Hilltown High School - Echo Yearbook (Hilltown, PA)

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One realizes that God becomes not only the answer to all of our lueks, but the com- pletion of all of our possibilities. He is not only essential to our existence, but the factor that explains, that qualifies and that coalesces our limited powers. Creation may be the first act in this drama. For who knows but that the world is a stage and we are the actors. Each one plays his or her individual part. To bring something out of nothing, as in the creation of the universe, was no more of a miracle than to bring perfection out of imperfection, completion out of incompletion. So that when one reads and hears all of the modern or age-old philosophing about the possible nonexistence of God, one wonders with what the talkers and writers have dulled their perceptions. They might just as well philosophize about the non-existence of themselves or argue that because their hands saw no head, their bodies were possibly headless. , For apart from the esthetic satisfaction of thinking about God or the religious inspir- ation of obeying God, there is the natural sequence from a Creator to Creation, which, probe as they may, the physicists cannot gainsay, even though they may choose to ignore the logic. For the rest of us, who are not bent on discovering the reason why, but are merely concerned about our next step into the dark, how simplifying, how mercifully direct is the alternative reliance on God. His way is our necessity, since we know no way, if the choice is to lead us through and out. His strength, as David discovered ages ago, is our rod and staff in the dark valley where to take one misstep is death. His power obviates the man-made temporary makeshifts. His stake in our existence is our explanation for being alive. This is ego- iism on our part, this instinctive reaching out for Cod and claiming a relationship with him. It is what we, as human beings, share with all created things that fulfill His laws, from electrons to stars. Egotism would be in the other direction, in supposing that we could choose sensibly without Him. Jesus, whose every act and word testified to this relationship of the created to the creator, found for Himself, and revealed with a crescendo of emphasis, the word in the languages of mortals. 'I' hat word was 'iFather. But he added one other to it, which made what it expressed, unique in human speech, Our Fatherf' You can make a whole creed out of that and involve all the commandments. For it involves not only an all-comprehensive relationship of man to God, but of man to man. It permeates all our plans and influences all our thoughts. For it assumes not only the source from which we have sprung, but the goal to which we return. And as a standard we must not only measure all that we do by that supreme relationship, but all that we dream could be done. Beyond Him there is no where. Without Him there is no here. In Him we live and have our being, our imperfections fitting into His eternal perfecting. And that is a conviction which both stabilizes and energizes. Futile restlessness is done away by the serene confidence which takes its place. Everything counts, but in pro- portion., All of our experiences throughout the years, are grist at this mill. Yet our consciousness of God, Our Father, takes the sting out of memory. But our cumulative knowledge is merely the handful of the years learning of God, Our Father. Our sins, our mistakes, our failures, no less nor more than our successes, stand or fall as they reveal Him. Nothing else counts. Love that has swept, turned, buffeted, failed or found us, is as Jesus told mankind, the great asset toward finding God. But even love must take its place as part of that seeking and finding, or lose its value in our final summing up. For though we have every opportunity to argue from less to greater and in youth make Love a God, in the perspective of our years, we come to know that God is Love and are content. Since, if all of life and perhaps all eternity combined, make that, bourne from which no traveler returns, we seem permitted to carry with us all that matters of the past, our part being not only to remember, but to understand. At least that was the high role to which Jesus urged followers to aspire. Not servants who know not what is done by their Lord, nor why, but friends who love, and are His Children' J. WALTER STAUFFER I 7 '

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BARTALON PETKU Pete Dublin, March 2, 1915 ':lVl1ere's our good-looking blonde, and all around chap? Oh! Here he is- Pete right off the buff, Activities: Class Treasurer, 1, 2, 3,3 Art Editor of Echo, 4-3 Vice President of Lit- erary Society, 4: 4'Hes My Pal, 4, Edu- catin' Mary, lg Operetta Stage Manager, 3, Captain of Basket Ball Team, 4g Sports Busi- ness Manager, 43 Basket Ball, 1, 2 , 3, 43 Baseball, 1, 2, 3, 4gTrack, 3, 4: Field Man- ager, 4: B. C. I. M., 3, 43 Glee Club, 3. Whenever you feel hands clasped around your neck, imitating Frankenstein, you can he sure Pete is around. Petey has almost unsurpassed ability in Athletics, being our worthy captain in Bas- ket Ball. He seldom misses a tap. Probably it is due to the fact that he is such a distinguished blonde that proves his effect upon the weaker sex, usually falling along: the petite line. His good nature makes him a pal to everyone. 'iPete'7 plays the trumpet and :is talented vocally. lPete's ideal life would be to isolate himself from all human beings, however, a sailor's life would do, says he, but we don't believe that will ever happen. We're not saying why. Can you imagine? 'gPete is a manager and business man, as is proven by his activities, so numerous. He's one of our French students and when he discovers words like Sapristi and Mon Dieu you should just hear him rave. ' if I4

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LITERARY Digging Diarnoncls As has been the custom for several years, the Seniors take charge of the morning devotions one day of each week. Among' other very splendid addresses and musical numbers, we were given opportunity to hear Dr. John P. Erwin of Perkasie. He took as his subject, Digging Diamonds. Every one wants to find diamonds or in other words, has one special hope in life. All of high school age should have chosen their vocation and after making their selections, they must have six qualities which enable those possessing them to dig their diamonds successfully. First among our good qualities is mentioned physical normality. This is what provides energy to dig. Nearly all successful men contribute their success to good health. Mr. .lohn Wanamaker, no matter where or when he was asked the road to success, always listed good health first. Man cannot live on bread alone, so to be strong we must have an abundance of all kinds of food. Cleanliness comes next to Godliness, so let us keep our bodies thor- oughly cleansed, internally and externally, at all times. As a third factor in gaining physical normality, let us remember ,the maxim, Ulfarly to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. The teaching of the above saying is self-evident, so let us all obey it. u Mental capacity is the second essential quality. This directs you where to dig. Observ- ation, reasoning and memory enter here. A person who has a good sense of observation, who can use logical reasoning and has a good memory, has the mental ability to follow his inclinations. If good judgment is used, he can and will undoubtedly reach his goal. Concentration or focusing our forces on one special work is the third factor helping to determine whether or not we shall obtain the diamonds we are seeking. A person who can concentrate thinks clearly and quickly, he can read and repeat correctly. Of course, con- centration requires doing one thing at a time and that done well. Punctuality also enters as a result of systematic working. No one can afford to waste his or another's time, so all should be prompt for all engagements and assignments. The fourth factor is aggressiveness which carries us forward. The greatest enemy of man is fear. Fear has saddened many lives. The aggressive man must have faith in his purpose, faith in his digging and courage to carry on. If he has these, fear will eventually be overcome. Sympathy is a beneficial quality which promotes harmony with men and things. Intro- spection enters here. lf we are ever inclined to be egotistical, we should examine our- selves and we will soon discover we are not perfect by any means. A sympathetic person is tolerant and has sell'-control. He is an extravert and not an intravert. That is, he works for the general welfare of the public. An excellent example of this kind of person is Russell Conwell, author of Acres of Diamonds, a great philanthropist, and founder of Temple University. He was always seeking ways of doing good. After having the above five requisites, we can begin to dig, but if we do not have it sixth, we may be an earthly success, but be a failure as far as immortality is concerned. It would be as Christ told the rich young ruler, 'gOne thing thou lackestf' This last but not least indispensable requirement is vision. Vision determines our ideals or the kind of diamonds we will dig. To help us form good ideals, we should study biographies of great men, especially lives of those men recorded in The Book, for by doing so, we shall constantly have an example before us. Travel alsoibroadens our vision and we become I8