1897

We who were not able to attend the 65th reunion of our class wish to express our love and devotion to the memory of Doctor Tucker as expressed below in the prayer by our classmate Watson at the memorial service at Doctor Tucker’s grave last June.

In a certain way Doctor Tucker seemed a particular part of our class. Not in the way of showing special favors for our class, but because he and ’97 began their college work at the same time. 1897 was the first class to matriculate at Dartmouth at the very beginning of Doctor Tucker’s administration.

From the beginning of his administration, down to and far beyond the moment he challenged our class to go out “and let the world know your presence and feel your power,” Doctor Tucker has lived in the hearts and in the devoted memory of every ’97 man.

Such great souls never die, their deeds and works are perpetuated in the lives of other men. So would we of ’97 perpetuate the memory of the one we love.

Following is the prayer given at Doctor Tucker’s grave when our three classmates at reunion Jay Brown, Carroll Morse, and Albert Watson made a special pilgrimage to that hallowed spot:

O thou eternal One with whom a thou- sand years are as a day when it is past or a watch in the night, we thank Thee for the flood of precious memories that fill our minds and hearts as we stand before this hallowed grave. We thank Thee for all the inspiration and vision received from this great soul.

We humbly acknowledge our failure to live up to the high ideal he set before us, but rejoice that there is forgiveness with him. We are grateful for his trust in us which he steadfastly refused to relinquish and his challenging words: “Keep your- selves unspotted from the world, but rest not content with that. Let the world know your presence and feel your power.”

We pray for our classmates unable to join us in person but who in thought and loving gratitude are with us here today. Out of Thine infinite resources grant to each of them all needful grace to meet any difficul- ties that may arise and courage born of faith to face the unknown future unafraid.

For all Thy saints who from their labors rest,

Who Thee by faith before the world con- fessed

Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest. O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old And win them the victor’s crown of gold.

In the name of Christ, Amen.

At the ’97 reunion greetings by letter were received from Mary-Frances Bacon James, daughter of Arthur Bacon. She espe- cially recalled the 30th reunion of the Class in 1927 when a Bacon family reunion also took place in Hanover. Mary-Frances, who was with the Mary Hitchcock Hospital for seven years, is the wife of Bob James ’33 and lives in Glenn Mills, Pa,

Class Notes Editor 52 Williams St., Rutland, Vt.