Decorah-posten., 1884-11-12

Uten bog Oct bleo et oelligt Eigt,
IA CUB bet iaH,meHlaaoe;
8lanot Ssraels be itgrte Rquo
IN mureo oo meo SuRrb oeo 9Ruo
Cubs Sus / Beitsrleoeu.
Staa euouU itGrf paa 2Diets Bagt
Noo uueir, StOrm o8 8glge;
Baa 3e8nets Rsiter gin Ell Ngt,
CUBS eagle er Dit 5el9e;
8e eHgdu3 eiter Ramp og Reo
I'll 5uileu bit / A5rams Stiso
Gin tr9tte SIel oil bare.
Den forte Caller par @corg Rarts
bus, GIsu / GOuegsts s~uerite RlasIe,
iOm paa auURrenOe Glsusrs gsgns pit
rsbe felssnoe:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:-It is
difficult for one to express the SEN
tinent of many. The voice of one
is weak, where the feeling of many
is strong. If, therefore, | fail to
adequately express what my fellow
students would have uttered, if |
fail to express what would best beft
the occasion, | would crave your
indulgence.
Twenty-Five years seems to us a
long time. ave look before and
AFTER we think of what is past and
try to imagine things to come, and
we find that there is a difference.
The past, the far past, is to us a
time in which we have taken no
part. The future is a time pecul-
isrly ours. That time, we take it,
lies before US broad and fair, in that
shall we find our land of promise.
As they fit before our fancy, we
can so readily think of the coming
years, even as many as twenty-five.
But this evening we, who delight in
dreams of the future, have an op-
portunity to look upon that of the
past. But one week ago we were
assembled within these walls in
memory Of the twenty odd years
this college has existed; then, as
now, we met rejoicing; then, as
now, We met that we might express
thanks for inestimable benefits.
Then we met to contemplate the
work, now we meet to congratulate
the worker. Congratulate, yes; but
much more that we NAV rejoice
with him, that we may tell him
that we appreciate, and, above all,
that we may offer him our heart
felt thanks.
Sheltered, as we are, by these
walls, cared for, as We are, under
this roof, we are not to forget the
hands that built, as, through adver-
sity, through prosperity, stone was
laid upon stone until it stood, a
noble monument, in token of in
domitable will, of perseverance, of
a hope and a faith which never yet
was shamed. Being enriched by
the choicest treasurers, Luther Col
lege has it IN her power to bestow,
let US honor the one who first and
foremost stored up these t~reasurers
for our use at a time when treasure
was treasure-troye.
Partaking, as we are, of that
spiritual food, the strengthening, the
htegiying, let US never cease to thank
that discriminating judgment which
planned for US always the best; that
kindly heart which sacrificed the
willing hands that labored in order
that we might feast. Yet, the task
of dwelling upon former hardships,
and how many ended in present
success, shall not be ours, for old
men and wise are here this evening.
Let them speak from out the full
ness of their experience. We, the
disciples of to-day, have, and can
have, but one thought, one senti-
ment, one feeling. For the man we
honor we are conscious of no feeling
but gratitude, and we know of no
words to express it, but these: We
thank you.
1t is said that a word once spoken
is a thing of life. 1t can never die,
but forever reverberates throughout
the course of time, effecting its
purpose for good or evil. That word
for the good has been uttered for
US. In the even tenor of everyday
life we have heard it reminding,
exhorting, stimulating. In times
of grief and distress that word has
gone out to us full of strongest con-
ISOLATION. There have been times
when death itself has come swiftly
among US, and that word has
sounded calmly, reassuringly, full
of hope and strength. Then We
knew we were learning a lesson for
time being and time to come. So
have we heard the spoken word, so
have we seen the man. For every
word, for every deed, for what he
has been and for what he is, do we
feel grateful.
AS to the future we have a hope.
For Luther College we would wish
the very best, and the best we know
is a long continuance of that mans
labor, who, through twenty-five
years, has struggled to make this
college what it is. For him, our
teacher, our more than friend, long
may he live! Richly may he reap
the harvest so nobly sown! And
may his field of labor be where we
know his heart is, in the same place
where the dark hair turned grey, in
the grand old place where he is
where he is honored, where
is lovedl For ourselves we have
the hope that, when once we leave
home, we shall be able to take
our place among men; that it may
be manifest that we have learnt the
lesson so faithfully taught. To that
time we look forward with con-
idenee, trusting that we may so
conduct ourselves that the Alma
who nourished that we might
be strong, and the man who taught
US to use that strength, may never
blush for any deed of ours.
This may we remember as long
rs memory lasts!