Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-06-26


In the labyrinth OF his own distyactins
doubts. In the gloom of agonlzing des-
pair he staggers off tho Garth. He is
caught UP in the swirlng maelstroin that
swings him round and round past the
starting point until faint with the strug-
gle against his own contending doubts
and fears, he feels himself engulfed-
hopelessly engulfed in the cataclysm'c
waves of extreme desperation.
The commencement season with all its
festivities. all It's attractive features is
on. His loved ones are here to bid him
God-speed. The coming graduate himself
seems happy and he is happy in way,
somewhat superficial way. On the sur
face he liz rejoicing but beneath the ex-
terror, the undercurrents of hiH life are
at battle with each other. In the midst
OF those who love him and expect much
OF him he is alone, very much alone. h"
has lived in the present but he Ia think
Ing of the future. If by means of some
spiritual X-ray l could look down into
the deepest hearts OF these seniors, II I
could see the innermost workings of their
minds at this moment I should be wilt
ness to n violent conflict. the conflict OF
hope with doubt, of ambition with uncer-
tainty. | know what you are thinking
about this afternoon, students beloved,
and / know you are as lonely as was the
servant of Elisha on the hills OF Dothan.
How You wish you could lift the veil Of
tho future! How you would like to sweep
away the days and months of twenty In
tervening years and see yourselves as you
will be then, but you cannot and you are
lonesome. If you could only know what
the future mas in store for you, you think
that would bring some comfort but you
cannot and you feel lonely.
In the loneliness OF this uncertain hour,
then, ] come to you IN behalf of the
teachers who love you and the institution
YOU are soon to call Alma Mater with a
message of assurance. Il Is not my mes
sage, It Is yours from the Book of Books
and 1t has behind it the sanction of the
God OF the Ages Elisha comes to you.
young people, as he did to his servant on
that dark morning bidding you look up
through the nists and beyond the clouds
heavy with doubt. there to descry the
invisible armies Of an unconquered and
unconquerable King always present with
YOU as re-euforcements that are invisi-
BILE
Thus far members OF the class of 1918,
you have run well. The difficulties which
hedsed your way at the outset have been
loft far behind and you have come up to
this season toward which you have been
looking with such eagerness through four
years of toll and triumph, of some dis
appointments and Of much that IS joyful.
Do not think that ] am not able to enter
somewhat into your feelings of apprehen-
sveness I symDathize with your anxiety,
Tor nave passed through II myself
aPPreci"'e "iIpSh every war; LOT |
nave passed throush IL aE"'h Hho aga"
IN lnuIF'uuaI .""l'IS''l"'S WIZ" t'!oSe
VINO nave stood where you s'ahu to-"ay'
some years ago IN thc tate SPRING
senior came INTO my Once ana sald 10
me- } WISH c""Id see 'nNSe ten
years from now sitting at me desk In
p'"""Iul o"l'e as you are u'''!N' A'as'
II ne couId only nave known "hal cares
utIN SIa'hco "hoIn"e" even ''rous" II
closed doors mo mat once, ne might
nave oeeh u's'l'uS,oneu' sun knew
Wna' ne meant ana kne" now ne ie',
MS was Il worthy aInoi'ioh' ne "an'eo
success ana my neart went out 10 MIN
as we sat ''ere '"se'ne'' PRAYING mat
MS hear' uesire might ne rea'ized'
nave seen the new graduates hneer
Tor DAYS AFTER commencement passing
r'Neren,Y thro"sh 'he 'afhl''ar halls'
"Hnuer'hR III 'he oe"iuernhen' OF thelr
memories anu 'he'r dreams ABOUT the Ola
campus reluctant 10 tear themselves
away from the scenes sacred to the GAYS
OF tHclr preparation ana throw themselves
INTO the cru'l pattle awaiting then IN the
great world heyohd the SOUND or me col
I'E' pen an" '"o"sh nave not AWAY y
t"Il th'iH So my HearI ms acheu Tor
'"v"" MANY vi Eo" nave c"li'e 10 me |"
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aiill'ar eNP'l'e"V's anu III tNe'r "e''a Il
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''u''' " "'"'S 80" '"I9 wv. W sympathy
anu CIV as '''''''' - 10 W ''"SS Ufe
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"a 'Pi'0' 90 ',"' "'''' sums ''i 20"
q" Hour way "'o'f up !" '"ls aus P'clo"s
!, "PP'"' VI '"', Soui' even
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yrs "eH oi' t"e stars Every iohs'hS OF
'", i'''' ''',i 10 aus Iio'', Sou'
.',''.o,', 'll'es p'i'.''u w o'ou'' every
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