The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1897-06-16
COMMENCEMENT SERMON
At the Wellington Methodist Church, by
Rev. II. L. Waggoner, to Graduates of
Wellington Schools.

ldSG OuIludS eNeniuS' n SCedJ COnSTe-
CATION of over five hundred persons,
mostly young people, filled every pew
and all the extra chairs provided, while
many persons young and old stood up
and attentively listened to the elo-
quent lecture delivered by the pastor,
r. L. Waggoner. The occasion was
the Commencement sermon of the pas
tor to the graduates of the Wellington
schools. These young men and women
having finished with that rart of their
life's education which text books and
teachers could help them to gain, were
there to receive from an eminent spir-
itual teacher, words of wise counsel,
ere they launched out into the great
world of active men and women, to
make a place for themselves of fame
and fortune, or at least to achieve
honorable and substantial recognition
among the worlds workers. Mr.. Wag-
goner applied his discourse to the sub
stuntial benefits of the unseen in COM
parison with the less pure and satisfy
ing rewards of the seen or material
world.
The text was quoted from Proverbs
PSI ut is the glory of God to conceal
thing: But the honor of kings is to
search out Il matter"
In beginning his remarks, Mr.. Waggo-
ner referred to the quality of happiness,
speaking of that, as an impossible
thing to attain in this world of materi-
al struggles and gains. Quoting St.
Paul as an authority, he said: The
things which are seen are temporal:
but the things which are not seen are
eternal, and while in this life the ma
jority might with hard work, and
few with seemingly comparative ease
obtain the things that are seen and
perishable, all men and women ought
rather to strive to gain something from
the unseen, which would prove far
more precious and valuable than any
thing temporal or material, that is
seen. Each one of the young people,
with happy faces. before him, radiant
with intelligence and quickened pow
ers, might, with industrious effort, ne
complish some great work, and from
the unseen world of mind and matter
gain or discover something of great
value to mankind, to contribute to the
grand achievements of science, art,
literature and other forces that have
made the history of mankind glorious
and redowned to the glory of God.
Thus it was still possible, even yet
beyond this wonderful nineteenth
century ofalmost supernatural achieve
ments and Inventions, for any of young
hearers to win for themselves undying
fame, and veneration by the entire
world of humanity.
Rev. Waggoner illustrated his lesson
with many beautiful SMILES, and ref
ferred to men like Bayrd Taylor, Sir
Isaac Newton and Stephenson, who,
being born to humble estate yet by
their Industrious strivings after the
admonitions of Almighty God, rose to
the heights of fame, honor and powers
beside which the glories, achievements
and powers of the autocrat of all the
Russians were insignificant.
The lecture was scholarly and
finished discourse and was listened
to with breathless attention by the
great audience of young people and
their parents and friends who were
present. The speakers enuncia-
tion was clear and distinct, and could
be heard to the furUhermost corners of
the large auditorium. 1t was an intel
lectual treat enjoyed by all present.
and will stimulate many young
mind there, to strive after the happi-
ness and glory of the unseen world.
Before and after the lecture, the
choir rendered choice musical selec-
tions.