a
powerful history, and possibly the
outstanding book of the Ages, but
it would be beyond reason to accept
every word as literally true.
I believe in Prayer ?
I do not know. Seemingly the
amount of prayer offered up exceeds
die quantity of returns by several
thousand fold. Sometimes I pray,
out not out of fear, and I cannot
rationalize my position in doing so,
and do not try, for it is a psychic
relief at times.
I believe in moral order ?
A very difficult question on ac
count of the twisted and hollow in
terpretation of “moral order.” Mor
ality within reason is my belief,
though I do not adhere to my prin
ciples at all times. Every individual
has the right to do in private life
as he wishes, as long as he does
not interfere “within reason” with
jther individuals. Of course, if they
purposely get in his way, he is jus
tified in disregarding them.
Now having answered the 'ques-
dons I will add that not one of them
is a fundamental basis in my life,
except perhaps the last. My religion
is essentially one of Living, a phil
osophy of Life, and might well be
summed up in the words of Swin-
ourne. “This thing is God: To be
man with thy might, to grow
straight in the strength of thy spirit,
and live out thy life as thy light.”
And I believe that Jesus Christ said
the same thing.—-Contributor.
Not so very long ago one of the
members of our staff, as well as
one of the most frequent contribu
tors to this page, left our merry
crew to saunter forth into the Philis
tine wilderness of Houston and San
Antonio and points North, South,
East and West, there to wrench from
the soil or its occupants a livlihood.
Since most of the readers of this
page have become familiar with the
verse porduced from time to time
by Mr. Wrenn, you will probably be
interested in noting the effect
wrought in his attitude by his con
tact with the cruel world, if any be
apparent. We have this week two
samples of his verse, sti’aight fi'om
the battlefield.
MOVING ON
Where is the creak my new shoes
had?
Mixed with the dust of the streets
my lad.
And where is the jingle I had in my
pants ?
Into the hands of the “sorry I cants.”
And where is my “shine,” my trous
er’s crease,
My overcoat, and my new valise ?
I stopped one day at a “joint” to
eat,
To rest my tired and aching feet.
My hat walked on with the surging
mob.
Another tired bum in need of a job.
The cops sing .sweetly, “Move on,
move ON!”
A furtive shadow, a patter, I’m gone.
A bum on the move, a pavement
pounder.
A filthy brute, a dirty bounder.
Well walk with me for a day or so.
You that ride in your big cars slow,
And you shall see that the winter
wind
Is never so cold as the stares of
men.
You shall see how they turn and
sneer.
You shall see’ and you shall hear
Why I keep moving, shuffling on.
A furtive shadow, a patter, and
gone.
—Geo. M. Wrenn.
LONELY MEMORIES
When the city sleeps and the street
cars
Rattle to rest in the “Barns,”
When the raucaus calls of a “New-
sie”
Tells tomorrow’s murder yarns,
When the city sleeps and I
Toss tiredly in my bed,
Softly a phantom memory
Floats in my weary head.
A gnawing pain from the past,
As saddened memories creep,
Then the ache you cause is deadened.
Drowned in a tired man’s sleep.
— Geo. M. Wrenn.
CADETS WILL PERFORM
< Continued from Page 1)
■
f An. immense crowd will assemble
on the campus in those three days
estimates of which run from twenty-
five to fifty thousand people. One
purpose of the convention will be to
give visitors a first-hand inspection
of the college, its departments and
activities. Undoubtedly 'the school
will derive much good from the in
spection.
The pageant on the night of Mon
day, May 5th., will be the high point
of entertainment for the convention.
Sixty-seven counties of this division
of Texas will each be presented at
the pageant by a princess. The
Queen of East Texas will preside
over her court of princesses (who
will be escorted by A. and M. cadets.
Here is a chance for some of our
handsome modern warriors to be
come brave medieval knights.)
Hundreds of persons will participate
in the gorgeous affair. Further par
ticulars and a resume of the program
to be carried out in the pageant will
appear in a later issue.
Everythig possible will be done to
entertain the visitors during their
.^stay. One of the principal accomo-
dat ons will be a'caravan of busses
which will travel continually between
college and Bryan to facilitate trans
portation during the three days.
A program of the events of each
day, a resume of the pageant, and
further particulars concerning the
convention will appear in a later is
sue of the Bat.
It wasttt\nc\t
r jnHE Y say Jim Lee s
been lucky . . ivith
240 acres of the best
land around here. But
1 can remember just
a little while back
when they said he was
crazy . . paying a lot
of money for purebred
bulls and such before
he even had his farm
paid for.
V V V
“I remember when he
first started feeding a
balanced ration . . .
about 10 years ago.
People said that high
feed would break him up.
“Jim still feeds that
same checkerboard
feed. He told me yes
terday it was one of the
things that had helped
him pay for his farm.
“He feeds Purina
GheckerboardGhows to
every head of stock on
his place.
“Look at that farm.
Look how it’s built up.
Good improvements.
Good fences. It wasn’t
luck. Jim looked ahead
10 years ago. No wonder
he still believes in Purina
Checkerboard Chows. ”
PURINA MILLS, 959 Gratiot Street, St. Louis, Mo.
PURINAfEjCHOWS
POULTRY . . . COWS STEERS . . . SHEEP
CALVES . . . HOGS . . . HORSES . . .