La Junta tribune., 1917-05-24
BACcALAUREATE EXERCISES
Inspiring Address Delivered by Rev.
A. L. T. Ewcrt, Of the Method
ist Church-Capacity House

OF the moving picture booth, was
occupied last Sunday evening on the
occasion Of the baccalaureate exer-
cises Of the La Junta high school.
1t was an audience that proved an
inspiration to the speaker OF the ev-
ening, Rev. A. L. T. Ewert, OF the
Methodist church, whose address
was one OF the best ever delivered
in this city on a like occasion, and
was listened to throughout with
rapt attention.
The exercises opened with the
singing OF the professional. 20.
Come All Ye Faithful" by the High
School Glee Club, Miss Florence
Bomgardner presiding at the piano
on the stage. while the club marched
from the rear OF the auditorium and
down the aisle on either side to the
seats on the stage reserved for them
Pendant from the flies at the rear
OF the stage was q single mammoth
but beautiful display OF our national
emblem. the stars and stripes. 1t
WAS simple. but unusually Impress
i've and effective. and In entire har-
mony with the mood and temper Of
the audience, ~ most OF US appre-
ciats the fact. more and more. with
each succeeding day. "that the su-
preme test Of the nation has come.
and that we must all speak. act and
serve together"
All Joined heartily In the singing
OF the opening hymn, America"
which was followed by the invocation
by Rev. E. A. Allen. The High
School Giee Club then sang the
Morning Invocation" by Dudley
Buck. and Father James read the
scriptural lesson from the One
Hundred and Third Psalm. The
anthem. "One Sweetly Solemn
Thought" Was then given an
excellent rendition by the High
School Girls Quartette. which was
Immediately followed by the bacca-
laureate address by Rev. Ewert. who
chose for his subject. "The Essen
tials in the Reach OF Progress in Life
and Character" ard gave as his text
the twelfth verse of the third chap
ter Of PHILIPPIANS. mot as though
] had already attained. or were al
ready perfect. but ! press on" A
brief synopsis OF the address Is here
with given:
The reach OF progress Is the reach
Of the unlimited. There Is no limit
to the possibilities possible In the
realm OF progress Attachments. In
ventions and civilization itself are in
their infancy compared to that which
will yet be realized. No one can tell
what the reach Of progress will re-
veal in the unborn years before us
Just now we see how far short civil
ixation Is to what II ought to be and
will be some Glad day. Now We are
IN the most gigantic struggle the
world has ever known. Nations are
IN the most stupendous blood she'd
ding campaign the earth has ever
witnessed. II is the last great strug-
ele between animalism. greed and
selfishness on the one hand and In
teliectuaiism and the ethics OF Christ
on the other. Out Of this struggle
will come . new world and Q new
age. Since our country has bsen
forced into the struggle Il becomes
imperative that every man Of ell
gable age should be willing to defend
the honor Of HIS country and main.
tain the honor and valor OF Amer
ican citizenship.
The reach OF progress II q vision
producing theme. II cannot be
solved en.mass. but by the individ-
ual. not BY the class ~ . whole but
By the Individual members Of the
class. To aid In Ahis solution and
give . word Of Inspiration II my
task. We are IN . world called BY
Lillian Whiting. The World Beauti-
full" II IL . world 10 be appreciated.
We ought TO b glad We are IN Il
and have = part In its task.
The world Il our friend. while
the world 10 raid II IL pliabis: while
punishins Il II also rswasdias:
while Withholding. II II yisidiss:
while penurious Il 10 gsasrous. The
work Of preparation for this world
and the opportunities hsid out b The
world should b. . most delishtful
task. The first ssssntiai 10 the con-
ditioning Of ourselves. Every great
undeftaging requires that ~ co.,
otter Ourselves for Tie task before
-. We nust 81 into tune and iate
hasosay.
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