Ilion High School - Class of 1941

The Ilion Sentinel - June 26, 1941

Faith Necessary Ilion Class Told

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Faith Necessary Ilion Class Told

Robert Kazmayer, of Rochester, writer, lecturer and news commentator told the 98 graduates of the Ilion High school at exercises held in the Capitol Theater, Tuesday evening, that in this changing world almost every edition of the daily newspapers brings reports of new changes, but that there is a danger in following the headlines too closely and losing sight of the larger things which are happening. He said, "While we are listening to commentators and reading columnists apparently breathless to know where and how Hitler will strike next we are closing our eyes to our greatest danger - our own internal weakness."

Kazmayer described conditions in Germany before the war saying that while France, was working eight hours a day, Germany was operating her industrial plants on a 24 hour schedule, and that the Nazis were told that while the rest of the world was getting soft by living in luxury, they were to harden themselves by working harder and longer and living more simply.

"There is for us," the speaker stated, "not a greater need for knowledge of European battles, war strategy and naval conflicts, there is rather a terrible, desperate need that we here in America, old and young alike, know the meaning and the strength of our fathers' faith in God."

Speaking on "The Challenge of a Changing World," Kazmayer said: "In the hour of crisis, whether that crisis be individual or national, the most real and important thing in life is something which lies inside man, that which he believes. Recognizing this, let us remember that democracy as we know it, this way of life which we accept and take as much for granted as we do the air we breathe, is a by-product of our forefathers' faith in their God and their willingness to fight and die for their principles.

"Today our democracy is threatened from without only because we were, for a quarter of a century, growing weak within. There Is nothing startling about the victories of Adolph Hitler except their breath taking speed."

"We abused our liberties We accepted our privileges as citizens of a democracy and neglected our responsibilities. We forgot or were unwilling to see that there is no privilege without an equal and accompanying responsibility. No people will long enjoy the former who neglect the latter."

"The boys who died for a belief and a dream in 1918, were considered suckers by a generation that lived in ease and grew soft in a world those boys had temporarily, saved.

"Now that day is done, desperately the western world seeks ways and means of stopping this Wave of the Past which threatens to engulf the Future, sweeping away the last vestiges of civilization as we have known it."

"How to stop it? There are many answers. But beneath all of them lies one basic fact. The moral and spiritual life of America must be revived. We must know that are some things we must love with love that is greater than our love of ease, or even of life itself. There are some things we must hate, with a burning hate. We must know once more that in spite of all our superficial knowledge, there are things a man can believe, things a man can live for, sacrifice for and which lie can gladly die."

"Faith, discipline, work, honesty, personal integrity, these were all a part of our fathers' faith. "To them we must return. You of the graduating class must meet your responsibilities, not with the wild enthusiasm of a totalitarian people but with a firm belief in the faith and Meals of your forefathers."

Allan Russell in his salutatory said, "One of the most important of our assets is our natural resources the things that we can see with our eyes and feel with our hands. Our town is filled with material wealth that is so necessary in the critical times which we are living through today."

Warren Schults [Schulz], in his valedictory address said, "Science tells us that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Likewise for every end, there is an equal and perhaps opposite beginning. In our case, as graduates of high school, our end of school is to be followed by the beginning of our work in the world. For some of us this beginning may be delayed for a few years by college, but it is coming nevertheless. We are being sent out into the world; we are at the threshold, the beginning of an entirely new and different life."

The school orchestra, a brass quartet, and the senior members of the varsity choir gave musical selections and Dr. Paul Wagner, Presbyterian pastor, gave the invocation and benediction.

Just previous to the awarding of diplomas, John Guy Prindle awarded these prizes: English, Allen Russell, first; Warren Schulz, second; mathematics, Warren Schulz and Walter Weeks; history, Cornielia Nagle Prize, Warren Schulz and Allen Russell; Latin, Marion Bradley and Warren Schulz, tie; French, Ruth Kent and Carol Baxter; science, Walter Weeks and Marion Bradley; commercial, Virginia Gorton and Mary Enright; industrial arts, George Kane and Robert Stasco. Robert Selwood won the Travelers Club award and David Younglove, the Historical Club prize.

Other Awards

Music, Wesley Donaldson, $5.00; Art, Donald Garlock, $5.00; Home Economics, $5.00 Alma Kinney; Shorthand, 2 yrs. and transcription, Eunice Smith, $3.50; Mech. Drawing, 2 yrs., $250, Earl Stealer; American History. (Am. Legion Aux.) $250, Warren Schulz; Dramatics, Herk. Co. Council of. Jewish Women, $2 50, Alma Kinney; R.P.I. Medal, 5 units of Math, and science, Walter Weeks; Stone and Luke Scholarship Cup, Class of 1941; DAR Prize, Betty Bleau; Becker College Commercial Pin, Virginia Gorton; Debate Plaque, Most Service to Debate Club, (Mrs. Day), Warren Schulz; Debate Cup, Best Debater, Allen Russell; Peters' Prize, Att'ny and Mrs. R. Peters, Betty Bleau and Jacob Cooper; Varsity Club Award, Aldon Ingersoll; Lever Cup, Bernard Murray.

Scholarships won by class of '41: Knights of Columbus, $800 Leo Murphy; Hartwick College, $210.00, Joseph H. Rudd, Jr.; League of Nations, National Essay Contest, Warren Schulz; Elks Flag Day Essay, (1.) Warren Schulz, (2.) Virginia Gorton; American Legion Oratorical Contest, Herkimer Co. winner, Allen Russell.

Money for prises was given by the following: Ten dollars each by the Ilion Building and Loan Association, Ilion National Bank, Manufacturers Bank and the Remington Arms. Five dollars each by the Odd Fellows. Masonic Lodge, Elks, Knights of Columbus, Mrs. Abram Zoller, Beta Chi Sorority, Phillia Club Two and one half dollars by the Travelers Club and the Historical Club.