The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1911-05-25
"a Dream"


words OF welcome: for our parents
know they are welcome, Tor have they
not been all to ~ in our struggle?
No, not all; our teachers have been
a good part--yea, truly, n good part.
So. dear teachers, you are welcome.
The school board cannot doubt but
that they are welcome here. Friends
and schoolmates, you know you are
welcome, but we cannot let this Up
portunity pass to proclaim. parents.
teachers, school board. friends, citi-
zens---ail; welcome to this, our COM
mencement exercises.
Through the mist that hung like
pail over an unfamiliar sea, we have
sailed, and are almost anchored. Away
beyond. where'er fate leads us. the bill
lows of new waters are rushing. surg
ing. Fer long we will leunch on
these and float, not without struggles.
down the relentless tide into broader,
deeper waters Think not that this
voyage has been all joy and sunshine
The sky at times has been oercast
and the sunappeared blood red and
angry. Our frail raft has spun like
a top on the eddying tide; but with
our teachers at the wheel we have
escaped the whirlpools. The sun has
changed from blood red to gold, and
the harbor is bathed In dazzling light
This is our first port, and we did not
expect so many friends waiting at the
wharf for us. We salute you across
this narrow expanse OF water. Now
that our ship has anchored. we well
come. welcome you tonight.
Ills said your old men shall dream
dreams. but my thoughts pursued the
absorbing theme til fancy colored 1t
and formed dream.
Truth In Its application is infinite
and knowledge therefrom Is power; so
the resources and inventions of grad
ually perfecting science for utilizing
| the forces of nature for the suppliance
Of needs, comforts, and developments
OF humanity are doubtless unlimited
Mans wants are as yet In many
vital respects very imperfectly sup
piled. by means that in the near future
may appear most clumsy and absurd
This very evident state OF affairs.
viewed in connection with the rapid
strides OF human discovery and in
vention of the present time, warrants
the conclusion that even within the
life OF many of my hearers there will
be developments and applications of
science for the lettering Of human
conditions that will be astounding
even to those best acquainted with
natures resources.
First. we must have that which Is
naturai afterwards that which. Is
spiritual For spiritual fabric
reared in the midst of people OPP
pressed to desperation by laws direct
ly in conflict with the plain teachings
OF the word, Is as a house built on
shifting sand. For a spiritual struc-
ture without a natural foundation IS
an absurdity. Therefore, the present
and immediate work of the church.
for there is none other to do 1t, is the
removal OF oppression aud the rasto-
ration of civil justice and right on
earth. For 1t is eternal truth that
Justice and Judgement are the foun-
dalton Of Thy throne. Mercy and
truth go before Thy face" I'm those
days cometh John the Baptist" II
this same John cometh not now, neith-
err can the son of man appear, nor the
Fathers will be done on earth.
have taken deep interest in
all problems concerning human af-
fairs and their relation to spiritual
conditions and possibilities While
pondering on one of our questions
What shall we do for the poor?' be-
ing greatly grieved on account of the
robbery and oppression that has re-
duced an intelligent and Industrious
people to a nation of paupers, / fell
asleep and dreamed.
A first / had an almost consuming
desire TO know the cause of and the
remedy for the present deplorable
state of humanity. For 1t was evident
that both a cause and a remedy exist
ed, and further that the present state
of affairs is not an arbitrary curse
sent at random on the people by the
Lord For to claim that the Lord
curses defenseIess widows, homeless
orphans and helpless children for the
sins of others, and allows the sinners
to go unpublished Is an objectionable
impeachment of His character and an
insult to the Dispenser of Justice.
Presently some one came and
touched my forehead, saying. Hear
what you can hear. see what YOU can
see, and think what you can think"
then heard at some distance before me
a low and confused murmur which
soon increased In volume and became
hideous noise as of muititudes of
men violently shouting. some one thing
and some another. / could only occa-
sionally catch high note that rose
above the general din, such as over
production" purchasing clause"
tariff" reform" etc. I became fully
persuaded that man cannot manufae-
ture Truth, neither can he make his
phantastical schemes fulfil the condi-
tions of Universal Law.
With the rapidity of thought trav-
eied throughout the world, making
diligent Inquiry as to what is the mat
ter, for that something is wrong and
should be speedily rirhted NO one A.:.
knavo or an imbecile viii deny. /
saw in the so-caiied civilized world.
sights that heggar description. Leg
allied robbery that is rapidly reducing
the industrial classes to Involuntary
servitude, and ecelesiastic tyrrany that
Is depriving the people of their God
given rights TO the means for normal
development of Heaven bestowed fac
ulties.
Passing over the indeseribabie suf-
fering and oppression too hideous to |
mention, l concluded that the harvest |
Is indeed a tremendous one. and the /
iatorers desperately few.
Behind the curtain is the reality of /
civilized government. and the people /
are RECALLED only with its shadow. a /
great false show Of that which should
exist
on hearing low. murmurinr sound /
at great distance hah4ssA ssn a-a