Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-06-17
HIGH SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT.
Baccalaureate Preached sum
day by Rev. w II. Collins.


gatonal church sunday afternoon by Rev.
W. H. Collins. Palms and cut flowers
were used effectively in decorating the pull
pit.
The exercises began at , o'clock with an
organ voluntary by f. c. Leitsinger, dur
ing which the school committee, teachers
of the High and graded schools and the
members of the graduating class marched
from the chapel down the centre aisle of
the church and were seated in the front
pews. Then followed scripture read ng by
Rev. J. d. Beeman, prayer by Rev. Mr.
Collins, and two selections by the Brattle-
boro male quartet
Rev. w. II. Collins preached the sermon
to the class, taking his text from Proverbs
III. 1914: "Happy is the man that find
eth wisdom and the man that getteth I'M
derstanding. for the merchandise of it is
better than the merchandise of silver, and
the gain thereof than fine gold.'
The sermon was one which appealed es-
pecially to the young graduates, and in
closing Mr. Collins said:
Members of the graduating class: 1t is
now - years since the first sermon was de-
livered bv the speaker before the class of
1851. 1t was then thought by the chair
man of the school board that the public
exercises of the institution under his
charge. and that of his colleagues, at the
time of graduation would be attended with
more dignity and honor if they were in
Il. ALI IF hp
fore the class who had completed their
course of study and were to receive their
diplomas.
AS we look back through the years that
are past it very evident that the school in
which you have been educated has greatly
improved and that its standard is now
higher than ever before. So far as it is
possible, you have been given more
thorough training in the several branches
of an English and classical education than
your predecessors enjoyed; and with these
advantages a greater responsibility de-
wolves upon each one of you who are pres
ent.
One great object of the intellectual train
ing that has been given to you as pupils IN
the Brattleboro High school is that you
may be fitted to take your several places in
society, and in the world wherein we live,
with minds cultivated, perceptions quick
ened, and with a right and proper sense of
duty both to yourselves and others.
The several officers in our school have
deep personal interest in your welfare.
They recognize the possibilities of your fu-
ture life. There is not a single teacher to
whom you have made your daily recita-
tions during the past years who does not
feel that interest in you to which l have
referred. l think l am warranted in say
ing this and even more. Together with
the members of the school board they will
Keep YOU still in remembrance, even though
your presence is no more in their halls, and
your lives and actions will be noted when
YOU are numbered among the alumni and
in after years.
-. The ties that bind us together are of too
sacred a nature to be rudey severed. 1t
Is true that you will soon pass out from
our immediate supervision and control,
and as is inevitable, form now relations in
other circles, with varying interests and &C.
equations. In these, our parting words,
we beg you to remember that your true
and lasting happiness will consist, not in
those things which are confined entirely to
this life, but in using the world as not
abusing it, and in the right and proper I'M
Outstanding of life's duties and its serious
responsibilities.
What grand, ennobling and encourag-
ing thought it is that in the providence of
God we, by reason of our several talents
and abilities, may assist in the improve
4. ent and edification of others with whom
, e are associated, that we can make the
orld better by living in it, and by so liv-
2 that when The end shall come we may
dice over the gracious opportunities af-
ded us. The prophet gave utterance
,ne of the truest sayings when he wrote,
a eep innocency, and take heed unto the
lg that is right for that shall bring
peace At the last"
he world today needs young men and
lg women whose hearts are full of
age, faith, patriotism and endurance;
shall furnish examples of unsefish-
NJ purity and strength. Among such
" may all be found if your hearts and
minds are filled with true wisdom and un-
dersts.ndng, with reverence for your Crea-
tor, loyalty to your country and love for all
mankind.
The class colors which you have chosen
serve to indicate your patriotism and love
for one of the greatest and noblest coun-
tries in the world, "The land of the free,
and the home of the the brave" Your
class motto should be in itself a sermon,
teaching you that so far from having COM
pleted your education, you have IN reality
only begun it, and the sentiments to which
l refer ought to incte you to renewed eff
forts in the direction l have suggested in
this sermon, and we cannot bid you fare
well without an earnest, heartfelt prayer
that you, each and every one, in your flu
tnre lives may reflect credit upon the insti-
ton fIom which you are graduated and
honor upon all who are connected with it,
and far more than this, remembering your
Creator in the days of your youth, may
YOU seek and find true wisdom and under
standing, wherein only is happiness, and
"the merchadise of which is better than
the merchandise of silver the gain