The Irish standard., 1914-06-20

STANDARD, SATURDAY, Jul
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Z Responsibility of
4 BY John H. Haaren--Associate CT
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To the freshman entering college,
commencement day is so far of as to
merit scarcely passing thought. The
sophomore has witnessed the tri-
umphal departure Of the senior class,
and is possibly stirred by the hope
Of participating some day in the pro-
cession that will pass out into the
active world. armed with the testi-
monial Of the academic degree. With
becoming gravity the Junior accepts
the responsibility of heir-apparent Of
the one for whom the day Of days
is approaching. But when the great
day finally arrives. and friends and
relatives gather to do honor to the
one who has persevered, until the
successful issue Of the course entered
on four years before. the outgoing
senior is affected by emotions that
can hardly be described. Old associ-
ations are to be broken. and new
ones are to be formed, which, how
ever rosy they may appear to the
imagination, are nevertheless cloud
ed with uncertainty. Reality is to
fade into memory. and dreams are
to become failures or accomplish
ments. Such transition from the
world Of preparation into the world
of realization must affect us. It is
but step from certainty to doubt,
from Joy to sadness, from exquisite
pleasure to exquisite pain, and con-
flicting emotions rather intensity
than neutralize each other. So It Is
not to be wondered at II the gradu-
ate is affected by an emotion which
overflows the heart and all but gush-
es from the glistening eye.
Yours is the day so long awaited.
Yours is the audience assembled
here. which sympathizes with you in
your uncertainties. rejoices with you
in your triumphs. and anticipates
with you the success which worthy
application of what you have learned
within these halls ought to make
your portion.
In common with all who have spent
their youth in intellectual pursuits.
and who have enjoyed close associ-
alton with cultivated minds in col
lege course. you have been blest with
q great privilege. But your associa-
ton with cultivated minds under the
watchful eye Of the Church has been
a privilege far beyond that enjoyed
by the usual college student. Your
college life has been preparation
not only for the fullest realization of
what the world can afford, but for
what it can afford to those who are
conscious that this world is not the
end of all, but only the beginning of
a life that is never-ending. Such con-
seriousness need not be accompanied
by sadness or by the prospect of as
celtic abstention from the rational en-
joyments of the world, but it is re-
hinder that the beauties of the world
and their fullest appreciation are
only the foretaste Of what is promised
to those who preserve a pure and I'M
sullied heart, and who worthily en-
ploy the opportunities bestowed from
above.
The privilege Of a college educa-
ton under the eye of the Church is
worthy of particular consideration.
What are the advantages involved in
this privilege?
You have had opened to you the
portals of knowledge. The field of
human thoughts. emotions. strug-
giles. and accomplishments has been
spread before you as you have been
permitted to view it through the
gates which your studies have served
to unlock. This field is yours. not
merely to survey casually and hur-
riedly. but to examine carefully. to
linger over what may extend strong
appeal, or pass over whatever may
not correspond to your taste or tai
ent. The field is world in itself.
I might call it treasure-house, did
I not prefer to think of it as filled
not with lifeless Oh jects. valuable be-
cause of their rarity or precious COM
position, but with growing things.
pulsating with life and radiating a
power and inauence which ought not
to be resisted.
To introduce you into this field is
the purpose of the course through
which you have passed. The path to
it has not always been pleasant, and
of its existence you have. perhaps.
been only dimly conscious. The
patient artist. plying pencil or brush.
or carving wood. metal. or stone. is
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