Page 158 - Neglected Arabia Vol 2

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NEGLECTED ARABIA 11
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The program was as follows:
1. The Poor of Basrah........... Abdul Razaak Arady
(Arabic)
2. The Influence of the Home Selim S. Anaar
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(English)
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3. Poem, “The Curfew Shall Not King Tonight,’
(Arabic) Khedheir Abbas
4. Temperance . Kadhem Mousa
(Arabic) • ;
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5. I’rciiciilulluii of Diploma* by Mr. Vaulina i • 1
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6. Success and Failure... liubceh Emmanuel i
(Arabic) i
7. Farewell ....................... .................Khalil Ibrahim
(Arabic) Representing school boys t i
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8. School Song ............... ..................................Chorus !•
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The diplomas of the school read as follows: ‘‘This is to certify that
.............................. has completed the course of study as prescribed in ;
the curriculum for 1929 and on account of his intellectual attainments * H
slid good conduct is hereby granted this certificate.” This appears on the ;
diploma in Arabic and English. This was read by Mr. Van Ess as each
Ixjy was handed his diploma. Mr. VanEss, speaking to the graduates, 1 •
^id, "I no longer call you ‘my boys’ as I have for so long, but shall hence­ K
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forth call you ‘my comrades’ for you will now go forth living and giving
what we have taught you here in the school.” i-i
These boys leave school equipped not only with an academic knowledge I i
of their studies but go forth equipped with characters that have been ; l
molded during their years in school by constant association with Jesus i
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Christ. From the time they were little boys in the primary department
iu this time of receiving their diplomas they have listened to Jesus speak­
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ing to them for at least a half hour a day five times a week in their Bible l
classes. Four of the boys graduated are Moslem Arabs and three are ! .
native Christians. Although none of the Mohammedan boys has openly » ? 1
confessed Christ, there is evidence that some of them are very close to i »•
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ihe Kingdom. The three Christian boys are of a very high type with H
line Christian characters and were a pleasure to the teachers to graduate. r
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Two of the graduates were not present, due to their being engaged in ^ t
work outside of Basrah. : i
All the graduates have positions except two who will leave for Hope n \
College in July. We experienced no difficulty in placing our boys and i ?:
it gives us no small satisfaction to know they are well-placed and earning i ! :
a good wage. ; I
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Next year an equal number of boys will receive their diplomas. From 1 i :
present indications it will be a fine class with boys of high calibre.
Stretched across so many years the number seems very small yet as these
joys from year to year take their places in the community working at
honorable jobs and living lives of good conduct, there is no reason to doubt IV
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