The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-06-16

form of preparedness that America
has known" (applause) "this is the
greatest safeguard and the best pre-
paredness that America has. The
greatest institution for preparedness
in the world is the American school,"
(applause). eve have in all the edu-
cational institutions of America ap-
proximately twenty million students
in the process of being made into
American citizens This is the vast
army of peace The total strength
of all the armies in the great European
war does not come up to the strength
of Americas educational army of
peace by far. In this army is repre-
scented practically every nation in the
world. The American school is the
melting pot for all the foreigners that
come to our shores, and the output of
that melting pot is simply and soley
and never forget it, an American"
(applause). "America-stands for one
ideal, American citizenship, and
American only In the schools the
children are taught reverence for our
flag, that no matter where they came
from the American flag transcends all
other flags the world over" (applause)
Potentially of Woman.
''When l see this large class of
young women and young men realize
the potentiality of woman, and her
place of supremacy in the control OF
the state She will exercise the
moulding influence on our future citi-
zens. Women teachers go forth as
citizen makers, they go forth to be
shapers and mOulders of character.
The deepest concern that I have for
my own son and daughter is that they
may be so moulded as to resist the
evil that may assail them. congratu-
late you, teachers. l am one of you.
Every minister is teacher. / salute
you as you come to this, your gradua-
ton
Rev. Freeman then told some in
teresting incidents dealing with true
patriotism, and spoke of the time at
the outbreak of the great European
war, when he was detained in Europe
for a number of weeks, speaking
particularly of the, many changes
which this cataclysm of the nations
would leave in the world, stating as
his belief that this was the greatest
age in the history of the world, the
age of opportunity, and that America
was the land of opportunity. He spoke
in glowing terms of the beauty of the
United States, of the beauty of Min
nesota, and especially of the Mime
sofa valley. Old times he held were no
comparison to the present age, which
is the most noble that the world has
ever known. In closing his inspiring
address the speaker commended three
beliefs to his audience.
First, believe in yourself, as salt
confidence is worthy conceit, and
without a belief in ones self the in
dividual will be a failure.
Belief in Your Country.
Second, a belief in your country.
Especially desirable at the present
time on account of the peculiar con-
ditions. "The man who does not be-
lieve in America today ought not to be
who does not believe in this country
should go /, back to the land from
whence he came" (applause.) The
speaker took this opportunity to make
a strong and impressive plea for
patriotism, charging the teachers that
in shaping and moulding the charac-
tiers of the children they should teach
them to love their country and be
ready to give their lives to defend it.
Third, Belief in ones God '.This is
not an age of hair splitting" said
CT no I,
friends in all cults, holding that every
man had right to his own religion.
Enthusiastic applause greeted the
close of this able address.
Memorial BY Graduates.
president c. H. Cooper ofs the nor
NAL school, in a brief talk to the
Class and audience, told of the me-
mortal which the graduates were leav-
ing with the school, The class had
departed from the usual custom of
presenting the school with memorial
windows, pictures, etc., and had left
large sum of money, constituting an
emergency fund for students, which
could be added to from time to time.
This was very helpful and noble
idea, stated President Cooper, and
would doubtless prove of much bene-
hit. He spoke of the coming fiftieth
anniversary of the school in 1918, and
hoped that all present would be able
to come to the semi cele-
bration. He then introduced Mr.. Leslie
Welter, member of the state normal
school board of Moorhead, who was to
present the diplomas, who was greeted
with applause.
In acknowledging the introduction
Mr.. Wcltcr stated that ii was a very
pleasant duty to present the diplomas
to the graduates. He said that he was
tho newest member CT the normal
school board, and that the present
occasion was the first time he had
ever attempted to make any remarks
before graduating class. AS he was
not in the business of }delivering ad-
dresses, being a plain business man.
he stated that he would not take up
any more time but would proceed to
present the diplomas, which he did
at once.
Musical numbers added to the plea
sure of the program among the select
lions given being a chorus, Spring
tlde,' by Cow, sung by, the Girls GIee
club, the violin obiigato being PLAYED
nv Mics Nr~,,,o 49,.