Auburn High School - Trojan / Oracle Yearbook (Auburn, IL)

Page 29 text:

TITE ORACLE —1923 depart thence, to go each a separate way, to lands they know not of, to do, they know not what. But “let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.” And now may the blessings that ever attend the noble and good and true, follow and abide with us, each and all, now and forevermore. Amen. Class Creed Class Reuelations.—[Prophecq] bq IDilliam IDood Listen, O ye men and women, youths and maidens, and little children! Listen, all ye people of Auburn to the words of wisdom from the lips of your prophet, who now speaketh unto you what hath been revealed unto her, even as it hath been decreed by the powers that be. For it has come to pass that the evil of the future hath been rent in twain, even as it was so rent in the days of the wise prophets of old, and the Spirit of prophecy hath descended from the spheres to envelop my soul with her mystic power. Aye, 1 say unto you, men and women, youths and maidens, and little children of Auburn, it hath been given unto me as the chosen one of this great and good people, the Class of 1923, to dream strange dreams, and to see strange visions of the glories of the years yet to be. Now it so happened when it was decreed that the future of the Class of 1923 was to be given unto the hand of this, your prophet, to do with even as she listed, that she cried out in a loud voice of lamentations, saying: “Who am 1 that the future of this great and glorious class should depend upon me? What am 1 that the fate of these most fair and beautiful of damsels, and these most sturdy and noble and manly of youths, should rest upon the decisions of one so humble of intellect, and so infirm of purpose?” But behold ! even as the cry of weakness did ascend from the long-suffer- ing soul of your prophet, a voice from the heavens spake unto her, even in the words of old, saying, “Hear now my words. If there be a prophet among you, I will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream,” and straightway, from the clouds of the centuries gone, and from the shadows already “cast before” by the “coming events” of the proverb, there appeared unto her the fair and lovely Spirit of Prophecy, the angel of Things to Come, and lo, she did with her mystic touch roll back the curtain of the dim Beyond from before my prophetic vision, and did permit me to gaze at will down the long vista of things yet to be, that I might behold all things that now are, transformed into all things that they shall yet become, even as it was so granted to the wise men of the past. And lo, as she drew back the cur- tain she pointed with a long, transparent finger down the avenues of a strange land, and opened her lips and spake unto me, saying: “Look! Listen! Prophesy unto the young men and young women of Auburn High School even these things which you herein behold.” So, even as St. John, the divine, said unto the world, so 1, your prophet of the Class of 1923, do say unto the people of this audience, in this the twentieth centrv, “Blessed be she that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein; for the time is at hand!” For as I looked into the land of the future I could discern moving among the dim shadows of the peoples yet to be, the familiar shapes of those fair

Page 28 text:

24 THE ORACLE —1923 CHAPTER IV. Now it so happened that there dwelt in an adjoining territory, Charles Barts, a man of much learning and good repute, who hearing of the departure from his post of Lee Russel Carlson, removed from his field of labor, and dwelt for a time in the Land of Learning, that the travels of the Class of Three-and-Twenty might continue for many days. And it came to pass that the Class of Three-and-Twenty found favor in the eyes of this wise and worthy stranger, and success looked fair before them, and they were much glad. Now this, the fourth year in the history of this great and wonderful Class of Three-and-Twenty lias been one of much hard labor, and but little resting by the wayside; for preparations have been making ready for them to take their final departure from the land. Now it came to pass, a. their pride grew to a great bigness within them, that the Class began to wish for badges befiitting their station; and many messages were sent to the big cities and all the towns round-about for samples of their fine jewelry; and at last, after much considering, the Class professed itself to be satisfied with its choice, and rings were purchased with which they rested well content. Then it straightway came to pass that the members of the Class began to work on the Oracle and to write down the greatest and most wonderful of thoughts, such as no one ever had thought before since the beginning of the world, upon sheets and sheets of foolscap, that the people who should come unto them to listen unto words of deep scholarship upon the night of their Commencement should not needs be turned away in disappointment. Likewise did they sew and sew and sew upon yards of fine silk and linen, that the eyes of the multitude should be gladdened by the glitter of their fine raiment, even while their ears should be enlightened by the wisdom of their much speaking. Now there was in this Class a certain few that had a certain likeness, who were descendents of William Aaron, of the House of Weeden, a man of war and of much valor. But behold! they did grow fearful of that heavy course that the other members of the Class of Three-and-Twenty had to carry, and their hearts felt heavy within them as they communed with it from day unto day, till they resolved not to take their departure with the Class of Three-and-Twenty, but to stay yet a twelve-month longer in the Land of Learning, and finish their journey with that company which should come this way in the year to come. For verily, had they studied their arithmetic long and faithfully and had learned by many strange and curious ways how surely two and two make four. And their feet grew heavier and heavier at the bidding of her heart, as they lagged behind in their classes, and would not move ahead unto the gates. So with many tears and much bewailing did the Class of Three-and-Twenty bid them farewell, and sorrowfully pass on their way without her. So it came to pass that of the three and forty that entered this land in nineteen, only four-and-twenty will depart, for verily, verily, 1 say unto you. that broad is the gate, and wide is the way that leadeth to the High School, and many there be that go in thereat; but straight is the gate, and narrow is the way that leadeth to graduation, and few there be that find it. Four years hath the Class of Three-and-Twenty sojourned in the land, and gathered in large portions the fruits from the Tree of Knowledge. But it is written, “In the day when ye shall have eaten of all these fruits, ye shall surely be driven forth from the land!” Now, T say unto you, they must

