I
N the days of the Turnerbund's infancy, when its mem-•
ber were fighting an uphill and a losing fight for self- pre ervation in their own country, Jahn's disciples needed no organization to bind them together. The severe per ecution of the government and the dismal out- look on all ides made this little band of heroes stick closely to each other and to think not of their own misfortunes or dangers, but of the needs of their confederates and the la- bors to be performed in the interests of their cause. It is such per everance and co-operation that wins the great battle on the field of progre , and the deeper and more intense the ympathy between the members of the party, the ooner will the victory be realized; the deeper the sym- pathy between these victorious men and the more the flame of love is kindled by association, the longer will the organi- zation be a uccess and the more will it make its power felt among men. This has been the case with the Turners:
who have built up a great institution to provide for the teaching of their doctrines all over the country. They have pushed progre ive mea ures for almost fifty years, and 200 persevered until they were adopted. They have also pushed the Normal College and are now offering the most
great change. Since the introduction of the German sy - tern of physical training into the public schools, the Turner- bund has been augmented by a large number of non-German members. Even those who are being trained to teach it principles are not all German and many of them were not actuated by the underlying principles of the Turnerbund when they decided to take up this work. However, they soon become imbued with the true Turner spirit, especially if they study the history of the N. A. G. U. and its early struggles for existence. They realize that success and the greatest happiness are best attained by concerted action, mutual understanding and a spirit of fraternal altruism.
It was just such a spirit that drew the men of the grad- uating class together in the early winter to provide ways and means of bringing them into closer sympathy with each other. Two of them volunteered each month to entertain the class with a little "Kommers." Ai these little convivial gatherings the fraternal spirit grew and grew and the ambi- tions of each as a member of the class were pushed higher and higher, until the spirit of rivalry was practically wiped out and each member felt the desire to do things for the sake of doing them and not for the personal glory that
class as a whole was greatly benefited, and although a few lost certain advantages thereby, they were the most prom- inent in pushing these reforms. There were also many other things in which the concerted action of the class was manifested, the chief among these being the publishing of an annual. No sooner had the fraternity been organized than the desire for a monument of our happiest, never-to- be-forgotten school days made itself felt. It required but little discussion and persuasion to arouse the entire school to push this project and to do its utmost toward insuring its success. Fencing tournaments, gymnastic and athletic contests, and every other field of activity was recruited to furnish a block for this our future relic of happiness. As our work prog!essed our spirit grew with it, and there was a steady rise as the year drew to a close.
But as the dawn of our career drew nigh and we began to survey our field of activity and the conditions under which we would be obliged to labor, there came a sort of concern for our oneness, an apprehension of dispersion in our ranks and a dread lest we should fall into the footsteps of those who had gone before us. As the social spirit under- lies the advancement of civilization, so active sympathetic friendship must be the chord on which we build our march
of progress. If we are to take only one large stride in advance, we cannot afford to let the natural and healthy strife for perfection in our Turnvereins degenerate into the bitter rivalry and hatred that has been so widely prevalent.
Rather than be carried away by the spirit we meet with, in our societies, let us preserve the spirit of brotherhood which has brought us together in this organization. Let us diffuse it among our charges and teach them that they, too, are brothers in a great cause and are the bone and fibre of the organization for whose success we are all striving.
How often in Turnverein and Turnlehrer has jealousy com- bined to arrest our progress and to wreck lives and careers, is all too evident on the sad pages of history. We will have enough problems to cope with from without, so let us not prolong the strife within our ranks. Let our goal be the more general establishment of this safe, sane and rational system of physical training throughout this great country, and, before we say adieu, let us resolve to stand by one another in times of need, to keep in close touch with one another and to have a general reunion yearly whenever that is possible. Let us show the world what there is in our motto, "FRIENDSHIP HATH POWER." Adieu, brother,
but not farewell. -A. G. A.
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