CLOSING EXERCISES ODD FELLOWS HOME SCHOOL LAST NIGHT DIPLOMAS AWARDED TO TEN GRADUATES INSTITUTION'S HIGH SCHOOL Three boys and seven girls were presented certificates of gradua- tion in a very impressive and in- spiring commencement exercise held at the Odd Fellows Home Friday night. The diplomas were presented by J. M. Pouncey, State Grand Master of the Odd Fellows Order. Members of the 1926 graduating class are Mae Newbill, Arveal Blankenship, Egelee Brandon, Ar- tie Lee Hays, Ruby Mae Porch, Mary Lewis, Etta Haney, Lloyd Smoke, Carlton Roberts and Eld- ridge McCandless. Mary Lewis class salutatorian, will attend Southern Methodist University and Carlton Roberts, salutatorian, will got to Aus- tin College. Dr. H. F. Estill president of the Sam Houston State Teachers’ Col- lege, made the class address. The exercises were held in the high school auditorium. All the children and teachers of the Home and a large number of Corsicana people were present. The Girls’ Orchestra directed by W. O. Bar- low played the processional as the graduates filed down the main aisle and seated themselves in chairs forming a semi-circle. The ex-students’ annual ban- quet was held in the main dining room following the graduation ex- ercises. Elsie Dunnell, Georgia David- son and Mae Noble were awarded first, second and third medals in expression and music by Mrs. Pearl McCoy. These pupils had made the highest percentages in these two courses of study during the term. The Wray prize, $25 in gold was awarded to Carlton Roberts, as having made the best and highest general averages in study and de- portment during the term. The presentation was made by H. J. Emmins. Mr. Emmins also pre- sented to Neil Nelson $15 in gold as the Sacshe prize. S. P. Spald- ing presented the Spalding prize of $20 to Aileen Jones as the sec- ond high ranking student. Ruby Mae Porch was awarded the jewel for making the highest grades in the commercial work of the school. The presentation was made by Mrs. Forbes. Each of the graduates were pre- sented with gifts from the Corsi- cana Lodge No. 128, in accordance with the annual custom. E. A. Johnson, secretary of the school board made his annual book awards. Mr. Johnson makes a book gift to the pupil in each grade making the highest record of averages in their annual re- ports. The pupils receiving their books made not less than 90 per cent, during the year and one made as high as 98 per cent. Beginning with the kindergarten class the books were given to Marie Allen, Lavern Smoke, Emma Lillie Burgess, Aileen Jones, Neil Nelson, Maggie Lou Holland, Wood- row Blankenship. Dorothy Perdue. Georgia Davidson. Opal Whittaker. Evelyn Knight. Ruby Mae Porch. The invocation was pronounced by T. G. Brooks as the class made its assembly and every seat in the auditorium was taken. Mary Lewis made her salutation as follows: Greeting. “G” is for the Gulf of Life’s dom- inion; Tonight we sail upon its troubled waves, But to us ever be this consolation That others have defied the puls- ing grave, And passed it o’er with scarce an understanding With the terrors deep beneath its frowning lace. A brighter course galore will take us to the shore, Where we’ll meet deception firm- ly, face to face. “R” is for the clashing, frenzied roaring, Deep beneath the bosom of the sea. Wailing, crying, screaming, drowning, moaning, Calling from the depths to sea- men free, But still encased in hope we’ll never falter, Nay, never turn toward this de- spairing shore, But with a way made smooth by fate in our youth We’ll follow success while the breakers roar. Two “Es” the poet is fond of rec- collecting, “Eagerness” to combat higher seas; The “Eyes” of friends upon us still directing The steady stares of love and lib- erty To guide us on our way across that ocean; Without those steady orbs, what could we do? “T” is for the tide about us seep- ing; The tide of life, the whirlpool of despair. Before us shall ascend the higher hopes of men If e’er we reach the harbor over there. But to our boat belongs the oar of conquest, Above us flies the flag of life di- vine. We’ll reach the shore some day if the tide will slightly away From its path to slowly move us o’er the brine. “I” is for the Island where we anchor; The isle of rugged harbor, total loss, Where lives the gale of chance, our colors to entrance In mirrors of a great inflated cost, But at last, we too, may win, to- night we, parting shall begin The trip into the setting of the sun. And at last, as in our boast, Age will find us on the coast Of happiness, our good work