The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1883-07-19
Baccnlaureate Address of Rev.
DIR. j. Steck, of Newberry,
Delivered June 18th, 1883,
in WalhaIla Lutheran
Church.
PHILoPHRENIAN HALL,
Walhalla. s. c.. ,Junc 18th. 1883.

! much respect we remain yours, &C.,
truly,
! MAMIE SIMPSON,
! MAGGIE SHELDON,
FANNIE HALTIWANGER,
? SALLIE NORTON,
LILA RILEY.
! WALHALLA, June 19, 1888.
To the Misses Simpson, Sheldon,
Haltiacanger, Norton and Riley:
! YOUNG LAD1Es-The address l
had the honor to deliver, and which
you have thought we'll enough Of to
solicit for publication, is at your
! disposal, with the prayer that it
may do good. ]. STICK.
s::Unto every one that hath shall
be given and he shall have abun-
! dance Matthew ky, 20.
/ These words are selected from
our Saviours parable of the en-
trusted talents. 1t represents a
! certain master on the eve Of taking
a long journey, entrusting to his
servants certain amount of money.
To one he entrusted five talents, to
another two, and to another one.
After he had gone the servants were
free to employ them as they thought
best. Two of them employed theirs
in such a manner as to double
them by the time the master re-
turned. The other hid his for safe
keeping. and by his unwise con-
duct gained nothing for himself or
his master. Upon the masters re-
turn he called them severally to ac-
count. The one to whom he had
entrusted five talents, and who, by
prudent management, had doubled
them, was greeted with, swell done,
good and faithful servant The
one to whom he mad entrusted two
talents, and who had in like man.
ner doubled them, was, in like man.
ner commended. But that one who
had his lords money, and returned
it rusty and without interest, was
condemned, the master saying,
''Take the talent from him and give
it to him that hath ten talents. for
unto every one that hath shall be
given and he shall have abundance,
and from him that hath not shall
be taken even that which he hath
By eve1y one that hath is meant
every one that improves what God
has entrusted to him; and by every
one that hath not is meant every
one that fails to improve what God
has entrusted to him. The word
talent literally and primarily refers
to money, but metaphorically it
means any valuable possession,
whether material, intellectual, civil,
social or moral. The general truth
Of the parable is that our talents
will be multiplied, or diminished,
according as we improve or fail to
improve them. Education is q tai
ent capable of abundant enlarge
ment. It is capable also of serious
diminution. 1t is possible for a
student, six months after gradua-
tion, to have less education than at
the time Of receiving the diploma.
1t is not only possible, but it is a
matter of frequent occurrence. And
there are many instances, not only
of diminution of education, but of
the gradual decay Of mental power,
from the same cause. An unfaith-
ful custodian of another's treasure
is no more certain Of losing his
custodianship than is an unfaithful
alumnus Of sinking in scholarly at
tainment. Hence, the oft repeated
admonition to graduating classes
about their education not being
finished, and the necessity of pros
ecuting it in the future-in all the
future! The sum Of money that
doubles and quadruples itself so
often is the employed-the active
sum of money that finds its way in
to the channels of business, which
possess the magic power of con-
verting even the nimble sixpence
into a fortune. The knowledge and
application of this law has often
made honest millionaires of poor
men. In like manner. the educa-
ton that doubles and quadruples
itself is the active education, that
throws itself into all the channels
Of thought, which possess, in like
manner, the magic power Of con-
verting the tyro in learning into
the master in arts, science, litera-
ture and philosophy. The hill of
science is so broad and SO high that
no mortal ever trod, OF can tread,
its entire surface. What seems its
top is only the limit of human Vi
sion. and that once reached, the
| traveller, like the tourist in the Alps,
sees s:hills peep o'er hills and Alps
on Alps arise" innumerable and
| without end. Those who have gone
farthest and mounted highest have
all started from the same valley,
and by labored steps, gained at
length their lofty elevation.
Young ladies of the graduating
class, you have made good progress
up this hill, and under the direction
of your experienced guides, reached
point where, when they leave you
with the honors they are about to
L