Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-06-08
sAcc4LAuaEaTE SERMON
Before Glass 1905, Delivered BY Rev.
Fraser Metzaer.

+ ing capacity OF the cong enuIs1 l99t
sunday evening on the occasion ol tne
1 baccalaureate sermon before the gradual
ing class Of the Randolph High school.
Ferns aud white lilacs were tastefuiiy
/ disposed about the pulpit platform, whhe
I lilies OF the valley marked the peWs re-
served for the graduates, making the
scheme of decoration green ana White'
I The organist was Miss Edith Mafcolt'
whose voluntary, "A Vision" BY hheih-
/ berger, ended in a stately march, 70 Nhleh
I the seniors entered the church under the
/ leadership of the class marshal, MISS EIne
+ Dunbar
PRAYER was offered by Rev. DR.. A. L.
Cooper, and the Benedictus was enantea
+ BY quartet composed of DR.. w. nj. hel-
/ ~. Miss NJ Blanche Sparhawk, MISS
/ Louise Hastings and Arthur Vaughan.
For his text Rev. Fraser Metzger TOOK
the 18th verse OF the third chapter OF Phl-
4 ippians-"I press toward the marx LOT the
/ prize Of the high calling Of God IN christ
I Jesus The sermon was an eloquent Ell
i fort portraying the power OF lmaglhatioh
and the strength OF virtue.
Air castles play a part in every man
career. The farmer, Grant, ploddlhe pc
hind the pillow, was Transformed thfouBn
4 the quiet force of his mind into leader o.
men. "Imagination.8 sald Napoleoh,
sssways the world" The ideal sell Is the
real self, and according to the prayer N
the heart will the fruitage of the lie be.
Il The gift OF eontentment was not gwen
10 men by God. The restless longing OF
+ the soul is its redemption, and mems ae-
sires, like he wings Of birds ana the nus
of the fishes, bear them onward. we can
i IN afford to dscredit sentiment or throw
away theories. He who forgets that tne
young shall dream dreams and the ola
4 shall see visions. forgets a great part OF
life Hope, the fair vision Of the tuturei
is the anchor Of the soul, dragging y
shoreward out Of the depths IN Which u
founders.
III ne warfare OF life, the weapon on
which the greatest dependence is to be
placed Is virtue. He who holds that IN
strong grasp is armed against ell. Men
must be pure. No more pertinent lesson
is 10 be taught, nothing more vital can pe
incuIcated. than the need Of virtue.
Every land is calling for strong men . ~
its public places men who are strong De-
cause thev are good.
Confusion Of mind is often apparent IL
what constitutes manliness ana Wlchta
ness. the two being cOnfOunded by the
youth, who thinks it manly 20 aNeaft 70
indulge in vice, and who copies deYlttf5
and meanness as heroic. Still the boys
Who du This are not so much TO blame
when e i8 from their fathers "a derive
their false impressions, Among men o.
character, the drunEsrd IS pitied, the thlel
CONDEMNED, and the sneak desplHad,
There is no strength 9r strong action
without Thought. Il rs Impossible for the
unthfalSing man Go be good, while from
want ol tho8ght evil ensuas. GOODNESS
gives authority. bat men become slave -
lasvIessnras and vice. In every communt-
tv rs q criminal clBss tainted by evil amhl-
tions and wicked thoughts. " no shali
control and shape the destiny OF the lana,
! the good or the evii among you 2iiall
you excel in strength or weakness 7 since
right must prevail, be found where right
is. The people indulging wicked thoughts
are cherishing vipers which shall sting
them to death.
Would you know your future Then
study the intent OF your own heart head
YOUR own soul and learn what the coming
days are to bring FORTH
NEHBFRs OF THE GRADUATING CLASS: =
You are bringing to a close the opening
chapter Of your lives history. During ITS
massage you have stored great truths
CLEANED ia these dawning years OF your
: higher consciousness and therefore always
to be remembe In this sacred moment
you can accept at the hands Of your
j friends no better blessing than their holy
, wish that this beginning may have no
. BILE end.
In these brief years Of study IT is hoped
you have gained not so much OF knowl-
edge as much of wisdom. You have been
led through the rudiments Of learning Dy
J
, for fruitage in the garden Of virtue. As
YOU turn from the schoolroom to this &C..
cred house on this Gods holy day, the seal
, Of eternity is placed upon the character
YOU have formed. ! would leave this mes
sage with you-CHEBlSH VIRTUE AND
KEEP HER AS THE JEWEL OF YOUR
: SOUL. Among all the great teachers the
? world has ever known one stands forth
: with a majesty none other has ever at
! tanned. His constant theme was virtue
ana love among men, In the lessons
which Jesus of Nazareth taught, you VIII
ever find your sure guide-stlll hlghef'
2 In the final analysis all truth consefNes 70
g the strength OF Righteousness and its be-
! ginning Is found with God.
) In the day when the first rumblIHgs ol
7 the French Revolution were heard and The
1 Petition 81 Rights foretold a coming
Cromwell; Ia the day when the. Huguenot
=. struggled for liberty and the Puritan
I turned from the shores Of England. song
7 came forth from that green Isle q
/ The sea which shall never be forgotten st
: long as men love TO hear the sweet strains
! Of purity and chastity.
Z If Is the story Of Comus, Who in tht
4 midst 81 his unruly following Of monsters
leads in The riotOus, wanton dance WINE
a damsel wanders near III the night
& straved from her guardian brothers. Ib'
( uuhoIy strain reaches her ears and occa,
[ ef1ns fear lest she meet with radehess ans
sWiiled violence from late Wassai'eIss bN
L nure-eved faith and white handed hop'
Z hover about her like angels grit Witl
4 golden wings aud the unbiamished form
2 81 chastity brings To her this comfort
erbeag thoughts may surtIe wen. but not as
: The v.rtugu- mind thar walks attended
+ RV strong Siding champion -e1nsz ieless
g Young men and maidens the security
p Of your future, the attainment of you
y bones. the happiness 81 your youth, rh
& hies5edness Of veur old gEe al lie in thi
J. spirit with which you cherish virtue
= pray YOU heed the woces ot ta9 gfea
g pr6phut of God, when be slys:-
-sr0gtaIs wing would follow nae,
y love virtue. 4rr aiNre y ifeEt
sne can reHCH Fol ueH tn CtIE.h
u HlHNerfEgH The -uEerE chine
X G7 .EfrflH f-ahlaHUra.
4 Heaven il5sil Nali4 stuuH ta l"ts+
-JHrH IItHn.
+ A second selection by tHe quartet ~H
p u-"7- sisIl.z Forth, hF Dudley BUGS
= after which tEe class Withdrew iron i1