State College baccalaureate line

May 28, 1962 Southeast Missourian

This view from the dome of Academic Hall shows a portion of the long line of State College graduates moving from Kent Library to the auditorium for Sunday afternoon baccalaureate services. The scene was repeated today during commencement exercises. (G.D. Fronabarger photo)

Four Musts to Full Life, Graduates Told

A capacity audience Sunday heard Dr. James A. Wax, of Temple Israel, Memphis, Tenn., tell the 277 graduates at State College and 46 graduates of Campus High that there are four essentials to any "well-balanced" life. He spoke at the baccalaureate service in the college auditorium.

Speaking on "The Business of Living," Dr. Wax told the graduates that we are first human beings.

"The world has always been out of balance and there have always been problems." There has never been any golden past, but there is a way in which we can meet our present problems.

He listed the four essentials to life as work, recreation, love and worship. Without all four, one's life would be like a broken wheel, he said.

Work is a "necessary virtue and financial requirement," he noted. It gives one a sense of achievement and fulfillment for his life. The opposite of work, idleness, brings slothfulness and wastefulness.

One of our hardest problems today is learning how to relax; there are millions who have never learned how to be still, he said.

Since we are humans, we can't love all people, but we can have affectionate regard for them all, he said.

"Life is only meaningful as it is lived in relation to other people." One should display a mature love asking "not what can I get, but what can I give."

To complete one's life, he must have worship. "Man can never achieve his potential goodness and grandeur unless he worships," Dr. Wax said. "Prayer is the key to worship for it recognizes a higher power, offers thanks to him, and is a petition for love and mercy."

Dr. C.E. Mount, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, gave the invocation while Dr. R.C. Holliday, pastor of Centenary Methodist gave the benediction. Dr. Thomas S. Messer, director of Southeast Missouri Baptist Foundation, read the scripture.

A carillon recital preceded the service given by James Carwithen, director of music of First Presbyterian Church, Georgetown, Pa.

While introducing the speaker, Dr. Mark F. Scully extended thanks to the Naeter family for their gift of the 50-bell carillon which will ring every quarter hour to "improve the cultural and moral atmosphere of the campus."

Dr. Scully issued a plea to the audience to follow the gift of the carillon with a gift of a non-denominational chapel to be used by all faiths. Dr. Scully said the chapel would cost about $200,000 and could not be built with state funds. "Nothing would be of greater benefit to the students," he said.

Providing music for the baccalaureate were the College Orchestra directed by T. Donley Thomas and the A Capella Choir directed by Doyle Dumas.

Previous blogs:

Kent Library 1940s

Kent Library aerial 1950s