Arizona republican., 1902-05-26
BACCALAUREATE SERHON
Rev. Mr. Cowan's Sermon to the High
 School Graduates.

At the First NJ F. church last night were held the Union High school bacca- laureate services. Rev. C. V. Ccwan. in an Impressive and rnastefly manner. delivered the baccalaureate sermon.
 Early in the evening the larSe church was filed with an audience eager tc listen 70 the first Of q series Of exercises in which the Phoenix high school graduates are the central fig urss. Just prior to the CreninS of the szrViCes tle members CT the class filed into the church by tv-os and were seat ed in the first pcws. directly in front of the speaker. Tne ushers Cf the even ing were high school juniors.
 Mrs. Shirley Christy opened with q voluntary. sweet piece. or Suanisl, composition. This was followed by an anthem Praise Ye the Father" by the choir Rev. Lewis Halsey read the scripture lesson from Prov. 3:1-1S. \ hymS was followed Dy al offering of prayer by Rev. F. \. Rowland. The next number Was q quartetta. An Evening Prayer" by Medames Tiffany. Tharaldson. Stechan and FCote. This was indeed appreciated fer the VoiC-S were filled with melody and sweetness. Paul Renan Iugies followed with d solo, Be Thou Faithful Unto Death. The solo was rich in rendition and enjoyed to no small degree by the audience.
 Rev. Mr. C0wan comman led the attention Of all His ad- monition Was strong throughout. He said that there were three conmencements in human life: First, the birth: second. the gradua- 
 ries with it joy: the second anxiety: the third hope. This second stage now reached by the class was the most crit ical one. Many graduates started in life talented. learned and full of virtue but soon became vagabonds. Their education must not be stopped there; il must be constantly reviewed and eX- tended. Reviews make the impressions deeper and open more mysteries. Rev. AIr. Cowan spoke at some length on each Of the follow ing points: The value of the extension Of Knowledge; the early completion of d IaJor undertaken: system must be introduced in daily routine: fragments Of time should be used to advantage. for time is money: wisdom must Ds applied constantly, ap- piled in actions as well as words.
 The fool" he says, is like the AIissis- sippi river. always keeping his mouth open Thoughts and words go hand in hand. clear thinker has d ready expression while muddled think ar stammers and knows net just what to say. The words then are an index Of the mind. Habits cf thought stamp the speech, for the lips ars worked by the mind The value of good compan- ionship. choice of bad company is the first step to ruin. The indispensa bility of books. papers and magazines is now well comprehended. but the selection Of the good from the bad things tO req must be made. The selection of auth Ors' works as types of various condi- tions should be made. Books of in suuction are better than books of amusement. unless occasionally the lat ter are used for reIaxa ton. The great value of religion and virtue in the life O. man is immeasurable The exer- else Of the power of thinking is con : stantly needed. Books are good ad- visors. but since all are so variously constituted it is necessary fer each one to think well and reason for himself. Avoid slanderous and much talking about. .neishbors. The terrible erup-