Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-06-12

Ten girls, the first to graduate
from Oak Grove as school for girls,
marched into Sophia Bailey Memorial
Chapel at 2.30 on Thursday, to be the
initial class to graduate under the
new policy. The fact that they rec
ognized the importance of the day,
was clearly reflected in their class
parts, which referred happily to the
change. If any person might have
been skeptical Of the change when 1t
was announced, he surely would
have felt that it was a success as
he looked at the first graduates. Glad
in plain white gowns, and wearing
white picture hats, the girls were
charmingly set off by a background
of dark pine. The chapel was fur
ther decorated with large jars Of ap-
pleblossoms and jardiniere in which
were mingled the class flower, the
white carnations with brilliant tulips
in honor of the commencement guest
Ramondt- Hirschmann of Holland.
Virginia Briggs, of Atlantic. Mass,
the president of the class, presided
and introduced each speaker. The
girls carried out their parts with
grace and poise, and afforded much
pleasure with the sly wit, in their
humorous class parts. The saluta-
tory, address to undergraduates. and
the Valedictory were of serious and
high minded nature that reflected the
idealism of the girls. The program
was as follows:
Professional; Prayer. Robert Ever
EFT Owen; Overture - Mignonette,
Baumann; Salutatory, Grace Calista
Gillespie; Glass History, Carolyn May
Petersen; Andantino, Lemare; Pro-
phecy, Betty Childs; Address to In
dergraduates. Helen Kathleen Clancy;
Glass Will, Ruth Elizabeth Bunker;
Glass Poem, Eleanor Hubbard Rog-
ers; Reverie. Arthur; Presentation
of Glass Gifts, Katherine Irene Clark,
Ada Flora Wheeler; Vadedictory,
Josephine Garland Rand; Souvenir,
HerZberg: Benediction, Rev. John J.
Martin, Phi. D.; Recessional.
Josephine Rand took as the title of
her Valedictory. Responsibility" in
which she said:
Following our responsibility to
self, comes another important obliga-
ton, responsibility to society,-not
only to that small group of friends
but to the entire world, the vast null
titudes of humanity. What do we
owe them? 1t has well been said.
Shot Jul VI lONC tNCl
full grows So let US say that to the
great mass of humanity first of all
we owe brotherly love If we love
our fellowmen, out Of this love VIII
spring service, success. ideals. Out
of our lives will blossom the spirit
that will make life happy for those
about us. Only through love comes
the nobleSt service.
We, of the twentieth century, owe
more to the world than the pioneers
OF years ago, for we are heirs Of all
they have won. We must be faithful
stewards Of our riches, and so live
that we may pass down to the next
generation their full and rightful in
heritance
AS we find ourselves responsible to
society, so we are increasingly re-
sponsible to God. Homes, friends,
loved ones, opportunities, nature, all
these our Creator has bestowed upon
us. To Him we are indebted for all
that we have and are: and He holds
us responsible for living noble, pure
and true lives.
Responsibility to self, to society
and to God, make up the harmonious
life. Responsibility is not an alb
stract theory, not an irksome re-
straint; it is a way of life and the
only one that leads to true content
ment and genuine nobility"