The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-06-12
High Goal Set for
Newport High Seniors
Continued from Page l

hln' Idlih w IlSHJ 1T INC VI
gan played rs a prelude, Sanctus
(Gourod's Messe Solemnelle).
With the professional hymn,
Coward Christian Soldiers, the
class Of 1922 took their places in
the center of the church, each
wearing a yellow rose, the class
flower.
Rev. Edwards message to the
graduates and to everyone of the
large audience present was one
which made an appeal to higher
ideals and the obligation of each
individual to The future. He chose
as his text, Romans LA 81 am
debtor both to the Greeks and to
the Barbarians, both to the wise
and the unwise."
"St. Paul vas a debtor to the
Hebrews for his religious faith, to
the Greeks for his culture, and to
the Romans for his militant spirit.
at was with this heritage that
st. Paul set his face toward the
eternal city of the seven hills with
these words burning on his lips.
4 am ready - preach the gospel
to Rome. There he found the
gods of power and pleasure di-
viding honOrs. Concentrated
wealth, plumber sanctioned by the
state, universal extravaganza,
Rome the center of the worlds
power and influence. 1t was into
this Rome that st. Paul flung him
self with all the splendid enthusi-
assn of glorious purpose.
an the light of history we
read the sequel to that courageous
step, committed to prison, chained
to Roman guard, dying a mar
tyr's death, yet what a glorious
victory!
eve are debtors to both the
Greek and the Barbarian, both the
wise and the unWise. There are
three great factors that have to
do with the moulding of our lives
the home, the church, and the
school. We are the creatures of
Birth, Environment, Destiny. We
did net choose our parentage,
language, place of birth, or the
color of our skin.
eve owe a tremendous debt to
religion. Lplace religion in the
forefront because it belongs there.
1t is because st. Paul recognized
the value of religion that he
sought to plant the cross in the
heart of the Roman empire. and
the wisdom of his action is JUST
fed by history.
"Nhen God would lay the foun-
dation of the purest monotheism
the world has ever known, he
called to the TASK that man of
Naturalization. When He would
lift the burden of servitude from
the backs Of the cnslaved, he laid
the task at the feet of that man OF
religious convictions and spiritual
insight-Moses. When He would
translate the rusic OF Heaven into
the songs of earth. He selected
the shepherd king for the task
and breathed through his soul that
music that has brought to earth
a measure OF comfort and inspira-
ton beyond all estimate.
Consider our debt to the state.
It is a far look from the days of
feudalism to hose days of law and
order. There is much yet to be de-
sired in the affairs Of state. All
men are not law abiding. A
thousand battles have been fought
to insure to US the civil liberty
that is ours, and countless patriots
have given their lives to preserve
to US the flag the ample folds of
which protect US. We are indeed
debtors to the state.
Owe are debtors to the school.
All that we have received has been
received has been made possible
because of the countless years Of
patient toll on the part of many
unknown and unhonored men and
women. Every text book that has
been placed in your hands bears
the marks of the brain sweat of
faithful servants of the race, who
has laid his offering on the altar
of education and passed on.
"The landmarks of civilization
are not smoke stacks and railroads
and skyscrapers. The supreme
factors are not business. wealth,
armies and legislatures. The path
finders and su5tainers are church
and school.
"And while we work and play
we dream of the days that are yet
to be, for without vision the
people perish" For every normal
heing the future holds its charm.
Castles in the air we all build, it
only remains for US to put beneath
them substantial foundations, that
they mad baide when the storms
beat and the floods come We
are citizens of the world yet to be-
at now remains for you to
choose your course. 1t is not
enough that we recognize and own
the debt. we owe. We may voice
our gratitude in fine sounding
phrases that will die away in an
echo when commencement is over,
but the question is are we ready to
preach the go spel in Rome? Com
PARSONS are sometimes odious, but
a comparison of Ancient Rome
and modern America is not COM
folting to say the least. When
clowns and not choristers, pugi-
lists and not poets, actors and
not artists, acrobats and not au-
thors, tangoists and not teachers,
and not ministers, are in
demand, there is that which issues
a challenge to every ounce of your
red blood and every atom of your
grey matter.
"My prayer for you today is
that at the end of your course you
may BIS able 10 say with st. Paul,
II have fought a good fight,