Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-06-27
BACCALAUREATE
Address by President
White Of Colby College.
The Text: This Is Your Victory,
Even Your Faith"
Importance of Strong Christian
Character In All Walks of Life Also
Emphasized-Prog"am for Com
mencement Exercises.

Watcrville, Me-, June 26.-(SpeciaD.
A large number were present, Sunday
morning, at the First Baptist church to
| listen to the Baccalaureate sermon by
President Charles l.. White to the
graduating class.
At 1920 the class marched into the
church marshaIled by L. A. Hammond,
'0l, Of Berlin, N. II.
The devotional exercises were con-
Quoted by Rev. L. c. WhittemOre, l..
ID. The day was an ideal one, for the
exercises. 1t was Il warm one but even
if it WAS every one gained many new
| thoughts which will help them along
over the difficulties of life.
The large audience was an inSpirl-
ton to the president. Never did he
speak better. Many went away thank
full for the much encouragement and
wholesome advice. An excellent musi-
cal program was rendered. Among the
best was the Anthem, God is our
Refuge" by the choir and the vocal
solo, Rock of Ages" by Herbert john
son, by j. Francis MacNichol of Angus
ia.
The Eaccalaureate was as follows:
Rev DR.. White took for his text | John,
v:i-"rhis Is the Victory, Even Your
Faith He spoke in part as follows:
After four years of serious study you
are looking forward with high courage
to large careers of noble influence. Every
human life is alike in four respects: 1t
will have at least IL great temptation.
great sorrow, a great disappointment, and
great opportunity. Even the lives OF
Christ and his apostles furnish no eX-
ccptiOn to this statement.
AS you go forth on the voyage of life
You may more than once find yourself
cXilcd to some Isle of PatmoS where, sep
ar;tted from your friends and from the
Inspirations and environment of youth.
you will need a vision of God, as did the
apostles; and ike him, you will conquer
even such an experience if Your life has
in it that true faith which brings one a
continuous victory. Many even so forth
from a course of study such as you have
pursued and are shpwrecks all along the
shore of life simply because they do not
pcrcciv" that character, conflict and con-
quest are the paths that lead to success
and service.
God hangs his words of warning at the
mouth of the harbor as we sail forth on
the voyage of life. If We go without
compass. or chart, or pilot. what wonder
is it that, ignorant, we 50 often strike
the hidden reefs of unbclicf. dishonesty,
immortality and intcmperance?
This vcrse-which | would give YOU as
a life motto-says: This is the victory,
Us to our Leader, and we share his vic
tories. The immediate result Of such
union of life and purpose, is Christian
character. From the small beginning it
grows until it controls all the avenues
to the citadel OF the heart.
Have we genuine Christian character?
If "" possess it. We are rich and safe,
happy. and sure to make others rich, Sc
cure and happy.
The characters We possess will differ in
form and detail, as do the characters we
make in writing Some Will have the
plain rugged shape of the Roman letters,
others the added grace of the Greek, some
the peculiar form of the German, and
still others the simplicity of the English;
but through them All can be easily seen
til" general features of the Christian.
Christianity has been transferred to many
races, but it has produced the great I'M
dcrlyinE features of ChriSt'S own char
hct"r and can be recognized wherever it
is seen.
Fanh is the ladder up which we climb
to the fist landing on the slopes of lltc.
This landing is Christian character. with
it beneath our feet. we ascend to the
"tE"r and higher planes of conflict and
conquest.
character. conflict. conquest. Let us
study that second word-conilict.
Conflict is the biography of every man
condensed into on" word. Our retreats.
orr charges. our Skirmishcs. our defeats.
our days and nights Of watching. form the
enlarged chapters of the volume.
How shall we perform all these Sepa-
rate acts of service in our life of Chris
tian conflict? 1t is an honor to have an
important post on the firing line. hut it
is AN equal honor tn do sweetly any duty
to which Christ assigns his obcdicnt sol
di"rs, for each will have an equal part
in that great chorus of victorious song,
when the songs of heavenly victory chant
Cd by angelic Ch"rs are started alter
the battle songs Of our early days have
died away.
The tree of Christian life, if well plant
ed. Strengthens itself by its conflicts with
the storms. Such man moves forward
like an ocean steamship cutting through
the waves and rides out the gales that
tian character stands like triple cXpan-
sion engine of faith. hope and love. built
into his being by the wisdom of God. Such
a man can, with Paul. endure a conflict
with systems ol error and with all the
forces of evil
often and no doubt always the conflict
with evil will b" with the foes within US,
with the easily bcScttinE sin, with the de-
sire for a doubtful pleasure. with some
tlmid nature that shrinks from opposition
or public service. that is naturally undo
monStratiVc, Sccrctivc, dcccitful. unScncr-
Gus, contcntcd with low ideals. These
are the worst foes we meet in life. They
must he fought and overcome. This con
1liCt will always continue. until We are
made perfect at the appearing of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ
The heart can nerve itself for its battle
VI i-tNiSloi bul WIN tle tHEeiltilcc OI
winter quarters in Valley Forge the real
test appears. The foes without pubic
and personal. and the foes within, pecu-
liar and possum-like. tell the tale of suf-
fering and conflict. But with Christ hold
ing the reins o< character. We shall sure
ly come to our day of inheritance; and
We can prophesy the result of the battle
before the sunset of life announces that
the Christians conflict is ended
Character, conflict conquest-theSe
three The last of these now confronts US.
This is the victory. even your faith"
Faith begets character. brings conflict,
and bespeaks conquest" What Christ
possesses he gives to his followers. Faith
links human life into the golden endless
chain of the Divine plan and purpose;
and so each Christian character should be
great, powerful, glorious. majestic, and
therefore victorious. Christian conQuests
are no accidents. Unlike Lord Byron. the
disciple of Jesus does not awake some
morning to find himself famous. The 3lO
in Gideon's band were men of faNh. st
Pauls faith was, indeed, majestic, when