Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-06-02
SCHOLARS SEASON.
OPENING OF COMMENCEMENT
WEEK IN CITY SCHOOLS,
An Able Baccalaureate Sermon by
Rev. W. L. Seabrook-Program for
Tomorrow Evenings Exercises
Interesting Meeting.


Never should baccalaureate sermon
be delivered in smaller room than the
opera house. Sunday night not half OF
those who desired to hear Rev. w. l..
Seabrook's address were able to gain
admission to the Lutheran church.
The regular evening service was
followed, an inspiring solo by Mrs. w,
G., Cowles being a pleasing feature OF
the occasion. The alumni, the teach
ers and patrons of the schools were
we'll represented in the audience and
everyone had words Of cOmmendation
for the powerful sermon.
The text was "The Excellency of
knowledge Is Wisdom"
Mr.. Seabrook said that the Christian
people Of our land recognize true edu.
cation as the fountain Of all that is
best in our civilization. They remem-
ber that Christ took little child and
set him in the midst of His disciples
and taught that in the child life is
enwrapped the germ of the life of the
kingdom of God, and recognizing that
system (Which takes the child and
seeks to draw out from him all that IS
best in character and life as one among
tue many stars in the crown of the
the Redeemer, they stand in firm and
unbroken allegiance round to maintain
and further develop it." The work of
the schools Is being more and more
carried forward in line with the spirit
OF Christ's work. Christ was a teacher.
lie taught His disciples by coming
close to them and drawing them closely
round Him. Teachers in our schools
are learning from Him this lesson that
to draw out the noblest and best in
their disciples they must come into
closest heart beat with them. Patrons
and those with authority to appoint
teachers are learning that this heart
touch between teacher and scholar il
necessary to the best and highest edu.
cation of the children and the success
of the schools; that this result can be
attained only by laying aside all favor
itism and methods of machine politics
in the appointment of teachers. The
true teacher is no more hireling than
is the true minister of the gospel.
Emphasis is more and more given to
the reality in education, to the fact
that knowledge in Itself is not the end
sought; that knowledge is only the
foundation upon which to build the
glorious superstructure of noble,
useful life. The end of knowledge is
use. The true use Of knowledge is to
employ it in doing good. We are in a
world in which there are many unhap-
py, many evils to be corrected. We
know that Gods thoughts for the race
are for good and not for evil. If this
be true then for every evil In the world
there is remedy, God gives us power
to acquire knowledge that we may use
1t in finding out the causes Of unhappi.
ness, and in finding the remedy and
applying IL. This application of know
ledge is wisdom, and wisdom is the
excellency Of knowledge. No genera
tion needed this conception of know.
ledge more than that made up of the
young people who will in few years
join us in our efforts to help the race.
Difficult problems are pressing fol
solution. The solution of all questions
that trouble the race must come from
those who seek knowledge not fol
itself alone but that they may employ
1t for the welfare of all. knowledge
that is applied, knowledge that II
transmitted into wisdom, knowledg,
that is transmitted into loftiest faiti
In God, highest hope of the uplifting
Of the race, broadest love in the heart
of the race, love of man for brothe
man, this is the knowledge which 1
excellent, the knowledge which will
not vanish away" but in faith, hop
and love abide forever.