just begun. “N” is for the Nature of our jour- ney When we alone shall guide the boat of chance; To us the act of launching is a matter, To age ‘tis but the polish of the lance. But in this boat will sail the jolly ravers, A final “G” the good they hope to do, Aboard, ye bravest vanguards, ‘tis ours to raise the standards, To you, my friends, I trust this “GREETING” true. Miss Lewis was followed by Lloyd Smoke, who gave the Class History as follows: A History, “The year’s at the Spring, And day’s at the Morn; Morning’s at seven,’ The hillside’s dew-pearled. The lark’s on the wing, The snail’s on the thorn; God’s in His Heaven— All’s right with the world!” In the beginning, the school appeared to us merely as the in- centive to higher ambitions and the pathway to a plainer road of human endeavor. We labored merely for the conquest of letter, the humor and interesting facts which we obtained from the fundamental principles of the “Little Red School House.” But from our la- bors came the further desire to extend minute personal principles and to paraphrase the deductions thus gained from the results. Fur- ther, we mastered the dimensions of elaborate study and gained a lesson of practical use, that “the love of conquest ever leads man onward to a greater harvest,” or as Elbert Hubbard once remarked, “There is no such thing as Success, but always a greater goal just ahead.: “And thus we came to the point in our lives when a career of greater possibilities appealed to us, and a more highly magnified enthusiasm of such a conquest led us on to “the goal just ahead.: At the parting of the ways some among us faltered and paused, but we grew grim with determination and hurried on. And all the while Time rolled by like an ocean wave, escaping like moisture from our tired grasps as bonds of trials and labors fastened themselves about our struggling countenances. Then summer came. The heated peril of Uncertainty closed about us, mellowed, receded, and passed us by. The leaves of our ambitions slowly turned from the shade of green to a richer and more experi- enced color, the hue of emerald and pearl. We were in the throes of expectancy, awaiting a trial of life just ahead, a trial that would allow us to test our own resources, to rely upon our own thoughts, to convene with the Gods of Art and Learning, and to compete with Life in our own way. To descend to the vern- acular, we were awaiting that day when we were to enter the diminishing passage of High School, when we were to comply with the proved laws of the universe and evolve to a greater under- standing of the truths we sought to fathom: Lest we should expire of expectancy, at the very apex of our innermost thoughts we left the realms of preparatory work and entered the aisles of a tried and proved institution, sat in the seats of those of our predecessors who never faltered, and concentrated upon the expense of the magnificent problems before us, until many among us left the aisles to take a shorter, yet much more difficult trail. And now we have come to the end of a perfect day. Tonight we have entered the final stage of preparatory perfection. At last we have conquered, and the few, final steps of our youth are just ahead. For only a few brief mo- ments shall we gaze into the palace of Childhood, that magnificent palace of joy, and realize that we are “babes in the woods” no longer. “The curfew tolls the knell of parting day, The lowing herd winds slowly o’er the lea, The plowman homeward winds his weary way, And leaves the world to darkness and to me.” And now, in the few allotted moments in which I have to dwell in the harbor of agitated expecta- tion, to me the last few rays of the sun are slowly turning from purple to gold. The sails of Life’s ship are spread, and we, the trusting mariners who sail under the banner of Conquest, are gazing into the far horizon, staring into the face of Time, wondering what snares and deceptious we are soon doomed to face, what smart- ing troubles we must soon tread upon, and what medium of Success awaits us in the end. And as darkness overcomes the last tender rays of mellow gold, the craft that has weathered the storms and waves for more than a decade slowly puts out to sea. The large brazen anchor has been lifted, the last reef has been con- quered, and the sails are filled with the air of the universe. A last salute to our many instruct- ors, wherever they may be, and the Trip into the Path of the Set- ting Sun is begun. “Tonight we launch; where shall we anchor?” For us, what will Time hold? “Up, the silver