Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1891-05-27
synopsis of the Baccalaureate Sermon.

4 large and attentive audience as
sembled at ThOmpson'S opera house
Sunday evening to listen to the services
connected with the opening of COM
mencement week in the high school of
Medicine Lodge. Much credit is due
Prof. Beeson and the several members
of the choir for the excellent music fur
niShed for the occasion.
sion was preached by w. A. Cain, pas
tor of the Baptist church. The text is
found in I'd Peter, 10, add to your
faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge"
Theme-all true excellence is based on
an intelligent faith.
Introduction-While the gospel of
Jesus of Nazareth furnishes an unlim-
tied field for the full exercise of faith,
yet it is the province of man to depend
largely on his faith as a guide in all
human activity. Christian faith has
the advantage of all other faith, because
based upon an intelligent conception of
Boly God.
l. Youthful days furnish the most
ample field for full exercise of faith.
The warning cry at the dawnIng OF the
Christian era was Repent we for the
kingdom Of heaven is at hand" Anew
force was being felt; all the Kingdoms
of the world were to feel the potent
touch of this kingdom founded iii right
eousness. The gospel of Christ was to
become prominently factor in secu-
lar as we'll as religious life. Illustra-
tiOn-a man who joined in prayer and
praise to God, was expected in business
to have correct weights and measures;
III short to be willing to do to others as
he would wish others to do to him. Each
adherent Of this faith was TO be Gods
true nobleman. To no one is there a
more inviting field for real activity and
true moral worth, than to those who are
now forming character, and undergo
ing mental and moral training. / ad
dress those tonight who with the usual
exhilarations of youth, are looking into
a seemingly cloudless sky. Do those
hopes find anchorage in the truths OF
the living Gods? We are to add to our
faith virtue, (fortitude).
.. a weak foundation cannot sus-
tain massive building. True merit
must win in the end. There is a charm in
the chase. and while it draws out the
energies of our being, it also requires
the power of endurance. Do we always
let the better part of our nature express
Itself? There is a scattering THAT
briDgeth increase, and there is a with
holding more than is meet that tendetb
TO poverty" The Lord said to Peter:
When thou art converted. strengthen
thy brethren" Prodigality, as shown
by Cannon Farrar, bears a fearful har-
vest:
lie is yet strong and young. and
what has he gained? What has he pur-
chased for himself with the portion Of
goods which his father gave him? He
bad sought for mere enioyment-he lad
gained husks and degradation: he had
sought FOR limitless independence-be
aad gained abject slavery: he had
sought for friends and popularitv-be
was lett 90 companionship of swine: he
nad sought tor unbounded pleasure-he
had round hunger, rags. a ruined life
an aching heart. Might we not well
address him in the plying words of the
English poet
lei &c, me- bright boy. tell me, my golden lad,
Mnlther away so froIic. why so glad?
With all thy wealth in counsel all thy state
are husks so dear to cost this mighty rate?
And yet We all know too well how
common this tragedy is, In which
man having squandered all that God
has gwen him, for the tlre of his blood.
for the wealth of his own possibilities.
for the beauty and mercy of his human
existence. has nothing to give back to
Him who made him, but the dust of
his mortal body and the shipwreck of
his immortal soul.a
This age needs men and women who
can form an honest opinion. and then
dare express that opinion. Unto you.