News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14

Sunday morning the church pre-
sented to the eye a most pleasing
spectacle, being very prettily deco
rated with profusion of flowers. A
goodly congregation was assembled
to listen to the baccalaureate sermon
delivered by Rev. F. C. Taylor to the
Academy graduating class, The text
was taken from jeremiah 1876, first
clause, "Seekest thou great things
for thyself? seek them not"
The full force of this passage is secured by
placing the emphasis on the word ''thyself."
1t is proper to use every effort to acquire
greatness provided the effort is not made
selfshly The great thing in life is to get
self down to the level on which it belongs and
live for others. Human life may be filed
with God and be full of bessngto all around.
AS servants of the lowly Man of Nazareth we
are not to seek for great thingsfor ourselves;
are not to live selfshly, but to put the direc-
tion of our lives into Gods hands. The aim
of life should be to seek great things for God
! aud not for ourselves, This need not be
hard thing to do, for many Who seek things
which the world calls great never get them.
And when they are secured they cannot sat
isfy the soul. Only God can I'll and satisfy
the soul made in His own likeness. Great
things, too, are perishable while the soul is
| immortal 1t seems therefore, utter folly to
make them the chief object of ones ambition.
| Many who have sought great things have
finally lost them and themselves as we'll This
principle does not discourage properly di-
rected ambition. 1t encourages one to serve
God and his own generation, after the man
ner OF Him who "came not to be ministeTed
unto but to minister and to give His life a ram
som for many" No great things, however
fattering, should keep us from such SER
vice. To one who is giving his life to Gods
service the great things will come with the ht-
ness to receive them and especially at that
time when the Lord shall say: well done
good and faithful servant; thou hast been
faithful over few things, | will make thee
ruler over many things; enter thou into the
| Joy of thy Lord" We are to try to get on
in the world to better our condition in life.
But we must see to it that it is we ourselves
who get on, and not merely our wealth and
fame. We must make progress in character.
We are to see to it that it is ourselves that
are benefited. Adding to ones reputation
or his bank account, while taking from his
moral capital is not bettering ones self.
Therefore let us not seek great things for
ourselves. Let us seek TO serve God and our
generation, and leave the promotions to
Elm. Seek first the kingdom of God and
| His righteousness, and all these shall be added
unto you" He that will be greatest among
you let him be your servant" And now,
young friends of the graduating class, you
have finished your course in the school. A
new period of life is opening up before you.
Whether you continue a course of study else
where or take up the active work of life in
your chosen calling, remember that your
highest aim is not to get things, but to build
noble Christian character. What you your
selves are is o thousand times more
important than what you have There
fore build character. Take God as your
Father and Guide Submit your wills to
His. When you shall be confronted with the
question of a calling in life and other great
questions that will press in upon you, let not
the deciding question with you be, "Will it
pay?" or "Wil it bring me fame?" but 'Is
it right" Lord what wilt Thou have me
to do2"
On Friday night at the town hall
occur the graduating exercises. The
graduating class consists of four
members. The programme as ar
ranged is as follows:-
Music Orchestra
Oration... .,,................. Bernard Fairbanks
HAS the great western migration become
an evil?"
oratlon... Andrews
ave cannot live on past achievements"
Muslc.,..,... .....,...'.,.,.. .........OrcnesUra
Essay Fannie Cheney
Friendship"
Grafton. Barney Finnegan
"The necessity OF the Monroe Doctrine"
Music........ ................... ..Orchestra
After an address by Prof S. +.
Emerson of the U. V. NJ, the diplo-
mas will be presented by hepresident
of the board of trustees, Hon. Waldo
Brigham.