Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-06-25
HAD ITS LAST DAY
Graduating Exercises of the
High School Glass.
AN ADDRESS BY DR.. GARDNER
he Delivers . Suong Appeal 70 the
Graduates in Favor of Higher
Education and Learning.

GSaooAfes IN FAVOR OF hiSne1
Education and Learning.
Fountain Street Baptist church WAS
crowded 10 the doors yesterday morn.
ing when. just at 10 o'clock, organist
W. X. Cornelius had played the last
strains of the march from Mendels-
shon's "Athalie." Elaborate decora-
tons of flowers made the somewhat
gloomy church bright and cheerful.
Around the chancel rail were arranged
banks OF palms, lilies aud hydrangeas.
The choir lott Was profusely decorated
IN the sAme manner. Above the pulpit
was hung = streamer composed OF .
background of ferns relieved by letters
of the class motto, Have Some Detin-
ito AIM" In the front pews were
seated the graduates OF the class OF
's2, the teachers of the high school and
guests OF honor. After the last strains
OF "Athalie" had died away the Rev.
j. I. Hustled made an eloquent prayer.
The high school semi-chorus OF nifty
voices, led by Prof. Shepherd. sang IN
strong and tuneful manner the grand
chorus from "Atnalie" Superntend-
ent Chalmers introduced the Rev. Dr..
Washington Gardner OF Albion college.
DIR. Gardner made q polished address
and received the close attention OF the
entire audience.
He discussed from the point of view
or the scholar the great question as to
the real value of higher education.
"If," he said, "giving mercenary in
depreciation to the consideration OF
this subject, does q liberal education
pay, will induce any student TO press
forward more eagerly in the pursuit Of
knowledge ! think we may be par
doned for studying the question in that
light. Education is practical thing.
Ii should be directed to self-improve-
ment. 1t should be directed to procur-
ing an ability 70 serve others. He VINO
serves others best, serves self most. In
the present state Of society many lines
of occupation are necessary and noble.
In whatever condition We may be
thrown there ls abundant and ample
opportunity for honest and efficient
endeavor. Education implies the de-
veIopment and training OF all the nat
ural aptitude one has. These aptitudes
We call natural endowments.
Higher Education Pays.
The choice of Q vocation is the most
important event in life. A wrong de-
termination is the greatest mistake q
young person can make. A wrong de-
termination in the Ihoice of an occupa-
ton not along the line of adaptation,
cannot result in success ana cannot
crown life with the grand encomium Of
| N-otl dAno thor, on,A nd fo,shf,,l
want" Having chosen, does il pay, we
possible training to accomplish the re-
firmativs and propose TO prove our pro-
considered. However, humble it
may appear, there is no humble
vocation where there is . noble
purpose to be achieved. Away
with an education, however broad
that does not recognize the no.
bility of toll. The question of social at.
tainment need never be considered.
Never get educated away from SYM
patty with the toilers in the kitchen,
though you may be . child Of mil
hOnaIre.
We come now to consider in q mar
rover sense, docs 1t Pay?' In many
homes, fathers and mothers, night
after night and day after day, are say
ing to each other, 'does it pay to keep
our son in the high SCHOOL, To give to
him better advantages than We our.
selves had?" The young people are
saying TO themselves. "Will it pay to
shut ourselves up in school, TO pay our
money for tuition and books and
boardr This 10 the practical test.
Mind IL Gods Best Gift.
We answer by pointing to the mind
ana soul. Mind is Gods most inn
portant gift to man: There is no
human power comparable to the exer-
else of \ human mind. Every steam.
boat, locomotive, or piece of machinery
testifies TO the superiority of mind over
matter. Not wealth or social position,
but mind, imperial mind, rules the
world from its lofty throne of power.
Thought IL the vital current OF man
the blood, the sap, the hfe-giving juice
| of his mental veins. The prime con.
trolling objec. OF education Is 70 teach
| man TO think. This young men have
missed II they allow themselves to be.
come mere stagnated pools, instead oil
! the development of every power and
faculty OF mind and body. 1t pays 10
| educate, to secure moral and mental
growth. On, that young people could
| get away from tho idea held by the
world a. to material things. the hard
| unrelenting ideas of dollars and cents
These material things in the dollars and
| cents world perish with the using, bu,
mind, like Its Father, lives on and on
deepening, broadening in power
through the eternity of the ages.
| Among the sweetest things in oul
school days are the associations OF
those days We perhaps do not think
OF them 90 much when we are young
and life lies before US, but when age
comes upon US and our hairs begin tc
whiten, as mine are now. aud when the
sun of life begins to sink down into the
clouds OF obscurity, and as We our
selves 20 do wn the sunset slope of life
We look back upon these days and tho
friendships We form now as the sweet
est of our lives. These associations
forgotten IN the activities and hurry OF
early and middle life, come back 10 vi
then with ali their brightness.
Rduc asea Persons Nave the Advaptags
Education helps us to establish
homes. Doubtless you young people
without thinking, suppose that any one
| can establish q home. The home II
the bright consumste flower Of the civ
ilixstion of the nineteenth century, anc
any sacrifice, however great, to obtair
10. 10 reasonable. Other things betnI
equal educated people have the advsn
/ tage, everywhere, and every time
without exception. Do you bellev'