May 2016 History Spotlight: Alma Mater

Colleges, the tradition goes, are supposed to have songs.

Sometime in 1941 (“or thereabouts,” says our source), King’s was preparing to graduate its first class of seniors, and it came to someone’s attention that King’s did not have an alma mater—a song expressing the uniqueness of the home institution and the community’s loyalty to it. The registrar at that time was R. Fenton Duvall, Percy Crawford’s brother-in-law, but his title was perhaps a misnomer because in the words of those who knew him, “He was the school.” For the first eighteen years of the College’s existence, Percy lived in Philadelphia, visiting once a week while focusing the bulk of his energies on his radio ministry. So the school’s daily operations were largely left to Duvall—known as Fenny—who was a loyal and capable administrator, much loved by the students.

Duvall, then, took responsibility for getting an alma mater written. He approached Marjorie Absalom (now Linton), class of ’42, an English major, and asked her if she would write one. Her song, set to Sibelius’s Finlandia theme, was accepted and sung at the first graduation.

Ms. Linton told the following story about how she chose the tune (which doubles as the hymn “Be Still My Soul”):

“The possibilities for dating in ’38 were more than slim. Going for a walk was the usual. The big one was the Spring Banquet, [later] to become an annual event of great importance. But there was an intermediate event which we loved. In nearby Asbury Park, on the boardwalk, there was a large convention hall extending out over the ocean. Every Saturday night during warm months, there was a FREE pipe organ concert in the convention hall, billed as ‘Scottie at the organ.’ A huge deal. If we could get a date and somehow a ride into town, we loved the music and especially his standard opening…Finlandia!! It got to be kind of our song. None of the later students related to it much, but it remained there in our sentimental background memories for a lot of us.”

Fast forward now to 2016. The alma mater will be sung at Commencement for the first time since the college reopened in 1999 (and possibly longer). “We are thrilled to reintroduce the alma mater as an important tradition at The King’s College. This song both honors The King’s College and gives thanks to God for allowing us to serve Him through this school,” Vice President Kimberly Thornbury said.

In honor of its reintroduction and of the school’s New York City location and mission, the alma mater is getting a second tune and an additional verse, both composed by Dr. Mark Hijleh, the College’s Vice President for Academic Affairs, who is a trained composer. “It is an honor for me to serve The King’s College by contributing something to the legacy of its Alma Mater,” said Hijleh. The new tune will provide an alternative to, not a replacement for, the old; it is quite common in institutional practice for colleges to maintain multiple alma mater tunes for use as suits the occasion.

The combined old and new lyrics are below:

’Tis not by gain of wealth of earthly treasure
Shall King’s be known; to these things be the praise
But we will give all thanks to God, our Father,
Who ever loves, protects and guides our ways.
And we His children hail our Alma Mater
Purple and White, her royal color raise.

Now in the City shines her holy witness,
Reason and faith in all encouraging;
Passion for truth across the generations,
Ever she stands for wisdom’s flourishing.
In royal radiance, faithful to her mission,
By grace of God His purpose furthering!

So to our school, though humbler her beginning,
Bound close in Christian love to her, we bring
Our pledge of loyalty and prayerful memories,
Pride ever strong in hearts that grateful sing,
Proclaiming victory o’er cares that press her,
Triumphant hail the College of The King!

– Marjorie Absalom Linton ’42 and Mark Hijleh, Vice President for Academic Affairs

As for the new tune…we can’t give away all the secrets in advance, but there are two ways to hear it. The first, of course, is to come to Commencement on May 7. If that’s impossible, you can also stay tuned on the alumni Facebook page for a choral recording of the new tune, which is currently being planned.

Here on campus, we are looking forward to singing again.