Georgia:  Elbert County:  Gibson-Mercer Academy Commencement, Bowman, GA, 30 May 1919, Elbertson Star 

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Elberton Ga., Friday, May 30, 1919

Gibson-Mercer in Zenith of its Glory

    If we are to believe current remarks Gibson-Mercer has just closed 
one of the best commencements in her history.  The following is a 
sketch of the exercises.
			
Friday Evening

    On this occasion a most interesting program was rendered by Mrs. 
Thornton's music class.  She has a large class and the manner in which 
the program was rendered showed good work on the part of both pupils 
and the teacher.

Saturday Afternoon

    The Senior Class held their Class Day exercises at 3:30.  On taking 
leave of high school work they bequeathed a rich legacy to their heirs 
in seniority; and if we are to believe the seer of the occasion, each 
is to play an important part on the stage of action in the great drama 
of life. The names of the graduates are as follows:  George Adiar, 
Hannah Brown, Ida Johnson, Gladys Roberts, Vera Roberts, Lucile 
Teasley, Marion Thornton.

Saturday Evening

    This was society night, always an important night with a live 
school.  Along with some music, readings, etc., we had a debate.  The 
subject, Resolved: That Japanese Imigration Should Be Restricted, was 
well handled.  Mr. Swift Vaughter and Mrs. Marion Thornton represented 
the affirmative and Mr. George Adair and Mrs. Eula Seymour represented 
the negative.  The judges were not unanimous, but the decision went to 
the affirmative.  

Sunday Morning

    The Commencement Sermon was preached by Dr. W. L. Culbertson, 
pastor of the First Baptist Church, Commerce, Georgia.  His text was 
John: 12; 24-"Except	a grain of wheat fall to the ground and die, it 
abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."  The theme 
was unfolded from the agricultural point of view, and fairly bristled 
with new thoughts, couched in such language as went strait to the 
hearts of an appreciative audience.  The outline in brief:  
Germination, mortification, disintegration, appropration, assimilation, 
transformation, cultivation, and glorification.  

Sunday Evening

    Dr. Culbertson again preached. It was unique----The sermon---full 
of wit and humor but driving home with the sledgehammer, the great and 
much needed truths of the need of parental authority and employment of 
such things in the home as will make real men and women out of our boys 
and girls instead of letting them to go to wreck and ruin in the 
frivolities of the present age.  He showed the necessity of early 
training in Christian homes and further, the necessity of early 
educational training in Christian schools.  To show that he was right, 
he tested the age of conversion of his audience, and found that a 
overwhelming majority were converted by the time they were fifteen.

    Following the sermon was the delivery of the Diplomas granted by 
the Sunday School Board for the completion of the Sunday School Manual 
in our Bible Course.  The following completed that course: George 
Adair, Hannah Brown, Ida Johnson, Gladys Roberts, Vera Roberts, Lucile 
Teasley, Marion Thornton, Paul Sayer, Willie Kate Daniel, Eula D. 
Seymour, Mazelle Brown, Eloise Bond, Mayhuel Jones, Malvina Vaughn, 
Ruby Pulliam, Lois Seymour, Mattie Brown, Clay Olbon, Mozelle Fleming.

Monday Morning

    The Board of Trustees held annual at 10 o'clock.  Many important 
matters came before them for consideration.  The most important was 
possibly the matter of indebtedness in the past of the school.  It 
doubtless will be a great joy to all friends of the institution to know 
that all debts of the institution have been paid.  Plans have been put 
in operation for the improvements and for a better and greater Gibson-
Mercer in every way.  So, now is the time for all friends of the 
institution to rally its support.  No money put into the institution 
can ever be lost by becoming security for debt.  We must now pay as we 
go.  Dr. Coile, The president of the board, says this is the child of 
the Baptist of this section, and the child needs a new suit of clothes.  
We also need more land and a boys dormitory.  If we had the land, there 
are students begging to work their way through school.  Thus we can 
produce foodstuff enough to almost run the boarding department, and 
thus keep board at a minimum cost for our pupils.

