Mexico weekly ledger., 1900-05-31
BA~CCALAUREATE SERMON
THE YOUNG LADY GRADUATES
OF HARDIN COLLEGE.
BY REV. DR.. NORTHROP, OF KANSAS CITY.
A Synopsis Of His Discourse on Twentieth
Century Heroines---A Royal Entrance
Into Woman's Ksngdom--Large
Audience Was Present.

SsePHo a. NOrt1rOp, pastor o
the First Baptist Church in KansaI
oity, preached the baccaIaureate ser
mon at Hardin College Sunday morn,
ing. A large congregation from tn,
various churches was present.
The services were opened with tn,
singing Of the doxology by the choi
and congregation at 1O:3O O'Clock
followed by tho invocation by DR.. J
]. Porter.
The choir, which was composed o
Mrs.L.M. Saunders Misses Mary Houts
Flora Thomas, Myra Davis, Eddiebell'
Owen and Bessie Utterback; Messrs
WIN. Treloar, Geo. Laforce,D. A. Nc.
MILAN, o. Hit, J. ID. Orear, Fret
Steele and Percy Treloar sang 'PrAia,
tho Lord.n
Rev. Kenneth M. Deane led la read
ing and prayer and Miss Myra Davil
sang 'THeard the Voice Of Jesus Say
President J. w. Million then pre-
sented DIR. Northrop, who preached
for an hour and thirty minutes and
seldom In Mexico lie heard a more
able address.
DR.. Northrop took for his text:
"Who knoweth whether thou arr
come to the kingdom for such a time
as this7"-Esther 4 IA. He said In
part:
What's in q name? Much every
way. Jewish history emphasizes the
meaning of names. Esther, the crown
princess OF Hebrew womanhood, Sig
niles a "star," an appropriate signif-
icance to this day and this occasion,
for in a certain degree the graduating
class Of Hardin College are to be the
luminaries of the twentieth century;
moral, intellectual and social lights in
the armament of woman's kingdom.
Esther was the bright and morning
star OF the first magnitude in the low
ering sky of Persian night.
There 10 nothing In the natural
world so strikingly attractive and
charming as q fixed star, shining out
of the empyrean blue. Now IL sparkles
In lonely beauty; now In brilliant
galaxy in q sisterhood Of planets, sill
vering the gloomy shades Of night,
directing the weary traveller on his
long journey, and the blllow-tossed
sailor toward his l~onged-for haven.
In sentimental and rhetorical moods
we glory IN the star OF destiny, the
star OF hope, and the star Of statehood.
Our heroine was the lone star of her
race. At an opportune moment she
became q typical light in the con-
stellstion Of her nations darkest
night. With royalsnd imperial lustre
she shone forth in heavenly efful-
gence Of no other luminary Of her
time. To her is accorded the honor
given TO no other woman in revela-
t%ion-one book bears her name. We
stand wiah her. my young friends, In
the dark night of her momentous day
and crown her our royal queen In
woman's kingdom for all Time
There is q romantic pathos in this
Hebrew girls early life; she was an
orphan without prestige or royal
blood. When all other virgins OF her
nations had been gathered In the
palace of Shushan for the inspection Of
the king the choice fell upon her.
bis prime minister was Haman,a weak
and designing despot. Regal author
ity was given him to kill all the Jews
scattered throughout the kingdom.
The diplomacy of Esther to avert this
catastrophe, the success Of her
scheme by which she changed their
lamentation into one song Of joy and
triumph has won the plaudits OF her
people and the admiration OF woman
kind in allages.
In the grave and terrible crises
through which nations have passed
woman has played q leading part.
Sometimes ignoble, imperious and
wicked, has she swayed her sceptre
of power. Sometimes immoral, dew
iliah, criminal, she has gravitated
downward and carried with her
kingdoms and republics into ever
lasting ruin. But In all the centuries
woman has done more for the gen.
eral .uplift OF man than all other
forces combined. From the hour she
stood under the cross In loving loyalty
to the present, che has shone resplen-
dent. Her coming into the kingdom
Of grace during the awful tragedy Of
Calvary was heroic and eventful. It
was the glorious and timely moment
for the exhibition of her noblest and
sublimest traits. See those women
standing by that crossl Woman in
all the ages has best revealed her
loyal character when abe has stood
by the side of some cross. From the
days when Esther came In the king
dom for lofty mission and service
until now she has been the type Of
heroism, devotion and sympathy. The
mothers, wives, sisters and maldens of
the past have won glorious victories
and made 9 way possible for virtue,
civilization and religion. Art thou
like unto them, Oh, young women Of
the twentieth century? Art thou
standing by the crossS Art thou 3
cultured, educated girlf These were
unIettersd peasant women. Dost
thou rsvel In music, painting and the
arts?
These heroines Of the faith were
plain women from the hill country
They dressed the hsh which their
husbands caught; their hands callous
with the mattock and the diataff; wife,
daughter, sister Of the shepherd, the
goatherd and the swinehsrd. The wo-
men Of the centuries who have come
into kingdom at great crises have
been women Of sacrifice, courage and
fidelity. Their hearts and brains were
full of grace and truth. Are yoursf
Their souls caught the vision Of the
coming dayspring. Have yours2
Your golden opportunity for service
to God and humanity 10 coming. Those
naaaank wnmeu with less advantage
than you in the dim twilight Of learn
ing stood by the cross. Have your
OH how free you are, noble youth Of
Hardin College, to-day All the Ia We