Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 June 1918 — CLOSES TWENTY-SEVENTH YEAR [ARTICLE]

CLOSES TWENTY-SEVENTH YEAR

Commencement at St. Joseph Marks Another Successful Term. On Thursday, June 13, St. -Joseph’s college closed the twenty-sev-enth volume of its brightest history. If commencement may be considered the criterion of the entire scholastic year it goes without saying that the exercises of this year indeed completed, as the Rev. President in a recent address to the students affirmed, one of the most successful terms in the annals of the college. The year’s work was, moreover, brilliant, as is evident from the fact that a large class, almost all “Magna Cum Laud©’’ or “Cum Laude” graduates, left their Alma Mater, each to follow the path of duty chosen by him. Besides the usual ceremonies attendant on commencement, there occurred another event of historic and patriotic interest-—the raising of the Service Flag. At 2:30 Wednesday afternoon the flag containing more than 120 stars was dedicated to the loyal quota of St. Joseph’s Alumni, three of whom are chaplains now serving in their country’s ranks. As the band played the flag slowly ascended the it rested just beneath Old Glory, which had been unfurled in the early morning. After this a streamer, showing the colors of the class of ’lB was raised, until it joined the other two, and thefi the trio floated proudly from the pole, which Itself was donated by the Alumni. The Rev. M. J. Byrne of St. Ann’s, Lafayette, chaplain of the Aero Squad of Purdue university, standing within the shadow of the flags, then delivered a stirring address, in which he dwelt chiefly on the significance of the stars in our Service Flag, praising the loyal men who had once enlisted under a banner similar to the streamer below it and who now were fighting for the Old Glory above it. He also commented upon the influence of a good education in the making of brave, patriotic soldiers. The remainder of the afternoon was rendered enjoyable, by the band concert. At 8 o’clock the Columbian Literary society presented Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice,” and we need say no more than that the society showed its 'Usual excellence in dramatic performance. On Thursday morning at 9 o’clock students and visitors assembled in the auditorium, where they listened to a very Interesting and instructive baccalaureate address by the Rev. John F. Noll, the distinguished editor of “Our Sunday Visitor.” Then followed the awarding of the various medals. The gold medals, for the highest honors in the classical department, for highest honors In the commercial department, for the best English essay, and tAe Conroy Oratory medal were awarded to Gilbert F. Francis Esser, Charles E. (Holthouse, John Mutter and Mattias A. Lause, respectively. This closed the commencement exercises. Extending heartfelt thanks to all friends and patrons for their interest and attention, St. Joseph’s invites them all to come again next year, to spend another commencement in Collegeville, when, it is to be hoped/ the shadow of war shall have been lifted, and victory and peace shall shine upon our land. » -wur iWIWiIMWMu