Hastings High School - Saxon Yearbook (Hastings, MI)

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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-

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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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comes very steep. Here and there welcome shade is cast by mountain trees; but often the traveler must climb over long stretches of hard, gray rock, steadily up hill all the way. Another path seems to lie on one continuous plain and is traveled by a large company of people. The pilgrims are carefree and joyous, thoughtlessly following the crowd. The remaining pathway winds gradually down- ward. The multitudes, which travel the well beaten path, seem content and the majority careless of their goal. Occasionally a travel-worn pilgrim halts as if meditating whether or not to retrace his steps, but as he gazes at the steep incline behind him and as the crowds go surging by. he shakes his head wearily and continues on his course. He realizes that the path has become more steep and Class Motto—4 That this is an age of wonderful opportunities we hear on every side, and the truth of it is patent to every thinking person. The college graduate, the high school graduate, is told in most eloquent words that he has only to go forth into the world, grasp the opportunity which awaits him and march forward triumphantly on the road to success. Wc, the class of nineteen-eleven, arc standing today as so many classes have stood before us, with Commencement Parts Salutatory it will be a difficult task to make the attempt to return. As we follow the company with our eyes, this path disappears from view, and we are aroused from our reflections to a realization of this truth: that the future of each of us, whether our lives shall be lofty in their ideals, or commonplace, or vulgar, de- pends upon the path we choose. Whether we shall climb the rugged way to the temple of Truth, there to have the clear vision of things that are, or whether we shall be content to linger in the low- lands of life, knowing and caring for naught but self, or whether wc shall go with willing feet in the way that disappears from view, depends largely upon our decision at the parting of the ways. HAZEL LAWRENCE. ‘Know Thy Opportunity. ” our school days past and over, looking out upon the life beyond, with its golden future so full of promise and achievement, looking out upon the world, with its beauty, charm and enchantment; and looking thus we see stretched before us the broad, white pathway through life, which we hope to make our own. striving only to attain that great ideal of a beautiful and perfect character, and we arc not disheartened, but rather encouraged for we