The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-06-02
HIGH SCHOOL
COMMENCEMENT
4 oDtinued from Firs. Page.j|I

me- rom " apole con- adj
ans; Washing toni and Lincoln: have
stood forth and 5large directed the
affairs 81 their respective nations!
Alexander and Caesar graspedt the
truth which lies back Of the power
70 TO subdueS and control, and with this
power spread gGrecian and Roman civ.
Iilization among the barbarous tribes
Of Europe and Asia. Alfred the Great
not only united Ensland, repealed the
Danish Invasion, but used other no.
bic schemes for the civilization and
glory Of his country. Cromwell was
great asa general. but still greater
as a civil ruler. Napoleon broke the
letters that were binding civilization
in Europe, made and unmadea kings
and removed the barriers to political
progress. Samuel Adams, Washing.
ton and Lincoln as unwearied, eff.
Gent, and disinterested asserters OF
etidea Of freedom and independence,
served America in establishing the
foundations Of a civilization more glo-
.rious than the world has yet seen.
the American civilization in which
the individual will be paramount.
In the scientific world, the reign OF
the individual has been supreme.
Calico and Newton in discovering
theilaw which govern the movements
of worlds Watts, Fulton, Morse and
Edison in selling and controlling ma.
lures mighty forces Of steam and
electricity, have given great momen
tum to human progress. The pic.
neers of science we're /, branded as
athelstic, We're banished, imprisoned
and tortured with countless, lnhuman
tiles, but science has developed and
with it the desire for investigation.
until in our age, man has snatchel
the th,inderbolts from Jove and has
taught them words OF anxiety and
love-; and until the gods Of heather.
domain fire and water-haye been
stripped of their garments OF mystery
and clothed in the practical robes OF
honest labor, otoil in the workshops
Of man. q; \
I'm the religious world, Mohammed,
,uddha, ,Wycliffe, Luther and Wesley
have fashioned the minds Of their
followers. Each had his convictions
and his message. With these conv..c-
ions, each sought to ameliorate the
condition Of the world. Each sought
to purify human desire and elevate
mankind. Who can estimate the re.
suit of their teachings? All relig-
ions have had their peculiar individ,
nalized civilizations. Paganism and
Platonism crushed the individual b..
meath the wheels Of the state. Those
creeds in which the individual was
not pre.eminent have not endured:
for no society has risen higher than
its convictions. 4, * 4
Christianity places mans soul
above all, and has given to the world
| its glorious civilization. BY emrha.
sizing the individual, it has raised
woman from mere chattel to the
position Of queen in the home. II
has banlshed slavery from Europe
and America. 1t has made the HIM
blest bondsman proud Of being q
child Of God. Professionalism and
democracy have come in train. Bott
hold the individual first in import
ance. I'VE see that society. progresses
not only by but sfor the Individual
Since the destinysof manis not2pure
lyl social, society does not represent
his 3entireness. Besides his relation
to society. there still remains In, hin
the more imperative duty to himself
To attain social perfection, seems tc
be the mission or purpose Of human
ity. For this perfection, the Divine
= Creator has all time; for the devel
opment and cultivation Of the indi
vidual. He has but the short spar
Of mortality. 4
We cannot reach our highest fit
! ness for helping our fellows in theil
upward progress, unless we are tru,
to ourselves. A great American edll
Gator has said that the Keynote. O
the new century is the development
s Of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. civiliza
5 ton has already emphasized It.
And live there now such men a
those, u. .i'is. (
I With thoughts like the great Of old
Many have died in misery, FL
:, And left their thoughts untold.
But the world goes round and 'roune
And the general seasons run;
And ever the truth comes rnnernnsj