Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 155, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 July 1917 — GROSE MAKES ABLE ADDRESS [ARTICLE]

GROSE MAKES ABLE ADDRESS

PRESIDENT OF DEPAUW STIRS RENSSELAER AUDIENCE WITH PATRIOTISM. There was a large audience present at the Methodist church Tuesday evening at the patriotic meeting. Before the opening of the regular meeting the city band gave a short concert. At 8 o’clock Frank Welsh, chairman of the Jasper County Council of Defense, called the meeting to order. A large choir of the city’s best singers, led by Dr. W. L. Myer led in the singing of “America.” Dr E. W. Strecker offered invocation. The Yeoman Quartet, consisting of Frances Wood, Beulah Brown, Mary Washburn and Gwendolyn Price, sang “Indiana.” This is the song, the music of which was written by “Jim” 'Hanley. This number was a delightful treat. Miss Esther Padgitt then sang “Your Flag and My Flag.” This number was greatly appreciated by the audience. Chairman Welsh then introduced the speaker of the evening, Dr. George R. Grose, president of De- : ?auw University. The doctor made a great address. Great from the standpoint of an oratorical effort and greater still from the point of information and admonition.

In common with the great majority of men who have studied the situation, the doctor believes that we have a long, hard task before us. He believes that we will have to make stupendous sacrifices of money and of men. This, he said, is the price humanity had always had to pay for He spoke of the fifty millions of men now under arms. Of the five millions who have already died in battle, and of the seven millions who have been totally incapacitated on account of wounds and disease. But he said this sacrifice will not have been made in vain if the great principle of freedom and democracy can be established in the world. The doctor held up before his audience the thought that the Great God was in this conflict and that out of it must come the uplift of mankind. He admitted that we needed the conservation of material resources and the amassing of a great man power, but, possibly our greatest need is the conservation of intellectual and spiritual power. The war has already sown broadcast the spirit of hate which must be conquered and in its place we must have those higher thoughts and emotions that help to uplift all humanity.

His last thought, and to many of us a new thought, was that we must not be stampeded. We must remain calm and resolute. Must not become despondent and discouraged, but must go ahead with our regular activities in business, in education and in religion. We must not stop because we “do not know what might happen or how the war will end.” He says we never know what will happen. Business must go ahead. There should be no let-up in improvements and the normal business activity should be maintained. The schools nad colleges should be continued with their full numbers. After the war we will need, more than ever, the guilding influence of thetrained man and woman. We must continue our church work. Our service and our giving should in no ways be lessened. Dr. Grose is a great man and he is rendering his state invaluable service. One of priceless value, but for which he is not accepting a single cent. Give us more such men and then help us to follow their leading' and the sacrifice which we must make will be made with the realization of its great value to the onward progress of civilization.