The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-06-14
Baccalaureate.

The baccalaureate sermon before the
graduating class at the High school was
preached. Sunday morning in Bethany
church by Rev. DR.. Norman Seaver, the
pastor. A specially prepared musical pro-
gram was rendered, in which a boy choir
under the guidance Of Mrs. Minnie Marsh
assisted the regular choir. The offertory,
"Callest Thou Thus, o Master" sung by
Mrs. George e. Mills, was particularly en-
joyable.
The undergraduates had decorated the
church in very attractive manner, The
platform, pulpit and choir gallery were al
most hidden behind banks OF ferns, in
which were huge bouquets of buttercups,
daisies and lilies On the front OF the pull
pit the figures "'99" were worked in white
daisies. The graduating class were seated
in the front pews on the right with the fac.
ulty behind them, and the class OF 1900 op-
posite.
The theme OF DR.. Seaver's discourse was
"Faithfulness IN Little Things" His text
was from Matthew XIV, 49, "Thou hast
been faithful over few things, will make
thee ruler over many things; enter thou
into the joy of thy Lord" 1t was a mas
terly discourse, worthy the subject and the
occasion, and was listened to with profound
attention, not only by those to whom it was
particularly addressed, but by the large
congregation present.
In opening DR.. Seaver referred to the fact
that the class before him is at the end Of one
life journey, and at the beginning of an
other The school days they are now leav-
ing can never be recalled, and that they
now go out from the loving tutelage of their
mother state, the state that has done all it
can do to make them good men and women,
to send them forth as trained children to
work for God and country.
Continuing the speaker said; On you and
such as you depends the welfare of this
country. On you and such as you must
come the glory or the shame, the progress
or decay OF the future. Today, putting
away childish things that belong to the
past, you have come up here that you may
receive strength and wisdom. / under
stand that the motto OF your class is Each
man the architect of his own fortune, the
arbitrator of his own dest N.Y. II you hear
and heed the words of the text you may
read your future destiny. II you shall
prove faithful in the little things OF life you
will repay the state for what she has done
for you, honor God and ennoble your future
lives.
This is land of great events, when hist
ory is making fast. As you look forward
for great opportunities for action, remember
that success or failure does not depend on
great things, but in faithfulness in little
things, which shall bring the greater. 1t
is said the greatest results depend on the
consideration OF little things; without those
no great results IOllOW,
This thought was illustrated by the
speaker by forcible examples. as was the
reverse idea that disaster comes as the re-
suit OF neglect OF little things.
One single act of folly may spoil a young
life and fill all its future with vain regrets
While the future may reveal, the present
tests our fidelity, our faithfulness or our
neglect of duty. We are. as it were, forg-
ing day by in the little duties of life, our
character that shall hold and keep US safe
when the storm come. The storms of tempt
alton, OF adversely, Of bereavement are
held fast by the characters we have formed
and wrought by the doing of daily duty, it
my be long time ago.
And so we are certainly taught by the
words OF our blessed Lord that in the di-
vine Judgment, no duty is small or insight
ficant. Call no duty small, for we can never
tell what destinies lie wrapped up in the
smallest duty. The acorn, grown into
mighty oak, will furnish shade and shelter
for ten generations. We cannot tell, any
OF us, how, on the doing OF little things
great destnies may turn. These little
things are sure prophecy OF greater things
to follow in the ages to come. we do the
duty of the hour, or moment, no matter
how tritiing, our reward is sure and the
blessing of God will rest upon us. The
building mp OF the final and glorious king
dom OF God will come not out OF what we
call great opportunities, but underneath all
these the daily doing OF little duties, busi-
ness or household duties or scholars tasks
as they come to rs. II we fail in these our
| talents shall be taken from us, and we mar
| and stain our whole lives.
Therefore, as you come and ask to-day, as
well you may how shall l make this lie of
mine not a mistake and disgrace but a
| grand success that shall bless others, the
answer comes in the text, "be ye faithful
over few things and l will make thee
ruler over many things" Keep duty at the
helm OF your vessel, with faith and hope at
the prov, and at last your bark shall enter
| upon the -unlit oceau OF Gods perfect love,
aud DO moored before the eternal city into
which ye shall enter to hear, "Well done
thou good and faithful servant enter thou
! into the joy Of thy Lord"