Berry High School - Torch Yearbook (Mount Berry, GA)

Page 32 text:

SILVER AND BLUE VDD ,Y -M59 at all times to make the most of every opportunity that our dear foun- der made possible for us. And we trust that our dear teachers may ever find us faithful to those virtues for which they have trained us to stand as we face the problems of life. Our equipment is good, and our armor strong so we shall meet our to face never worldly battles face forgetting our Alma Mater. You ask us where and what we are going to do. Can we say? We may think we have our lives mapped out in a systematic form, but one breath of wind may change the whole shape of our plans and move us completely across the field of creation, to prove to us there is a we are going, "Divinity that shapes our ends, Rough-hew them how we will." But what does it matter where we may be led when we feel the assur- ance that we are doing our allotted part in the divine plang and that whatever we are called upon to do we will do our best ever striving to live up to Miss Berry's ideals for the betterment of self and thus humanity. lt is in this spirit we face the ex- ercises to-day. We have been led through pleasant paths to this bend of the road, here pause eager to take on the life that lies before us. We ask you, then, to join with us with gladsome hearts in the celebra- tion of this hour, and to feel within you the same optimistic conviction that "all's right with the world" as well as with us, as we speak from jojous, hopeful hearts the words of our most cordial and sincere welcome to one and all. VALEDICTO RY Here we pause to look back upon our past, not as one old, growing reminiscent, but as prudent youths at the threshhold of new tasks, who would reminding ourselves of service: recall pledges and at this turning in life, assume new duties we see that nothing is so inevitable in this world as the onward march of time and t'he succession of events. No certainty is quite so certain as that of change. In every realm of nature, in the sciences, in the material, in the in- tellectual and spiritual life of man- kind, any careful observer can per- ceive that the whole world is con- stantly moving forward to the unseen goal-perhaps the millennium, as many believe. Wit'hin this span of one human life, which is but a tiny fraction of the great expanse of time through the age, changes of broad human significance can be seen. Even we, who but a few short years ago were infants in arms, can discern vast changes in ourselves and in the world about us. That is life, moving slowly but surely and inevitable in accordance with the inscrutable scheme of things that guides and controls the destines of the universe. To us, on t'his day of days, this great truth strikes home with peculiar emphasis. That the faces which carry men forward to some inescapable climax cannot be gainsaid, is a fact which, today, stands out in our minds with startling vividness. Throughout the two years we have spent here we have been moving towards this moment. Our lives have Page Twenty-eight

Page 31 text:

SALUTATORY Miss Berry, Faculty, Students, and Friends, I deem it a signal honor to greet you, and in the name of all my classmates to pass on to you the glad hail of our enthusiastic welcome! We have reached t'he goal for which we have been striving for two long, yet seemingly short years. We must cast away our college privileges and pleasures only to hold them in our memories and take up the great- er burden that besets us as we leave the college so dear to us to venture into the great unknown. But as Browning assures us happy, "God's in His heaveng All's right with the world," and his optimism wakes a responsive chord in every heart. We are glad we have the assurance that the world-aye, every atom-moves on its course in perfect accordance with t'he plan of the Creator, and what- ever comes to us either of happiness or pain comes as an angle of the Lord to work His will, and play its part in the grand plan of human de- velopment. We are glad that noth- ing in the universe is too small to be seen by t'he protecting and con- trolling eye of the One who, as Pope so beautifully tells us, "Sees with equal eye, as God of all, A hero perish or a sparrow fall, Atoms or systems into ruin hurled, And now a bubble burst, and now a world." Many times in our lives have come when everything seemed dark and disheartening. We have learned the meaning of disappointment and sor- SILVER AND BLUE VM - ON row to some degree at least-from the human standpoint, thd have seen times when it was hard for us to feel perfectly sure that We could agree with Browning when he wrote the cheering words "All's right With the world." We must learn that it is necessary for us to bear our cross and undergo many disappointments to reach the perfection of character we all so earnestly desire to attain, and know that, "Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face." It is grand to feel that we are a necessary part of the devine plan of creation-that God holds our desti- nies in the hallow of His hand, and shapes our paths according to His all-wise, all-powerful conception. When we grasp this great truth, we will understand how it is that no matter what' comes to us as indivi- duals, or as a class still while "God's in His heaven, All'5 right with the world." Yes, friends, "a1l's right with the world!" We who are about to take our places in the great arena of its progression, are glad to assure you so. "All's right with the world," and all's right with us as individuals. Our calling is a sacred one, what- ever it may be. Our path is a safe one wherever it may lead. And as we go forth to represent in the out- side world the school from which we pass we are going to ever strive to be true to its principles, aims, and ideals-for it is through them that all honor must reflect back upon the school seal we bear. As we look back over the past two years we can truthfully say we have done our best Page Twenty-seven

Page 33 text:

SILVER AND BLUE 'nil -,nv been ordered to conform to the plans and procedure organized by the dear founder of this institution and the teachers to prepare us as efficiently and as throughly as possible for our- citizenship and for life. We selves have had little to do in this and organized effort but to receive assimilate, as well as we could, the training given us. and im- Our elders of course knew appreciated the tremendeously portant part which our education would play in our later lives and planned for us accordingly. We- until recently at least-realized little cf the significance of the experience through which we were passing, and, to us, active participation in the world of affairs seemed indeed re- mote. Carefree, happy, enjoying life as it came, we passed through these de- lightful years, little recognizing that each day was bringing us nearer to the time of responsibility, the time of going forth to assume our share of life's burdens. Now that time is here! Through these years we have been changing, developing, and grad- ually shifting our relationships with the world about us. Now, over-night it seems, our whole status is changedg today, students under kindly, sym- pathetic guidance, tomorrow, work- ers in the hurly-burly of the work- aday world! Miss Berry. I esteem it among the rarest of my privileges to be permit- ted to address a few words to one so eminent as yourself in the life of service. If it be a joy to know that "Labors of love are not in vain," if it be a pleasure to know that "Seeds of kindness are bearing rich and abundant fruit," may that joy and that pleasure he yours in fullest portion. May you ever be able to look with feelings of heartfelt satis- faction upon all your efforts for the advancement of those who are en- rolled upon the register of your siaunch and noble institution. Dur- ing the years spent here each of us has received a nobler and a higher vision of life, and we will always cherish the sweet memories of the days we have spent here. We will ever strive to perform the things that you have established in our hearts and souls. We realize that it is your love and unceasing service that has laid the foundation for this hour and made it possible for us to assemble here to say farewell. To you, Dr. Green and members of the faculty, who with kind and loving patience have helped and guid- ed us so painstakingly to this very moment, we must say farewell-with hearts filled with gratitude and ap- preciation of all that you have done for us. Fellow-students of the undergrad- uate classes, to you we commend the interests we have hitherto cherished together, knowing that your enthusi- astic loyalty is no less than ours. We welcome you to the place which we are now vacating and we know that you will fill it worthily. Classmates-we come now to the end of the happy road we have trav- eled together for two long years. 'I'hroughout the journey down those years we have like true comrads shar- ed our joys and our sorrows, of dis- couragement there were someg of happy days together there were many. Would that we could go on together Page Twenty-nine