The Spicer College Song

(Gordon E. Christo)

The first performance of the Spicer College Song in public was by the eleven students of the graduating class at the commencement ceremony in Krishnarajapuram on Sunday, March 17, 1940. The voices of the congregation swelled as they joined in the singing of the “new College Song.” Prof Erwin J Henning, the writer of the words led the singing and his wife accompanied them on the piano. (Eastern Tidings, April 1, 1940, 4).

 

 

        SPICER COLLEGE SONG 

        (Words by E. J. Henning; music by Mrs. Don Spillman)

        --as in Eastern Tidings, Sept 1, 1940, 3)

 

            1. In the golden land of India is our school we love so well,

            With her teachers true, and her students too,

            Who a song of praise do swell;

            'Tis a school of God's own planning, filled with youth who all proclaim,

            As a gleam of light, in the heathen dark'ning night,

            The glories of God's name.

 

       CHORUS

Spicer College, Alma Mater, we unite in praise of thee,

With the gospel light, in the cause of right,

We'll march on to victory;

Ever loyal, ever earnest, we will press on to the end;

To our goal be true, we will honour you,

And thy bright name defend.

 

2. From the snowy capped Himalayas, from the sunny, fronded plain,

From the happy land of the Burma strand coastal sand,

We have gathered in God's name;

To the clarion call to service we have yielded of our all,

To be trained to go, to be taught to show,

God's love to great and small.

3. Though we come from different peoples, though each speaks a different tongue,

Yet as one we stand in a Christian band

Representing fields far flung;

For the love of God unites us, and to speed His work our plan,

So that soon each clime hears the news sublime

Of the love of God toward man.

 

 

The Composers

 

Erwin Henning held an MA in maths and science. In 1935 while teaching at the Los Angeles Adventist Academy, he accepted a call to teach maths and science at Vincent Hill School in Mussoorie, India. However, before leaving the US the Hennings were informed that the position at VHS had been filled, and that instead they were wanted at the South India Training School in Krishnarajapuram. This junior college had no science or maths courses as yet. Henning proceeded and started working on building a chemistry lab, having to fabricate much of the equipment. He also set up a radio repair industry for the college, and served as a resource person for photography and moving pictures. Mrs Henning was appointed supervisor/head in the normal (education) department, and also taught English. She was given charge of all the music classes.

 

No doubt the Hennings were acquainted with the Spillmans, also from California, and were responsible for getting Lillian to compose the tune for the Spicer College Song.  Lillian Buxton, a talented musician, had married Don Spillman on Nov 10, 1927. He sang in quartets and conducted choirs, and served as pastor, evangelist and administrator in California.

 

The Words and the Tune

 

The words of the College Song have continued practically unchanged over the years. The offensive term “heathen,” has been replaced with “dark’ning” in the first stanza, and since Myanmar ceased to be part of the Southern Asia Division, I suggest that we replace “Burma strand,” in the second stanza with “coastal sand,” which follows a progression from mountains and plains. The chorus has a curious mix of “you” and “thee,” but these are to facilitate rhymes with “true,” and “victory.”

 

The tune of the College Song has affinities with certain hymns. The first 11 notes follow the same progression as in hymn number 480 in the old hymnal. "A Year of Precious Blessings." The musical phrase is repeated again in "Tis a school of God's own planning . . . " Also, the part "With her teachers true and her students too," and the next few notes, follows the progression of "I am thine O Lord, I have heard Thy voice," hymn number 594 in the old Church Hymnal and number 306 in the new Adventist Hymnal.

 

Legacy

 

For more than seventy years the song has evoked loyalty and unity among alumni as they sang this song at several occasions a year. The College Song has served its purpose and the institution well. However, now that Spicer is a university further adaptation will be required.