Wichita eagle., 1889-05-28
THE RAccULAURATE SERMON.


ing to hear the beginning of the COM
mencement exercises of Lewis academy.
The middle block of chairs in the church
had been reserved for the principal, teach
ers, members of the graduating class and
students of the academy.
The morning service was very interest
ing from the opening grand volume of
sound that rose to the Almighty Father in
that Incompatible doxology, Praise
God from Whom all Blessings Flow" to
the close.
Rev. Mr.. Fleming in very heartfelt lam
guage offered the second prayer and Rev.
David Winters preached the bacculaurate
sermon from 1st Cor. iii. lib yeres inclu-
sive. "For other foundation can no man
lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ.
Now if any man build upon this founda-
ton gold, silver, precious stones, wood,
hay, stubble. every mans work shall be
manifest; for the day shall declare it,
because it shall be revealed by fire; and the
fire shall try every mans work of what
sort it is. If any mans work abide which
he hath built thereupon he shall receive
reward. If any mans work shall be
burnt he shall suffer loss. but he himself
shall be saved, yet SO as 10y fire"
AS will be seen by the text the theme
was character architecture, and right ably
did the speaker show that character is
the most important thing, the only thing,
in fact. that we can carry with US when
leaving this world, and is that which de-
cides our destiny in the next. Every one
is the architect Of his own character; cir
cumstances have nothing to do with its
formation. Dives was Dives. though far
ing sumptuously. His surroundings did
not make TO him nobility. On
the other hand Lazarus was
Lazarus, notwithstanding his ignoble
environment. There are analogies between
the erection of building and the develop
ment of character. First, there is diver
sity of material. AS an edifce is composed
of many substances SO character is made
up of impressions from without and
thoughts from within. Especially do
thoughts from within influence and
mould the man. Second, there must be
unity of design, as there must be some
purpose giving unity to the plan of the
building, built from certain end. So
with character, it is the dwelling place of
the soul of man. if the soul feast upon
immprality, lives in the market, SUBJ
sists upon fame or studies to grow Christ
like so is the character formed.
There must be some controlling idea, the
christian idea is supreme love to God.
Christ is the chief corner stone of
this love, there cannot be supreme
love to God out Of Christ because Christ
revealed the Father. Even building on
this foundation men build of different
material Creederal character will not
stand the test, neither sentimental nor
spiritualistic. It must be made up OF
precious things, trust for salvation in the
atonement the desire to be like Him, love
for every child of the human race and rest
in the word of God. Every mans worth
is to be tested even by fire, and if any
mans work be burnt he shall suffer loss
even if he himself be saved, zee there Will
be a full realization of loss, loss of work,
loss of reward; he might have sung q
sweeter song, might have been nearer the
throne. Earnestness counts for moth
ing unless the edifice be erect
ed of right materials, no truth
in the -sayirg in matters not what we be-
lieve if we are only in earnest. All build
ers of character are master builders. not
contractors, but man builds for himself.
At this point few words spoken direct to
the graduating class urging upon them
the necessity of building strong symetri-
cal characters stating that for their success
in life, but three things are necessary,
sound health, sonnd sense and sound
character.
The above can give but faint idea of
the sermon which was enlarged and beau
tiful throughout By apt illustration and
characterized by earnestness.
In the evening the sermon on The
Kind Of Men Needed" was even more
powerful than that OF the morning and
was listened to by a house full Of young
people