The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-30
NEARLY 200 HIGH
 SCHOOL GRADUATES !. RECEIVE DIPLOMAS
Judge Fort Makes Address at Graduating Exercises of Central and Ensley
 High Schools

Judge William E. Fort de- livered the annual address to the senior class at the graduat- ing exercises of Central high school and Ensley high school. held in the Jefferson theatre last night. "The Opportunity For Citizenship" was the sub feet of Judge Forts address In spite of hard continuous rain the Jefferson was packed from box to gallery and many stood during the exercises.
 One hundred and ninety-fve stu dents of Central and Ensley High schools were handed their diplomas the evidence of four years faithful work and study--by pr. J. H. Philips, superintendent of schools. Of these "3 boys and no girls were students at Central High school and 16 boys and RI girls were from Ensley High school. Several hundred boxes of flowers and other gifts awaited the graduates be- hind the curtain.
 CLASS OF 1919
 The entire class of 1919 from both scnools sat on the stage. dressed in caps and gowns. By groups they rose and received their diplomas from D-. Phillips.
 The curtain rose at S:20 o'clock when invocation was pronounced by Dr. L. E. Brubaker. A soprano solo. "Serenade" (Tierne), followed by Mrs. E. II. Pomeroy
 Judge Forts address which fol lowed. was an inspiration. He drew back the curtain of the future and showed the students their possibilities, opportunities and their duty, outlining the need for real citizenship of a modern world. The address was tilue- ly. clear and gripping.
 Harry Steinmehl rendered violin solo After the annual address by Dr. Phillips and delivering of diplomas the benedlction was pronounced by pr. T. F. Hendon.
 DR. PHILLIPS ADDRESS pr Phillips said in part:
 'La dies and Gentlemen: The grad .uating class that stood upon this plai form one year ago was initiated ints | civil life in the midst of stress and strain during the most tragic period of fierce world war It was pie- 1 eminently a War Class The class that occupies the stage tonight, rep resenting Brmingham's high schools | may be fittingly called the Victor! Class It enters the arena of prac tical life,l not during the strife ans uncertainties of an international con- l flict. but during period of paren- 1 thesis, sort of interregnum between war and peace. when the results oi war and the fruits of victory are 1T 1 the process of translation. we hope 1 into terms of permanent peace and into {, significant factors of human progress PRE-WAR BUILDING PLANS "One year ago the processes tha dominated our thoughts and burdena et the souls of men everywhere, were those of devastation, destruction ant death. Today the thought of mal kind is centered in the processes oi world reorganization, economic re- | construction and social readjustment | Many of the nations of the old work l are today facing the problem of SO l cial and political reorganization, a. l a preliminary step to the gigant., l task of industrial and economic re iconstruction. In this country. forum ately. our problems are largely thos' 1 of readjustment rather than of re organization or reconstruction I must be admitted. however. that educa | tionally Birmingham is in a positio, 1 10 sympathize in some degree wtl | France and Belgium. Our puLli schools suffered a serious loss from tE, destructive processes incident to tn l war period. and We are still patient ly awaiting the process of rehabilita l tion.
 ,"Our entire pre-war building plan had to be suspended during the Wa 1 period, and the restoration of the Cen
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