Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1919-06-27

Humanity itself has had a similar
experience. The movement OF the race
even in its dark ages has been ever
towards the sun rising of new and
happier day. Without doubt one of the
hardest and saddest parts of civiliza-
tons road to the light has been ira
versed during the past five years.
Into this mighty effort America
poured its workmen, wealth and the
noblest youth and these latter have
shared as few others, in the full mean
ing of this great journey in the wider
ness toward the sun-rising
The brave boys of my own Division
were sent from one line to another until
they had fought on five different battle
fronts. But in the twilight Of the older
gods of force and military night, in a
war-made wilderness of destruction, in
physical and intellectual darkness and
through hardship and trial OF spirit
with untold discomforts and WEAKNESS
OF mind and body, they journeyed for
ward, believing that the pathway OF
patriotic devotion and sacricial service
was leading them toward the sunrise
of better things.
Through all these experiences there
ran like a silver cord splendid Opt
mism, the optimism of success, victory,
and a better world order They wan
dered on not without hope, but rather
informed by a great faith they Jour
neyed in the wilderness toward the sun
rising
Those whose names have been read
today, together with thousands OF
others did not reach the end of the
trail nor find, with us, the promised
land of peace The sunrise of achieve
ment i'll this world was not for them,
but in their struggle toward the light
they bore humanity's ark upon their
shoulders We profit by the passion
ate earnestness and devotion of their
lives; and as we here, today, commem
crate their bravery, service and sacri
fee, we must assume worthy share of
catch a clearer vision of that Divine
the burden which they carried and
Kingdom on earth, which only in its
dimness inspired their lives and infu-
enced their souls For it must be plain
that the signal victory OF the great
forces of democracy and free govern
ment achieved through the most far
reaching war of all times, has be-
queathed to us opportunities and tasks
more abundant and intricate than these
that have been faced by any previous
generation of men.
I'VE must take larger account OF
these principles and powers in our plans
for the future. 1t Is our task to re-
build civilization and society in ac-
cordanCe with these high standards OF
ethical and social value. The world
today, in its disorganized condition lies
at our feet. Europe with its millions
of dead and its billions of destruction
lies Frustrated in economics and in
dustry. The resources of Asia and
Africa are almost a negligible quantity,
because science and technical skill have
not yet opened the minds of and pre-
pared the hands of these peoples for
industrial and social advance. America,
alone, can respond effectively to
the worlds need and usher in the
new day which is already at the dawn
ing. Shall we rise in spirit and courage
to this great task of world leadership
and support tn the movement for
new world order? The question is
pertinent to the college men
and women of our land According as
we answer this question in thought and
action we may count ourselves worthy
or unworthy to follow in the train of
those who in the recent past have !
journeyed to the wilderness toward the |.
For the accomplishment of these |
mighty tasks which victory has laid |
at Americas door, we have greater |
moral and spiritual resources than we
had before our losses, grevious as these /
have been. For we shall not labor with /
out the added impulse from these lives
which have been sacrificed in our great /
cause.
For us who remain there is a pro-
gram of service to carry on what their
lives were given to preserve and vindi-
cate. For those who fell in the struggle
there is only a song of joy that their
are complete and that they
have already passed through the dark
ness and wilderness of this world into