Lancaster Mennonite High School - Laurel Wreath Yearbook (Lancaster, PA)

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i' LANCASTER MENNONITE SCHOOL IOURNAL Excerpts from Orations The following short messages are excerpts from orations delivered during the last term by members of the Senior Class. VVe give the title of the oration, the author, and a short portion of the message. HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE CHURCH Llzsrizn I'IERSI-IEY We as nonresistant people, have no part: in the government. So long as it does not interfere with our belief in God, and the practice of that be- lief we are to obey the laws which man has made. XfVe should pray for our government that the nation may be governed in such a way that it may please Him. Ask yourself, Wfhy are Mennonites good farmers and why are most Mennonites farmers? First, most of the Mennonites were farmers in Europe. We are good farmers because we know God and feel that it is our duty to make use of His land in such a Way that we may glorify Him. On the farms the Mennonites can raise their families without being afraid that their children will not be in good company while at work. On the farm the children are not so readily inHuenced by things of the world, such as movies. On the farm you can have a better home because both father and mother are home with their children, while in the city the father goes away from home to work. Wfhat is our duty toward helping the needy? It is my duty as a Men- nonite to help my fellow man if he is in need of food or shelter. VVe should also give the needy t-he Gospel and help them so they may know His Word and come into the fold of Christ. . AGRICULTURE, TI-IE BASIS OF CIVILIZATION Ronnicr Eisizksous Agriculture is the oldest of all occupations. Emerson said, HThe first farmer was the Hrst man. Agriculture is the most widely extended occu- pation and it lies at the foundation of all industries. Daniel YVebster said, When tillage begins other arts follow. The farmers therefore are the founders of civilization. lVithout the farmer the race would perish. It has been stated that everything which is consumed by the human body comes from the farm, except salt. The progress of agriculture may seem to have been slow, but it has advanced as rapidly as the other arts. 25

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THE MILL STREAM Class Song ONXVARD AND UPWARD XYITH CHRIST To be sung Here on the verge of life we stand, Ahead our future liesg VVe contemplate the rough expanse, A blessing in disguise. Through times of happiness and j oy, Or times of grief and woe. The call comes forth to follow on, So, onward we must go! The hills of toil before us loom. Discouragements arise. Undaunted we must forge ahead And strive to gain the prize. The path of life is rough and steep That leads to heights sublime. The valley 'neath us may allure. But, upward we must climb! How shall we brave these rugged steeps? The foe, how shall we meet? Wfho. then, shall our protector be To guide our falt'ring feet? VVith jesus Christ, the Son of God, The source of strength and grace. VVe'll climb the long and Winding trail, And meet Him face to face. -Nevin Miller and Paul N. Kraybill to the tune of: The Son of God Goes Forth to lVar 24

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TI-IE MILL STREAM GETTING ALONG WITH OTHERS IVAN GLICK No matter where we go in life we shall always contact others. To keep these human relationships flowing smoothly we must know how to get along with others. To accomplish this we must be genuinely interested in others and, above all else, in their spiritual well-being. Moreover. we must try to look at problems from the other 1TlZ1l1iS point of view. Christ did just that when He came to earth and grew up as a human being. so that He could better understand our emotions and problems. We must meet others 'on their own level. In speaking, we should try to speak in terms of the other pe1'son's interests. To be happy in this life we, like our Saviour, should live for others. He met man on man's own level and won him. XVe must re- member that most ordinary people have a high regard for themselves. Their own names, to them, are the sweetest, most charming, and most beautiful combinations of words in any language. Here we can take a tip from the experience of politicians who soon learn that to remember a votcrls name is statesmanship, but to forget it is oblivion. THE GLORY OF CHRISTIAN PEACE JOHN C. Kuwrz VVhen we have peace with God we also have peace with our fellow man. Oh, how blessed it is for men to dwell in unity! Oh, how cursed it is for men to dwell in strife! NVhat a dark contrast! The fact is quite evident that men are dwelling in strife. There is no mutual concord between nations. The world is passing through the worst scenes of strife ever witnessed. As a result of only a few enjoying Christian peace, many are suffering from a deficiency of that peace. XV hy are there millions of people starving today? Xlihy are men slaughtered on the battlefield by the thousands? VV hy are the grieving moth- ers heartbroken because of the loss of a son on the battlelield? An answer to these questions may be that there are too many who have not that peace. Men misunderstand each other. There is no fellowship among them which has a building effect. Man has lost a wonderful blessing ,by losing that fel- lowship,-the blessing of peace. It was not God's will that even His chosen people should war against other nations. If they would have obeyed His will and commandment, God would have taken care of the rest. XV hen Israel entered Canaan they drove the nations out. If they had obeyed the Lord's commandments. He would have driven the Canaanites out with hornets. 26