Willmar tribune., 1916-06-07
SALUTATORY.
By Arthur Wilcken.

In behalf of the graduating class
of the Willmar Seminary wish to
extend to you all a cordial welcome
is very encouraging to us to see that
you, our parents and friends, are TAX
ing an interest in what we are doing,
and the fact that you are with us to-
night to wish us Godspeed on our
journey, will certainly spur us on to
do our best and to apply ourselves to
things worth while. 1t has been said
that there are few occasions more
significant or more impressive than
commencement day. For us it Is a
day of new hopes and ambitions, it is
a day we have been looking forward
to, for a long time. Thus far we have
been dependent upon books and the
help of others, especially that Of our
parents and teachers. We have now
reached a milestone in our careers:
we are to commence something new;
we will from now on, at least to a
much greater degree than heretofore,
be left to our own resources to fight
out our own destinies. We have re-
ceived good training during the time
we have spent under the honorable
faculty Of the Willmar Seminary. In
school, under the guidance of our
teachers we build up characters, form
our habits and in general way, pre-
pare ourselves to meet the problems
of life, and become useful citizens to
the commonwealth.
We have been taught that habits
formed now, while we are young, will
stay by us when we are older, or, will
at least be an important factor in de-
termining our character and our use
fulness in the days to come. While
we are young and in school, we should
learn to respect and honor honesty
and truth, and learn to shun immoral
ity and evil ways. We should learn to
make use Of our time, apply ourselves
always to the matter in hand: play
when we play, and work when we
work, be ready to meet serious ques.
tions, fairly and squarely, be optimis'
tic and Of good cheer, and always do
the best we can; and If we do these
little things while we are young and
in school, these will be the charac.
teristics of our later careers; we shall
be able to live useful and happy lives
doing good to others and keeping our
own ideals high, and will be able to
live up to our motto; "Sieze Every
Opportunity"
When commencement day comes
we begin to realize what our school
days have meant to us. We think
with regret Of the time we have vast
ed of the opportunities lost, of the les
sons unlearned, but, altho we un.
doubtedly all feel that we could have
done better than we have, we are
thankful for the things we have got
ten. We are thankful for the lessons
learned and the knowledge gained
that time spent on us has not been
spent in vain.
Some of us have been preparing fol
the commercial world, and others fol
teaching. Whatever our vocation may
be, let us 60 into it with the right
spirit, with the intention to do ou1
best and always, come what may, tC
do what we consider right. If we are
ever in need Of friend, let US lool
to the Bible, in the time Of joy, as
we'll as in sorrow, for Jesus said, 10
l am with you always, even unto the
end of the world"
Before we leave the shelter Of oul
beloved school, we desire to again ex
press our appreciation of the training
we have received during the time
spent here. We feel that our stay
here has been both pleasant and prof
table. Our parents and teachers have
made sacrifices for our sake which
perhaps we but imperfectty under
stand; we feel that fate has beer
gracious in allowing us this ibera
training, and we desire to show oul
gratitude for the efforts of all thos'
who have so sympathetically prepared
which we are about to enter.
Once more, want to wish you, on
and all, hearty welcome to our com
mencement exercises this evening.