The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-06-02
BACCALAUREATE SERVICES.
DIR. Ringland, of ST. Paul, Delivers an
Able Sermon to the Normal
Graduates.

baccalaureate services. The morning
was clear and cool and services in sew
eral of the churches had been dispen,
sed with, the clergymen therefrom
taking part in the services at the
opera house After the singing of the
doxology by the choir, an invocation
was given by Rev. ID. Husband. The
music was furnished by choir con-
Sisting of Misses Lizzie Sparrow,
Esther Ellis, Minnie Sweetland and
May Usher Griffin, and Messrs l.. e.
Wait, Geo. E. Brett, Evan Hughes
and Ivan Parry with Miss Cora Car
ney at the piano. After the singing
of 'Gloria" by the choir, Rev. l.
Bergstrom read scripture lesson,
which was followed by hymn, ''The
Lords Day" and scripture reading by
T. NJ. Rule. The choir then sang the
''Te Deum," after which Rev. j. Nj.
Marshall lead in prayer.
DIR. Ringland'S address was a strong
and able one, showing the need of a
women who are entering upon the
duties of life, Taking for his subject
Goods Commonwealth the Ideal of
Universal Prosperity, he brought out
most forcibly wherein the hope which
the Christian has of eternal life was
needed in this world to crown life
with the greatest success and do the
most for ones fellowman. We have
only space to refer to some of the
leading points of his sermon. The
father of Hannibal, he said, made
him swear eternal enm:ty to Rome,
and schooled him at all times in a
hatred for Romans. The close fol-
lOWingS of his fathers teachings: the
strict adherence to the duty before
him, gave Hannibal place in history.
He drew from Hannibal's course a
lesson for the young men and women
Of today, bringing out the difference
wherein the work of Hannibal was of
destructive nature, while the work
Of the young today is of constructive
nature and along line of peace. In
referring to his subject he said that
he took it in its broadcast sense, and
meant by commonwealth, that which
is best for all people. He spoke of
Gods love for his people, and said
that in creating man, God showed his
love. His laws which fence us III with
restraints manifest his love for our
welfare.
He spoke of the deist and his be-
lief that the universe was one grand
machine which God had wound up,
and had then gone off, and left it TO
run by itself. He showed wherein the
deist's idea Of nature was not entirely
satisfactory, and that revelation was
necessary to establish the identity of
God.
He referred to the position of the
agnOstic who believes in nothing, and
claims that no one knows anything in
regard to the universe and the here
after, and though claiming to know
nothing, write books to tell the world
that he knows nothing. Then he
mentioned the materialist, and the
position he occupies in relation to
Gods truth. The followers of these
various divisions, he said, often raised
the question as to whether life is
worth living. Taking their view of
1T the speaker seemed to doubt if
this life is all there is of existence,
whether it paid to go through and
take the chances with cholera, etc.
They had no fixed purpose whatever.
He then contrasted the position Of
those holding these beliefs, with those
who believe in God. The latter have
fixed idea in life, and because or
this are able to develop the highest
type of manhood and achieve the
greatest success.
Moral evil, he said, was at the bot
tom of the troubles of society. Chris
tianity promises the ultimate extinc-
tion OF evil of every nature and herein
was the hope of the world. He spoke
at some length upon this point. and
then referred to the fact that each
one is the builder of his own fortune.
Time, he said, is an essential in
this, industry is another most
important element. The young
should remember that only by hard
work is success obtained. He most
strongly emphasized the fact that
that young person will be most sue
cessful in every respect, who gives
himself over entirely to Christ, for
then will he have the highest mission
t. perform. Such course would
broaden his life and more fully build
up the man and make him what Cicero
called an integer. He is not a fraction
nor fragment. but whole man.
The voice of the world will call to
the young man to have good Time.
This means that he will not apply
himself to the rea. duties of life.
There are many who pity those who