The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1905-06-08
THE BACCALAUREATF

Sermon to the Class of 1905, Preach
| ed by Elder II. II. Hubbell at the
Christian Church Sunday.
| The Baccalaureate sermon to the class
of 1905 was preached at the Christian
church Sunday evening by Elder H. H.
Hubbell, The church was beautifully
decorated with flowers, and the motto
OF the class hung over the pulpit, The
church although having very large
seating capacity was crowded to over
flowing, many being unable to gain
admittance. The sermon was very
fine one and highly appreciated by all
who were present. Elder Hubbell is a
very pleasing speaker and he had pre-
pared an excellent sermon for the
occasion, which is given in as follows:
Tonight, it gives me much pleasure to
speak especially to this audience of
young people. 1t does us all good to
experience with you upon this glad oc-
casion the fruition of your hopes. The
ambition and the strength of youth is
contagious. While you, my young
friends, are looking forward to the sue
cesses of the future, there are many of
your elders here, that are thinking of
plans that were made and hopes that
were cherished. 1t is helpful to us all,
however, to share with you the joys of
the commencement season.
1t is fitting that we should consider
some of the fundamental questions con-
corning education that naturally arise
at time like this. Fully one-third of
our lives, and oftentimes more, is given
to scholastic preparation. Does it pay?
Of what practical value is much of the
work done in the name of present day
education? The time of our fathers
gave emphasis to the three R's-so call
ed-and they felt themselves we'll
equipped for lifes struggle. l recently
had my attention called to number Of
so-called successful men of this county,
who could neither read nor write. Why
should we spend the morning of life
over the tasks set by our text books
when so much of it seems so unneces-
sary? l presume such questions as
these have come into your minds, and
will come if you are fortunate enough
to continue your schooling days into the
college and university. And what shall
we reply to them? Perhaps you have
seen statistics comparing the earning
abilities between the educated and un-
educated and in these you find your
justification of expense of time, labor
and money for what we call our system
OF education. This is probably true; it
could have such an economical justif-
cation, but is that all you have receiv-
ed? i take it, that the greatest boon
we have received from the years OF
schooling, is, the desire to know and the
learning of-the process of knowledge
4 He is we'll repaid, who loves his labor
The blessing of Jesus is self-evidently
true, BLESSED are they that do hunger
and thirst after righteousness, for they
shall be filled" You have not giver
your years of youth for textbook knowl
edge, but that every fact learned, ever,
thought reasoned should give larger
ability and greater capacity. The worl
we do today not only brings the inter
est of immediate reward but also add!
to the principal for future use.
The period of life to which you hav.
now come has been we'll named, 1.-THE
Commencement" For it is presumed
that in these years of preparation, th'
portals of the temple of knowledge have
mysteriously opened to you. You stant
upon it's threshold with youthful am
bition and desire, more precious thai
silver and gold and sweeter than hone,
or the honeycomb. Wisdom personife,
has been made to say: Receive my in
struction, and not silver; and knowledg
rather than choice gold. For wisdom j
better than rubies; and all the thing
that may be desired are not to be com
pared to her-I love them that love me
and those that seek me early shall fin,
me-
Unless the taste of knowledge ha
created an appetite that is only satisfe
when continually feasting upon tn
facts of life-all this time, labor an
expense has been to little purpose.
The difference between fact learne
and fact longed for, sought out wit
diligence, is the difference betwee
accident and design; between luck an
labor.
You have had your ideals of the pas
and the fact that this class is the re
icipient of honor shows at least partia
realization. 1t is appropriate that
new vision be had; that new goa
should be set before us. What we ar
today, if it be good, helps us to be some
thing better, larger tomorrow.
Oliver Wendell Holmes in his Chan
bered Nautilus has the thought:
Year after year beheld the silent toll
That spread his lustrous coil;
Still, as the spiral grew,
He left the past years dwelling for the new,
Stole with soft step his silent archway through
Built up its idle door,
Stretched in his last found home, and knew the o
Thanks for the heavenly message brought by the
Child of the wandering sea-
Cast from her lap, forlorn!
From thy dead lips clearer note is born
Than ever Triton blew from wreathed horn!
While on mine ear it rings,
Through the deep caves Of thought hear vol
that sngs:-
Build thee more stately mansions o my soul,
., AS the swift seasons roll!
II Leave thy low-vaulted past!
@. Let each new temple, nobler than the last,
10 Shut thee from heaven with dome more vast,
- Till thou at length are free
Leaving thine outgrown shell by lfe's unresti
l. & -#....
How Has the Worlds Work Been A,
a |complished? Let that question sin
into your hearts. 1t will be meat fl
J. many meals. The life of man SCENE
narrow and laborious. The command {
4. 4L, G,a.tor woe oplu norfia llv ohavo