The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1903-06-11
ADDRESS
OF Rev. G. n. Ray TO Graduating
Class at Hargrove College.

women surging madly in their Wild
pursuits of the strange phantoms
that rites like mists before them, II
is well that we pause for moment
and ask ourselves the question, What
is worth while?" The answer we
give to this question determines the
place we shall occupy in the world
as well as what men shall think Of
us when we are gone Doubtless
some OF you have decided to pursue
still further the work Of the school
room and reach out for a higher edu-
cation. trust such is the decision
Of every one of you II your circum.
stances in life and obligations TO
others will permit Il. For indeed,
your education is just begun. But
whether you seek the higher training
Of the university or not. the sooner
you come 10 a rational settlement OF
this vital question. What is worth
while. the better It will be for you
Tho question seems TO us a great one.
for II has intimate connection not on
ly with morals and religion. but with
all our public interests.
| feel perfectly safe in advancing
the answer that those things are wor.
thy Of our time and attention which
Enthusiastically contribute to the i'm
provement OF the human race; that
which makes the mind wiser, the
soul firmer, nobler. more conscious OF
It's imperishable treasures, should be
tho object Of pursuit to every ration
nj human being. Then the question
forces itself upon us. What are the
chief instruments Of human develop
ment?
In this commercial age where Plu-
tus is enthroned and men and women
OF every land bow in homage before
him and lay their laurels at his feet,
We are not surprised to hear the cry
of wealth. This answer is not to be
wholly disregarded. II has within Il
an element of truth. We would not
adopt the view OF the extremist and
say that the desire for money is un-
worthy OF a true man and should be
beneath him; for such is not the
case. Our minds were made not Ia
DO shut up within themselves alone
but to act upon all nature. "The mind
grows by expressing itself in material
forms" In no other way could 1t i'm
mortalize itself in the production ot
useful and ornamental arts. in the
erection of magnificent structures and
in the invention OF useful implements
Swayed by this love for wealth, tn,
mind has penetrated the earth ant
brought forth various metals. analyz
cd their constituent elements. re-
vealed their chemical afiinities, pro
Rounced their usefulness. Out o
these metals the human mind hai
constructed instruments which. in his
hands, have revolutionized the world
Tho farmer has cast aside the forlSet
stick and boasts of the riding plov
and steam gauge the pack-horse hai
been forgotten and steam engines e
laundering across the land the trea,
mill has been Danished among tn,
relies and the sound OF the might!
separator can be heard from a thou
saad fields; the huge mill stone ha
been replaced by the polished cylln
der. and The earth groans under
pyramids and palaces"
A little while ago | stood within
the halls of one of the most impos
ing structures in one of o,r northern
cities. Thousands of dollars wer
represented in the walls and fixtures
It's walls were involuted and adorne
with costly paintings by Copley. Biel
stadt and others It's floors were ties
selated with polished stone of tn,
cosuiest kind. over which was sea
tered its excellent furniture in sue
elegance IL seemed that Il had bee
designed by Aesthetics most artist
hand. Its silken curtains floate
beautifully about upholstery. throug
which was sprayed the intense blu
of the sky, the deep green of the 20
est foliage and the white of the dri'
en- snow. We stepped upon the eli
vator and were lifted toward its dom
which was plated with pure gold al
as We walked through it's grotesqu
compartments, said. this represent
the work Of mind as well as muscl
and because men love money we hay
these improvements And as | lool
ed out from one Of its lofty window
upon miles OF brick and mortar stacl
ed dozen stories in the air. sal
again. this represents the work {