Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-06-06
sovrn PARIS nloh acnooL.
RAccALArREArK SERMON BY REV. Mr..
RAMspELr..

The bsecalaurcate sermon before ths
graduating class Of south Paris High
School, was delivered Ut the Baptist
church Sunday afternoon, by Rev. T. J.
Ramsdell. Potted plants were effectively
arranged about the desk for the occasion.
The music was by q male QuArtette com.
posed OF Aessrs. Churchill, Chesley,
Tolman and Mann, and Mrs. virgie
Wilson who Gang q solo. The class,
which numbered ten, marched 10 10 q
body, marshaled by Harry II. Wheeler
OF the class Of 1900. Rev. Mr.. Bean
assisted In the opening services. A
brief abstract Of Rev. Mr.. Ramsdell's
sermon Is given below:
Luke - %. lam among you as he that serv-
The context shows us little group OF
men 10 earnest dispute. The question
unknown TO the world to-day, "Who OF
US shall be accounted the greatest ~
Their Master and ours rebukes them for
this spirit, and pointing to his own ex-
ample says, ~ am among you as he that
serveth." Christ thus lays down the
true principle for the guidance Of life
the law Of service. And to you, my
young friends, who stand upon the
threshold OF active lie, / commend this
principle OF service which Christ enforc-
ed by his own example as the law OF
your lives.
1. Willingness for service.-It IL not
an easy thing te give up the determine
ton to have our own way Ia life, and
bend to that higher will OF our divine
Lord. But unless we are willing to do
this we shall make an irreparsble mis-
take. IL Is only those who bow to
Christ's will and accept his law of serv-
ice who make the most and the best OF
life. This willingness for service IL d.
rectly contrary TO the spirit and purpose
that control many In the world to-day.
The majority make all life centre around
self. One seeks riches, another power,
another fame, but all seek them for self
ish ends. Christ's idea Of what consti-
tutes true greatness Was radically differ
ent from the idea that prevails for the
most part to-day. He was willing to
serve. We admire the spirit OF the old
who, when bis comrades would
have made him king OF jerusalem, re-
city where his Lord had worn crown Of
thorus. 1T Is enough for the disciple
that he be ss his Master, and the servant
that he be as his Lord"
II. Fitness for service.-we ought to
make the most Of ourselves physically,
Intellectually and morally that we may
the better serve God and our fellow
men. But let US be sure that we seek 10
10 this with this end Of service In view.
The man who seeks intellectual culture
Tor purely selfish purposes stands on no
higher moral plane than the man who
seeks to heap up gold for selfish ends.
We need TO cast out Of our lives what
ever hinders effective service. Narrow
ness OF view, INSCRIPTIONS ambition,
envy. jealousy, prejudice, sll these have
DO place in the life Of him who would
serve Christ and his fellowmen. We
must be willing To cooperate with
others, 10 follow the lead OF others. |
David Livingstone had his opinion a. 10 |
he best way of suppressing the African
slave trade, but he did not insist upon |
very one adopting his view; on the |
contrary he called down heavens bless
ngs upon any man who In any way |
would do something to heal that open |
tore Of the world. II we sit at the feet |
" our Lord waiting to hear his call to
service, we shall be made "vessels meet
'or the Masters USE"
Ill. The Scope of our Service.-The
scope of thst service Is IS broad as
humanity. The old heather writer puts |
nto the mouth of one OF his characters |
he words II sm 8 man; nothing that |
the human race is foreign 10 |
ne" Shall a Christian say less than |
hat: All Of ia are too apt 10 limit our |
and our attempts at service |
o too narrow q circle. "Do all the good |
rou can TO all the people you can" was
he advice Of great author TO q CON-
,any OF students. The wider the circle |
II our sympsthies and our helpfulness /
he better. In every relation OF life we
ought 10 remember that We serve Christ |
md humanity. All life, and not simply |
hat side Of Il that we term religious |
should be consecrsted to the service OF
christ and our fellowmen. IL IL mis-
AXE 10 suppose that We can so live on
lne dAy OF the week as TO please our |
Lord aud on the other days violate the |
plsinest principles Of his teaching.
". The Rewards Of Service Such |
service has its reward ia this life as we'll |
rs in that which Il 10 come. There Is
In such life that can be
found nowhere else. II Is great thing |
IN thes DAYS when so many are putting
life TO ignoble uses, 10 know that We are
making the best and highest use Of Il.
The man that governs himself by Christs
law of service has the reward Of an ap-
proving conscience, knowing that he Is
doing with his life that which Is pleas
ing TO God. Another reward OF well
nigh inestimable value Ii the approval
and esteem Of good men and women.
Every right minded person can bnt feel
a satisfaction In knowing that his course
Is commended by those Who make right
eous living their chief aim. That good
name of which the Scripture speaks,
that Is rather 10 be chosen than great
riches, can be gained in no other way
than by following this rule Of service.
NV young friends Of the graduating
class, may you so make that Law OF
service the dominating force In your
lives, that you may reap here the re-
wards that are inseparsbly linked with
it. But the rewards OF this present time
are not all. The time Is coming when
to look back upon life consecrated to
the service of Christ and the service of
those for whom he lived and died will
be to you JOY unspeaksble. And when