The Globe-republican., 1902-05-22
THE HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATES.
The BaccaIaureate Sermon.

before the High School graduates, at the
Presbyterian church. The church was
pretty well filed. The names of the
graduates are as follows:
Latin Course-Mary Kesler. Nora
Sughrue, Frances Wright, Francez Su-
ghrue, AIabIe Webb, Blanch Riney, Net
tie Stubbs, Maude Riney, Ada Hobble
and Grace Sturgeon-CIass of 1900
Scientific Course-WaIter Carson.
Mr.. Westwood's theme was ssThe
Architecture of Character He said
there were four great principles to be
followed; found in the word of God:
1.-The law of truth was in his mouth
@sHave compassion cne of another
lowe no man anything"
<sNone of us liveth to himself"
He said in part that we are accustomed
to think of character as possessing archi-
tectural attributes, such as solidity, ex
tent and symmetry. Thus we say of
man that he has firm, broad, grand
or lofty character. And it is won
derful work-this construction of charac-
ter-constantly in progress, whether we
realize ii or not. just as every workman
upon unfinished building leaves the
contribution of his skill, his thorough
ness and his industry, our thoughts,
our purposes, our aspirations and our acts
are not leaving they found us, but
minders of their subtle power
The combined moral result of all the
experiences of life in human soul con-
stitute character. And men become val
liable in proportion to what they have
gotten out of life into themselves.
The construction of character goes on
so silently that we forget that it is going
on at all. Every workman is mute,
every implement Is muffied.
The building of human character was
compared to the dreamlike silence in the
building of Solomon's temple, in which
was neither hammer, nor AK, nor any
tool of iron heard in the house when it
was building. The absence of noise does
not prove the absence of result.
When character is completed it be-
comes the spectacle of men and of angels,
and we must not allow the gradualness
of the development of character to de-
ceive to the extent of that develop
ment.
The important thing is this: What
our character is in the present depends
upon the use we have made of the past.
We measure the scholar by the number
of principles he has gathered-principles
that at least have become part of his very
structure. 1t is true of the number OF
sheaves gathered in the granary-
And character is compacted by many
qualities, that have entered into the very
structure of the soul, as IRON enters into
the blood.
Good habits, pure affections, solemn
prayers, and noble aspirations are the
qualities that cause character to take on
the majesty and dignity and glory of Il
temple.
Every day is the page of a book which
gives life's experiences, bright with the
there may be pages dark with selfishness
and sin. That the past may lend encour-
agement and value to the present it is of
paramount importance that the hindering
weight of sin should be laid aside.
The past cannot be changed but for
giveness Is possible, and a new life is the
privilege within the reach of all.
1t is a good thing. especially for a
young person, to feel that whatever the
present holds in the way of achievement
that is as nothing, in comparison with
what he still may do in the future
No man has ever done enough for him
self or his fellow. Men should die with
the harness on. Heroes like Tennyson
Lowell aud Gladstone. who worked up tC
the very last hour of life, trying &c
achieve some new law-trying to work
out last reform, trying to polish
some new poem-are the true examples
of manhood.
Blessed is the man who is reconciled tC
his past, because he is reconciled to his
God-who can forget its evils, its sins
and who also can forget its virtues, tha
thereby he might from the past borrow
strength for the present and the future.
Edifices differ widely in design, thei
material and their workmanship, accord
ing to the temporary or permanent pur-
poses for which they are erected Th
temple of character may be built on
permanent or temporary plan.
Truth is the corner stone. 1t lend
strength TO character and also crown
the temple with perfect beauty. Mir
westwood spoke of the baseness of tn
methods which enter largely into trad
and business.
The artful lies are hurtfuI to manhoo,
and hurtful TO character. Every form Q