The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1911-06-01
TALKED TO GRADUATES
Of THINGS TO HELP
BACCALAUREATE SERVICES OF
THE HIGH SCHOOL DREW A
VAST AUDIENCE no HEAR
ANNUAL SERMON.

Mitchell turned out in force Sun
day night for theaopening feature Of
the commencement week Of the high
school, when the baccalaureate adj
dress was delivered at the city hall
auditorium. Practically all of the
churches we're closed for the occas-
ion. When the audience had arriv-
ed the young ladies and gentlemen
comprising the membership of the
class marched into the hall and took
their seats in front.
Prof. Hobson and his choir of for
ty singers were present and gave
two splendid numbers in "Hallelujah
Forth" and Mozart's Twelfth Mass,
both of which were presented in a
very effective manner. Miss Ford vas
at the piano.
Rev. w. NJ. Mair, pastor of the
Congregational church., conducted
the services and he was assisted by
Rev. Henry Snyder, of the Presby-
terrain church, who gave the opening
prayer and read the scriptural les
son.
Mr.. Mair selected his text from
Ephesians GLIB: wherefore take
unto you the whole armour of God,
that We may be able to Withstand in
the evil day, and having done all, to
stand" The pastor said that look
ing into such splendid faces of the
boys and girls of the class he could.
/ not think it possible that anything
but good would come to them, but
added that the day of evil in their
lives would show forth, as has been
the history of man and woman. 1t
was to guard against and to be pre-
pared for this day of evil that the
pastor addressed himself to the
members of the class, and to prepare
them for the contest for supremacy,
which is still one of the features of
the present century. MIR. Mair want
ed to assure the students that If they
were to attain success that it would
mean nothing more than they must
work hard and long.
The pastor enumerated the things
which he believed should comprise
the armor they must put on to win
the battle, which he believed to be
spirituality and intellectually. The
greatest need was for trained integ-
rity and a trained mind. Mans
work, he said, was successful accord
ing to the amount of brain applica-
ton is placed at his command, and
the man withou the resource of a
trained mind meets with defeat at ev-
cry turn of the road. The pastor spoke
of the training m must have to meet
and conquer the difficulties in life. He
facetiously remarked that we have
three college-bred men representing
South Dakota in Washington, and
that that was about the best thing
which could be said about them.
Mr.. Mair said that he wanted to i'm
press the one idea on the boys and
girls of the class that a trained in
telligence was a most valuable wea-
pom to gain the end of success, and
he further impressed upon them the
n in which they should view
the idea of honest labor and the dig
nifty which surrounds it.
Taking up the things which are
taught in the high schools, Mr.. Mair
made some strong suggestions for
more of the real practical things to
be taught the boys and girls, adding
that it might be all right for the
girl to know the exact location OF
some Armenian battle or to play a
sonata on the piano, but he thought
1t would be much finer If she could
bake a good loaf of bread, make a
digestible cake, could sweep, could
attend to the household duties and
bring into the homelife that one ele-
ment which brings happiness to it.
With the boy, he had the same prac-
teal idea for him-that he might
learn to make something of value to
himself, to acquire a trade of some
character rather than to load him
up with some technical things which
lack in practical value to him in the
after years.
Mr.. MAR suggested the addition OF
personal honor and moral obligation,
together with religion as things to go
into the armor which shall help win
in the battle for success. These
thoughts were emphasized in a clear
manner with apt illustrations of
what can be accomplished by them.
Mr.. Mair's address was of the very
practical character and he offered
many suggestions along certain lines
of education, which he believed
would give the boys and girls a bet
ter show in their battle after they