The Iola register., 1891-05-15

NusIc- Ladies' Band
MuseMae Quartet Msssr ss%s0HEs ssa9i TsSderaSn kss5
Invocation Rev. W. H. Hyatt
What we Owe to the Puritans Thomas II, Bowlus
Last Chapters, Sadie Post
COrnet Solo Mr.. II, Il. Hamm
War-As an EVIL, Orval Williams
-Asa Benefit, George WoOdin.
Music-Duet- Frank Letter Chas. F. Scott.
Chief Joseph Lutte Slower.
Within the Walls and Beyond the Walls. :.
Instrumental solo-"The witches Dance,
Grace L. Beck.
Presentation of Diplomas q. E. whItehill
Benediction, Rev. A. B. Freed
Music Ladies Band.
The foregoing is the program that
was carried out without a skip or a
break from beginning to end at the A.
o. U. w. Hall last Tuesday evening.
The hall was tastefully, but not pro-
fusely decorated with flags and flow
ers. An evergreen arch erected across
the front of the stage bore the inscrip-
ton, "Class of '91," while i'm the rear
of the stage in letters of white against
a green background was the class
motto, HE Conquers who Endures."
On account of the tardiness OH which
lola audiences pride themselves, it was
$50 before the exercises could begin.
At that hour the class entered the
room and marched to the stage, whith-
or the teachers and members of the
school board had preceded them, re-
ceiving a generous welcome from the
audience.
The first speaker-an lola boy born
and bred, whom everybody knows and
likes-betrayed a slight nervousness
in the beginning, as was natural, but
soon recovered his usual composure
and spoke clearly and well. He spoke
first in a general way of the marked
influence upon civilization that strong
religious movements have had at yari-
Gus times in the worlds history, show
ing how the destiny of more than one
nation has been shaped and guided by
the religious sentiment that controlled
the people. Coming down to the time
of the Puritans he gave the causes
which led them first to separate from
the parent church and which finally
drove them to America in search of
freedom to worship God after the die
tates of their own conscience. Landed
here, they established for the first time
on earth, a government based upon
universal suffrage and acknowledging
the absolute political equality of all
men. We owe to them our first ideas
of true republic. We owe to them
our system of education, for next to re-
Iigion they valued learning. We owe
to them largely the masterpieces i'm
our literature, which have been inspir-
ed by Puritan thought and motive.
That is the substance of Mr.. Bowius'
address, and in manner, matter and
style it was in every way creditable.
Miss Sadie Post chose an original
subject and handled it in an original
way. The Importance and beauty of
first thingswas pointed out. The first
impressions made upon the child mind
are the strongest and most lasting.
The reader enters with great eagerness
and zest upon the first chapters of his
book. The beginning of the year, the
opening of leaf and blossom, is a joy
and an inspiration. But there is, or
there may be, joy in last things.
Fruition is better than blossom. Full
filment is better than promise. Har-
vest is better than seed time. If we
have lived purely and dealt justly the
last chapters of our life may be the
best and happiest. Miss Post spoke
with excellent emphasis and enuncia-
ton and made good impression.
Mr.. Orval Williams spoke with much
earnestness and vigor upon the evils
of war, the irreparable injury it infiict-
ed upon nations, the destruction it Wis.,
tied upon cities, the woe it brought to
families. Alexander conquered the
world, but what good did that do the
world? War is evil and only evil and
that continually. 1t is wasteful from
a financial standpoint and demoraliz-
ing from religious standpoint. 1t
should be the effort of all good men to
bring about the time foretold by the
prophet, when nation shall not take
up arms against nation, neither shall
they learn war any more.
Mr.. George Woodin-son of J. L.
Woodin, and a handsome, manly fell
low-made one of the best speeches of
the evening in defending the mobile
profession" The history of war is the
history of nations. War is an instinct
of humanity and is of divine origin. |
And the greatest wars in history have
brought the greatest blessings TO man
kind. The Crusades stimulated, as
centuries of peace could not have done,
the intellect of Europe, paving the way |
for manufactures, inventions and geo.
graphical explorations. The Norman
infused new blood into the
English veins aud established
4 nation that has been dominant for
four centuries. The Revolutionary
war made possible the establishment
Of our own splendid government, and