The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1905-06-15
BACCALA LAUREATE SERMON.
TO THE CLASS OF 1905, L. H. s.

mites he has brought you. An,
while you give up none OF your in
terests III your chosen of lite's occu
patton or in seeking higher intel
lectual development, none of your
appreciation of the opportunities Of
your social life and citizenship esti.
mate more highly, than ever before,
the opportunities for service that
are yours today and every day if
sou are true to all that your church
membership means.
As we bring all these things be-
fore our minds we look into the
mists of the future and there We
seem to see the christian youth of
this day organized aud trained in
all the practical work of the church,
as no other generation has ever been.
Coming up from the wilderness of
this world to the higher ground Of
a redeemed earthly life, leaning up.
on the arm Of their beloved "fair
as the moon, clear as the sun, terri
BILE as all army with banners" Why,
oh why, shall not this vision and
this possibility become reality.
May il not be that even now in our
churches and schools and colleges
the way is being prepared for re-
vival and elevation of soul life of
all, both young and old, that shall
bring a consummation so deVoutly
to be wished.
CONCLUSION. $
With these suggestions as TO the
way in which you may serve your
generation, until the evening shades
gather and you trustfully and peace
fully fall asleep, l close, my dear
young friends, members of the class
1905, my address to you at this time.
| know something OF the higher de-
sires and serious purposes of your
minds, and pray that long years and
fruitful service may be yours. Strive
to be useful, and If you have reason
To believe that you are accomplish
ing good, that you have accomp-
lished good, he glad and be thank
full, assured that the good you have
done can never be lost. Look at
the growing blooming plant IN the
pot where the gardner has placed it.
It's roots are in dark rich soil,
made up in large part of vegetable
mould. 1t may be that the leaves
and petals of other flowers, or of
this flower itself in a former year.
are in tins rich sustaining mould,
This plant is feeding upon the de-
caying forms Of other plants with.
out re membering or knowing Of
them. Those vanished forms have
made this plant verdant and fra
grant without leaving any individ-
ual memorial or record of them
selves. So 1t is somew hat with the
person whohas lived servieeal,le
life IN his own generation. His
name may not be known very many
years after hls departure but his
transmitted influence will he part
Of all future good.
Livery thing valuable IN great
and good past is garnered IN obliv-
ion not to be lost but to be kept and
made fruitful"
This quotation contains a great
and elevating truth. Sometimes q
young man of fine native powers
feels within himself the STRINGS
and prompting of noble impulses
not due TO self chosen principles OF
self directed thought, but seeming
to spring from his very blood and
beeing. Sometimes a young woman
feels finer asperation that almost
surprises her with its contrast tC
her usual temper, and she perhaps
wonders whence it came. God sent
it down in each casa, not directly
and miraculously from heaven, but
naturally and silently through the
faithful, pure, brave and victorious
lives of grandsires and great-grand
sires, through the lives of the moth
ers OF the family, series of lovely
characters, only a few of whom
stand out in the light of knowledge
all the rest have been enfolded ii
those ol1ivious shadows that follow
swiftly on the heels of every de
parting generation. The benefit
we derive from past ages is what
they have transmitted to us, no
in what we have read or heart
about them. The benefit we shall
confer upon succeeding generations
will be in what we transmit to them
not in the personal knowledge he,
have of us.
If when we fell asleep our sleeI
were to be dreamless and eternal
in other words, if physical deatl
were to end all there would b.
comfort in the assurance that on
work would not die. There would b
enough in that to more than jus
tify the choice of n life of servic
, instead of life of sin and selfish
, ness. But believing in the gospel
we believe in u life to come, in
:.loo,,t of tha wnrk done in thi