Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-12
SERMON TO STUDENTS
BAcCALAUREATE AT GEORGE
TOWN UNIVERSITY.

The baccalaureate sermon at Georgetown
University was preached yesterday after
noon In the chapel OF the university at
$50 o'clock by the Rev. Father Joseph M.
Woods, 8. J.. professor Of ecclesiastical
history at the Jesuit House of Studies at
woodstock. Md. The chapel was comfort
ably filled with the faculty Of the unlver-
sity the students and their friends The
graduating class in their long black gowns
marched down the center aisle and took
their seats Immediately in front of the al
tar. The chapel was brilliantly lighted,
send their fragrance to all parts of the
edifice and blend with the sound Of the
music and the echo of the prayers. After
Father Woods had finished his address the
benedictory service of the Roman Cath
Ollie Church was celebrated.
rather Woods chose as the subject of
his address Christian Manhood" He said
IN part: I take 1t for granted that you
nave taken the training of your beloved
alma mater and that 1t will be a guide to
you in your life hereafter. We have done
all In our power to make Christian men
of you. The qualities which go to make
up Christian man are capability and
reverence A Christian man such as you
are supposed to be Is the one for the trials
OF this life-one who has reverence for his
fellow-man. The true worth Of a man is
not determined by his success, but by the
reality of his deserts-his talents. Success
Is very doubtful proof of talent. 1t has
crowned many an unworthy head. Young
men, trained as you have been do not
idolatrously worship at the altar of sue
cess as your God, for you have learned
well that mans worthiness Is measured by
what he Is and not by what he appears
to be; by what he preserves and not by
what he shows; by what belongs to him as
his own, not by what he has borrowed;
because you have learned well here that
Jackadaw Is only jackadaw, though he
may strut in the plumage of peacock.
Reason Must Be Master.
Would you be men? Would you honor
the education which you have received?
Then you must make reason the master Of
your senses If you allow yourselves to be
dragged at the heels of your senses fol-
low what they clamor for, you win be
mere sensualists, you will be monsters
rather than men, and you will die without
honor as you have lived without virtue
Would you be Christian men and an honor
faith, Gods own daughter. supremacy over
reason II you make reason alone, with
out faith, the guide of your conduct, you
Will be supercilious. egotistical rationalists.
would you honor the education you have
received? This must be your aim through
life: To make your senses, your appetite
the handmaids of your reason; your rea-
son the handmade of your faith and your
guide you in every practical affair of life
You must not merely be capable men. but
you must also be men filled with the spirit
OF reverence-reverence for yourselves rev.
erence for your fellow-men and reverence
for the things of God.
There Is no denying it, there is a spirit
OF lrreverence abroad. 1t stalks about 1t
crates upon our ears. 1t shocks our sense
or propriety in the looseness of it's morals
1t is critical carping spirit that spares
NOBODY and nothing in heaven. on the
earth. or under the earth. Its blasphem-
ous Tongue is forever wagglng against all
the laws and the rights of God and man.
The spirit of irreverence has become SO
familiar a thing that it has invaded our
very homes and our children know it only
too we'll Would to God that we could hon
estly say they have not become infected
with Its deadly venom. 1t is the dead rot,
the gangrene In our human society today
And why? Because so many men have de-
based themselves in doing the bidding of
what the times demand of them. They
have become slaves.
us 1t not bare slavery for a man en-
dowed with reason and love for God to
PROSTATE himself to whatsoever can
further, by fair means or foul. his am
bition and satisfy his cupidity? Is it not
bare slavery for a man to sell his con-
science to safeguard, he imagines, his
temporal interests? Is it not bare slavery
for man to blush at what is good and
honest and boast Of the evil he has done
to gain the suffrages and applause of ac-
completes whom he would not have as |
friends? Is 1t not degrading slavery, this |
weakness, this want of character, which |
draws from a man words and deeds that |
contradict his conscience and mis- principles? |
The man afraid Of labor. Men Of this |
university possess capability and are equip |
ped for this life. They are not like swal- |
lows dipping and leaving Immediately. They |
know what they should best know and
have the confidence of their elders and a |
distinction among their fellows.
Labor the Glory.
Labor is the glory and boast Of the |
capable man. Man is not from the brute. |
He is an Intelligent creature for good. God |
his implanted In his nature, virtue, the |
seeds of which ne is bound to cultivate. |
In man is also planted the seeds of Vicious |
ness We must develop the good seed and |
suppress the bad. Life is a struggle and a |
abor throughout. Would you, my young !
friends do this? Then be brave and do not |
allow your senses to draw you down. Dear
sons of Georgetown be an honor to your
alma mater to yourself and your God. |
Your alma mater has taught you to be |
reverent men. For your fellowman. be- |
cause he is In your fathers image, for your |
religion and your heavenly Father. Your |
alma mater has taught you to cultivate |
piety, for without this you will be disso- !
lutte man, a kind of human degenerate and |
curse to society. Piety is worship of good. |
Love OF religion makes the man truly a |
dear sons of Georgetown, have striven these |
years to make you. May the father in |
heaven send down and bless you
Divorce Quickly Granted