Daily Kennebec journal., 1925-06-08
Farewell Banquet
And Baccalaureate
Held at Oak Grove

The most significant exercises of
any commencement in the history of
Oak Grove have occupied the past
weekend, for they have marked the
last Commencement before the
grand old co-educational seminary
becomes a school for girls. All hon.
or and prominence have been given
to the boys and as Principal Owen
emphatically stated, 1.-The change Was
made wholly as step in keeping
with modern educational progress.
and not in any way because the Oak
Grove boys had been weighed in
the balance and found wanting"
The great event of the weekend as
it was also of the whole year, was
the big banquet given to the entire
school at the Elmwood Hotel on
Friday night by DR.. and Mrs. Geo.
G.. Averill. A delightful reception in
the hotel parlors was enjoyed from
to o'clock.
Rollicking school songs were
sung by spontaneous zest through
out the banquet.
After the boutiful dinner, Mabel Dol
lift, '25, president of the Y. w. C. A,
rose as toastmistress. Everyone rose
instantly to do homage to the first
speaker, Mrs. Averill. Speaking with
rare charm and deep sentiment, Mrs.
Averill paid a high tribute to Oak
Grove student and reminded the boys
that they were the important person
ages of the evening. DR.. Averill was
next introduced and in his polished
style spoke of the significance of the
present occasion. The doctor referred
to the happy memories of the past and
closed by declaring emphatically, "and
rn hat
going to boost Oak Grove-the new
school for girls" Representative stu
dents followed with enthusiastic
speeches in which they praised the
glorious days of the past with it's
happy family life, and at the same
time pledged their loyalty to the fu-
ture with sincerity that was deep and
strong. The students who responded
to toasts were Harriet Kimball, '25, of
East Boothbay; Ralph Williams, '25, of
Oakland; Aurie Austin, 25, of South
china; Beverly Powell '27, of Cam
bridge. Mass, and Stanley Everett, '25,
of Russell, Mass. Each of the speak
ers expressed the gratitude of all the
students for the wonderful hospitality
of DR.. and Mrs. Averill.
The toastmistress then affection
ately introduced Mr.. and Mrs. Owen
who each responded with much
feeling. Miss Doriz declared that
all the boys wanted to make
speeches but they had finally been
obliged to elect just one more who
would speak for all of them. Ted
Stockwell instantly appeared and
with fitting words presented a beau
tiful bouquet of carnations and
ophelia roses to Mrs. Averill. Doro-
thy Colony followed him immed-
lately with another bouquet which
she presented to DIR. Averill in a
most pleasing manner. The toast
mistress then dedicated new song
to Mrs. Averill which the girls sang.
The banquet closed with Alma Ma
ter song with solemn and impress
i've sentiment.
The Baccalaureate services were
held at 1890 in Sophia Bailey Me-
mortal chapel. The Juniors had de-
corated the chapel attractively with
banks of graceful spirea. while the
class colors of purple and gold were
carried out with deep purple fieur-
de-lis in a large brass jar that form
ed the only decorations of the pull
pit. Principal Owen presided and
DIR. Moses Bailey of Wellesley Col
lege delivered a most fitting Baccal-
aureate address taking as his theme
Behold I set before you an open
door,"
At the close of the Baccalaureatc
service, Mr.. DeMarsh, the school pas
tor spoke most fittingly of the prfvi-
leges of church membership and then
extended the right hand of fellowship
to Dorothy and Robert Colony who
have recently become members Of the
Society of Friends at Oak Grove.
After.a sing the girls held their
regular Y. w. c. A. meeting by the
light of the open fire in their attrac-
tive Y. w. room. Stanley Everett led
the Y. M. c. A. meetings and the boys
felt the significance of the occasion
which marked their last Y. M. c. A.
at Oak Grove.
The Glass day exercises will be
next Friday afternoon with the re-
ception in the evening and gradua-
| ton Saturday morniu0