Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-16
THE BACCALAUREATE
Before the Graduating Glass Of Halo
we'll High School
Delivered, Sunday Evening, by the Rev.
w. F. Livingston.

The annual Baccalaureate exercises be
fore the graduating class of the Halo
well High school were held in the Old
South Congregational church, Sunday
evening, the address being given by Rev.
w. F. Livingston, rector of ST. Matthews
Episcopal church.
The large auditorium and adjoining
chapel of the church were early file d
with undergraduates and friends of the
school,. and from the beginning the ex-
ercises occasonod especial interest and
attention.
The Scriptural reading was by Rev. C..
y. Wight, prayer being offered by Rev.
w. D. Plummer. Several beautiful selec-
tions were sung by the choir of the
church.
An abstract of Mr.. Livingston's address
follows, his subject being 1.-The Water of
Life and his text ST. John iv., 1914: ''Je-
sus answered and said unto her, Whose
ever drinketh of this water shall thirst
again; but whatsoever drinlleth of the wa
ter that 1 shall give him shall never
thirst; but the water that | shall give
him shall be in him 4 we'll of waite;
springing up into everlasting life
There was a time when men believed
in the existence of Fountain Of
Youth" The hope of finding it inspired
some of the early explorers Of America.
Ponce de Leon, the brave soldier who had
accompanied Columbus on his second voy-
age to the New World. was chief among
those who undertook the romantic enter
prise of searching for the marvellous
water He listened with credulity to TIL
stories of the natives of the West indies
that in the Bahama group was an island
N-l fslis ln ~.
he but drink of it and have his body re
stored to youthful strength ana vigor
what additional expeditions he would I'M
dertake. Although he sailed in high hope
from island to island and drank of ev-
cry fountain which he thought might pos
sibly be the one he was seeking. his ,dues;
was all in vain. In a furious encounter
with the Indians of Florida where h,
the miraculous fountain, he was mOrtally
wounded, and thus the enterprise, which
the gallant adventurer thought would
lead to means of perpctuatng his life
ended pathetiCally in Fastening his death
1.-THE search for the tabled fountain i
only one in a long series of fruitlcss eff
forts on the part of humanity to attain
the realization of certain cherished hopes
Mankind has constantly set before itself
objects and felt that if it could attain
them, abiding satisfaction would be SC
cured. The hope of finding the fountain
of youth has been abandoned but there
are OlHtT IobUliltlS WHICH, ltIdllS IldNt
supposed, would give full satisfaction
the fountains of learning, possessions anC
fame.
Christ knew how true it is that tn
dee peSt thirst of humanity can never bt
quenched by what belongs to temporal
things. There is 4 craving of the sou
which only the fountain of eternal life
can satisfy. There were two principa
occasions when he spoke of this spirit
ual water. One was when through tn,
gateway of the city of Sychar, woman
had come to fill her pitcher with water
from the well. beside which the Master
was seated. Entering into conversat iol
with her. he told her of another kind OF
water which would be well of water
springins up into everlasting life. Sev-
eral months later. Christ spoke again
concerning this water which he could
give. He was at the Feast of Tabernacle
when the priest performed the accustOm-
ed ceremony of leading procession o.
people to the pool of Sloan where h
| filled a golden pitcher with water and az
forwards poured it into a silver BASH
on the decorated altar in sight of all the
assembly. On that day, Jesus stood and
cried. saying: If any man thirst, let him
come unto Me and drink
The personal longing for communion
with God had been compared by the
Psalmist to the craving of the swiftfoot-
ed deer that painted after the water
brooks. and it had also been likened tC
the thirst of pilgrims who in time OF
WEAKNESS and distress in the desert toilet
across the sands towards an oasis. Chris
not only knew that humanity felt great
desire for the Infinite, but he showed
how the thirst could be satisfied. BLESSED
are they that thirst after righteousness,
lie said, for they shall be filled Cha"
acter he taught. was the spiritual water
Many had tried to satisfy their souls b.
intellectual wisdom, or by mere outward
ceremonies, or by separation from life
practical duties. 1t was only by drink
ing al the fountain of right character tina
the souls deepest need could be filled. !
life of honest work and faithful SERVED
was the source of inward peace. Tn,
spirit of sympathy and other Christian
virtues would make the waste places o.
| life blossom under divine refreshment. /
would be like the vision of Ezekiel. wht
saw water from the fountain. under the
sanctuary Of the temple flow out toward.
the Dead sea and restore life to that bar
rem region. 1t would reveal the meaning
Of the river of water of life, clear a:
crystal described in the last book of tho
New Testament
The sermon closed with special word:
to the graduating class that the watel
Of life was free for all, and that while
the fountains of intellectual wisdom an(
success in the various callings of life
would give a certain degree of satisfac
ton. the deepest thirst of the soul couif
only be satisfied by the development o.
right character.
L;ch ceLooI Q. an Drivers &.