Hastings High School - Saxon Yearbook (Hastings, MI)

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What greater record than that can any nation hope to record in her annals of history? Greece gave to the world art, Rome government, England the successful colonization idea, but our mission is plainly written to be that of a nation whose ideals arc to be found in a government where the sovereign power resides in and is exercised by the people, a nation that shall not triumph in the annals of war, but carry the torch which will enlighten and unify all nations into one nation, where universal peace and progress shall prevail. A spirit which should further animate our in- stitutions is the spirit of conciliation, a spirit of true Christian moderation, that guiding principle which is self-controlled, charitable and forgiving when it acts; a spirit which will arise and protect and shield when our liberties arc in danger. It was this spirt of moderation and concilia- tion that animated the Constitutional Convention and gave to us the legacy of government where every member of this nation, be he high or low, rich or poor, has a right to speak and act upon every measure originating among and interesting us as a people. The full development of our institutions demands that these rights be freely exercised. The history of our country reflects from its pages periods of time when these rights and liberties have been in danger, monopolized by parties and individuals, but again and again has the power and will of the people reasserted itself. Commencement Parts Valedictory We would banish all fear for the future of our dearly blood-bought liberties, they are too precious to permit any individuals or unthinking party to long terrorize them. The sober conservative ele- ment of the people shall prevail. To the younger men and women of our land and to us. dear classmates, as comes the trumpet call to not only cultivate, effuse and extend the spirit in every institution of our government, but when the call of the oppressed and benighted of other lands is calling, that the yoke of oppression be lifted, may it be the mission of our country to carrv the torch of enlightenment and liberty. This we would do in the spirit of Christian conciliation. And this we would do. even though we stood alone, for truth and eloquence, which is greater than the applause of men would be ours. We would do all this in the same spirit that our fathers builded, safe and strong, so when na- tional calamities threaten, our institutions will yet reflect the proud inheritance that our government is yet a government of the people, by the people and for the people. . Members of the Board of Education, you, who have made it possible for us to broaden and enrich our lives by the privileges of your High School; members of the Faculty, who have carefully im- parted these great life lessons into our lives; and Classmates dear, who have, day by day, cheerfully, eagerly, taken the lessons of truth, the time has come when the last class roll is taken, but also the

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Commencement Parts V alcdictonj Who then is the friend of free republican in- stitutions? It is he who, in the spirit of modesty seeks to do the greatest good to the greatest num- ber in a manner that will not antagonize, but gain the confidence and co-operation of the people. The man who receives what he has not earned, and does not earn, the man who does not render ser- vice in full for all that he has, is out of place in a republican community and he is equally out of place whether he be a man living in idle luxury on millions which he has not earned or which he has won in ways that represent no service to the na- tion. The division between the worthy and the unworthy citizen must be drawn on conduct and character and not on wealth or poverty. Arrogance and vanity, the bitter scorn of the rich man for the poor man and the bitter hate of the poor for the rich man are merely the opposite sides of the same dark shield. The greatness of our institutions in the past has rested upon the fact that the people had the power and that they used it aright for great and worthy ends. Washington and Lincoln, each in the degree that his generation rendered possible, trusted to and believed in the people, steadfastly refused to represent anything save what was high- est and best in the people, and by appealing to this highest and best brought it out and made it promi- nent. Each called upon his countrymen to lay down their lives for an ideal and then called upon the survivors to perform the even harder task of lead- ing their lives in such shape as to realize the ideal for which their countrymen had been dying. Our aim, the aim of those of us who stand for true progress, for true nationalism, for true patriot- ism, is not only to give the people power, but our- selves, as part of the people, to try to see that the power is used aright and in a spirit of the broadest kindliness and charity toward all men. What evidence have we that our institutions, controlled and guided by the spirit of modesty, na- tional pride, and courage, has the fuller, freer, lib- eralizing. uplifting influence, not only in our own country, but in the world at large. Our answer is found in our industrial activity, our commercial pursuits, our artistic expressions on canvass, in monuments and architecture, in our educational sys- tem. where enlightenment enters and becomes an inmate of the humblest dwelling, where genius and talent have the protection of governmental law. What debt of gratitude docs the world owe to ours, the younger of all civilized nations? You will agree that our International Court of Arbitration was made possible through American influence. W'hat do you find in the history of Cuba and the Philippine Islands to answer our question? All nations of the world are looking to us to make possible such an institution that will result in complete disarmament. And if national virtues and the spirit of our institutions be extended, the prophetic words of the Great Teacher—“Peace on Earth; Good Will to Men”—may be realized.

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Commencement Parts V ale dic tor)) time when we are enrolled in that larger register, the register of life. Are we ready to answer every roll call of duty and stand sentinel to guard the safety and sacredness of our public institutions? In Salu In behalf of the members of the class of nine- teen-eleven I extend to all a most cordial welcome. It gives us pleasure to greet the former graduates and the kind friends, who have so willingly and cheerfully contributed their time and means to the support of our High School. While we regret the breaking up of old asso- ciations, the future holds a charm for us all. Up to this time our pathway has been more or less se- cluded. We have followed the guiding hand of parents, friends and teachers and have wandered half carelessly along the little way we have come. Roses have bloomed in our pathway, but they have not been of the thornless variety by any means. Occasionally, as we journeyed, far sighted companions pointed out a temple far up the moun- tain side. Our untrained eyes could but faintly dis- cern its glistening white pillars, hid among the sur- rounding trees. This, they told us, was the temple of Truth, and we resolved to climb the pathway of which wre had caught occasional glimpses, and enter the wonderful place. the larger sense, we would not say good-bye, but rather in that larger spirit of helpfulness and at- tainment, bid you God-speed. LOIS VELTE. latory Today the gradually broadening pathway seems at first glance to come to an end; but, as we look more closely we realize that instead of ending, it has begun to divide and distinct pathways diverge from the one we have been traveling. We have come to the parting of the ways, but we scarcely realize that the ways are parting because we can see travelers in each path and they seem to be calling greetings across to each other. We even catch snatches of a song and laughter, because the paths are pleasant ones. Multitudes are passing and many hesitate at the place where the road forks; some cast eager glances toward the tall white pillars of the temple high on the mountain side, then at the huge rocks in the pathway, and the barren places, where the sun beats pitilessly upon the ambitious ones, but the majority go with willing feet along one of the other paths. We notice that after a little way the roads diverge more and more widely; the one leading to the temple makes abrupt ascents and its way be-