Page 30 text:

26 THE ORACLE —1923 and radiant beings who were once my classmates, now changed and trans- formed into citizens of the world outside, even as they had long hoped so to be. And it came to pass that the veil before mine eyes grew yet more and more thin through the intensity of my vision, and behold, I could see them, even as if the intervening years were not at all. I could see our beloved President; yea, even as today, I could see him in all his dignity and majestic bearing, and his words were heeded by that day and generation even as we today of the Class of 1923 have heeded and attended unto them ; for his ambition has led him ever upward and onward until he was even the Governor of this, Ins very own and native state, the finances of which, were being successfully managed by Henry Masterson, Secretary of Treasury. And I looked again, and as I looked 1 could see among the society circles of that far off distant time, and among those who were most fair to look upon, among even those most bright and dazzling to the sight and mind, three, whom, even as I gazed, I recognized, as those beauties, Velma Meiklejohn, Mary Cline, and Ida Mae Murphy, who had succeeded in keeping that school girl complexion. And it came to pass that I also looked into professional circles, and in a large office among many men of many minds sat a prosperous lawyer, the boy, who in our High School days, had not yet learned to lie. Nay, not even on the right side would William Wood say a word that could be untruly interpreted. Thus are the mighty brought to lower planes! And I also happened to find myself on the inside of a large cathedral where a stately priest in his robes of dignity poured forth words of inspired instruction. Verily, it was Carl Cline himself, who has thus entered into the work of the church. And it came to pass, while I pondered these things in my heart, the door of a home swung open before my vision, and I found therein a household made happy by a wife and mother who had found her greatest ambition in the highest of all worldly vocations—the maker and keeper of the home. Verily was my soul rejoiced thereat as I gazed my last upon Marcella Peters and followed my Spirit of Prophecy further on its quest of the Things to Be. And it came to pass, even as I watched the home lights die away, that sweet strains of music held my soul entranced by the beauty and perfection of their harmonies, and as I looked about to know whence they came, behold, I did find a Prima Donna of the American Opera accompanied by the Lewis Orchestra, which except for the fact that Director Lewis obtained the services of Joseph Johnson the great saxophonist, was the same that had so often played the marches for us in High School, and I felt myself falling in line keeping step with their martial airs. Suddenly the scene was changed, I was in a busy street, before me stood a towering sky-scraper, and over the doorway were inscribed these words: “Auburn City Ilall.” On entering I was recognized by my old friend and classmate, John Johnson, who explained that he was custodian of the building. Then be escorted me to the Mayor’s office, on the door of which was printed: “George R. Bradley, Mayor of Auburn,” whose stenographer was none other than Bessie Miller. During the conversation with the Mayor, I learned that he had recently promoted Mae Herron from City Nurse, to the position of Superintendent of the Health Department. Across from the Municipal Building I noticed a large Art Museum, and on inquiring I was told that it had been constructed but recently, and had been dedicated to the famous artist, Keith Corned, because it contained many of bis paintings. Being immensely interested 1 crossed to the Museum and I noticed that a large crowd was collecting before it and everyone was waiting