Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 148, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 June 1912 — COMMENCEMENT WEEK AT ST. JOSEPH COLLEGE [ARTICLE]

COMMENCEMENT WEEK AT ST. JOSEPH COLLEGE

Another Successful Year of This Excellent Institution Brought to a Close Wednesday.

Exercises for the seventeenth annual commencement at St. Joseph’s college were opened Tuesday evening, June 18th. At 8 o’clock, in the presence of a crowded hall the curtain Jn the college auditorium was raised and star actors of the C. L. S. told the beautiful and pathetic story of “Hermigild,” prince and martyr of .the fifth century. The author of this excellent play, the Rt. Rev. Msgr. John Oechtering, V. G-, was himself present and expressed his pleasure and satisfaction in the play’s rendition. Charles Bueche, who played the part of Leovigild, King of Spain, deserves mention for his excellent stage work and especially so do Leo Gnau and Urban Koehl, who played as the two brothers, Hermigild and Reeared. The wrongs inflicted upon Hermigild and, the pitiful pleadings of Recared for his brother’s life made the audience sway with emotion and at times brought them to actual tears. In the opinion of many it was the best play rendered for several years. The cast was as previously published. The following. musical numbers were rendered:' Prologue from Pagldaopi Prof. W’ J. Nowak •Violin Humoresque, Dvorak . .. —Master J. McGahey Alumni March. (P. Andrew) Orchestrated by Prof. W. Leo Havorka .............. Orchestra To the Friends that are Gone. CP. Andrew) Prof. W. J. Nowak Air Varle No. i (De Beriot).... • Master J. McGahey Estndiantma Waltzes. (Waldteufel) Orchestra March Mllitalre. {Schubert)..... Orchestra

The Rt Rev. Bishop of Ft. Wayne read Mass and distributed Communion at six o’clock Wednesday morning in the college chapel and at 8 o’clock the exercises were continued in the auditorium. The speaker for the occasion, the Hon. Michael F. Girteh, of Chicago, was introduced to the audience by Clarence Burkart. Judge Girten is a pleasant and persuasive speaker; his deep thought and excellent command of the English language showed that toe is a man of extensive learning. The Rt. Rev. Bishop in praising the gewtleman’s- speech said: “I don’t know that I have heard >a better.” Hon M. Glrten first recounted the rise and subsequent history of chivalry; the virtues of knighthood and the deeds It accomplished. Then passing to the 20th century he showed that chivalry, although not displayed so glaringly in our own age, is still in the hearts of our Christian youth. He recounted some of the virtues which should imbue the knight of our time; he should be master of himself; must respect others arid make others respect himself; he must be a man -of hope and an optimist; a man of moral truth and moral beanty, for these' virtues are to the soul what life and health are to the body; lie must be outwardly pure for inan's sake and secretly pure for God’s sake; and he must be prepared in this life for work, for without work there is no path to success. The labor question and the problems oi woman and children’s employment are, he said, excellent flelda'of labor for the modern knight. He haß wrongs to, right, weak and oppressed to protect, and law and liberty'to make stable by justice. The speaker then closed with a special words to the graduates for 1912, assuring them of the best future success If they especially be temperate in all tbe affairs of life. This was followed by the .valedictory by Mr. Walter Reineck. He spoke briefly about the class motto: “Light, Love, Life,” and explained the significance of each for human existence, then delivered in the name of the graduates a* few parting words to student friends and to the faculty of the college. ' Before toe awarding of the diplomas and medalA toe college chorus, ac-companied-by the orchestra, rendered the “Nun of Nldaroe.” This beautiful composition, toe words by H. W. Longfellow, and music by Daniel Protheroe, was a grand feature of the morning exercises and casts much credit upon toe college chorus and the orchestra. Five classical students received toe degree Bachelor of Arts. They are; W. feelneck, aW. Bnrkart, F. B. Beuke, J. P; Tekath, R. I* Kuntx.

Four received diplomas in the Normal department: J. J. Krasses, J. L. Hemmelgarn, A. H. Reichert, H. A. Sudhoff. Thirteen received diplomas for a successful commercial course: F. L. Bertke, A. P. Mueller, J. P. Forsthoefel, E. J. Allen, W. A. Butler, O. L. .Schell, A. M. Schoelch, J. P. Whit-, comb, L. I. Birkmeier, E. Carlos, A. H. Holthouse, T. F. Keating. C. Burkart and U. Koehl received first and second prize respectively for the best English essays; J. Kenkel received a gold medal fbr the best oration delivered May 26; J. Kramer received a medal for the highest average in the normal and F. Bertke in the commercial department. Gold medals were also awarded to W. Reineck for the highest average in the gixth classical; to U. Koehl in fifth; to T- Harrington in fourth and to C.

