Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1904-06-24
THE eAccALAUREATE SERMON
II Was Preached by Rev. {. T. Math.
lson Sunday EVENING".

text, And the witnesses laid dow
their clothes at young mans fee
whose name was saul And the
stoned stephen" Mr. Math,son sal
IN part: Rather than to discuss an
secular subject this evening | pro
pose to turn your attention to Ger
tain principles which underlic sue
cess whether In religious or secula
affairs; viz, the opportunities anu IN
responsibilities that belong To- tn
educated, more especially the young
And | have taken the character o
Saul of Tarsus as that best illustrat
ing in his life and experiences what
desire to set forth. Saul atterwart
known as st. Paul, enjoyed All the adj
vantages of the highest education o
| his age His native city of Tarsu'
was the site of the most celebrated
university of the age. He must Al m
early age have been Influenced by the
broad culture OF his surrounding,
and perhaps inspired thereby 10 so VI
to Jerusalem and at the feeI of the
greatest of the long line of Jewish
Rabbits acquire all the learning of the
temple and his race. To thesa studies
he brought to bear a mind siEgularlv
acute and at the same time capacions.
Even without Christianity Saul would
have left his mark upon succeeding
time. With Christianity he eXerted
the profoundest Influence probably
that any human life has ever done.
lat 81 ,a - 4,
educated young man and scan his
progress with interest as Indicative
of the course We may expect TO be
obliged to pursue.
And first we note how long success
was delayed. His studies are COM
pleted. He has left the temple school
and been absent on his labors at
least three years, He only then comes
into prominence as the sponsor for
the judicial murder Of St. Stephen,
His zeal makes him a persistent pei
secutor. He seeks out the disciples
even in the distant cities. on the
road to Damascus God appears and
speaks TO him. During three days "f
blindness he ponders over the new
'evelation of truth. He is restored to
sight. With zeal but not apparently
With tact he begins to preach. He Is
to flee for safety. At Jeru-
ialem the same experience is enacted
He goes apart into the deserts OF
Nrabia to mediate upon the mighty
ruths of revelation AMI their bearing
lpon human needs. Doubtless there
lie co-ordinated and subordinated (
hose truths each to each into that /
form which goes to make /
he Christian religion powerful with /
he learned class and so give II /
,orld wide possibilities. But even /
ct he is not prepared for life's sue
ess. He stops at Tarsus during /
light years of probable ministry. Yet
ven there little seems to have been
ccomplished. At last revival takes
lace at Antioch. Barnabas Is sent
own by the apostles TO superintend 7
ne work 1t proved too heavy a
lsk for him unaided. He remembers
he keen intellect of the young man
aul at Jerusalem in his unsuccessful
reaching of II years before. He at
Lches him to the work and the result /
: their year of labor was to so en-
lasize and exemplify the teachings ]
Jesus Christ that the disciples
ere there given that name which
as to distinguish them throughout J
| time. THE disciples We're called I
hristians first at Antioch From I
is point on we follow the wonderful !
'ogress in the evangelization of the t
Grid. y
But / have traced sufficiently for /
If present purpose the history of I
/. Paul Until at least the age of /
years it was a persistent and pre- c
ratory course for future usefulness. Y
he new convert or beginner in any Il
lie of activity finds no precedent in a
.ul for early and undigested effort n
nat he was active in mind more than p
years no one can doubt who reads a
ose letters OF his which though h
Silly written or dictated while ply C
2 his trade as tent maker showed fl
at mastery of comprehension and a
,ical sequence which fitted them to p
incorporated in the book of God. Ia
Young gentlemen and young ladies
the graduating class: To-day il
Itch in your minds doubtless marks "
, ending of a certain portion of re
lr lives is by a strange inspiration la
our language termed Commence
mt" How true this is only expe- h,
nee will demonstrate to you. You m
We in school been living your flu ell
e life in miniature. The facts and NJ
nciples which you have acquired C,
| mastered are in value subordinate Fl
that mental discipline which is De
lonymous with foreseeing prepar- al
less for tasks that are before you. j.
e habitual readiness for duties, and ms
-aveling of perplexities in life have ni
nd in the preparation of your les
IS and in recitation a true fore he
.dowing. My warning TO you at nc
5 time is to beware of relaxing eff oh
or studious thoughtfulness. be
lr present attainment, Of which nc
may feel justly proud marks you gr
as those to whom We may look H.
future leadership. 1t gives or elt
uld at least give to each of you We
t prominence in the future that 10
sed the witnesses to lay their ed
hes at the foot of the scholarly te,
youthful Saul. Education fur Do
hes opportunity; 1t gives promi- BE
&C. But just as there was need toi
further years of anticipatory and Oh
liminary study so for you there Ga
be need of further long continued, Br
! directed preparation. We speak fer
fortune, luck and providence. Far of
it from me to say that such things H.
non existant, but l prophecy to of
that if it is your privilege some on,
to look back upon a well spent
successful life you will come TO
,gnize the fact that it was your
wrought out by long and q.
ry process rather than by any
nee which has showered life's