St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1890-06-19
BACCALAUREATE.
A Strong Sermon to the Graduating
Glass by Rev. c. VI. LamsOn.

II
ting class at the Academy wa,
preached at the North churcl
Sunday night by the pastor, Rev. c
NJ. Lamson. The church was filleC
to overflowing and all present hearo
a very able discourse. The pulpi
was profusely decorated with flow
ers, principally hydrangeas in pots
and directly in front of the class were
the figures "'9O" in white with {
green background The service
opened with voluntary by Organ
ist Hazen followed by Dudley Buck s
anthem, "There is a river" by dou
BILE quartet. After scripture read
ing and prayer by Rev. Edward T
Fairbanks, a ladies quartet gave
Their sun shall no more go down,
| by Tuckerman.
The subject of Mr.. Lamson's ser
mon was the word a." from the
text, Il say unto you" found in Matt
5:1S. He said the word |, coming
from the lips of Christ, declares as
no other word can, the truth that
should grace and animate the spirit
of all men. There are other polysyl-
Liable words, individuality" per
sOnality,' that contain the thought
| but one wearies following about the
idea that requires so much to fence
it in. The word 81" is like fist in
which hand and fingers are made
solid for a blow At the close OF
your studies and social life here, you
seek some thought that shall lay
hold on eternity, that you may have
clearer appreciation of the larger
joys and opportunities to which
your hope and energy now turn. In
such a mood it will be worth your
while to think of the meaning and
use of the word a."
This is the wiSeSt question of all
the interrOga tions of wisdom, and
should be asked with the greatest
cOnstancy and earnestness, "What
am ?" In gaining an answer there
must be three words, three attitudes
of the soul. First, self knowledge.
All real knowledge finds its meaning
in the knowledge of self. In q real
way, things are known by their
reflections within ourselves. Study
what you will, you cannot ask the
question, "What is it ?' without ask
ing also, "What am ?' The study
of human nature is of value as giving
better knowledge of your own
nature. The larger, more definite
your acquaintance with the world
without, the clearer your vision of
the world within. Make everyone
your teacher. Everyone whatever his
clothes or character can tell you
something new about yourself. Their
answer to the question "WhO are
you ?" will sooner or later become an
answer to the question What am ?'
Second, selfreverence. Reverence
is the sweet and glad discovery in
ourselves of tokens of a present God.
When a man reveres himself he does
not set himself up as q god, but finds
that God is setting him up. | wish
could hang before your eyes the in
terrogation, What do | think of
myself?," because | know that ''as a
man thinketh in his heart, SO is he. :"
If you answer ~ am beautiful" you
may know that the face of the soul
is ugly. Beauty is never conscious
of itself. If Il am wise" you are a
sophomore in life, a wise fool The
eyes of wisdom always look outward.
If 81 am strong" then you are weak
for the strong man never advertises
his strength. If, II am of a good
family" then you are vulgar, for
such pride poisons the nOblest blood
But if you answer, Il am q son of
God; l can think Gods thoughts
after Him, | can know eternal truth,
l am a messenger of the King, | am
q chosen companion of Christ, | am
immortal, | cannot tell how, but
know | am like the great Father;" if
this is the answer to the question,
"What do you think of vourself?"
you have self-reverence
Third, self control. Most Of us
live among propensities, passions
and forces that are part of us when
we manage them. We become like
them when they are our tyrants.
How shall one control himself ? is
the question youth must ask. How
can | say to all the propensities that
quarter themselves upon my life,
rest or run, speak or be silent, as
commanded by wise will? Here
Christ the King of himself and King
learned by submission to the Divine
control. The resonant law of His
life rings in the ear of struggling
learners of life, Il come to do thy
will, o Cod" When one thus knows
himself, and reveres himself, and con-
trolls himself, he knows how to use
the word 81
He who puts his personal life into
what goes from him, so that it will
remain alive after it has gone forth,
is the man of true service. This is
not egotism. Egotism is putting
ones name onto ones work, this is
putting ones self into ones work
1t is the person and not the name of
the person that is of worth. Every
one must learn for himself the use of
should say to himself, Il am to be
strong, there shall be no waste of the
reserves of power or misuse of ser
vice; | am to be the voice by which
the weakness of the world shall
claim its rights; | am to be the pro-
tector of all defenceless worth; l am
to teach the manliness that serves
not the selfshness that seeks to be
served; l am to live justice and
honor; | am to preserve pure habits
of soul that the outer life may not
seem hollow to the touch of love or
hate; | am to be truths soldier, and
ALWAYS under orders I am tO he
gentle, courageous, earnest and mod
est; | am to earn my living, and
that OF many chosen dependents, and