The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-21
ADVICE TO GRADUATES
PRESIDENT SCOT BUTEER DELIVERS
A BACCALAUREATE SERMON.
His Subject "FaithfuIness--The Va
rfed Results of 1t in Various
Walks of Life.

The chapel at Butler was crowded yes
terday afternoon with the many visitors
alumni, students and friends of the institu-
ton to hear the baccalaureate sermon to
the class of 81, which was delivered by
President Butler at o'clock The board Of
trustees, faculty and seniors attended in a
body. The members of the class are Messrs
Blount, Brady, Brown, Bull, Burkhardt
Clarke, Cling, Harker King, Knepper, Lis
ter McGaughey, Maxwell, Olive Roberts,
Shipp, Shrader, Williams and Misses WAL
lace, Tibbott, Thompson, Sweeney, Strad-
ling, Jeffries, Howe, Curyer and Brevoort
The services opened with the doxology and
invocation followed by a solo by Mr.. Ed
ward Nell. AT the close of the sermon Miss
Georgia Calvin sang:
DR.. Buffers subject was "Faithfulness, -
the text being: Rev. ii, 1O-"Be thou faith
full unto death and / will give thee a crown
of life" He said in part:
Underneath all faithfulness is concentra-
ton of desire. The doctrine Of the New
Testament is that man gets out of this
world what he wants-that his real hunger
is satisfied. But it is the conduct that is
the exponent of characteristic expression
of the inner life and the proof of sincere
desire is this that you be faithful unto
death. Whether the prize be brains or
bonds, little or much. the cost of it is the
days of the years of a mans life No man
ever truly desires a thing until he makes
that thing the supreme interest of his life
until he sets 1T over against every other
consideration and is ready to barter for il
present comfort, future advantage-all that
he has, all that he might hope for Money
position, reputation, these are things that
men strive after. When Jesus saws he
that seel<eth findeth,' I believe that what
tcrh IT,
his divine words hold, they mean this also,
that riches or fame or power are for him
whosoever is faithful in their quest. What
worthless, one must serve for 1t. To the
faithful belongs the crown Nevertheless
are saying that in this life we do not
get the things we want. Youth, we say, is
a dream. middle life struggle, age a dis
appointment. Our dream never comes true,
our longingS only mock US, our prayers are
unanswered.
PRAYERS AND THEIR ANSWERS.
But prayer? Why should 1 pray? God
knows what need; why should 1 tell him?
God knows what things are good
for me; why should 1 make petit
ton unto Him? This is a crude
idea, namely, that the purpose of
my prayer to God is to get Him to do my
will that were impossible. Rather my pray
er to God is a summons 10 my own soul
1T Is an attempt on my part to lift my will
into line with the divine will Confession
of my wants to God enables me to work
out in clearer consciousness the divine con-
dluohS OF thelr supply. And further prayer
TO GOD Tor riches or for whatever III ings
this world can give will be inst as surely
answered as prayer for spiritual blessing
and In the same way; namely. by leading
us to dedicate ourselves more thorourhIy
to diVlnely appointed conditions We have
10 answer our own prayers. or is it this
way prayer answers itself? That is
prayer does. AS to verbal expression
prayer. What a man thinketh in
his heart, that is the real matter
And though our words be framed in 'i pefi.
ing that influences life. That is the PRAYER
therefore, that gets itself answered. AS we
hunger, so We are filled. We ask base
things-not in audible words PERHAPS but
base things. Base things? l would not he
regarded as undertaking the things that
] have spoken of as base. l am we'll aware
that one without some such proof of power,
or means of larger living as money. or po-
sition, or reputation, is doomed to live a
very restricted sort of life. And yet these
pose is to serve that crowns most glorious
attainment.
END OF FAITHFULNESS
To what, then, shall man be faithful?
He may be faithful TO money-getting. He
will receive his reward For a time it is
an interesting game. Success in it brings
power and certain Importance; but If
there Is nothing else the end will be a dis
satisfied spirit disappointed and lonely
old age. Or one may be faithful to a po-
iltical party Perhaps for some briefawhfle
&c may ride on the very crest of political
preferment. But he will be left adrift and
II witb aim party service was simply for