Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1893-06-29
BACCALAVREATE.
sermon to the Graduating Glass Of tn

sermon To the Graduating Class Of the
High School, by Rev. ID. l.. Yale.
LAST sunday there wss instituted a custom
thst II expected will, for many years to come,
De feature Of graduation week Of Elsworth's
high school,. Ii was the preaching Of bsccs-
laureate sermon to the graduating class.
vi course all graduates know what sort of
sermon this Is. but others may be interested to
know that it is farewell discourse delivered
10 graduating ciass-generally In colleges by
the college preacher, but the custom is grow
OF having them preached to graduating classes
OF schools, academies and Summaries The
word is OF latin origin. baccd ldari. bayberry,
from the practice OF the sspirant for a degree
wearing garland OF bsyberries.
Rev. ID. L. Yale was the preacher. The
congregational church was comfortably flied,
al ) O'Clock. the class. with their teachers. oc-
eupying front seats. The textwas: "Except
your righteousness shall exceed the righteous
ness OF the scribes aud pharisess We shall In no
wise enter into the Kingdom OF heaven
BLESSED are they that hunger and ihIrs, after
Righteousness. for they shall be filed" The
subject was The Relation of Righteousness
mon:
''lle who enters the kingdom of heaven has his
right there because of his righteousness A Ger
tain environment requires natures suited to IT,
The requirements of heaven are met only nv
righteousness. This truth was constantly EN-
phasiEed by Jesus; 1t Is simple 10 statement
plain 70 the mind. terrible when carried to Its
logical conclusions.
The same truth was taught by the Hebrew
poet, The Hebrew prophet forced 1t into the
ears OF proud people and wicked king The
more spiritual minds in every religion that the
world has known have given expression to the
same truth. It j. universal
Truth Is native 10 the human souI and Il Is he.
cause this l. SO that heaven Is possible only
through righteousness, and with righteousness
all who seek shall he filled. Whist Is righteous
ness II Is not the observance OF traditions, not
the outward act with no corresponding inward
Impulse Righteousness s. inward 1t consists
of right character. not of outward acts
righteous mans acts spring from the heart:
their performance Is of the heart not OF the letter
only,
Righteousness consists in conformity OF the
life to divine law 1t Is right relation 10 God
Here two facts are present God the creator,
man thu created. gifted with power TO obey or
di-obey. The righteous man & the man who
obey- his creator
"Righieousness. therefore, s. natural. unright-
eousness lie unnatural. There Is not one law of
nature and another law % God. The worlds
great misfortune has been It's attempt to divorce
righteousness FROM life and law. to divorce the
moral from the physical. the spiritual from the
natural
The thine 4 at hand when the wilfully rnrishs
eou- viii be treated a criminal or a. insane
Men are learning that lie ~ health and growth
r. possible ouls whsn lived In obedience TO di.
vine law The breaking OF the ten command
meuts l. 90 more sinful than the breaking u a
ply -lcal law that Injuries the l-'dy The world Is
slow in learning that our bodies are temples of the
living Cod The triumph OF rtsh,eousne-- in
phy -icai humanity IS at hand
The crown 81 physical manhood Is the mind
IT, neglcc, l. fruitful in unrightcousu,--. 1t.
cultivation 81 obedience to divine law Herein
lic- the glory Cd: our public -chYol ,sten " hioh
3 maxim. our nation more worthy, and ecyAtlug
he standard 81 humanity
90 ertaiu social customs stand in the way OF
complete rlShte"g-ne-s they mus; all re done
away with Some are gone. othcrs are ,ot,efing.
all must so. Men are hungering and thirsting
after risAtcousnc.-. and they shall X filled. The
signs of the iime- are hopeful. Religion l. grow
iuE les formal and external. more vital aud In.
warl God Is becoming a real presence Gu re
world. Il Il our Inspiration 20 read in the sign.
so 10 day the work and the reward that await u.
in the coming wears 1t shall Ice the glory OF our
generation 20 learn the truths OF righteousnes-
and - fashion them Ia the hearts OF the succeed
ipg one.
~ hen We lay down our burden and behold our
successors taking II up let u remember PAUL.
u ar,i- For a. hy one mans disobedieuce many
were made sinner. 80 rs the obedience Of one
shall many bee made RI righteous"