The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-16
BACCALAUREATE SERMON
GRADUATES OF BUTLER ADDRESSED
By. REV. c. c. ROwLIsoN.
Services ut u. m. in the College
ChapeI-sixteen Graduates VIII
Receive Degrees.

Baccalaureate services OF the forty-sev-
enth annual commencement OF Butler Coll
lege were held yesterday afternoon al :
o'clock in the college chapel. \ large
audience was present TO hear the bacca-
laureate sermon. which was delivered by
the Rev. Carlos c. Rowmson. pastor Of
the Third Christian Church.
The graduating class. numbering six
teen members, occupied the two first front
rows of seats. The choir OF the Third
Christian Church furnished the music.
The class of 1902 will all. with one excep-
tion. receive the degree OF bachelor OF arts.
They are Ovid McOuat Butler. OF Irving
ton. Ind; Meta Deweese Campbell. OF
Irvington, Ind: Fassett Allen Cotton. OF
indianapolis; William Herman Hass. Of
Bellevue. O.; Emmett Higgins OF In
danapoHs; William Raymond Longley. OF
Noblesville; Harry Albert McGill. OF Pat
ten Mills, o.; Samuel Joyce orut, Of
Greenfield, Ind; Orval Edmund Mehring,
of Indianapolis, Ind. Elizabeth Poulson,
OF Greenfield: Harry Otis Pritchard. OF
lrvington; Nerna Meade Richey, OF Irving
ton; William Sinner. OF Wanamaker. ana
Charles Oscar Thornburg, OF Graysville.
Ind.
Elmer Turner Murphy. A. B.. is the only
graduate student who Will receive the de-
gree or master OF arts.
The opening prayer Of the services was
pronounced by the Rev. Allan y. Philputt,
pastor OF the Central Christian Church.
Mr.. Rowlison chose the text OF his SER
mon from the Gospel OF Mathew, Chapter
6. SD verse, which reads: But seek ye
first the kingdom OF God and His righteous
ness; and all these things shall be added
unto you" Mr.. Rowlison said that his
purpose was 10 impress upon, especially
those who were about TO end their aca-
demic lives the message OF God. II Is
through - colleges churches
men are made To see most quickly and
clearly the message OF the great God. We
look 70 the colleges, said the speaker, 10
send forth men and women OF vision. Those
who have passed from under the influences
OF the college are supposed TO have got
hold Of the purposes of life. and are able 10
give the proper value 10 things. The great
influence that the college can nave Il 10
infuse into the students the Importance OF
knowing the great good and or making
other things subordinate 10 H. The Master
message, Seek We first the kingdom of God
and His righteousness is OF the first inn
portance 10 the college graduate. BY the
kingdom of God. Jesus means TO seek and
obtain the personal possession OF that great
thing. College training makes mans lie
in harmony with God"
Mr.. Rowlison thinks that the first essen
tial OF the young student is TO subject his
will TO that OF God. THE kingdom OF
heaven" he said, lis more than the sur
render Of the individual will. IL is the real
ization OF the Will OF God in the fellow
ship and the communion OF souls. You WHO
are about 10 go out in the world seek as
your purpose in life the kingdom OF God IN
your soul and in its relation 10 the world.
One OF the grossest principles which IS
thwarting the reign OF God to-day, Mr..
Rowlison thinks, is the theory, the survi-
val of the httest." IL emphasizes force
rather than enlightenment, brute strength
rather than the subtle power OF the
schools and the churches. The man who
graduates from college usually thinks that
the world is waiting for him. IL is not.
The principle OF the kingdom is opposed 10
this Its theory is rather the redemption
of the lost" The college equips men 10 so
forth into the world. But the great mes
of equipment. but that, with it, you may be
servants of the world and 10 the children
Seeking first the kingdom OF God" con-
tinued Mr.. ROwlison, I'VE think Is slow
way in the progress OF life. Our great
in eternity. We fail in the great destiny.
But ii will give Us a poise in life. Live
fruitful lives rather than the lives OF the
parasites. II is the bloodsuckers Of life
that make IL weary and discouraging. BE
not butterflies of mind. neither be victors.
We are too often wont TO think the great
word is success. The great temptation,
whispered into our ears by the world, Is
that man must live. But stand for the
fruitful life, the life or the kingdom and
righteousness, which comes through the
sacrifice of the dearest that We possess.
the kingdom because he is equipped. We
should see this great truth-that. AL
though the processes OF the righteousness
of God are slow, they are sure"
Mr.. Rowlison spoke without manuscript
in a strong. forcihle manner. The seTV-
ices closed with the benediction b. Dr. A.
r.. Bunton. Members of the faculty sat
upon the platform.