408 State Papers and Addresses

of the school must be kept open, swinging both ways, as the school goes into
the community and as the whole community comes into the school.

Those particularly concerned with the problems of professional education
can make no greater contribution in times like these than to do all in their
power to stimulate and assist in the development and implementation of ac-
tivities that tend toward the growth in professional stature and competence,
and join in the cooperations which in the name of defense can mean so much
and contribute so deeply to the professional growth of the men and women
serving now in the schools of America.

It is well to recall a most apt quotation from one of the outstanding
figures of American education—"Courage and clear thinking are at a premium.
Gigantic are the possibilities for preparing teachers who can help our Country-
men meet well the needs of the critical times through which we are passing.
There is great work to be done. "

But there is no reason for pessimism. The glorious history of our Country
and, especially, the proven abilities of our people to meet every emergency,
should give us assurance that right will prevail. Furthermore, we are con-
fident that American ideals and purposes, which have stood the test of time,
will still live on after the present attacks have been repulsed.

We must not lose faith, we must face the hard cold facts and realize that,
in this world where armed might is so ruthless, we must build bigger and
stronger armaments for our own defense.

This all-risking and all-grasping ambition of dictators should make us
realize that we need all our courage, all our energies, all our strength. Even
though the skies above be filled with engines of destruction, remember, justice
will triumph though the heavens fall.

You graduates of 1941 go forth to face the greatest crisis in the history
of mankind. The next ten years will determine not alone the fate of our
Country and all we hold dear—but the fate of civilization itself.

In the words of that great lawyer of Maryland, Luther Martin, "When
the sun mildly shines upon us, when the gentle zephyrs play, we can easily go
forward in the straight path of duty; but when black clouds enshroud the sky
with darkness, when the tempest rages, the winds howl, and the waves break
over us, when the thunders awfully roar over our heads and the lightnings of
heaven are called into action—it is then that the truly brave man stands firm
at his. post. "

And so to you, I say the clouds will disperse; the sun will shine, the Dic-
tators will be defeated and God will rule in the hearts of men.

I can think of no more fitting words to express everlasting truth than that
which I had the pleasure of reading from your Baccalaureate Sermon of yester-
day in the first lines of "Once to Every Man and Nation" which lines were and
are as follows:..,

"Once to every man and nation
Comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth with falsehood,
For the good or; evil side. "