Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-09-11
TALKS To PUPILS.
Rev. Or. w. s. Marquis Delivers
Special Sermon for Young
People
FOR GUIDANCE DURING YEAR
Obedience, Faith, Conscicntiousness.
eussed-Caution to Students.

Taking his text from the advice
given by Solomon to his son. in Prov
cribs 3, Rev. w. S. Marquis. pastor of
Broadway Presbyterian church, last ev-
ening delivered a school sermon. His
address was most appropriate. as the
schools of the city opened for the fall
term today, and over 5000 pupils re
turned to their studies. while about
300 enrolled for the first time.
DR.. Marquis stated that in Shakes
peare's works there are at least -
distiHct references TO the reluctance of
the youth to attend school. This con-
ditiOn, he said. might have been justi-
fed in Shakespeare time. owing TO
the class of schools provided, but in
the present day, he held, the child
should love the schools. He took up
The ''chaplet of graces for the brow of
youth" mentioned in the scripture les
son, and discussed each of the graces
referred To by Solomon.
Obedience.
Obedience is the first mentioned, and
DR.. Marquis pointed out the necessity
Is in throughout life, and school life is
'argely devoted to a study of the nat
Iral laws" said DR.. Marquis. He clas
;ified scorn of authority as one of the
most dangerous characteristics, and
lrged the pupils 10 cultivate the habit
If obedience, as conduct is three
iourths of character
OF the two graces, mercy and truth,
he emphasized truth as being an es-
iential in education. in history, in art,
government. in business and in re-
igion. Mercy he defined as the oppo-
site of all that is selfish and hateful,
md illustrated the beauty of this char
lcteriStic. You do not attend school
Tor the grades given in your lessons,
nor for the diplomas, nor for the help
will give you in commercial life; you
attend school TO get the truth. and it is
he purpose of the school to cultivate
mercy and truth" he said.
.J. Faith.
In speaking of faith, the next of the
yraces, he said that the difference be-
tween the successful and the unsuc-
cessful man is that the successful man
has faith" Faith, he held, Overcomes
anything, and he said that it was faith
which enabled men to accomplish great
things. Some day faith will enable a
nan to- invent an airship, and with
faith a man will invent a mechanical
levice on the principles of the bird"
Humility, another of the graceS, is
not necessarily connected with humilia-
tion," he said Quoting a college pro-
fessor. he defined humility as "con-
SiSting merely of being what you are"
Under the head of humility. ne said
that the Willingness to- learn is the
root of all progress" and urged the
Young people TO learn from every
source
ENtrnyagaBce.
He spoke briefly of conscientious
ness and submissiveness, urging that
the pupils cultivate thorough chris
tian character. In this connection he
spoke of the habit of extravaganza Of
ten cultivated in college as having a
strong influence on the youth after
leaving school and proving a weight
on him in business life. OF submits
siveness, he said, 1T is mark of chris
tian character to take rebuke submits
siyely when it is deserved, and when
YOU are in the wrong"
DIR. Marquis dwelt TO some length
on the last grace. wisdom. Wisdom
means practical religion" said DR.. Mar
quis. and, continuing, he said, You
will never be educated, and can never
attain the highest power and greatest
unless you become some
thing like Christ"
while the public schools do not
teach religion, they uphold ideals, and
there is no more perfect ideal than
Christ" he said.
He concluded his address with d
cauyfon TO the young people about 20
leave for college, urging that in seek
ing for the worldly knowledge they dc
not neglect TO give some time to the
of their souls.
The service was very largely attend
ed. and large portion of the congre-
CATION was young people. During the
service Miss Harriet Chopper rendered
an appropriate selection.