The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-05-28
Pastor of Centenary Church
Talks to Graduates

Talks TO Graduates
From Mondays Daily.
Mankato high school graduates of
the class of 1915 listened to an enter
tanning and interesting program Mt the
PRESBYTERIAN church last evening. the
baccalaureate sermon being delivered
BY W. r.. Keesey. pastor OF the Meth
odist Episcopal church. The ros,rum
was prettily decorated with foliage
and flowers i'm green and white. and
Row. n. w. Hobbs. Rev. q. A. Cahoon.
Rev. Clark w. Comstock, Rev. Edward
Constant. Rev. w. II. keesey. and Rev.
Warner Johnson wre seated behind
the pulpit. The church was crowded.
to It's capacity. and the class of grad
yates. numbering seventy mine young
people were seated In the middle scc-
tion. which was marked of with their
class colors. The class marched to
their seats I'm n body. the procession
al being played by Miss Mamie Skusc.
Rev. G.. 4. CahoOn presided through
out the program. The audience united
In singing america" and the rcspon-
siyc scripturr reading was led by Rev.
Warner Johnson The Orpbeus quar-
tet rendered a pleasing number. after
which Rev. n. w Hobbs gave q
prayer for the graduates. asking
blessing upon their future lives and
undertakings. Miss lora LIIlsdorn rem
dered a beautiful vocal solo. and Rev.
Edward Constant gave a short scrip
turc reading.
Rev. G. 4. CahoOn. in n short ad-
dress before introducing the speak
or OF the ! evening welcomed the
graduates on behalf Of tho churchrs
of the city. and said that education
was the handmaidcn uf religion. and
they would cooperate together for
large aims and high and holy IN
deavcr.
Debt OF Power"
Debt of rOwpr" wa The tonic
chosen by Rcv. W u. Kecscy for his
sermon. lie opened hy saying that he
counted II high privilege to he per
fnitted In stand before the young pco-
pie Of the graduating class and their
friends tn talk to them. and that the
class OF 1915 had thus set a precedent
In holding such union services. whit
he hoped future classes would follow.
and that tho event was union service
I'm truth. The debts of power which
were owed were divided into two
classes by Rev. KcCsey. TIL first was
the debt we owe ourselves. which In
fundamental. and first 10 be consider
ed. and the second was the debt We
owe to the world
Every woman and every man is
under lasting obligations TO make the
beat or themselves" said Rev.
kccscy. The question. What am I
here for?' is Of first importance. Young
people should not start cut I'm life
without some fixed purpose In view. as
lie without purpose Is like ship
without Wdd"r. and the voyage IL
fOr"dnomch To be n failure. The bark
will DRIFT aimlcssly about upon lirc's
ocean. But We must not confuse am
b'tion with greed and selfishnass. and
just here let me remind you that cir
cumstances do not make the man.
circumstances NAV be- factor. but
what We do Is under Oir own control.
circumstances do not make the man.
The man very largely makes the cir
cnmstanccF. and opportunity and en-
vironment may ~ The same TO many
with varied and different results. The
purpose is the thing in life that
counts. We should conc cntrate our
forces upon accomplishing our purpose
IL Is the amount Of intelligent work
that counts. work rightly directed and
concentrated. We are living In an age
OF concentration. Those who conccn-
trate upon some special thing will ac-
complish much. while those who do
not will not attain their object. Here
is the lesson for YOU. Whatever oc-
cupation you choose you should seek
by the concentration Of Your power TO
become the best In Your line. Coucrn-
trate your power to achieve siirCrss I'm
whatever line YOU choose to follow.
What Can One Put Into Life.
Every man and every woman IL
under everlasting tribute to the
world. continued Rev. Kcesey. But
u In hard 10 get people TO see their
obligation TO others. The great
thought In not What I can get out of
NE. but what can ! put into it,"
lie then went on To show how in the
great scheme of existence one class
al society was under obligation 10 do
their best by every other class. In
order to work for their own welfare
as well as the good of humanity. and
That social superiority carried with n
social obligation. II was the plain
duty OF the men who occupied the
high places TO help their less fortu-
naiH brothers. These claims must be
paid or in the end society would suf-
fer. Nothing I'm Gods universe could
violate its own laws with immunity.
held Rev. Kelsey.
You. my young friends" conclud-
ed the speaker. imprcssiveiy ad-
dressing the class. owe debt TO tho
world. your best thought and best eff
fort. We are here to rejoice with
you In the completion OF your high
school course and to pray that YOU
may direct your course rightly"
With an appropriate little verse Row.
keesey closed his sermon. wishing the
class of 1915 farewell and Godspeed
upon life's journey.
With music by the Orpheus quar-
tet and hymn by the audience the
program closed. Rev. Clarke ". Com
stock pronouncing the benediction.
READ FROM THE PROPHECIES.
Elder @. w. Wells Of Minneapolis Ad.
dressed Large Audience.