The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-16
WABASH COLLEGE.
BaccaIuareate Sermon Preached by
President w. II. Kane.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind, June 15.-
This morning at the assembly hall of Wa
bash College the annual baccalaureate
sermon was delivered by President w. p.
Kane. He had for his subject, -Four Sc
crets of Power in a Great Life" the text
being. BE ye followers of me even as l
am also of Christi Cor. XII, l. He said
in part: - :, ,,..ou,. ,o,.. ,u,.-, -,
world more largely or more lastingly than
the apostle Paul. Rarely has a man left
behind him SO clear revelation of the in
ner fountains and sources Of his power.
/ want to discuss with you four secrets
OF power in this great life.
1.-The first, l think, was the power of
great vision; his conception of life, his
ideals of what he wanted TO be and what
he believed ne might be. No mans life
is larger than his vision of possible at
tainment. No matter what possibilities are
bound up within him, they are circum-
scribed by his ideals What was the diff
ference between Jacob and Esau of old?
In many respects Jacob was a less attrac-
tive man than his brother and in reading
the narrative perhaps you have wondered
why Jacob was chosen for a great destiny
and Esau thrust aside as a profane person.
Jacobs superiority was in his power OF
vision. With all his early faults he har-
bored visions of immense range and mag
nitude, while Esau looked only at the pass
ing hour and the present need
''The second element of power in Paul's
life was the power of a great purpose. He
not only saw the range and possibilities OF
human living, but set himself purposely
and unfiinchingly toward their realization
Two things. particularly. characterize
Pauls purpose in life and combine TO make
ii a great purpose. Ii was definite and
single. There were many things he might
have done for he was a man of versatile
talent. His motto was: This one thing
L do. Men who are everything by fits
and starts are, in the long run and in the
tricity. but the thunderbolt that is terrible
We cannot afford 10 sneer at the man of
one idea. He represents the conquering
force Of the world to-day. Men are COM
ing more and more TO devote themselves
TO a single pursuit and 10 a single phase
wrought the work he did but for his in
flexible adhesion TO his motto.
But Pauls purpose was more than def
mite; IL was adequate as well. IL was
purpose commensurate with the possibil-
titles and yearnings of his great nature
Singleness of purpose may be a power
TO degrade as well as TO uplift. There are
criminals who give themselves as untir-
ingly TO their pursuit any honora bic
business man does 10 his calling One OF
the most pathetic things in life is TO watch
the effect OF an unworthy aim when 1t
has gained its mastery and begins stealth
lily but relentlessly TO sap the affectional
life TO deaden the sympathies. 10 narrow
the range OF interest until the eye becomes
cold and the heart stolid and the mind
alert only in one direction. and the life
almost isolated and unresponsive.
The third element Of power In Paul's life
the power of a great conviction. There
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