68 C. U. C. P. ALUMNI JOURNAL May, 1918 



Mr. President, Mr. Provost, Gentlemen of the Board of Trustees, Ladies and 

 Gentlemen : 



It is indeed a privilege to have the opportunity to say a word of congratula- 

 tion to this numerous class of graduates of the College of Pharmacy. 



In common with everyone here, there is in my heart the thought that we 

 are all very happy because there are people among us tonight who have ac- 

 complished something ; who have completed a task ; who have finished the thing 

 they set out to do ; who have shown that they could not be deflected from the 

 task they had essayed to fulfill. This thought is a most wholesome one, because 

 it is an encouragement to everyone to believe if he has his' mind and heart set 

 upon a thing to be accomplished, especially for the sake of his country and the 

 community, if he will only persevere, if he will only have fortitude, he can be 

 successful. Most of those who fail in life are those who for some reason or 

 other come to the conclusion at some period, that their day is done ; that they 

 cannot succeed ; that somehow or other, they have not in them that which will 

 enable them to win. My friends, that is one of the most disheartening moments 

 that can come to any of us, — to feel that we cannot win. In this atmosphere, 

 however, especially at this time, impelled by the tradition of the great University 

 under whose auspices these Commencement exercises are held, we should feel 

 that there is nothin.g we need fail to do if we have a right to attempt it and 

 only the will to accomplish it. All this has been done by the graduates of this 

 class. That is why we join in a happy note tonight and we all say to them: 

 "Well done, good and faithful servants, enter thou into thy reward." And what 

 is that reward? It has been depicted in fine language by the President. Their 

 reward is to serve: their reward is to give to the community the benefit of their 

 experience and their knowledge. xA.nd no better opportunity comes to anyone 

 than to be able to serve. To have the chance to serve, to have the chance to do 

 something — not for one's self, but to do something for one's fellows. If everyone 

 were inspired by the belief that what we do will be of some help to others, there 

 would never be a pessimist. It is only because we fail to hear that note that we 

 become disheartened. And these graduates are now going out to serve where 

 they are needed at the most critical time in the history of the world. 



What a splendid thing it is to know that there have been men of forethought 

 who have realized that the day was coming when efficiency would be necessary 

 to the saving of the world ! There have been those who have sneered at efficiency, 

 who thought we could all follow the easiest way, that things would come to us 

 if we only looked for them long enough. We appreciate now that the work of 

 the day has got to be done by those who are efficient, by those who have 

 availed themselves of knowledge and information that will enable them to do 

 things. And we have also come to another realization. That is, that there is no 

 one who is so unimportant a part of this great world that his services are not 

 required. There is no one, inconspicuous though he may be, who cannot be 

 made a most useful instrument, because there is need for the services of all 

 people. And how satisfactory it is to know that this University is sending forth 

 men and women who are fitted. — fitted for what? For the preservation of the 