dusk returning, Up the beach of darkness brims, And the ship of Sunrise burning Strands upon the eastern rims. Clay lies still, but blood’s a rover, Breath’s a ware that will not keep; Up lad, when the journey’s over— There’ll be time enough for sleep.” Miss Charlie Esther McCarley, member of the graduating class last year, and who is now teach- ing sang a solo, accompanied by Miss Annie Barker at the piano. Etta Haney gave the Class Prophecy as follows: Class Prophecy. Brother Odd Fellows, Sister Re- bekahs, friends and classmates; if you will go with me a distance of about ten or fifteen years into the future of life, you will behold, so the seer says, a scene of vital interest. The setting is in a large opera house in one of our leading cities. The characters represent various types of interested men and women of the day. They are attending a new type of first-class entertainment. “That singing was beautiful. I have never heard anything like it!, exclaimed Madame Whitman to her husband at the conclusion of a spirited vocal solo. “Miss Porch does have a melod- ious voice,” responded Mr. Whit- man. “She sings like a knighting- gale.” “Yes, and did you notice the beautiful costume she wore?” asked Madame Whitman. “It was one of the most beauty- ful I have ever seen,” said Mad- ame La Marr, “Miss Brandon de- signed it. Miss Brandon is a wonderful designer. She designs the costumes for almost all the actresses and performers.” “Yes, and here comes another of her designs, a dance costume” exclaimed Mr. Lyons, “Doesn’t Miss Newbill dance well?” “She is the world’s greatest classical dancer,” said Madame La Marr. “She is traveling with this opera, and she certainly does help to make it interesting.” “Now we shall see Mr. Loyd Smoke’s latest play,” said Mr. LaMarr. “Mr. Smoke has written many plays. He is a famous play writer today. He is also a great cartoonist. He makes his own sketches sometimes to accompany his plays.” “Who is the leading lady playing?” asked Madame Lyons. “She is Miss Hayes. She certainly is a wonderful actress,” answered Madame Whitman. “She has the most beautiful eyes I ever saw.” “She does. She is very prominent. She plays in all of Mr. Smoke’s plays,” replied Madame Lyons. “Here’s the Fox News,” said Mr. Whitman. “I am always interested in the news. It is directed by Mr. Eldridge McCanless. He has taken over the entire publication now and has made a splendid success by his skillful management.” Just then flashed on the screen “News From Washington.” “ President Roberts, on his trip to Europe to attend the League of Nations, will take with him his new secretary, Miss Blankenship. Miss Blankenship has stenographic championship in the United States now.” “Latest Work Done by Foreign Miss- ionaries.” Miss Lewis has established a new church in Japan. She is the greatest woman missionary America has ever sent abroad.” Miss Haney, who wants the women to take an active part in the business world, has established a new business college for women in India.” Dear Classmates as you go out into the world, I hope each of you will be successful in life. I wish you all the happiness that can be discussed by the interested men and women of the day. Set your aims high in life. Even though they exceed your grasp, remember Browning’s consolation in “Rabbi Ben Ezra: “What I aspired to be, And was not, conforts me.” Mae Newbill expressed appreciation in behalf of the class for the Home, the school, teachers, management, to all Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, who had made the institution possible. And that as the graduates would go forth into the world they would look back to the school as their childhood home. Her remarks were brief and very much to the point, well expressed, and as well received. The pupils cheered with each rendition. The program was well balanced, well directed and rendered. Less time was consumed in the presentation than is usual for the graduating exercises. Dr Estill, in opening his class address, said a commencement speech was like a wagon wheel— the longer the spoke the greater the tire. His speech was predicated upon the myth of the goddesses and the apple of discord, in which a hidden lesson lay. He first declared that there are two real seasons of the year, Christmas and holiday times and commencements, the times of the diplomas, white dressed, speech-making, singing. These commencement exercises he recalled did not exist in high schools up till fifty years ago, but were in vogue only in colleges, but today there are more high school graduates