Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-06-14
TIVE VILLAGE SCHOOLS.

All t0e VIA q 9C0OOW CsOS0 buss WooA
The graduating exercises Of the class o.
'9s Of the High School will be held II
the Baptist church Thursday evening q
| 8 O'Clock. The class has seven mem
bers. An admission Of ten cents to TIKI
exercises will be charged all excep
invited guests. Tickets are on sale a
Shurtlefrs.
The South Paris Grammar Schoo
holds It's graduating exercises at I'M
Baptist church Friday evening. TIT
class numbers twenty-one. The class
parts assigned by rank, are a. follows:
saiusasory. Frank A. Bonney, g. osmon'
Chase excused.l
History, Robert Tufts.
Prophecy, Allie Marston.
valedictory, Harold T. Thayer.
Essays will be delivered by clever
other members Of the class, and thu
musical numbers Of the programme, vo
cal and instrumental, will be furnished
by members of the class. Admission
cents.
The baccalaureate sermon before the
High School graduating class was de-
livered by Rev. X. j. Haughton at the
Congregational church Sunday morning
The church Was handsomely decorated
with plants for the occasion. An alb
stract Of the sermon IL given below:
things into His hands. and that He was come
from God, and went 10 God began 10
wash His disciples feet" John Is 3.,.
The simple fact that man has learned
80 many things about astronomy, and
so MANY facts concerning chemistry, or
has solved 40 many geometrtcal prob
lens, or has translated SO manv passages
from Homer, or Virgil, isn't all. II Is q
great and grand thing not only to have
80 much intellectual knowledge-but to
know how to use It. Then knowledge
Is power"
The president Of one Of our colleges
said Of one Of the students: HE was =
calf when he came here, and only q
bigger calf when he went away" When
we have been To school or college, and
completed certain course OF study, and
are given diploma to certify that We
have accomplished such and such work,
then, the great question Is, "Do know
how TO use this kno xledge which have
acquired, and, will the world be snv
richer, any nobler, any better, because |
have done this:"
Someone asked Fenelon, the great
French prelate and author, "Whst con-
stitutes q good sermouy" He answer
ed, 1.-The test Of q preacher Is not that
his congregation 60 away saying, oh,
what a beautiful sermon" but that they
90 away saving Il will do something"
For both school and college the inten-
sity and direction of this wish TO do some
thing, must gauge the success or failure
Of It's work. For life to be successful,
there must be high purpose. Christ
Was but twelve years old when He said.
''Wist We not that | must be about my
Fathers businessy'' There Is nothing
much sadder In this world than an aim
less life. We are called upon to choose
between sn aimless life, and one full OF
noble determination and purpose. God
help Us to all to choose rightly. God
help US TO choose, so that We shall not
be compelled some dsy, TO look back
upon q big mistake. Aud what man
chooses reveals what he Is.
IL Is great thing to live well. That Is
why We are sent TO school. IL IL not
simply to learn so many pages OF gram
mar, or TO solve so many problems In
This IL only our discipline.
The diamond must 60 upon the wheel
before II IL lit for the royal crown.
Moses must be trained In all the learn
ing and wisdom Of the Egyptians, and
see God In the burning bush, before he
can lead Israel from bondage. Daniel
must spend night In the den Of lions,
and Joseph must anguish In prison be-
fore they can rule Babylon. and Egypt.
And our blessed Lord BUNDLED Himself,
even TO the washing OF His disciples
feet, that He might teach them that the
greatest" In His kingdom Is he who
serves, who does most for the uplifting
Of this world.
ask for nothing greater for you,
members Of the class Of '9S, than that
each Of you may iind your place In this
world, and do your work nobly and well
for the glory Of God. The old school
days Of your childhood and youth, you
are about to leave. You have reached a
parting Of the ways. You have arrived
at new experience. You are about to
gain new conception Of life. You are
going out into Z busy world, "Where
many lance Is lifted, and many dag
unfurled." You will will not lind II all
smooth sailing. And that Ia partly why
| want you to seek great, noble. mighty
the noblest, grandest pur-
pose, after all, is the purpose that by the
grace Of God, YOU will bless the world
BY the life you may live, and the work
that you may do.
You want to do something great: Let
me tell you that the greatest blessing
that you or I can ever have will be to
hear Christ say: II WAS an hongered,
and We gave me meat. WAS thirsty,
and We gave me drink. WAS stranger,
and We took me In. | WAS sick and In
prison, and We came unto me-" This Is
my great desire for you-that may know
the divinity Of service. Then, too, re
member the secret OF the greatness OF
Tennyson's hero:
Ny good blade cArves the casQues OF men +;
Ny tough lance thrusteth sore;
Nv strength IL as the strength OF ten
Because my heart Is pure"
Mr.. Msbie uttered great truth when
he said: 1.-The supreme art TO which all
the arts, rightly used and understood
minister. Is the art Of living" DO your
duty In the world. Do IL well-ss IL stand
ing before God. Let the noble men who
took the old Merrimsc into the narrow
channel at Santiago, that she might serve
a great purpose. teach you bow heroic
men think only Of doing their duty.
With them, il was duty first--and II they
died, they died, What you do, do well.
Do not be too eager about yourselves.
Let your knowledge bless others. Let
your lives become so many ministering
angels OF God, TO make the world hap
pier, purer, grander place for men and
women 10 live in. Christ was no less a
man, when He washed His disciples
feet, but more.
There Is no greatness apart from good
ness. My prayer for YOU is true, noble
manhood, or pure, precious, unselhsh
womsnhood. Let every man be the best
man that by the grace OF God he can be-
come. Let every woman be the sweet
est, purest, noblest woman that she car
attain unto.