Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-06-10

This years graduation of a elias:
from the MarShalltown high schoo
| will 20 down in the city's history az
| notable beyond others in more respects
than one. The class of 10 is the larg-
4; est ever graduated in the city. Its
personnel includes more boys than
! girls. The popular interest in the
: event was more pronounced than ever
/ before, the Odeon being filled TO its
!, capacity Friday night, thereby realiz-
! ing the nine year-old ambition of Su-
! perintendent Palmer, according to his
statement.
! And il is fair 10 say that the address
made to the class vas the most notable
| that has ever been given to body OF
! young women and men in this city
! or elsewhere, being informed with
! thoughts that will stay long in the
memories of all VINO heard them ex-
pressed. These are some of the things
! that make this years close Of the
school most notable.
All present enjoyed each number on
the program. 1t began with an over
! ture by the high school orchestra,
musicianly presented at all points.
Rev w NJ. Baker, of Central Church
of Christ. asked the presence and help
of the divine Father in all that was
done. and then a pleasing duet, accom-
panied by four hands on the piano,
vas given. the vocaliSts being Irene
Mason ami Catherine Lamiis, the in
n
bred Goalby Then came the address
TO the class by DR.. James Alexander
Macdonald, editor Of the Toronto, Ont.
Globe, followed by the giving Of the
diplomas earned by the seventy-four
members of the class.
In presenting the class tn President
I. O. Kembie. Of the board of education.
Superintendent Palmer congratulated
its members on reaching this milestone
or their way and wished for each and
all Of them the greatest measure of
success as they go out into the world.
| Noting that the parchments are the
symbols Of twelve years of good school
work done, Mr.. Kemble gave to each,
calling the full name of each, the
priced little rolls Of proof for all time
of efficient service accomplished. Then
| the graduates sang the class song with
| spirit and seriousness. and the big
| throng of interested citizenry was dis
missed with the bened:ction as 10
! O'Clock was striking.
In Simple Setting.
With the stage set with pretty
garden scene backed with picture Of
! a rural mansion. the whole proceedings
of the evening were pleasing to all,
| both behind the footlights and "in
! front" The class, gowned and capped,
made a picture in it. The class colors
were in evidence on stage and in
house Members of the school board
the superintendent and the orator Of
| the evening were the only others on
| the stage.
The eminent Canadian, who prefers
to be called an American, in the larg-
est sense, who spoke to the class and
! the great audience. made an impress
! i've talk albeit it rambled over large
! field of thought, but the going was
very pleasant all the way in the
! hours voyage, lightened and illuminat-
/ ed by the winning personality of the
! speaker and his earnestness; 1t was
| filled with mingled deep sentiment and
/ me NuINOT Ol d quiet
| DR.. Macdonalds special words to the
members of the class as young citizens
| Of a great republic were impressive in
! the extreme and all were affected
! deeply by them. The sense of service
to their nation and the world, and the
| high responsibilities inherent in their
| duties 10 their folks and all mankind
! of their generation, were impressed on
! them in the address on TN the World
! Conflict Of Ideas" Mind more than
matter, ideas behind the acts and their
! eminence over all merely material
| things. was the subject matter. Here
| follows something Of Il summary OF
| important thoughts expressed by DR.
| Macdonald. tho maybe much not print
/ ed here of the spoken word will remain
| in the minds Of all who heard long
! after what is reported is forgotten.
What Counts in World.
! ideas. not things, are the supreme
| realities. Things mere things, mind
! less, constituencies, passionless things,
measuring so far, weighing so much,
! bought and sold for such a price
mere things have no real significance
apart from the mind that perceives
them and the ideas that give them
worth. Mere things would not count
! in the infinite scheme were there no
| idea to give them dynamic and direc-
ton, and no heart of love or of hate
to supply their meaning and theiI
motive power.
Tt is this absoluee supremacy OF
the things Of the mind over the things
of the flesh, of the spiritual over tht
carnal, Of eternal thought over evan
escent phenomena-it is this primacy
OF IDEAS that in all stages of civiliza.
ton, and never more than now, gives
the great places Of opportunity anc
Of responsibility to those who awaken
and stimulate and organize the think
ing OF the people, and especially the
thinking of the people OF demo
cracy. The teachers desk, the preach
er's pulpit, the orators platform, the
writer's sanctum-these are the place:
of true leadership, the thrones of rea
power
And so it comes that the great con
fiicts in the worlds history, the onl,
real conflicts, are the conflicts, not o
brute forces, but of world ideas. Fol
well nigh two terrible years thu
world war in Europe has gone on
armies against armies, navies agains
navies, submarines burrowing under
seas. aeroplanes swooping overhead
mechanism and physical force pre-
tending to the mastership everywhere
1t is all very terrible, very horrible
very ghastly-but were that all-tha
crash of armed forces along the wide
miles Of battIefronts. that ceaseles: