Hudson High School - True Blue Yearbook (Hudson, WI)

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8 The Divine Compact. France once attended to vacate the throne of Deity by resolving “that there is no God.” They abolished the Sabbath, unfrocked the priests, sent them out into sec- ular employment, and turned places of worship into pla- ces of trade. What was the result? Did she have great statesmen, and more abundant harvests, and peace and liberty among the people? No. She inau- gaurated the Reign of Terror, the blackest, bloodiest chapter in the history of the land, and her vine-clad hills ran with the blood of her best people. On the bluff overlooking the bay where the Mayflower landed there is a beautiful monument. On the corners of the pedestal are four figures in sitting posture; one represents Law, another Liberty, another Education, and another Religion. The pedestal is surmounted by a beautiful bronze figure with the open Bible in one hand and the index finger of the other pointing away to the throne of God. That uplifted finger symbolizes the the faith of this great nation. So long as it stands for our national conscience and our national faith the coun- try is safe; it matters not who is president or what par- ty is in power. God must be included in complete society. “The na- tions that forget God, shall perish.” And if this is true of Society and nations it is certainly true of the individ- ual constituency. In the great battle of life that we all have to fight there is constant need of feeling secure in the position we occupy. Our age needs to hear the voice that has no doubt in its accents. It needs to feel the touch of one hand that does not tremble. It needs to feel the strong beat of a heart that does not fear. Humanity needs the voice, the touch and the heartbeat of God. Then can they triumphantly affirm, “If God be for us who can be against us.” Ladies and gentleman of the graduating class, the ulti- mate success of life and all of the allies of life is depend- ant upon the choice of the God you serve. Two religions are today struggling for the mastery. There is the re- ligion of Mammon, whose dominant purpose is selfish- ness and whose creed is indifference to moral considera- tions, except so far as they are regarded as instruments of individual advancement. There is also the religion of God, whose purpose is service and whose creed is loy- alty to something larger than yourself; that is, loyalty to the ideal man and the God he represents. In closing my farewell message to the class of 1908, I urge you to ally yourselves with the God-man, Jesus Christ, whose pierced hands have turned back the tide of the centuries, that would have foamed out their wrath

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excels all productive industries which we teach our chil- dren. All skill and knowledge, aside from that is as noth- ing. The business of life is to know how to get along with our fellowmen. Newell Dwight Hillis lias put the same fact into another form when he said. “In import- ance this knowledge exceeds every other knowledge whatsoever. To know what armor to put on against tomorrow’s conflict, how to attain the ends of commerce and ambition by using men, and how to use men, not by injuring, not by cheating them, not by marring them, not by neglecting them; but how thro’ men to advance both one’s self and one’s fellow — this is life’s task. For skill in getting on with men is the test of perfect manhood.’’ From the standpoint of reason, experience has taught men that their interests are conserved in their fellowmen. Every brother man has something to contribute to your success, and in the contribution blesses his own life. Man is man’s greatest benefactor; and the law of success- ful relation is co-operation. Every man loses power when be reason of any strain- ed relation, lie breaks the community of interest with his fellowman. But more than this is true; every man has an obligation to pay to all others, in the payment of which, he adds to the increment of life. The old Heb- rews wisely analyzed the kingly office under the heads of Prophet, Priest and King. And the world’s real po- tentates have been men who were first prophets or wise men, foreseeing the future and who before they became kingly, became priests and willingly bore the sins of their generation upon their hearts. And thus it is ever, that mastery springs from knowledge but kingship springs from service. History gives us many tributes verifying this fact. The statesman who best serves his fellowmen; altlio his contemporaries may be more popular than he, has with- out fail, received the honors of a grateful people. The physician who best serves his patient; the teacher who best serves his scholars; the merchant, who, with wis- dom and brotherly interest transfers commodities are the men who do business upon a firm basis. If you would ally yourself with the second greatest compact known to the ages; ally yourselves with men; lend yourself to the destinies of your day and age. Leave the “low vaulted past” of self interest, for “the dome more vast” of human brotherhood. Write the words of love and service, in fair, large characters across the pages of your biographies. Then men will honor you as they do the Great Liberator and your children’s children will weep over your dead body as the children of the street wept over William of Orange.

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Cast of Senior Class Play, Psmeralda,” A fay 2 2, 'OH.