The Irish standard., 1914-05-16
GRADUATING EXERCISES.

pT EDGED TO SAVE.
GRADUATING EXERCISES.
Tho time is now ripe for the mar
u... -, those whose souls have slum-
ssrsd and whose ideals have hioer-
n.ted since they sailed forth q year
.so n set the world on fire by tneif
,oe,c. oratory and enthusiasm. we
sne.k Of the professional commence
ment orator. the Protestant minister .
80 gentleman with the significant
m m The desk Of the public school
sunar,ntendent is literally flooded al
this time of year with personal ao-
vert,sements Of these reverend gem
t,amen. whose advertising indicates
riot thew imagine there is sort OF
w.vr,tten law emitting them to TINS
nr,vi,eee. The various lecture ou-
ra.us IL consulted. will almost IN.
var,ably recommend a Protestant
Minister and the personnel OF inc
staff on such bureaus indicate 'nae
tho great majority of the lecturers
.-a protestant ministers. There Is
m complaint that Protestant Minis
ters should not engage in such wor-
thv enterprises but there Is a com
n,aint that they should attempt ~
monopolize it. True 1t Is that ostn
o,,c priests do not enter this nelo
With any particular enthusiasm ana
Weld only to urgent invitation ou'
the field is a large one and the
chance for doing good is unlimiteo'
No Catholic pastor would sieze upon
such an opportunity Of promotans
Catholic doctrine. but the opportuni-
tv for placing the position OF the
catholic Church on the great pfoo-
lens Of the day before the pubic 10
from the point Of view OF the puone
=, ,mnortant one. There is no par
tsh or catholic community but Is
n,aased by the thought that their
na.tor IL recognized as being 80
broad Of mind and profound Oh
thought that he is called by those
outside the Church to give his opan-
i'm. on vital questions Of the day
A. this time when the world Is look
,ug for protection from the Catncl,c
church against the march of Social
lam and the Catholic Church 10
looked upon as the Church OF inc
laborer its announcements are ot
vital Importance to the public.
A an example what often takes IN
connection with public school exer-
c,ses on these occasions. we quote
the following from the Western
World of Des Moines:
1T is dangerous sometimes to Try
to have baccalaureate doings at pun
lie high schools. Anyhow. they don't
seem to belong" and one thing Is
certain, preachers of different reii.
.,ou. denominations don't belong
IN the role of deliverers Of baccalaur-
cate sermons in public schools.
"A reminder comes in story from
Granite City. ILL.,. where last week
the Board Of Education "called on
the proposed services" The gradu-
atinr class had selected. by vote. a
presbyterian minister to deliver the
haccalaureate sermon. a Baptist pas
tor to give the invocation. or opening
prayer. and Catholic priest to pro-
nounce the blessing. or benediction'
at the close.
1.-THE selection Of a priest made
trouble. It caused talk in the
town: the president Of the class. .
Catholic youth. was asked to nave
the priest withdraw. but refused to
make such q request Of the priest
Everything would have been o. r..
aven .ane.' but for the selection OF
that priest.
when the discussion Of the mat
ter had waxed quite warm. the
BOARD Of education abolished the
privilege enjoyed by the students OF
the graduating class to choose its re-
lirious representatives and an
nounced that there would be no Dae-
calaureate sermon at all. There Will
be lust plain public school gradual
ing exercises, doubtless sans sermon
sans invocation. sans benediction.
..The Board Of Education In Gran
tie City has shown good sense: II
will adhere to the spirit and letter
Of the law: no religious features
win be permitted. II the priest may
not say q benediction. preacherse