Spotlight on Kirby Page

In Opa's letter to Gisela on May 14th, he speaks about Kirby Page speaking at McPherson. He seemed impressed with his talk and shared some insights about him. An easy glance on info about Page would be on his wikipedia page here if you want to learn more about him.

But to get a sense of Opa's experience of him, we were blessed to receive digital copies of "The Spectator" which was the school newspaper from McPherson during Opa's time in school. So below are the Spectator articles leading up to Page's talk and the one after as well (based on the amount of articles, you could tell the school was excited to welcome him). Enjoy!!

These first two are somewhat identical and ran on April 18 and 25, 1941:

Kirby Page will address chapel on Friday, May 2

Lecture Itinerary Includes Appearances at Most Colleges and Universities in Country

Kirby Page, nationally known author and evangelist, has been secured by local officials for a public appearance on Friday, May 2, it was announced yesterday by Gerry Spohn, co-president of the Student Christian Movement. 

McPherson college has been included on an itinerary which includes appearances at most of the colleges and universities of the country. 

Author of nineteen volumes and sixteen pamphlets on international, economic, social and religious questions, Mr. Page has spoken at 300 colleges and universities and was a special lecturer at Yale University Divinity School during 1938.

In addition to his experience as student and speaker, Mr. Page has crossed the ocean 20 times and has visited some 35 countries of the world, has interviewed such men as Mahatma Ghandi, Kagawa, G.B. Shaw, and Chiang Kai-shek, and has been received by the King of Iraq. On his various trips, he has interviewed at different times the late President von Hindenburg, Lloyd George, H.G. Wells, the late Ramsay MacDonald, the late Sun Yat Sen, and many other prominent people. 

Invitations have been sent by the local S.C.M. to other colleges in Kansas, to attend Mr. Page's lectures and students from Kansas Wesleyan University, Bethel College, and Sterling College will be in McPherson to hear him. 

After appearing in the McPherson college chapel at 9:43, Mr. Page will drive to Lindeborg to address the student body there. He will return to McPherson for a 4 o'clock address in the afternoon, and then will give his address in the college church at 7:30 in the evening. 

Local officials have indicated that there will be no admission charges, but that a free-will offering will be taken during the evening lecture. 

This next one ran in the newspaper on the day of his talk (May 2, 1941) after he had spoken at the chapel in the morning and they were promoting his talk that evening at a local church. 

Kirby Page Will Speak in College Church Tonight

To Speak on Subject "How Can We Defend American Democracy?"

Including Macampus among his stops on a nation-wide itinerary, Kirby Page, widely known author and evangelist, will be heard this evening in the local Church of the Brethren at 7:30. It was announced by officials of the Student Christian Movement. The S.C.M. is sponsoring Page's appearance here. Page appeared this morning before the student body in the chapel hour. 

Invitations have been sent by the local S.C.M. to other colleges in Kansas, to attend Mr. Page's lectures and students from Kansas Wesleyan University, Bethel College, and Sterling College will be in McPherson to hear him tonight.

Author of nineteen volumes and sixteen pamphlets on international and social questions, Mr. Page has spoken at 300 colleges and universities. Tonight Mr. Page will speak on the subject "How Can We Defend American Democracy?"

In addition to his experience as student and speaker, Mr. Page has crossed the ocean 20 times and has visited some 30 countries of the world, has interviewed such men as Mahatma Ghandi, Kagawa, G.B. Shaw, and Chiang Kai-shek, and has been received by the King of Iraq. On his various trips, he has interviewed at different times the late President von Hindenburg, Lloyd George, H.G. Wells, the late Ramsay MacDonald, the late Sun Yat Sen, and many other prominent people.

There is no admission charge to the lecture and a free-will offering will be received. 

This last one is from May 9, 1941, after Page's visit the week before:

Heard In Chapel

Kirby Page Speaks in Friday Chapel

 Kirby Page was the speaker in chapel Friday. He compared the United States with a boatman when rowing or drifting toward the falls at Niagara. "We are going over the falls of this war. It is going to be disastrous beyond words."

"We have been taught how catastrophe can be averted. America has not been willing to pay the price and because of this we are entering the war full fledged because we are helping Britain "win the war" and because we are exercising military preparedness on a vast scale." Mr. Page also stated that it will probably not be long until the announcement will be made that we are in war.

"In the depth of our need there are powers available on a higher plane; therefore, we must pay attention to religion We should practice alternation with the physical and the spiritual. There are seven ways of praying to practice the presence of God: adoration, thanksgiving, confession, commitment, petition, communion, and social action. Your accomplishments and attitudes will be determined by your past relationships. Anyone who practices with God will be helped to meet situations squarely."