The times., 1897-05-24
ADDRESS TO GRADUATES
DR.. Rankin's Baecalaureate Sermon
at Howard University.
He Points Ont the Need for Work
TO Keep Temptation Away
From Us.

Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel, the
quaint and picturesque bouse OF worship
in the grounds of Howard University, was
filled to it's utmost capacity yesterda!
afternoon with the students, their friends
ana many prominent colored citizens, in
terested In the progress and education OF
the race n this city, to listen to one OF the
most eloquent and fercible baccaIaureate
sermons heard in that lasting monument 70
the philanthropy and large-mindedness
of its bencractor. President Rankin tcok
for his text Luke xix:13, And he called
his ten servants, and delivered to them
ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till
l come During the course OF his re-
marks, the speaker said:
THE old phrase of our childhood, And
satan finds some mischief still for idle
hands to do shows that the same law
of work is in the kingdom of darkness
We must work somew here. If we are
idle the devil hires US. 1t is the mGn
who stand idle in the market-plaee to
whom the devil gives employment. lf
Judas had been about his masters bus
ness, he never would have betrayed his
Lord There is no better safeguard ag ainst
crime and sin than occupation; than hav.
ing something to do. A pickaxe and
spade are q surer preventive OF wrong
doing than legislation. 1t is while men
are idle, hanging around drinking-places,
that they concoct their schemes OF crime.
The men whom we see with dinner-pails
in their hands, in the early morning, making
their way to their places of employment,
engaged in providing for their own, these
are the men, against whom are no charges
of irregular conduct. Nor are they lodged
in the police station. So that the SEN
tence of Eden: In the sweat of thy brow
shalt thou eat bread has come to be
q blessing to the human race.
1.-The desperate sentiment The world
owes me a living and u living will have,
has this element of truth in it: The world
makes a living possible for every man, if
he will earn it; If he will occupy this pos
sibility. The places for work in this
world are almost innumerable And the
men who are out of work are not usually
the men who are seeking work, but the
men who are Sinking it and skulkins for
it; or they want some other work than
what the world offers them and they can
republic to get something to do from the
Government: they have made up their
minds that they would like to be ministers
to other lands, consnls something higher
in position and salary than they have
ever shown any fitness for. The principle,
The place should seek the man, and not
the man the place, is not their principle
They have their breast coat pocket filled
with recommendations and Endorsements,
and they are anxiously awaiting the coming
in of that tide which will bear them on to
fortune-the Cleveland, the Bryan or the
Mckinley tide
1.-The best advertisement a man can have
for better place is to occupy, to fill the
Mace he occupies SO full that there Is no
longer room enough for such man as
himself In It,
"The word occupy in the text has very
suggestive meaning. Some people look
upon life's preferments as mere places 20
be filled. They think if they could get
an anpointment, have a chance to show
what is in them their future would be
made But there is nothing SO likely TO
prove a mans incompetence as to secure
position which he cannot fill. The trouble
with the man with the one talent in the
parable may have. been jealousy because
somebody else had five talents while he
had but one. The getting into places is
not in the text at all; 1t Is the filling Of
them, like a fountain, perennial and mex
haustihle
"a great future, great occasions come
only to man, who has been occupying his
circumstances, SO as to fit himself for them.