than there were college graduates before. The speaker said Texas is the biggest State in area, first in agricultural development and first in many things called natural resources and advantages, but is far down the line in education. The responsibility of remedying the educational situation rests upon the graduates of today, he said. To improve these conditions graduates each year must go forth and seek to better the conditions from year to year. The speaker stressed wisdom as the most desired and valuable thing to be sought—not beauty or pleasure or power, only as power comes through wisdom. In this connection he referred to the wedding feast of the goddesses, where the apple of discord fell upon the banquet table. Juno, Venus and Minerva disputed over the apple, and it was finally awarded the latter as the goddess of wisdom, which is greater than pleasure and power and properly applied controls all else. Declaring that, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy and all play and no work makes Jack a weakling, he urged the gaining of knowledge and wisdom and give your golden apple to the goddess of wisdom. Self-knowledge, self-reverence and self-control were the three controlling lements set forth, and in conquests that give so much joy and satisfaction, the conquest of self is the greatest, he satd. Mental, physical and spiritual development and adding strength to all these was the road to wisdom, power and success. He urged that they study their own minds, discover where the strong and weak points are, do the things that are not so interesting or tasteful that duty requires, take physical exercises and use proper food for physical upbuilding and keep the conscience clear and thereby add strength to the spirituality which rounds out the true character that is intended. He mentioned Roosevelt as a child was physically weak and through proper exercising and diet built his body into that of a giant. The mentality and spirituality is improved and builded up in much the same manner, exercise and proper intellectual diet. Carlton Roberts, valedictorian of the class, spoke as follows, this feature closing, the program: Valedictory. This, my friends, is a time when we must bid you farewell. We have passed down the halls of this, our beloved I. O. O. F. High School and tonight we stand at the first turning point in our endless grasp for the knowledge of life. From year to year we have watched others attain this landing, and eagerly anticipated our reaching it. Each year the preparation has been a little more careful, until, tonight, we feel confident that, no matter how rough the way, we are ready to cast lots in the unknown channels of life. As we. the class of 1926, stand before you, the pages of our memory reflect long glances upon the many friendships and associations that have been formed during our stay in this wonderful Home. Dear schoolmates, we have come to the parting of the ways. Let us. as we go forth, never forgot the Gordian ties that have bound us so closely together. May the troubles we have triumphed over and the experiences we have profited by, be both an incentive and an inspiration to you to reach this goal of graduation, so that you will be further prepared to direct your effort toward bettering the citizenship of our great country. Dear teachers, Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins, members of the Board, Grand Officers of the Odd Fellows, and all others who have to do with the direction and support of this Home, we cannot go our way without expressing to you our gratitude for the influence yon have exerted in moulding our young lives. We thank you for all you have so cheerfully done for us, and trust that the years to come may demonstrate to your satisfaction as well as to our own that you have succeeded in turning, out men and women of principle. We tonight are resolved that we will keep our record stainless, our ideals lofty, and our account with life so balanced that there will never be any grave debts against, us. In closing we ask you to permit us to slightly paraphrase the words of St. Paul and say: "We are now ready to be offered and the time of our departure is at hand. We have fought a good fight; we have finished our course; we have kept the faith. Henceforth may there be laid up for us a crown of reward for our achievements which shall be given us at that day; and not to us only but to all those also who follow the line of duty as we have fol- lowed it." The Corsicana Daily Sun - Saturday, June 5, 1926 Submitted by Diane Richards