The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1946-06-06
Pickens Tells Grads
"Life Has No Ceiling
Students Have Power To Make
Their Own Future, Methodist
Pastor Tells Obs Seniors

dStOE IcIIS OIlo kOCllIOIS
Life is not matter of chance,
you make your own future" said DR..
Denver C. Pickens, pastor of st.
PauPs Methodist church, Oakland, to
the members of the Senior Glass of
the Oakland High School at their
graduating exercises held in the au-
ditorium at Mt. Lake Park on last
evening. DR.. Pickens took as his sub
ject, Life Has No Ceiling" and re-
minded his hearers that while this
was a phrase of the field of aviation,
at the same time it was the title Of
book by a friend Of his, Dr. Frank
T. Cartwright, who told the fascinat-
ing story of two Chinese, a boy and
a girl, who were orphans, but who
were adopted by missionaries in
China, educated there in secondary
schools, came to the United States
to complete their training. They met
in America, were married, and re-
turned to China where the former
orphan lad became the personal
physician to Generalissimo Chang
Kai-shek, and the orphan girl a per-
sonal and intimate friend of Madame
Chang. DR.. Pckens told the members
of the class that it was not a case of
gamblers chance in a game in
which the sky was the limit, but
rather that Life had no ceiling" and
that there was no reasonable limit
to what they might achieve in the
future.
Using the chemical laboratory as
one illustration, he pointed out that
new discoveries of vast importance
in their benefits to humanity were
being made frequently. what limit
can be set to human achievement in
this field?" he asked. Pointing out
the recent inventions in the mechan-
zeal field he Observed "No one can
foretell what the next few years will
bring forth, to say nothing of the
next fifty or one hundred years. He
pointed out the need of improved
social and economic relationships be-
tween races and nations and insisted
that much needed to be done, and
then called attention to seemingly
impossible achievements in indivi-
dual human life, using as his illus
trations many famous and well
known characters.
DR.. Pickens said, in concluding his
address, "The greatest things in
human achievement have not yet been
realized. The greatest music has not
yet been written, the greatest books
have not yet been published, the
greatest discoveries in the field of
science have not yet been made, we
have greater advances to make in
social and economic progress than
have thus far been accomplished.
There are resources within us as in
dividuals and as nations and races
which we have not yet been called
into use. Besides these, Their are the
resources to be found and made pos
sible for use as we link ourselves
with the great creative and sustain
ing Force Of the Universe, that pow
er which makes for righteousness.
To link ourselves with that power
will give US vision Of things as they
can and should be- and will help us
to realize them. Truly, life has no
ceiling and what holds for you will
depend on you and the use of the re-
sources you actually have at hand"
The program which was held at
the Mt Lake auditorium, opened with
the senior professional. The senior
choral group presented "This Is My
Country by Al Jacobs, and "The
Lords Prayer" by Malotte-Deis.
Singers were Dorothy Brock, Bar
bara Bachtel, Martha Morris, Peggy
Winters, Marjorie Weeks, Mary
Weeks, Reba Queer, Joan Smith,
Mary Schlossnagle, Thomas Jones,
Herbert Leighton, Robert Bosley,
William Bleakley, Herbert Ridder,
Norman Friend, Lynn Lewis, and
Betty Starr Kildow, accompanist.
Diplomas were presented by Paul
Watson, superintendent of schools of
Preston county, Kingwood, to ninety
four seniors.
The Oakland Volunteer Fire De-
partment band offered a musical
selection, H. s. Mickey directing. Rev.
George D. Birk gave the invocation