The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-07-01
BACCALAUREATE SERMON.

The Sabbath of June 26th, was one
Of those perfect days when everything
in nature is in happy accord with the
buoyant spirits of expectant. joyous
youth. 1t was day, which, even
apart from its sacredness, was intend
ed to make everyone happy.
Under such inspiring influences the
Senior class of 'o2 assembled at 2:,o
P. NJ. in the beautiful new chapel Of
Institute Hall to hear the Baccaaur-
cate sermon addressed to them by Rev.
p. A. Heilman of the Lutheran
church of Bloomsbury, Pa.
Finding his text in St. Luke 1912,
Rev. Heilman took as the basis of a
most thoroughly practical sermon
"1he One Thing Needful."
But one thing is needful and Mary
hath chosen that good part which
shall not be taken away from her.
Iheme-The one thing needful.
have chosen these words from the
lips of Jesus, because l thought you
would want to hear some one speak
to-day who could not guide you wrong.
You may hear many other sermons
finer and better, no doubt, but never
again such a one as this, addressed to
you as a class. Your preparatory
work now done and you about ready
to so out into the world and make
your record and combat its opposition.
But before going you come for
message from God. l am glad to
bring you one direct from His Son.
You may forget everything l say,
and trust you will, if l can only lead
your hearts and minds to see the i'm
portance of these words of Jesus, and
you remember them, shall be happy
indeed.
You have made many sacrifices in
coming to this place of learning, some
OF you very great ones, and you begin
to comprehend how much your educa.
ton is worth, and as you 60 out into
this world of competition you will
realize more and more the value of
trained mind and a skilled hand,
when your sacrifices all will be for
gotten in the possession of your prize
Then will you feel that you would not
have missed this course of training for
many many times its cost. Then
will your gratitude go out to those who
made it possible for you to enjoy this
great privilege, and you will regard
them as your permanent benefactors
and never cease to be grateful. Then
will you remember the Gerry great
kindness of your instructors, and
their patience with you, and will bless
them for their strict discipline when
you wanted so much to have your own
way and they cruelty said "No."
Because now, you have something
worth many times all their efforts and
though you had to be driven, perhaps
with the threat of expulsion, to strive
for it, you would not have missed it
had you been compelled to endure
solitary confinement through all the
years of preparation. So rich is the
treasure you have gained and would
magnify it many times looking back
through IS years of practical expert
ence.
But over and above all this the
Lord Jesus says to you "But one thing
IS needful." We would not stop to
listen to an uninspired man or speech.
After passing through the splendid
curriculum you have, the combined
wisdom of all the past and present
education, to have some one say to
you there is something better to
to be learned than all that has been
taught you, would be presumption in
deed. But when the Son of God
speaks, he who is the source of all
wisdom, saying, there is something
better than all these, our attention is
arrested, we set about the inquiry,
What can it be? Let us search for
the answer. You have been so i'm.
pressed with the Importance of that
which you have labored so hard for
during these years that yon think Moth
ing could be of more consequence.
Now to hear some one say, that
there is one thing SO far superior to all
the rest, that it is called "The one
thing needful" as compared to every.
thing else, our curiosity is naturally
aroused to know what that is, and if
possible secure it. May God help me
to make it clear to you to day the i'm
portance of these words of Jesus that
you will bend every energy to first Sc
cure that and his promise is that all
other things shall be added unto you.