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

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the soul of man, and other spiritual realities. Rely upon this book. You have been born for troubled times. I' hope you may have pleasant and prosperous times in your adult and later life. You have been happy in spite of the constant rumblings of danger and destruction all over the world. Youth is not easily made sad, and the hard things which blighted the lives of many boys and girls of your age were still far enough away to permit you to live in plenty and in happiness. Now and then you were made momentarily sad by the vicarious suffering in behalf of an underfed, crippled, homeless, orphaned refugee in a war-stricken land. But your life has been ,quite free of trouble and sadness. Still, you cannot help being af- fected by the many things that are happening to many people of your ages in other lands. To a certain extent you have experienced trouble with your less fortunate fellow man. You have read. You may have seen through the eyes of others. You may have had dreams that seemed very real. You have been born for troubled times, and it is important that you make a valuable contribu- tion. '1'he World is in need of all the help you can give to bring about healing of the wounds that the past years have made. Live close by the Bible way of life. Love your fellow man with a true heart. Have a concern for the body and soul of even the most distant person. Give unstintingly of the good things with which you are blessed, so that others may see the light that has come to your life. Always live the Christian life fully and eagerly. -Nom-I G. Gooo. Dear Graduates: Q. 5 To you members of the graduating class, this commencement ss day is a day of happiness when you enjoy the thrill of realizing the culmination of spent energies and effort to achieve a goal for which you F, f have been striving. The lessons learned, habits acquired, ideals in- spired, attitudes molded, and goals achieved-all of these will be con- tributing factors to the completeness and usefulness of your life in service to your home, your community, and your church. l'Vhatever you may have acquired in your training while attending this school that will contribute to making your life richer, more abundant, and of greater usefulness to your church and to others, give God the honor and the glory for it. You have spent many happy, carefree days at school in a more or less protected school atmosphere. From such an environment you are now going into the maelstrom of a wicked and sinful world-a world of men and women who do not love and honor God as you have been taught and have experienced in your home and school-a world that is hostile to the teachings of the Prince of Peace-a world in which there is strife and rumors of war-a world in which there is much sorrow, hunger, suffering, and disappoint- ment-a world in which there is jealousy and greed. It is easy to drift with the stream of worldly influences about us and to go with the crowd but it takes a strong, determined. and purpose- ful young man or woman to live the victorious Christian life above the baser elements of worldliness. To be a young man or woman of seventeen or eighteen years of age graduating from high school in 1948, facing all the uncertainties about us, should not mean discouragement or dis- appointment, but instead Look above the clouds, God is reigning still, Trusting in I-Iis love. do His blessed will. In the opportunities that are yours today, may your life be a Christ- centered and God-conscious life fully yielded to the will and purpose of God, ready to serve when and where God would call you. As We part on this commencement day, cherished memories linger of many pleasant associa- tions we have had together. May you have the prayer of the Psalmist on your lips as he prayed, Search nie, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. If we ask God to search us, to try us. and to see if there be any wickedness or dross of a sinful world clinging to our lives which is hin- dering our testimony for Him, I-le will search our hearts, I-Ie will try us, and l-Ie will purge our lives. If this prayer is offered truthfully and sincerely it will have an effect on your consciousness of God, your loyalty to tl1e church, your service for Ghrist, and your courage to be true to your Lord. -CLYDE B. STONIQR. sms' as 7

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Principal's Message Dear members of the graduating class: As young people you are blooming forth into young manhood and womanhood. Your life is prospective to an expansive usefulness in a world of many opportunities, needs. and responsibilities. You are grad- uating in a time when political situations are quite uncertain, in a time when religious beliefs and practices are lluctuating away from their heretofore established moorings. There is certainly a great opportunity with stability of character and with nobility ol' purpose to conquer through l-lim. You are graduating from this institution with a background ol' youth that can well serve as a foundation upon which a life of useful- ness can be built. Your parents have followed you through the years with keen interest and anticipation for a life in accordance with God's will. The discipline of life while here in school will help to regulate your attitude and conduct in later years. Christian teachers have given, by precept and example, a background of inlluence that shall mean i much to you in the years ahead. You are an investment for which certain results can be expected. Parents have invested time, money, and personal sacrifices. You have been in school these four years, much of which time you could have been earning money instead of spending money for your schooling. Your teachers, after many years of preparation, have given time for study and teaching with confident prayers and personal interest. The church through conference has decided to have this school for you. Its Board of Trustees have given freely of their time, energy, and interest that you might have this privilege. It is now up to you to show that the investment has not been in vain. There are some guiding principles to make your life a success. The Bible is the authority on all matters of which it treats. The Holy Spirit and the VVord, by I-Iis obedience thereto. will produce a conscience that will guide you in many circumstances. The continued counsel ol' your parents will be valuable. The church is God's ordained agency in which and for which you serveg its leaders will give you counsel in working out life's responsibilities. The conference and your local ministry are God's ordained servants to help you in your Christian life and in the serv- ice opportunities that will be yours in the years ahead. .Regard their counsel with respect, for they are ordained for that responsibility and they are men of years and experience. A few goals that should be thought of as you go forth from this institution should include both life and service. According to the Scriptures an exemplary life is a strong witness ol' the truth fCU7llf7lllC'Cl on page 6Sj Class Advisers Message Dear Seniors of the Class of 1948: As I sit in my room writing this little message there lies before me a book with the title, Proplietic Ymrs, 1947 to 1953. To tell you about the message of the book would only lead to confusion, for the author has not gone to the best sources for information. Much of the pessi- mism and fear that he pictures can truly be read from the events of the world today. But you have no cause for terror, nor have you need for any special revelation to make you secure. For your present needs I want to present to you another book which also speaks about many terrible things. but in it are the only sources of hope and rescue from the forces of this present troubled time. The Bible, if relied upon, will show you the way of life without giving rise to needless fears and false ideas. It presents a true history of man, his origin, his failures, his redemption, and his future hope. It also gives you a true picture of Cod, the Creator of the universe, ol eternity, 6

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Faculty fwith messages to graduating classl Harvey W. Bauman To the graduating class of 1948: Life's journey is made enjoyable and successful by paying attena tion to traffic signs. GO FORYVARDH with Christ for the church into the whole world. STOP when in bad company or when say- ing or doing something that might cause others trouble or sorrow. DETOUR bad company, questionable amusements, and taverns. SHARP CURVESH are ahead. They appear so suddenly that you need to proceed with great caution. MOUNTAIN Al-lEAD -hll up only at the station provided by God J . Lester Brubaker To the class of 1948: Be . . . strong and very courageous. You face times of testing. You will need to know what you believe and why. Trust God fullyg Through I-lim We Conquer. Be . . . strong and very courageous. Ahead are the days of testing. The world needs your fearless testimony. I pray the Holy Spirit will direct you into the front lines of the kingdonfs hattleheld. Dear Seniors: The years have brought you at last to your high school diploma. Out and beyond lie other goals for you to reach. You will be re- quired to toil and serve that you may someday give an account of yourself with joy. Life will open up before you with an ever-widen- ing horizon and increasing' opportunities for service. Through I-lim you shall conquer. May the God of all wisdom and strength fully equip and direct you according to His eternal purpose. 8