Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1909-06-03
GRADUATED At ALMA
Final Exercises Of GratiOt County
Eighth Graders at College Chapel.
LAST FRIDAY M0RNING c
One Hundred and Nlneiy.FIve Qualified and
Received Diplomas.

County School Commissioner G. Z.
Pike and his eighth graders scored a
signal success at the second annual
commencement of Gratiot county
public schools held at the college
chapel last Friday morning. One
hundred and tiftv-fve of the future
citizens of this commonwealth received
their diplomas from the hands of
Superintendent G.. E. Ganiard of the
Ithaca public schools while the re-
naming 40, who were entitled to
same, and were unavoidably detained
from the exercises. will receive them
from the commissioner direct.
The weather was perfect and the
crowds began to arrive early in the
day. The :25 train from the north,
the Z :55 from the south, and both OF
the early trains on the Pere Marquette
were crowded to their fullest capacity.
every available bit of room was oc-
cupied bv some one desirous of reach
ing the college town. Before 500
O'Clock in the forenoon the hitching
capacity of the 10 cent sheds was be-
ing tested by those who drove in from
the country adjacent to the city.
The exercises were held at the col
lege chapel and long before 10 100
the hour set for the exercises. the seat
ing capacity of the room was occupied
and hundreds were unable to gain
admittance. The program was opened
by Swing Song from the secon d,
third and fourth grades % the Alma
schools, followed bv invocation by
President Bruske. Two other songs
The Regiment" and kite Song.
were rendered by the grades, after
which came the address, which was
delivered by Rev. II. l.. Grain.
pastor of the Presbyterian church of
this city. Mr. Grains address was
full of thought for both old and
young and was listened to with close
attention by all present. Mr.. Grain
said in part:
| can hardly make you understand
the difficulty which confronts me as /
attempt to select few things to be
crowded into brief address, when so
many things might and really should
be said. 1t is easier, though that
too is difficult. to express my pleasure
in addressing you. 1t is even a
pleasure to sit in your presence this
morning and contemplate the posi-
bilites of intellect and volition wrapped
up in the personality of each indivi-
dual of this class. With this in mind.
may We not consider the significance
of being an American youth in this
day with your training and future
opportunities?
A phrase is running in my mind.
which / may have read somewhere,
though am not concious of it. that
youth is an 'Epitiome of the Past, a
Resume of the Present and Prophecy
of the Future. - What heritage is
yours from the past All that men
have thought and done. all they have
discovered and learned, all their mis-
takes and successes are YOUR legacy.
There has been cumulation of ex-
periences which is at your disposal
in wealth of literature No youth
in any age has had the splendid
heredisy which is in your rare
memory and localized in your train
ing. Napoleon encouraged his soldiers
at the battle of the Pyramids bv re
minding them that from the top of
the pyramids forty centuries looked
down upon them. All the centuries
look down upon you, YOU owe much to
the past THE deeds of the fathers
are the debts of sons You are an
Epitonie of the past.
Your environment Is as rich as you T
heredity. The past is matchless
day. The world is smaller than the
nation was few generations ago.
You are to live life in touch with
the worlds affairs. A thought flashed
into a mind in India, China or Rus
sia is yours before the day closes. A
discovery made today is the world s
possession tomorrow. The literature
of all Deoples, current as well as
historical. furnishes you for vour dailv
duty. You have rich privileges and
inmeasurable duties involved in living
as citizens of world. You are to
have worldwide vision, a world
wide spirit and purJose. you are a
Resume of the Present. -
The future is yours to make. no man
Continued on page two.