LeJeune in third classical. The distribution of class merits was then Continued and after this the Rt. Rev. Bishop gave a closing address. He firßt thanked the faculty and the students for his entertainment while at college, showing special appreciation for the play rendered the night before. He expressed regret that such plays are not more recognized by the stage of our'day because of their influence for good and refinement of taste. As other causes -of his pleasure find thankfulness he mentioned the excellent orchestral music and magnificent singing, the grand old faculty and the good sunshine on the outside. He left the stage amid the applause and laughter of the audience. - Class Address. The class of 1912 has chosen for its motto “Light, Love, Life.” In these three monosyllables lie mountanous thoughts, ideas that contain the germs well-ordered and consistent existence. We should not be,, enrolled in that school which fawningly looks backward for its ideals and inspirations to an age that gave the lie to its beliefs by its everyday practiced; to the times that could turn from a convulsion of ' enthusiasm over the golden precept “Love thy neighbor as thyself,” to trample its fellowmen into the mi/e of slavery and serfdom. We would drink the refreshing draughts of optimism with the firm conviction that the present day is the best time in the world’s history rather than look upon it as an age that spells the defeat of two thousand years of Christian progress.

This optimism implies not blindness to the evils of our own day, but unbounded faith in the ultimate triumph of. white and shining truth. If the sheen and glamour of tbe, past dazzle us, it is because the hideous vice of bygone days are obscured by the oblivious haze of centuries. If the evils of the day overwhelm us, it is because our vision is too dull to comprehend the age. Reason and Revelation, gifts of the same almighty and allwise Being, cannot be at variance, who disregards either burns up a

fruitful source of light, the guiding principle of the universe. To follow unflinchingly the light of truth and, guided by an infallible pilot, to explore the seas of the physical universe is reason’s noblest act of homage to reason’s God. ~.VIf God is loved proportionately as He is known, the same law bolds for creatures, with this exception, however, that the former is loved aa an end in Himself, the latter as stepping stons by which we mount up to the infinite Genius that lies back of all creation. Light reveals to us the co-ordination and subordination of. creatures. It discloses the harmony of the universe. Harmony begets admiration; admiration, love. We speak here of love‘in its widest sense, of that feeling of awe inspired by a knowledge of the fitness of things, of the tie tjiat binds rational creatues to their Creator and through Him to all other creatujes. As such it is the moving power of the world. The record of the acts of God, of all the noblest achievements of man is the history of love. It called the world into existence; it brought d.own the Son of Man from the bosom of the Father; it links man to his Creator and to his fellowman. In love are grounded all human and divine institutions, the family, Bociety, religion. Fear can be overcome, but love is irresistable. It surmounts ajl obstacles by its irrepressive impulses; it hastens all things by its purity of breath; it refines by the fire of its intensity. .

The understanding guided by a luminous insight into things and the will moved by a love for order find issue in life. By life we mean not mere existence by a conscientious struggle to fulfill the functions of existence. Inanimate and irrational creation performs this mission of its very nature and in qjeedience to the inexorable laws o$ the universe. The young plant reaches upward towards the light and strives for perfection in virtue of the life germ contained in its seed. Man as a free agent attains his end through the operation of his intellect and will. This co-operation of intellect and will results in action, and action Is life. Real existence is, therefore, the more perfect in • proportion as the understanding is Illuminated and the will inclined to follow the dictates of love.

But, we may declare, the picture is that of an ideal world? Our own times, are, indeed, filled with forces and counterforces, with true and false principles that build up and tear down. Life at Its best is more complicated than any set of formulas that science can devise. Yet the general law remains that is only concientious effort to reach ideals that gives to the world healthy and progressive civilization. Tbe heroes of yesterday may be the fallen Dagons of today. This fact does not argue chaos in the world but rather the forward march of mankind. The duties of citizenship with all that the word implies are incumbent on every individual. The key to the successful performance of these duties is contained in the three little words that the class has chosen for Hs motto. With the resolution to follow the light, to have an ever greater love for God and humanity and in life to reduce these principles to* practice In order to be an influence for good in the humble spheres in which we move, the class of 1912 bids good-byd' to the field of its present labors a'nd enters upon the larger one of the future. Animated by these same principles our professors have labored with us during the years of our college life. For all this we return out heartfelt, thanks. During onr school days deep and loving friendships have been formed between our fellow students - and us, but we leave today knowing that true friendship is beyond the Accident of time and place. To all farewell!