Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1920-05-27
FIR. PHELAN IN
TALK To CHS.
CLASS Of 20
Inspiring Sermon Is Deliv-
cred by Local Priest to
Graduates Sunday Evening
Musical Program Part of Elk
ercises Held in Auditorium;
Tribute to American Flag

Inspiring sermon to the graduates
of Grangeville high school, class of
1920, was delivered last Sunday eve
ming by the Rev. FIR. Phelan, before
an audience which filed the high
school auditorium.
The program opened with a march,
played by Miss Mildred Campbell,
and during which the graduates enter
ed the auditorium. Musical numbers
by a chorus under direction of Mrs.
NJ. R. Hattabaugh were features of
the program. The Rev. II. S. Randall
assisted in the services.
The Rev FIR. Phelan, after compli-
menting the graduates and their
parents, the teachers and their friends,
all who had contributed to make the
closing year a successful one in
Grangeville, said:
Fortified as you are, you can boldly
face the world, but before entering
upon its stage, 1 would at this i'm
portant moment of your lives, ask you
to renew again your allegiance to
your country, and the first article Of
the pledge that | would administer to
YOU tonight, would read as follows:
/ am proud that the United States
Of America is my country, the Stars
and Stripes my flag. No matter from
what race l sprang, or what nation
should claim my friendship, my
shall always be America
First"
PLEDGE CONTINUED
A citizen by birth or choice, l will
ever stride to make my government
-evered at home and respected
abroad. Above all party, or selfish in
erests, | will submit to lawful author
ty and uphold our officials in their
administration of the laws. l will
support the constitution of the United
States and oppose any organization de
of my cOuntry's good. l will
'ollow no party that does not carry
he flag and keep in step to the mu-
,ic of the Union. As a citizen of this
nation. and a pupil of this school, l
will cherish and uphold the divine
principles Of freedom, equality, justice
md humanity for which American pa
riots sacrificed their lives, their for
une and their sacred honor. l be-
ieve that real patriotism consists, not
Il shouting for the flag, but that every
does all in his over, day by
lay, to assist his fellows, his commune |
V, his city, his state, his country and
lis God, and this whOle-hearted ser !
ice will make our nation greater and
,rander still.
MUST BE KEPT TILL DEATH
This is the pledge you must keep to T,
our dying day. Others have taken
t and broken it, and we are seeing
he sad results. With this pledge as
our guide, and this plank as your
you will walk on the path
f duty. Others may travel another
way, but for us there is no other path.
t may lead you to a Gethsemane or
he Mount of Beatitudes, but stick to
+ at every turn. 1t matters not what
difficulties you may meet with, what |
,oulders may bruise your feet, what
rails you may have to encounter. 1t
: the path that has been marked |
nut for us, and we dare not turn back. |
f you look down, you will find 1t lu- |
ninous with the footprints of our
athers; if you look up, you will find
S many angels overhead as the Shep- |
lerds saw in the skies of Judea on
hat memorable morning of long ago. |
America has no tOther path for us;
eaven has drawn no other on the map. |
t ia neither sorrowful nor narrow. 1t
S as broad as the designs of God |
nd as comforting as His love. Where
yer it winds, however it leads, into
whatever mazes or perplexities it
Iraws us, it is life, the homeward
,ath, divinely planned, and there is
10 other Not a walk on this path is
o retreat on the field of honor, to fall
Iown disgracefully on the field of
he cross of gold 1t is death with
ut a memorial, the enigma of life.
told you you must stand by your
lag; I now tell you to revere it. 1t
$ the symbol of the highest, hottest,
appiest home liberty has ever known,
he banner of the fairest, mightiest,
Ioblest throne that justice has ever
onsecrated.
NO ALIEN FLAGS
And tonight your friends and we'll |
knowing you as we do, are
ully and firmly convinced that none |
f YOU will dare to lift to the clouds |
n this republic the white flag of cow /
rdice, the red flag of socialism or
he yellow flag of religious and ra- I