The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-06-07
SERMON FOR NORMAL
STUDENTS Is INSPIRING
Personality Worth While the
Underlying Thought
GREAT HOPE FOR WOMEN
One Of Their Sex May Be Pres
ident of Country, Said
Elmer A. Bess

PERSONALITY WOfJn WEllo, tue per
sonality that comes from a beautiful
spirit within, and will have its eff
fleet upon all with whom the posses
sor comes in contact, was urged
| upon the graduate teachers of the
Mankato state normal school yes
terday afternoon by President Ell
mer Allen Bess, who delivered the
| commencement sermon.
Faith, Hope and Love-" Shelly's
beautiful song, was sung by the
normal glee club. led by Miss Nancy
Williams, and the piano accompanfs~
ment being played by Miss Har-
riet Johnson, opening the program.
The platform was handsomely dec
GRATED with palms anu foliage, and
seated on the stage were President
C. II. Cooper, Rev. Elmer Allen Bess,
Rev. T. Ross Paden, Rev. G. A. Ca
boon and Rev. f. H. Groom. The
invocation was given by Rev. Groom
and was followed by the audience
singing Hymn Number A.
President Cooper led the respon-
sive reading, which was selection
Number 80. Misses Anna Lee and
Nancy Williams sang 80 Thou From
Whom All Goodness Flows" by
Bartlett, the duet being charmingly
sung and very pleasing. Rev. T.
Ross Paden gave the Scripture read
e. A. Cah0on. The response was
Ambrose.
President Elmer Allen Bess was
introduced by President Cooper and
gave an interesting sermon to the
graduates. He exhorted them to live
in the spirit, to walk in the spirit,
and told them that the fruit of the
spirit is love.
May Become President.
"We don't know what these young
women graduates may be-" said Mr..
Bess. Zone of them may become the
president of the United States We
have a woman congressWoman now,
and are likely to have a woman
senator. woman may yet govern
the state. We do not know. But
the teachers may to a certain extent,
mould The pupils who come under
their charge. They should have per-
sonality. the spirit within which will
enable them to go forth and do
things worth while, the spirit with
in that will lead them to make the
great big sacrifice and live accord
ing to the law of the spirit. Be
splendid and fine within. There are
some qualities l wish to speak about.
One thing is confidence. 1t is alb
solutely necessary and without con-
fidence we won't get very far If
we go forth shrinking and uncertain
disaster is sure to happen to us and
to those in our charge. Do not be
afraid to go out and take things with
a firm grasp. Go boldly anG daring-t
ly, not boastingly, but tactfully, and
say that you will do it, and you will
have success" He spoke of the
motherly tenderness necessary for
those who teach, and the warm heart
qualities which they must have.
Touching on the crisis in home as
well as national life, brought by the
war he urged loyalty and courage
He told of the mothers, who with
loyalty, courage and Christianity,
babe goodbye TO their soldier boys.
and said that it takes courage "a
deal with the present times.
Soldiers Just the Same.
Even if you don't go across
seas you are soldiers here just the
same" said Mr. Bess "There is as
much heroism at home in the kitchen
CT parlor, in the heart of the mother
or young wife, as in those who go
forth to face the fire of the Huns"
He closed his address with a prayer
that the class may go forth treasur-
ing the message of the one who had
come to teach the laws of the
Christianity in dealing with human
ity, and that all would follow in His
way. ~
Lord, Whom My Heart Holds
Dear" by Hitler. was sung by the
Clee club, and after the singing of
Hymn Number 191 by the audience
the benediction was pronounced by
Rev. F. HI. Groom.