Auburn Adventist Academy - Rainier Vista Yearbook (Auburn, WA)

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ray that betrays the impurity within. The contest between light and darkness, right and wrong, goes on. Day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment our characters are being formed ’ This continual hammer ing and forging process going on in each one of our lives, though unconscious as we are of its moulding influence, is shaping our eternal destinies. We are glad that we have experienced trials and difficulties at W. W. A. We look back upon our trials and difficulties which we have sur¬ mounted, and we are brought to the realization that this price¬ less quality of Simplicity has had its share in our success. “Lowliness of heart is real dignity, and humility is the brightest jewel in the Christian’s crown.’’ The next part of our motto is Sincerity. The sincere man and woman of today is sought for by all. The world is calling today for men, not for cowards, men who are broad¬ minded, and who will mix common sense with their own ideas; men who will not let education or honor spoil them for everyday life. It needs men who are educated through and through, men whose eyes can see, men whose hands ar not afraid to work, men whose hearts are tender and full of love, men whose feet are swift to go where great needs exist, and men who can uplift their fellow beings. In other words, men who are sincere in their work and to their God. The third and last part of our motto is Service. “We are to stand as minute men ready for service, however small it may be.’’ Does life really require much service? you may ask. Yes! life is made up of fragments of service. When we go hence we shall find that the fragmentary Christian life on earth, with its principles of love and simplicity, and Christian spirit, is that hour of which heaven is made. The story is told of a celebrated musician who had a large number of pupils. It was his custom at the end of a specified time to give a grand concert at which his favorite pupil was to be made the conspicuous figure. There was one among the others who was given frag¬ mentary work. No part of his instruction seemed to have the least connection with any other part. It was dull work, but he practiced upon the dull fragments and fought discourage¬ ments. When the day of celebration came he was chosen as the favorite pupil. He felt that he did not know a single complete piece of music. Tremblingly he took his place at the instrument, and when the score which he was to play was placed before him he throbbed and thrilled with delight to Nineti

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IJrcsiiUntt’s Ahhrcss Dear Parents, Board Members, Faculty, Fellow Students, and Friends: We, the class of 1925, welcome you this evening. We are glad to have you with us upon this memorable night of our lives. We are glad, too, that our four years of academic work has been completed, yet sadness accompanies our joys. We feel that we have successfully taken our first step in the preparation for life’s great work. As we view our lives at this place and behold the vast store of knowledge before us. we are impelled to give voice to the sentiments of the great scientist, Newton, who at the close of his life said that he seemed as a child on the o cean’s shore picking up a few pebbles while the great ocean of knowledge lay rolling before him. The years we have spent at W. W. A. have given us a new vision of life. Our thoughts are very well expressed in the words of Longfellow, “Life is real, life is earnest and the grave is not its goal.’’ To the Christian these words hold a deep significance, for life is a more vivid reality when Christ is brought into partnership. As one writer has well said, “Life, like the waters of the seas, freshens only when it ascends toward heaven.’’ So we, the class of ’25, want our lives to freshen the lives of others. There is a definite object for which we are working. Our aims and ambitions do not fade into a mirage at the touch of death’s cold hand. Why? Because we are building for Eternity. We believe, as e xpressed by our motto, that “Simplicity. Sincerity and Service’’ are three essential attributes to the character of one who is truly successful in life. Let me call your attention for a moment to the full significance of these words: “Simplicity, Sincerity, and Service.’’ Someone has said, “The wisest man could ask no more of Fate than to be simple, modest, manly, and true.’’ Simplicity is the sure mark of real character. And what is character, you say? “Character is the entity, the individuality of the person, shining from every window of the soul, either as a beam of purity or as a clouded Eighteen

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find that the completed work was made up of the fragments which he had mastered and which were now perfectly arranged. Again, I say, life is made up of fragments of simple, sincere acts of service for others. Life would be empty if there were no service. Faber has said, “The colored sunsets and the starry heavens, the beautiful mountains and the painted flowers, are not half so beautiful as a soul that is serving Jesus out of love, in the wear and tear of common life.” Dear parents, our hearts are filled with emotion as we behold you this evening. Glady would we vacate these seats and give you our places. We realize to some extent the sacri¬ fices you have made in our behalf, and the interest you have shown in us while we have been receiving our training. Words fail to express what you have done for us. We wish to prove to you our appreciation by living lives of usefulness in service to our fellowmen. Board members, tonight we wish to thank you for the service you have given in the successful progress of our school, and for your excellent judgment in the selection of our faculty. Kind teachers, tonight we feel grateful to you for the part you have played in our lives. You have striven to develop in us characters as well as intellects. Our ideals and ambitions have been set much higher through our association with you, and by taking heed to your experienced counsel. Our hearts are indeed thankful to you for your unselfish devotion to us. Fellow students, our hearts go out to you for the kindness you have shown, for the cheerfulness you have given, and for the burdens you have lightened. We treasure the friendships we have formed with you. You will always remain in our memories as the friends of W. W. A. As the class of 1925, we respond to the call of giving our lives for the uplift of humanity in “Simplicity, Sincerity, and Service.” George M. Johnston. T ivcnty