Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-06-23
5AccALAUREATE SERMON.
Rev. {. Q. S. osgood Urged the oradu-
ates to Endure Hardness Like a Good
Soldier"

Rev. (. @. S. osaood Urged the oradu-
ates to "Endure Hardness Like a Good
Soldier"
The baccalaureate sermon before the
graduating class OF the Brattleboro high
school was preached in the Congregational
church Sunday evening by Rev. E Q. S.
Osgood, pastor of the Unitarian church.
1t was an excellent sermon and elected
words of commentator from all sides.
The program was as follows: Organ pre-
Jude, Fred c. Leitsinger; anthem, They
that trust in the Lord" Frey, by the Con-
gregational church choir: Scripture read
ing by Rev. F. L. Masseck, of the Univer-
salist church; hymn. Duke Street." by
the congregation; prayer, Rev. A. II.
Webb, of the Methodist church; solo,
THE Plains OF Peace" Barnard, Fred C.
Adams; sermon, Rev. Mr.. Osgood; hymn,
Onward Christian Soldiers" by the con-
gregation; benediction by Rev. E II.
Mathison, Of the Episcopal church. The
members Of the graduating class occupied
front pews on the south side of the aisle,
while the high school teachers sat oppo-
site them on the north side. The plat
form was decorated handsomely with
laurel and palms.
Rev. Mr. Osgood spoke from the text
Timothy, 2: 3, Those, therefore endure
hardness, as good soldier of Jesus
Christ" In these simple, unmistakable
words. the youthful follower of the apostle
is urged to put all dreams of ease on one
side, II he is intending to devote himself,
heart and soul, to the building up OF the
kingdom of God in the world This SOL
der aspect of oalr faith, frends,-this
Willingness to endure that which is diff
cult and trying, II only thereby we shall
the better do the divine Willis some
thing that we ought to face again and
again, would We be worthy of the name
OF disciple Nobody who is good for any,
thing, we are rightly told, whether Puri-
tan soldier under Cromwell explorer in
the Arctic regions, physician seeking the
causes of jungle fever; pioneer building
up new commonwealth in the wilder
ness, or ordinary man or woman going
about the affairs of daily life, chooses to
do things because they are easy, or re-
fuses to do them because they are hard
The more difficult they are and the more
hopeless the outlook,-if there be possi-
bility of winning in the end,-the more
tense the will and the more cheerful the
courage OF one who is willing to be a
good soldier in good cause. The best
things In life 1--WE all must agreed are not
blessings that descend upon us like ''the
gentle dew from heaven" but prizes we
may win. What Is courage but triumph
over fear? What is virtue but victory
over temptation? What is generosity but
the overcoming of selfishness?
Paul had in mind simply that youthful
and beloved disciple of his when he wrote
his letter. Thus 1t was an appeal to the
individual soul in its trying needs. Yet,
In precisely the same fashion are we ad-
dressed at this hour, friends. We are to
endure hardness, not complaining, not as
If under a task-master's lash, or as the
plaything Of a cruel destiny, but courage
ously, unhinchingly as good soldiers OF
that great captain to whom our warmest
faff al %
belong. Life has its sunshine. its beauty,
its well earned rewards. Still, It likewise
holds out to each child of God the bitter
with the sweet,-gloom and shadow as
a background to the golden day. Faith in
an over-ruling providence, trust in the
ultimate victory OF good over evil the
undying hope of immortalty.-are all in
our power to attain, II we will only be
true to our nobler and higher selves
Members of the graduating class of the
Brattleboro high school: In a peculiar
and very precious sense desire that
this message may find a Judgment in
your own minds and meet there with a
ready response. You, like Timothy in
that earlier time, are standing on the
threshold of your maturer callings, and
are anxious, believe, to make OF the life
before you something honorable. and
worthy, and true. Whether you intend to
go from school to college, or to at once
enter upon a business or professional
career, you need the inspiration that
hows from the elder apostles words.
Endure hardness like a good soldier"
This is an appeal to all the manly and
womanly qualities you possess. It i'm
plies, even IL you are not wholly con-
scious Of 1t, as yet, that there exists in
your souls faculties of endurance, Of
courage in the midst Of trial and disaster,
OF resolute will to perform, that will have
the power to enrich your lives In the
future and make them constantly more |
Christ-like and more divine.
Loyalty In all things is, 1 understand,
the motto chosen by you as a class. A |
noble device is this, one easy to illustrate, |
one readily understood. II stands for |
lofty Ideals in school and college; 1t points |
to words End deeds Of strength in the |