Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-06-06
{. c. GRADUATION
FESTIVITIES HELD
Began Saturday Evening With
Presidents Reception, and the
Exercises Were Concluded
Monday.
HON. j. A. 0. PREUS DELIVERED
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
Haydn's OratOriO, ''The Seasons
Was Rendered Sunday After
noon and Pleased Big
Audience.


with the presidents reception at 8
o'clock, p. m. At 10:30 Sunday
morning the baccalaureats sermon
was preached at the First N. E. L..
church by Rev. o. J. Kvale of Or
fordville, Wis, whose son Paul was
one of the graduates. The text on
which the sermon was based was
John 20, 10. 81 have come that they
might have life, and that they might
have it more abundantly." Empha-
sis was laid on the great importance
Of living a life Of service, a life that
would work for the uplift of human
|ity. The members Of the graduating
class were exhorted to follow the ex-
ample Of the Redeemer and Savior,
Jesus Christ, in serving their fellow
men whether they took up their life's
work in the church or in the state.
The sermon was most inspiring and
made profound impression and the
large assembly that had gathered to
hear it.
At 800 o'clock in the afternoon
Haydn's oratorio "The Seasons,
was rendered in the auditorium by
the Decorah Choral Union. This
consists of chorus of seventy voices
and an orchestra of Is pieces. Un-
dor the able direction of Prof. Carlo
A. Sperati the Choral Union had
been practicing diligently on this diff
ficult, piece of music for some time
and the rendition Of this oratorio
was success In every way. The So
loists were: J. Tillman Hanson,
bass; Tillie Montgomery-Hogan. so
pra1o; and Albert Koren Larsen,
tenor. Worthy of special mention
is the fact that the oratorio was
rendered with the assistance of only
local talent, Mr.. ]. Tillman Hanson
being a junior at college.
The commencement exercises prop
er took place at the college auditor
ium at 1000 a. m. Monday. The
program opened with music by the
Luther College Concert Band. Rev.
NJ. M. Ylvisaker OF Chicago offered
prayer after which the college Choir
us sang "God of our fathers. by
Schneider. Hon. ]. A. o. Preus,
state auditor of Minnesota, delivered
the commencement address. He
based his address on the words Of
Christ, "Whosoever would be first
among you, let him be yoir servant"
He showed that these words could
be especially well applied to the citi-
gems of a democracy like ours. In
the United States all were equal be-
fore the law. All were to serve their
fellow men and especially their fell
now citizens. The members OF the
graduating class had received a
training such as few receive. The
members Of the class must do their
duty by serving humanity in man
ner worthy of the institution at which
they had received their education.
They have duties to themselves, TO
their parents, to their teachers. They
have received classical, a cultural
education, they must show that they
have culture, breeding. Numerous
illusions were made to United States
history, to show great men had serv-
ed the nation in the past, and the
spirit of the address was very patri-
otic throughout.
Henry o. Tale of the graduating
class delivered the valedictory.
President Preus then presented the
diplomas to the class. There were 81
in the graduating class, the largest
class that has ever graduated from
Luther College. Following are their
names: j. Aaberg, A. Amundsen, A.
p. Anderson, C. Anderson. c. Birke-
10. l.. Evans, H. Hanson, o. Hanson,
w, Hexom, A. Hotter, r. large, l..
Johnson, e. Jorgenson, E. Kiland,
w. Knutsen, A. Kraabel, P. Kvale,
A. Lee, C. Lee, ]. Lien, M. Lone, l.
Lovik. s. Moe, H. Narum, A. S. Nat
Wig, O. A. Nelson, C. Olafson, T. Oh
son, O. Preus, M. Rhone, T. Rotto,
E. Streeter, H. Tale, G. Thorgrim-
son, e. Tingelstad, w. Tolo, G.
Ylvisaker.
The principal Of the preparatory
department presented diplomas to the
two graduates of that deartment, L.
|Sorlien ald N. Fadness.
After the hymn "Guds ord dot or
CONTINUED on last pAge!)