Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-12
BACCALAURATE SERMON.
By CHANDELIER A. W. EVEREST.


generation by the will of God, fell on sleep
and was laid unto his fathers" Acts 1885.
The life of King David was crowded
with wonderful events. As the humble
shepherd boy, he was Amounted, by the
prophet of God, King of Isriel; Goliah of
Gath falls beneath his youthful arm; the
women of Israel chant that Saul had slain
his thousand, but David his ten thousand:
by the jealous and angry Saul, he ishunt-
ed like wild beast through field and for
est; he finds safety among the Philestines
by feigning insanity; at length he relSns
at Hebron; he eonciliates Abner and the
revolted tribe; he reunited mis- discovered
kingdom; he is at the same time ''the
sweet Psalmist of Israel" and the mighty
conqueror who extend his territory on
every side except that of the great western
sea; and yet the results of this eventful life
epftomized in a single sentence OF inspired
history: "David. after he had served his
generations by the will of God fell on sleep
and was laid unto his fathers" How pro-
found is this one sentence, containing as it
does all the glory of heroic achievement,
all the beauty of devotion to human vel
fare, ali the evening quiet of well spent
historic formula for the expression of the
life OF every truly great man. OF Paul, OF
Charlemagne of Luther, of Wilberforce,
of Judson, of Lincoln; what more could be
sold? A similar statement describes the
life OF every man great in crime Napolean
after he had slaughtered myriads of his
generations by the long suffering and for
bearance Of God, also fell asleep and was
gathered to his fathers.
In every noble soul there is an inexpres-
sible desire to so live that such an encom-
ium may be handed down the ages; SO
to live that his shall be lone of the few,
the immortal names that were not born to
die" who would be content to be blank,
a zero, giving value to other figures, but
having none himself? Who would consent
to have his name handed down linked for
ever with failure, shame and crime? Who
would be the Benedict Arnold, the Aaron
Burr, the John Wilkes Booth, or the Git
teau of American history? Who would
not rather be star in the bright galaxy of
his country's benefactors-a star whose be-
nign influence might shine on forever?
Who would have his life lava current
burning its desolate track to the sea- and
would not rather have it like the broad and
sweeping river bearing verdure and lie on
every side? This is worthy sentiment, a
worthy ambitionl 1t is God-implanted in
the human soul and designed to lead men
to benefit mankind, and to so benefit them
that they will not let his name perish from
the earth.
To know how to become worthy of this
commentator, to know how to fulfill life's
great mission, is to have the highest of. all
knowledge. How shall live? What shall
l do? Is the problem of all problems, is
the lesson Of all other lessons. This in
spired history of King David implies, first
of all. that
I. We must aquire the power to serve
our generation.
David was man Of genius, he acquired
skill in war, the mastery of men and ma
tions, and served his generation according
to the will, and through the providence, Of
God. This power is derived from three
sources; from others, from ourselves, from
the help and providence Of God.
Through the law of heredity and the
force of early education, we derive much
power from our parentage. Fortunate is
he whose physical being is able to bear
heavy burdens and perform Herculean
labors; whose nervous system brings him
into quick and perfect sympathy with all
things about him; whose brain feels the
throbbings of strong heart and responds
to the lightest mental touch; whose appe-
tites and passions are tractable and sub
missive, though powerful impelling forces;
whose mental faculties have received their
oIo
and from superior parentage of that race
rising like mountain peak on the crest
of high mountain slope; and whose edu-
cation has been sound, wide, generous
furnishing the principles and forces of all
true character and progress. All past
generations help to increase this power.
We come not into a desert country, but
into a fair lands subdued and enriched
by the toll of all the past; we find the sci
ences and arts in high state of cultiva-
ton; capital has accumulated. society is
organized; the great battles of freedom
have been fought; and we are welcomed
as the heirs of all the ages. We derive
power from living men. Happy is the
man who can be a true friend and who can
gain friends; who is no cynic, no iceberg to
all generous enthusiasm; who can attract
men, inspire them with his own purposes
more than ever before we work through
great associations and aggregations of cap
ital and skill. We accomplish nothing
great single handed. Every one who would
serve his generation needs that courtesy
which makes him a pleasant fellow work
man, that influence which draws men
around him and that power over them
which enables him to organize and COM
man dthem.
We must find in ourselves great sources
of power-power which, like the coal deep
in the earth must be developed and utiliZ-
ed. All education is self education. APP
paratus, books and teachers may be sup
piled. but if the student will not avail
himself of their aid he will remain the
same fool as before He can not get an
education by absorption. A boy may lead
a horse to water, but ten men can not make
him drink. If others could force an edu-
cation upon us we should all be doomed to
learned greatness. The difference between
the boy Garfield and dullard is found,
not in their advantages, but IN the boys
themselves. The mental powers must be
developed and trained-traineds TO accurate
| observation, logical reas onlng and patient
| investigation; trained TO right feeling,
right willing and heroic doing. He must
| be able to know where and how to find
what he wants. He must be able to avail
! himself of all that other men have done
! and are doing, of whatever nation or cline.
| What difference between the rough dia-
mopd and the same uusightly stone when
cut and polished, between the dirt covered
pebble and the Koohnor or mountain OF
light What difference between the
| clown, "who never had dozen thoughts
| in all his life and told them DER from
| morn till night, each in its accustomed
place." and man whose mind has been
! deyeloped and who with uplifted brow can
| look around on a universe which in some
! measure he understands. 1t is the differ
ence between the crude material. the rough