The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1877-06-21

| aInrmatlVe, IN. hoSenDeTger or morn
town, Ind, negative; Paper, Historical
Diadem," Jennie Kitchin, Atlantic; Ora
ton, ga Thought or two, Eva Waggoner,
Oskaloesa; Valedictory, L. N. Hoag, Mus
catine.
COMMENCEMENT DAY.
Wednesday morning dawned bright and
clear to the great joy of those who have
been looking forward to this eventful day
for many months. To-day the school-year
closes and with it the trials and triumphs
of the student cease. This is always day
of mingled joy and sadness. And Why?
The cares and duties of the school-room
are laid aside for a time, and the student
is soon to meet with loved ones from
whom he has been separated so long, and
enjoy his vacation i'm healthful recreation.
But the separation from kind professors
and classmates, and the reflection that it
may last forever, brings pang of sadness
to the heart, which can only be realized
by those who know from experience.
The chapel was filed with large and
deeply interested audience. Over the
speakers stand, on the wall, was the mot
to: "Truth before favor" in large gilt
letters with blue background.
At the appointed hour, the exercises
commenced by the reading of a select
passage of scripture, and prayer by DIR.
Jeptha w. Morgan, after which President
Woody announced an Grafton entitled
SEARCHING FOR TRUTH"
by JOHN c. WILLIAMS of the Scientific
Glass, and the only graduate. Mr.. Will
liams arose and after few Introductory
remarks by way of preface, plunged, as it
were, with an irresistible force into the
depths of his subject; and with a spirit of
enthusiasm and eloquence only surpassed
by his wide range of thought, brilliant
ideas, and logical reasoning. Mr.. w. is
a young man of superior culture, liberal
views, and possesses those many quail
ties of mind and heart that will insure him
success in whatever calling he may en-
gage. The following is very imperfect
synopsis of his remarks:
All nations and all men to a greater or
less extent seek truth. In the jungles of
Africa, where the torrid sun has scorched
every germ of civilization, beings that al
most supply Darwin's missing link have
some glimmerng of truth, and in their
idols recognize something that can raise
them above their common level In the
Frigid Zone, whose iceburgs and GLACIERS
have chilled the warmth of culture, the
higher, which in their feeble way they are
btrying to reach. Far back in the dawn of
history, we notice this same searching for
truth. Ancient Greece furnishes Scion
who travelled through the known world to
find material to make laws that should
govern his people, and from the Persian
richness and splendor, from the Egyptian
firmness and severity, he framed d code
from which even to- day, the world receives
its inspiration and knowledge of law to
regulate the civil relations of mankind.
1t presented Socrates, the great preacher
| of virtue, the first positive expounder Of
an immortality that Greece; whom Plato
represents as probing the very heart of a
case, and drawing thence the response as
from divine oracle. From Greece we
turn to Rome, its product, for what
ever grand in morals and philosophy
Rome had, it received its inspiration from
Greece. Where we find Lucretius who
exemplified the teachings Socrates, and
through bis grand poem De Rerum Ma
tura tried to break the bands of supersti-
ton that pressed SO heavily on his coun-
trymen. A Cato, who practiced the
same maxims as taught by Zeno, but who
was limited In his teachings by one fault
that characterizes many, viz: that he
could see no truth in anything that did
not come within the scope Of his ideas of
right. England gave to the world a Mil
ton who by his writings, enlarged and fix
ed more firmly in the hearts of the people,
and the constitution of the land, the prin-
ciples of the Magma Charta. AS cul-
mination of this history of truth search
ing, our own country presents two notable
instances. One q hundred years ago,
when few earnest men presented to the
world a lew definition of human rights,
that is destined to be as lasting as the
ages; the other, when our martyred Lin
coin, placed his signature to that dOcu-
ment which stamped Immortality upon his
brow; and placed his name in the book of
life, as the emancipation of four millions
of slaves. He found truth in the doctrine of
universally of human rights. Thus We
see that men of all times, and through
them the nations have been searching for
something higher and better. And the
| question arises, what is truth? What is
| this for which nations have risen and fall
en-, that has been the one absorbing
| thought and fundamental incentive of all
action? 1t is said that "The language of
truth is simple" but how many have been
able to read it? How many have under
stood it in its precision and fullness? No
tice the history of nations in their strug-
gle for existence. Mark well the lessons
that are taught by the obliteration of en-
pires that thought they had found truth,
but embraced error, and let it be the an
swer. Yet not all have made mistakes.
Some there are that have read truth Alright.
In spite of obstacles, and the finiteness of
men, the world has advanced mentally,
| morally, relIgiously. As comprehensive
definition of truth, it may be said that it
is rule of action that controls men in
every right motive, and viewing it as such
we can look back into the dawn of civiliza-
ton, and see it as grand luminary that
rises in its orbit, and shines for the guild
ance of nations and individuals. To the
storm beaten mariner in life's journey, it
has pointed the harbor of safety; for the
wn-trodden and oppressed, it has found
place of refuge. 1t has led the weary
and respondent to an elysium of happi-
ness, and for mankind it has been the
Sesame of eternity. Searching for truth
is a confession by man that he is finite. 1t
is an acknowledgement that there is o
God. Men has perceived it as q great
personality that enters into every product
of humanity, and become controlling
factor in all nations. Surrounded by an
| evil influence that has entwined itself into
the systems of the world, truth has still
retained its individuality. For the earn
est-searcher there are some requisites with
out which he can never hope for perma-
nent success. First, is purity of heart.
His motives must be true. The springs of
action must be in normal condition.
Mans desires must reach out into the
broad plain of philanthrophy, not selfish
ness. Truth never lent itself as stepping
stone for inerdinste ambition. Man must
have steadfastness of purpose. True to
the line of duty he has laid out, he must
bend every energy to the accomplishment
of the supreme end of life. A person