The Class of 1911 was composed of six people. In the July 1911 issue of The King's Business, p. 154, a photo of the six graduates appears. "These have completed the required course of study in the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. The Commencement exercises were held in the Assembly Hall of the Institute, 260-264 South Main Street, on Wednesday afternoon, June 14th."
Class Members
Commencement Service
The July 1911 issue of the King's Business reports the commencement service in this way (p. 171): http://www2.biola.edu/kingsbusiness/view/2/7/28
At this commencement time we are glad to note the graduation class, which we feel assured will mean much for good for our city and perhaps the regions beyond.
The Bible Institute today, June 14, gave diplomas to six students who had met the requirements of the thorough two years' course in Bible training prescribed by the Faculty of the Institute.
The exercises were exceedingly interesting and the students, each of whom gave a short exposition of Scripture, proved their right of title by a clear, forceful presentation of truth from the text they had chosen.
Dr. McAfee of Berkeley declared they should be accorded the degree of B. E. (Bible Experts). Rev. A. B. Prichard, the vice-president of the Institute, in his short charge to the graduates, urged them to remember they were commencing, not graduating, in this great work of Bible study. He suggested they were to do four things faithfully: Go --Tell --Live --Pray, each of th e four very necessary to every other. He told of a woman who constantly referred to her long course of preparation in an Eastern Bible school and yet had done nothing but teach a small Sunday school class for full eleven years, always proposing to do, never doing.
The diplomas were presented by Rev. R. A. Hadden in a happy way and the floral offerings completed the joyous exercise. Pastor F. E. Marsh, of Bristol, England, gave a short felicitous address of commendation and encouragement. The music was furnished by the students, many of whom have decided talent.
The Institute is to be congratulated on this, its first graduating class, the personnel of which gives fair promise of earnest, intelligent, effective work for the betterment of human kind, and the glory of the Master.
The only note of regret on this happy occasion was the unavoidable absence of the much loved president of the Institute, Mr. Lyman Stewart, who had fully expected to present the diplomas himself. His absence was severely deplored, bo th by the students and the friends of the Institute who were present at the exercise. Following are the names of the graduates: Miss Helen Day, Miss Helen Smith, Mr. Thomas Hannay, Jr., Andrew Johnson, Paul F. Ruske and Elliott H. Barrett.