Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-06-09

this morning, in the presence of an
esteemed and cultured audience, we
should be able to display some of those
accomplishments acquired by those
often tedious exercises? Family, the
answer begins to formulate itself
such discipline, both intellectual and
moral, was necessary for that develop
ment which alone fits the growing
soul for the work which awaits it in
/ the world. The individual cannot
measure his ability by the number OF
( his requirements nor by his knowl
edge alone, but by that force of char
acter which, leagued with right, gives
| him strength when occasion requires
| it; that strong, deep supply of soul
power which will enable him to pass
unscathed thro' the trials Of life.
Important Period in History.
| At no period of the worlds history
has such a preparation been more
necessary than in these days Of ram.
pant materialism and agnosticism.
when the so-called educators in the
colleges and universities of our land
are undermining the faith of young
women, who are to be the future
mothers of America. In recent mum
Der of a popular magazine we read:
Coming out of the great colleges and
universities of America today is an an
nal procession of young girls, gifted
with graciousness and talent and
trained for the affairs of life, but who
are not marching back to old affairs. "
And the author quotes one of these
college-bred women as saying: IF a
girl comes to college with belief in
any special religion she is soon re-
duced to the doubling STAGE and, she
adds, "one of the main causes of this,
l think, is the tendency to belittle all
authority, both divine and human.
They give us a psychology without a
soul, a science which excludes the
necessity of a Creator, and the ethics
which is based on the unstable will
and inclinations of the multitude"
To meet the apostle of this democrat
| izing education, to champion the cause
of God, is the divinely appointed task
of the academies, colleges and uni
versities under the direction of de-
voted men and women, who have sac
rificed all that the heart holds dear,
in order to give themselves untram-
meled to their Christ-like mission.
Nor are these institutions of recent
birth; the same Providence which
passed on for future generations,
the heat and light of other days,
made provision also against the cold
and darkness of an irreligious age.
Not the least among these veteran
cha nF he &c nd
of the Visitation, whose tercentenary
we are now celebrating. That that
order has done for the education of
women, both in Europe and America,
the reverend speaker of this morning
has already eloquently set forth. 1t
| is not our intention, therefore, to at
tempt any panegyric of this noble
sisterhood. We would only express
our appreciation of the happy privi-
lege of having received our training
under the gentle guidance of the
daughters of Saint Francis de Sales,
and of graduating within the week
which marks the tercentenary of the
establishment of the Order of the Visi-
tation.
To you, right reverend bishop, rev.
erend fathers, loved parents and es-
teemed friends. who have come to
keep jubilee with our loval alma mater,
we offer our hearts best welcome.
Then the chorus class, of which the
graduates were members, sang two
selections: "O'er Meadows Fair by
Barri, and with Hearts of Hope" by
Herbert, after which Miss Florence E.
Walsh extended on behalf of the class
beautifully worded welcome to Ri.
Rev Bishop Edmund NJ. Dunno,
prelate of the Peoria diocese.
She paid high tribute to the
visiting prelate for having taken up the
work of the Shepherd King She as
sured the distinguished divine of the
loyalty of the class to the cause which
he represents and promised fealty
both to the bishop and his priests and
the noble women of the Visitation sis
terhood.
The VaIedictory.
The valedictory was then delivered
by Miss Dorothy Simpson, whose
topic was 81 Go to Prove My Soul y
The address, which was entirely
rhythmic, follows:
In silvery tones the chimes proclaim
the hour
Dim for so long on Futures mystic
dial.
Our farewell words become its only