The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1916-06-03
SERVICE IN LIFE
BRINGS THE BEST
RETURNS SAYS VANCE
Dean Of University Law School Gives
Able Address to Graduating
Glass.
HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF
81 AWARDED DIPLOMAS
Excellent Commencement Program is
Given; Attorney Brown Explains
High School Work.
HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF
27 AWARDED DIPLOMAS

THE man or woman who serves as
best he can in the manner that is
open to him, and with the powers
that are given to him, is the man who
gets the best return that life af-
fords."
The above statement was made in
the commencement address by Dean
William Reynolds Vance at the grad
uation exercises of the Bemidji high
school last evening"
Twenty-seven seniors yesterday
completed their high school course
and last evening at the Grand thea
ter were awarded diplomas.
Theater Decorated.
The theater was especially decor
ated for the occasion. The gradu-
ates, members of the board of educa-
tion and members of the high school
glee club were seated on an elevated
platform which had been erected on
the stage of the theater.
Attorney Montreville J. Brown,
president of the board of education,
in presenting the diplomas to the
graduates told of the purposes of a
high school education. He outlined
the practical advantages of high
school education.
\ music program was given under
the direction of Miss Francis Kenney,
music instructor.
Dean Vance in an able and impress
sive manner delivered the commence
ment address on "Investing a Life" !"
He told of the different investments
that could be made with life and
told Of the different values of life.
His address is as follows:
Important Incident.
To the man of insight, the man who
is capable of appreciating the great
forces and powerful influences that
are shaping the destinies of this
y,
one of the most significant incidents
of our school life. We are keenly in
terested in the work that proceeds in
legislative halls; but it is of little
Importance compared with the work
that proceeds in the schools of the
commonwealth. We take much in
terest in the elections that determine
who shall be the legislative and ex-
ecutive officers of the commonwealth; !;
but such an election is of trifling sig
nifcance as compared with the COM
mencement ceremonies which send
out into the work of the world young
men and women that have been right
ly trained for that work.
Like Conferring Knighthood.
I never see a company of youth
full graduates-the real soldiers of
civilizations army-going forth to
do their part in the great battle of
life, but that think of the beautiful
ceremonial that accompanied the con-
ferring of knighthood in the days of
chivalry. The young squire who had
proved his virtue and his valor was
called before the high altar and there
took solemn VOW that he would
reverence God; hold all women in
honor; succor the weak and the Op'
pressed; and ever bear himself as
befitted a true knight. Then the
king or other great lord who was
comforting knighthood, would give
youth a cleaning sword and burnish
ed shield. These new and untriet
weapons the youth laid before the
altar. and then, on his knees, through
a whole night he watched his newly
ACQUIRED weapons and prayed Coo
to give him strength to acquit him
self like a true knight.
Must Succor Weak.
We do not have quite the SAM
ceremonial, and the weapons tina
knights use in these days are no
sword and buckler, but not less trul!
this ceremonial this evening mean
that these young people who hav
been trained in this high school, g
out into the long warfare that eacl
must wage, devoted to the grea
cause of human sacrifice. They to-
must hold God in reverence; mus
hold all women and men and littl
children in honor. They must sue
cor the weak and oppressed, and bea
themselves as true men and women
worthy of the teaching that the.
have had.
This season is we'll called "com
mencement," for each one OF thes
young people here before us IS nov
ready to commence his independen
life. Whether they go on to tn
university in search OF higher an
.pesdal training, or go immediatef