Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-08-02
SOUTHERN NORMAL GRADUATES
Bloomfield Institution Makes an Ex-
ceIent Showing at Commencement.


Bloomfield, July 31.-The first an
nual commencement of the Southern
Iowa Normal. under the late regime Of
Professors Hussey and Brown, was
formally opened Sunday evening, with
the baccalaureate sermon to the grad
yates delivered at the M. E. church by
DR.. Mclaughlin Of Minneapolis, Mimi,
general superintendent of the Univers-
alist churches of Minnesota, Wiscon-
sin and Iowa.
That the normal has the hearty sup
port Of the people by whom the elevat-
ing influence of such an educational
institution in their midst Is not I'M
derrated, was fully demonstrated by
the big audience that packed the au-
ditorium and lecture rooms to the isles.
nor permitted standing room in the
rear. For the first time in the history
Of the normal the graduates donned
the college cap and gown.
From the text For unto whosoever
much is given of him shall much be re-
CURED" Dr. Mclaughlin delivered one
of the grandest sermons that has ever
been addressed to the graduates of
any educational institution of the city.
He is forceful speaker and holds the
interest of his audience from first to
last. Congratulating the class because
of being Caucasians, and summing up
lllc DlcSSlUSS HedpSu upOll luG IdCC,
he made the point that unto them
much having been given, both as a
people and as a nation. much would
be required by the God who created
them for his own glory and honor.
Among Gods many good gifts to the
race he spoke Of personality as a mat
ter worthy of congratulation, saying,
God thinks great deal of personal
ity." Then taking in his hand a mas
turtium drawn from one of the pulpit
bouquets, he launched into vivid de-
scription of natures floral personali-
| ties. He then spoke Of the mental and
| physical limitations upon some impos-
ed, and said in part, do not worry
| about 1t. God expects you to do the
best you can with what he has given
you, just to develop to the utmost the
powers you possess. Power. OF the
soul may overcome the limitations Of
the body
The entertainment closed with the
vocal solo, Nearer MY God to Thee
by Miss Carrie Davies. leader of the
NJ. E. choir. The choir loft was taste.
fully hung with the class colors, blue
and gold, and the normals initials
IS. l. Ms. g." alternated with the
electric globes above the choir rail.
ing.
The Declamatory Contest.
The annual declamatory contest was
held at the college chapel on Saturda.
evening, and the following excellen
program was enjoyed by an audience y
nearly two hundred.
Invocation DIR. c. L. Stafford
l Piano solos
Misses Leila Clelland and Mamie Young
The Heart of Old Hickory.
/ Edyth Miller
The Black Horse and It's Rider"
..............C Clay G. Rominge
4 Cuttings from Songs and Stories
i of Tennessee" Miss Matte Young
Michael Stragoff, Courier of the
an, Car. .chas. H. i Meie
Decision of the judges.
Violin SOLO. $50. Miss Garnet Taylo
Benediction ........ Rev. w. w. Mile
Miss Matte Torney won the frs
place, which entitled her to one year
scholarship in the S. I. N.
The second place was accorded
Frank Messer, who has one-half year
tuition free to the regular course il
that institution.
On Monday evening. the music class
under Miss Helen Davies. receive
diplomas. Wednesday evening tn
commercial and short hand class vii
graduate, and on Thursday evening tn
exercises by the normal and scientin
classes closes the weeks series Of en-
tertainments.
Other Items of Interest.
Mr.. and and Mrs. Arthur Gibsol
spent Sunday in Ottumwa, attendin
Chautauqua, where they had the pleas
ure of hearing DR.. Sturgeon.
Mr.. and Mrs. Fred Powell of Mober
ly, Mo-, accompanied by DR.. Gaume
and Miss May Wallace, drove to Edo
Sunday, where they spent the da.
picnicking.
Professor Will Downing returne
Saturday from Chicago, where he too
a special course in music, preparation
to taking the position of supervisor c
music in Charlton public schools
Mrs. N. S. Johnson, who left sho1
tinaA a.na for I-auAlar,d- Cola. ia saAL