The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-06
To PARAMOUNT CLASS
President Morrison's Bacca-
laureate Sermon
TO GRADUATING CLASS
First Methodist Church Was
Crowded Despite Rain.

The baccalaureate address TO Fairploun'
college graduates, students and friends
was delivered by the president, Lr. y. ].
Morrison, at the First Methodist CHI Tch
on last Sunday morning. DR.. Slutz, Dr.
Fleming, Rev. Henry E. Thayer and
Rev. w. A Bosworth assisted in the ex-
| ercises. Fortunately the rain did not be-
gin until late and large audience was
present filing the main floor asd CALLER
les. The front and the galleries were dec
GRATED in the class colors, white and
crimson Over the pulpit hung the class
motto, "A Posse ad Esse'-"From Posi-
biIity to Reality"
The address delivered by President Nor
rison was mastery, scholarly, eloquent,
! and called forth the highest words Of com
mendatiin and approval. Mr. and Mrs. H.
Im9oden sang a beautiful, soul-inspiring
! Duet. The sermos was based on tht words
| found in Luke 1913: OCCUPY till 1 come, -
and was in part as follows:
THE parable to which these words be-
! long was spoken by Our Lord to the
Twelve while ON their last journey to the
Passover at Jerusalem. The disciples, too
dull in mind to foresee coming events,
were yet deeply impressed with the feel
ing that a crisis in the career of their
leader in the issue of which their own
interests were vitality involved, was close
at hand They hoped that the oft-describ-
ed and much-longed-for Kingdom of
Heaven was about to be set up, in which
they, with Jesus on the throne would
hold high places of state as counselors
and ministers
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts,
spaeks Not yet; wait; must first jour-
ney to a far country to receive my
crown and scepter. I will return in power
and glory and distribute among those
who have been diligent and faithful to
my interests, cities and provinces and
Kingdoms Cor them to administer
Meanwhile, occupy till 1 come give
to each of you a golden talent This is
your workisg capital. Trade with it on
my account eB thrifty. Make the most
possible of your opportunities. Be up and
doing. Be earnest, interchangeable, enthu-
siastic, but prudent Make the largest
ted to your trust that, on my return, 1
may receive mine own, together with it's
rightful increase.
How well the disciples, on a later day,
remembered and comprehended this para
bic, and with what consuming zeal they
set about executing the injunction, ap-
pears in events connected with and fol-
lowing the Day of Pentecost. These bith-
erto insignificant, hating, t:mid I'M
learned fishermen suddenly became the
most aggressive, convincing and overmas-
terlng reformers the world has ever
known. Three thousand recruits ioin
their standard in a day. Each succeed
ing day witnesses the accretion of new
chowds until their enemies in alarm crv
out The world IS gone after them! Start
ing from Jerusalem over the great mill
tary roads Of the empire, the enthusiastic
disciples. as If an invading host, set forth
TO conquer every Romas province, until
soon the eagle of Constantine was lowered
and the cross of Jesus Christ was raised,
as the symbol Of imperial power and glory
over the palace of the Caesars.
The text, therefore, Occupy till 7 |
come enjo:ns on all the supreme duty. of /
living strenuous Christian life a Ife /
with an object, Of responsibility, Of diff /
Guilty; a constant Struggle, ght and a |
warfare; life active, energetic, agrees
i've hopeful, courageous and bold: re- |
sourceful, tireless; a life of unremitting /
toll for practical ends; life which finds
ITS chief rtward and JOY, not in a distant |
ana uncertain coronation Of bl,ssful re-
pose, but in the very stress and struggle
If the present. Toll on, toll on. toll on,
till 1 come, IS the command Of the Author
Of human life and the Master of human
destiny. It IS the behest of all sound
as well.
"A different philosophy of life a differ
ent Interpretation of the Masters teach
ings, extensively prevail. Many consent
to toll and suffer hardship for a period.
but only in prospect OF rest and case later
on, which they believe present stress will
by and by win for them
This view OF life, of course. is not
altogether mistaken. Toll and MOL for
season, heroically done are likely to re-
suit in well earned rest in old age. Finer
getc labor, prudent fore thought and
are priceless virtues and do COM
monty have their reward in a competence.
and anticipated rest for body and mind is
not altogether unworthy as a stimulus to
v;rile effort. But the release from respon-
sIoiLty by and by. bodily rest and ease,
are not the highest motives TO strenuous
living 1t is more philosophical, more
Christian. more manly, TO seek ones
h CHEST earthly reward, ones chief Joy.
in masterful productive work and in hero
&c endurance Of the incidental d2p-iva-
ton and pain
MANY make pleasure, the delights o.
the senses. TO 'eat. drink and be merry"
the momentary Utilization OF the nerve
andings( in the language Of physiology.