[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 111 (Thursday, July 31, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  MUHLENBERG SESQUICENTENNIAL REMARKS

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                            HON. PAUL McHALE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 30, 1997

  Mr. McHALE Mr. Speaker, this morning I rise to pay tribute to a 
distinguished liberal arts college in my district which opened its 
doors in 1848 as a military institution. I am honored and proud to 
announce today that during the coming academic year the college will 
celebrate its 150th anniversary. That college is Muhlenberg College in 
Allentown, PA.
  As I stand here in the House Chamber talking about Muhlenberg 
College, I can almost feel the presence of the Muhlenberg family. The 
first Speaker of this House was Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg, 
the son of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, the founder of the Lutheran 
Church in America for whom this college is named. His brother John 
Peter Gabriel and several of their great-grandchildren also served 
here. In all, six Muhlenbergs served as Members of the U.S. Congress. 
Likenesses of these great German-Americans can be found on campus as 
reminders of the college's historic ties to the Lutheran Church and to 
a young America.
  Muhlenberg values its Judeo-Christian traditions which have shaped 
the liberal arts curriculum offered to its students. The college's 
mission is to develop students who ``will achieve responsible 
independence and display full respect for the freedom and diversity 
which characterize human beings.'' In the mutual pursuit of this 
mission, the members of the board of trustees, faculty, and 
administration remain firmly committed to the belief that a ``liberal 
arts education is the most humanly satisfying and pragmatically 
viable.'' Students are reminded often that learning is done in a 
variety of settings with small classes, limited enrollment, a strong 
student-faculty relationship and a high degree of student involvement 
in the life and governance of the college. Muhlenberg students graduate 
not only with a degree, but a deeper understanding of life.
  Influencing the ongoing success of Muhlenberg College and its 
students in president Arthur R. Taylor. In his inauguration address in 
1992, this former president of CBS quoted John Henry Newman, who said 
many hundreds of years ago, ``The purpose of all education is to find a 
life, not just a livelihood.'' As the most passionate champion for this 
small, independent college, he has set the course saying, ``Let us be 
known in the future, as we have in the past, by the quality of the 
students we graduate * * * let us be known for those who will tackle 
the problems of the environment, disease and hunger, poverty and 
homelessness * * * known for those who will rebuild America * * * known 
for those who support society's causes.''
  President Taylor, together with the faculty and administration, has 
built a global reputation. Each year more and more applications are 
received from prospective students with over one-third of the accepted 
students ranking in the top 10th of their high school class. Students 
study abroad, they learn foreign languages, they prepare for business 
in the global marketplace. The quality of the Muhlenberg academic 
experience has been recognized by Phi Beta Kappa and 13 other national 
honor societies with chapters at the college.
  Mr. Speaker, I take great pride in holding an honorary doctor of laws 
degree from this noble college. I leave you with president Taylor's own 
words: `Please understand that this old college, this old clipper ship, 
regardless of what storm may come, will sail on, top royals flying and 
gallants set.'' I know you will join me in applauding Muhlenberg 
College's 150th anniversary and saluting her next 150 years.

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