The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-30
Machining The NAME "commencement, ;

a beginning. The name commencement"
applied to the closing Of school life, Is
yet it IS name we'll chosen and looks for:
ward to the serious side of life; 1t tells
of new start to be made. OF new TespT1rasi
and then very commonly look Upon the
of i the graduates accomplishments rather
closing Of the school life means the clos
has just. learned how to make effort wisely
and well.
1t is too apt to be 80 also with r what aso ws
life. We look upon it too much as though
IL were victory instead Of an enlistment,
beginning marks the highest point of ones
religious life. It needs no argument to
shoT that all this is wrong NOR SDes IT
the eyes to see that 1t Is all very common.
DUTIES TO GOD AND MAN.
And yet, we talk too much as though
the religious life were thing apart from
the life of everyday work and duty. 1t is
not that. There is no such line Of division
between duties to God and everyday duties
to man as we are apt to draw. The re-
ligious life is the everyday life lived as to
God. 1t has even more to do with the
office. the store and the workshop than with
the Sunday school and the church. 1t will
turn readily to the latter for refreshment
rest and strength in the services; but 1t
will find a sphere in every honorable call.
Ing and pleasure tS that eannet be hepe
and purity.
To live ones life religiously Is no light
which in the Tong run can give US senu-
Inc and lasting satisfaction. or with
aser s to fence s S sn ar Il s WHICH
we call religious life. thing of Sundays
and ., holy , days which CHI, We put on when we
away. But 1t profits nothing to do that.
God is not Knocked or deceived by It, though
We ourselves may be deceived and may
giving to Him all that He asks of US. Such
a life Is not worth the care and effort that
we put into it. 1t Is not worth living, for
| 1t does not receive the reward Ii so fondly
But the true religious life is worth the
ee We put a into It. To live that lie right
| ly demands effort and sacrifice. There il
no point at , which we can safely relax
to the end. There are .oppositions that. are
hard to overcome, and never so hard as
when they come to US in the guise Of friend
| and the successful ending of all the strug
gle has its exceeding great reward. 1t Is
ourselves for life's long ing warfare f and it
to put it of victorious at the end of all
| fdence in our own abilities, but when we
| lay 1t down at the last, having fought the
good fight and finished our course, the
| boastful confidence in ourselves will have
gone. We shall be glad to cast whatever
palms of victory may be ours at the feet
| fight the good fight and helped US in it all
| the way along. through its many struggles
4 and engagements. The occasion for boast
| ing may have come, for even Gods own
| hand shall crown US, but the disposition to
boast will have gone and with one voice
We shall willingly cry out: mot unto US
Q Lord. not unto US, but unto Thy name
| be the glory"
| To deserve 10 better than to boast The
| Joy OF life's peaceful end is better than the
| Joy and overconfidence of its light-hearted
beginning. Into this joy. through what toll
may Gods good hand lead US at the last