Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-05-27


lives get college education in any
large sense of that term.
Makes Life Interesting.
mot only does true college educa
ton enable man to distinguish be
tween true and false enthusiasm, but
such an education ought to enable him
to reach and to hold the true enthus-
iasm. Maybe education can do no
greater thing than this-to make life
Interesting. wonderfully interesting,
and fascinating. Shall not this fine
art of fine living, this splendid game
of life, be to the college graduate so
enhancing in its fascination that all
novels and stage plays look cheap and
tinse beside the wonderful facts.
The college man ought to return with
all his intelligence to the root mean
ing of enthusiasm as God in us.
"My directions for finding true
sources of enthusiasm and keeping en-.
thusiasm alive when found, are vir-
tually given if can make all men take
the scholars point of view that the
real enthusiasm, the real God in us, is
not in the occasional ecstatic thrill
but in the steady light of love and
truth; in keeping alive the daily altar
fires on the domestic hearth; In ac-
quiring accurate knowledge of common
things around us, in life long fidelity
10 sweet and noble ideals, in the shin
ing of common homely virtues, and
honest character. The scholar should
see the worth and dignity of each
mans life.
Along the dusty pathway of daily
life the scholar finds deathless. cease.
less enthusiasm, lost in the thoughts
of God and the service of man. When
the heaven that lies about the heart
of youth fades into the light of COM
mon day, then you are old, very old,
| indeed Beautiful enthusiasm thou art
| the spring of eternal youth, who drinks
of thee is never old, who misses or
loses thee is never young"
Degrees Conferred.
At the conclusion of the address.
DR.. Fisher was accorded a second
ovation. A piano and pipe organ
| duet, Lady of the Lake" by Miss
| Efiie Johnson and Miss Katherine
| Gest was enthusiastically received.
| The valedictory was delivered by
| Thure A. Holmer. The subject of the
| address was the class motto. "There
| Is Need of Much Mr.. HoImer ap-
piled the motto to existing condi-
| tions in social, religious and polit-
/ e. 81,
world is as yet from an ideal state
tMan's progress has not kept pace
with his liberties, said he, and he
must be educated TO point where
he will realize and understand the
true significance of the privileges
which he enjoys. The exercises closed
with the singing of the doxology.
DIR. Gustav Andreen before present
ling the diplomas to the graduates
lmade the annual commencement an
lnouncements He said that the past
Iyear has been the most glorious in the
history of the college and more gif..
have been given to the college than il
Iany previous year. The jubilee funG
has grown steadily during the year ant
now 100000 has been either prom
ised or actually collected and leaving
$4,000 10 be collected which sum it j.
hoped to see completed this year. Al
educational fund for needy student!
has been established and is progress
ing nicely. An $500 scholarship ha
been given to the theological seminar,
by DR.. n. Forsander. The auditorium
; fund has been increased by $3.50 as
result of the Wennerberg chorus tour
; Lastly Dr. Andreen spoke Of the mos
magnificent gift ever given to tn
college - the Denkmann memoria
; library. He told of the plans that ha,
f, been made for the gift by F. C. y
Denkmann before his death and afte
) his death the wife and children ha
, planned the library as a jubilee gif
Work on the new library will be be
gun next month and will be complete
next year in time to be dedicated q
: the jubilee celebration a year henc;
+ DR.. Andreen's remarks were greete
. with a storm of applaus that Taste
: several minutes. He then addressed
: few words to the graduates and pr,
: scented them with the diplomas.
n Those who received the degree of bacl
h elor of arts are: Maud Cecilia Bea
r Ernest Clementson, Philip Ekblad, E,