Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-22
WOODARD TAKES FIRST RANK
0reigbtOn's Representative Wins In State
Oratorioal Contest.
WESLEYAN MAY TAXES SECOND PLACE
Father DowIinE Pays High Tribute
to John A. Creighton, of whom
Bust in Marble is
UnveiIed.

James u. WOooerd OF CFelehton COilebe
won first place at the state oratorical asso-
citation contest last night the other col
lege orators ranking as follows; II. F.
Huntington Of wesleyan, ]. Fred Kerr Of
Bellevue, A. @. wray Of Grand Island, w.
L. Mellinger OF Cotner and A. w. Taylor Of
Doane.
The capacity OF Creighton university hall,
where the contest was held, was taxed.
An ovation was given Count John A.
Creighton when, accompanied by Father
Bowling. president OF Creighton college,
and J. NJ. woolworth, he faced the audi
ence from the stage. Several excellent
selections were rendered by the university
orchestra, while preliminary arrangements
were made.
Father NJ. p. Bowling delivered an ad
dress of welcome, paying tribute to the
good judgment of the founders OF the ora
torical association, especially as shown in
the provision for the selection Of judges
OF the contests. I'VE may say that oratory
Is the handmaiden of education" said he.
I'VE educate to form character, to develop
a love Of the beautiful and the true. What
can better help along this than oratory7
The orator brings order out OF chaos; he
creates men and women because he educates
souls in honor and truth
Tell OF rounding OF OreiBhtoh'
The speaker then told Of the founding OF
Creighton college and the benefactions
Of both Edward and John A. Creighton
the latter ''the titulary genius Of the in
stitution, a man whose name Is a household
word in this community"
With these words and amid a burst of
applause on the part Of the audience the
curtain was drawn aside. showing in clear
Italian marble the features Of John A.
Creighton. For a minute the applause was
such that no word could be heard from
the stage, but It settled as the college
yell of Creighton university sounded above
the din; and the program was resumed.
Mrs Fannie Davis Pickering sang THE
Rosary" by Nevin and q Cradle Song"
by Kate vannah. Then was the FIRST Of
the orations heard,
James e. Woodard, representing Creigh-
ton university, selected as the subject OF
his oration ''Is Christianity a Failure?"
The speaker referred to the fact that many
persons have decried Christianity as fall
nre because Of the work Of so-called Chris
tian nations. Other people more optimistic
see better things for the world than those
which now exist, but claim that the better
things will come from other than Christian
sources.
He then referred to the early church, when
the world was dominated by the rule Of
4might. when. the tcenqueror knew no mercy.
f"Christianity rose, mild sun upon the
gloom, a light burning SO steadily that
paganism could not queneh IT."
! Menaces of the Home.
Mr.. woodard was followed. by W. L. Mel
Iinge- of Cotner university, whose subjecI
was "Menaces of the Home" The speaker
opened by description of the ideal home
''the ultimate end OF all ambition"
when we remember the origin Of home
| and its mission" he said, I'VE realize its
sacredness. IN this fast age there is a ten
| dency to destroy the sacred home.- Rapid
4 transit has made us a restless people. The
| customs of the nineteenth century have
had tendency to strengthen society, but
to weaken the individual home"
J. Fred Kerr OF Bellevue college spoke
upon Supreme World Powers" CAS- sure
as man has a trinity OF relations he has a
three-foId destiny TO work out" said he.
Democracy made Athens supreme. but q
cloud hung over Greece; next Rome holds
the scepter. but what slavery, what
tyranny. what vice. During the centuries
Of Rome the star of Bethlehem arose, then
Roman supremacy passed away; the Ger
mans come and dimly the light Of liberty
shows, though dimly. The crusade turns
the minds Of mentor the hrst time all
Europe is united in a common cause. Then
a new world is discovered and the three
principles-liberty. equality, fraternity
are the principles which move the world"
Miss Blanche Sorenson sang "a May
Morning" by DenLa, and responded to an
encore with Dear Heart. Love YOU"
Requisites of Greatness.
A. G. wray Of Grand Island then deliv-
cred an oration on the subject of The
Dynamics Of the Greater Republic" etc
be truly great a nation must recognize
God, maintain equality and uphold Justice. .
he said.
"The Crown o. Manhood" was the theme
Of II. r. Huntington Of the Wesleyan uni
versity. He said: THE measure OF great
ness is virtue. Plate wore the crown
while Jesus wore the cross. but had it no,
been for the latter the former would havs
been forgotten. Alfred the Great was both
a servant and king and he proved that Il
rule well one must serve we'll There II
but one standard for royalty and that II
manhood"
The last oration was that Of A. w. Taylor
OF Doane college, whose theme was
Wanted, Men" The speaker said that tn,
> pioneers offered themselves as a sacrinc,
that a nation might exist. The new wes
has become the old west; the great Amer
ican desert is crowned with happy homes
everything points to America becoming tn,
leader OF the world.
The judges Of the contest were; On manu-
script, Prof. J. Eder Mullen Of George
town university. Prof. Ellis OF the Kansas
State Normal school and Rev. L. p. Luddel
Of Lincoln; on delivery. Judge L. W. Ros
and Rev. George e. Walk Of Council Blum
and @. W. Berge OF Lincoln.
At the close Of the contest q reception
was rendered the visiting members Of facuI
, ties and students in Creighton college read
1 gug roov,