Washington and Lee University - Calyx Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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DR. FRANCIS

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a the BeniCf l: And so you go, gentlemen of the Class of 1942, into a world that you did not even imagine on that happy day when you first invested your capacities for learning and development into the safekeeping of Washington and Lee. May God bless you and be with you. I should make that prayer for any graduating class, but I assure you that I have in my heart a peculiar sincerity as 1 utter the words in your behalf. It is a greater task that faces you than any outgoing class has known for many years. I hope you will believe it Is a worthy task. It is my confidence that because of your wisdom and your character you will not spend idle hours in remorse that an older generation brought the world to an unhappy situ- ation which you must straighten out. I am sure that because of your faith you will not dishonor yourself by a kind of fatalism which would say you have just run into bad luck. On the contrary 1 have an assurance that you will know, whatever be the personal sacrifice, that it is your privilege really and truly to make a better world. Let me urge that you keep steadfast in your heart a strong purpose for the fulfilment of your own personal dreams, and that whenever this interruption shall cease you will take up again the energetic fulfilment of the plan by which you may live most happily and most usefully. In the meantime, however, as I leave on record this farewell, I remind you that it is a great thing you set forth to do, and I know you will do your part. P. GAINES PRESIDENT OF WASHINGTON AND LEE