    Another important matter that came before the Board was the work of 
the present year.  We are glad to say that they have expressed 
themselves as highly satisfied with present administration and the 
great increase in attendance.  The board has retained Pres. Lawson E. 
Brown at the head of the institution and he will have associated with 
him a strong faculty.  He retains Dr. John A. Pool as his principal; 
Miss Elizabeth Archer and Mrs. Thornton.  Mrs. Craft leaves us for 
another position and Rev. Fred Tucker leaves us to attend the Southern 
Baptist Theological Seminary this fall.  We have secured in the place 
of Miss Craft, Miss Flora Goss who comes very highly recommended and 
are on the lookout for a good Christian scholar to take Mr. Tuckers 
place.  It is necessary that this teacher be thoroughly capable of 
taking complete control of the athletic and military features of the 
institution.  

Monday Afternoon

    At four o'clock the Mercer booster club met.  This club consist of 
the Mercer Alumni of this section of the state.  The purpose of this 
club is to get squarely behind the movement for a greater Mercer.  
Several important matters came up for discussion, and we think we are 
on the right road to give Mercer greater success and make her really a 
great university.  Rev. Arthur Jackson, Royston is the president of the 
club and Dr. John A. Pool, Bowman, Sect.  These officers would be glad 
to keep in touch with any Mercer men in this section.  This club, while 
in session, pledge their cordial support to the best interest of 
Gibson-Mercer Academy.  

There was also organized a club of Bessie Tift Alumnae, and a club 
composed of those attending this institution either before or after the 
change of its name to Gibson-Mercer.  It is the purpose of these clubs 
to look after the interests of our Baptist schools and the boys and 
girls who should attend them.  Two things will make our schools great:  
first, the trueness of the alumni of these institutions, and then 
general loyalty of the Baptist to their own.

Monday Evening

    This evening was taken up with the play, "Hearts and Diamonds," 
drills, etc.  The pupils impersonating the characters did their 
respective parts well.  Some of them had never appeared on the stage 
before, but the large audience went away highly elated over the success 
of the evening.

Tuesday Evening

    This was a new feature of our commencement exercises, one which we 
hope to make very attractive and profitable.  There was an oratorical 
contest among three boys and also among four girls for simple prizes.  
The successful ones were Thurston Deadwyler and Eva Harris.  But the 
thing was so well done that the judges could not make a unanimous 
decision.  Next session we hope to interest enough of the pupils in 
this kind of work to have a separate exercise each for boys and for the 
girls.  We hope, also, by that time to have some friends of the 
institution to become sufficiently interested in this kind of work to 
offer a medal for boys and for the girls, and let this become a lasting 
feature of the commencement exercises.  There is nothing like being 
able to stand before an audience and intelligently express oneself.  We 
are also working towards making the extemporaneous debate a part of our 
regular exercises.

Tuesday evening

    The graduating exercises on Tuesday evening brought to a close our 
commencement and also to a close what has been in many respects a great 
year for Gibson-Mercer.  The baccalaureate address was delivered by 
Attorney-General Clifford Walker.  He discussed better homes, better 
schools, better roads and a better America, closing with a fine 
peoration on "OldGlory," the United States Flag.  With some 
announcements concerning the summer school for the next session, this 
year of 1919 went into history, and now we turn our faces to the future 
with aspiration, inspiration and hope.

You Baptist

    Just this closing word to the Baptist of this section.  This 
institution is a child of your creation.  It is yours, and upon you 
rests its success or failure.  We need a great many things here, but 
most of all we need your boys and girls, and your prayers that we, 
under God, give them back to you men and women who, intent on the 
right, in the fear of God and the love of Christ, shall correctly shape 
the destiny of home, state and nation.  Talk for us and pray for us, 
then send us a boy or a girl.

			John A. Pool