Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-06-11
C. \. S. SENIORS
Listen 10 Most Interest
ing bacca|auIeaie
At Methodist Church by Pastor
Rev. John R. Clifford.
A Large Congregation Enjoy The Discourse
With The Glass.

The Seniors of the Gardiner High
school attended Divine worship Sunday
at the Methodist church. where
Rev John r. Clifford. the Iastor, preach
ed the Baccalaureate sermon. There were
modest decorations of yellow and green,
the class colors, and plants. all Of which
gave a very pleasing effect. With Miss
Eva ToZier at marshal, the Seniors
marched to seats which were reserved for
them well toward the front. There was
a large congregation.
Mr.. Cllford's sermon was very inter
esting and it pleased greatly the entire
congregation. For his text he took
Proverbs xxx Is: Where There Is No
Vision the People Perish" and Acts XVI
10: II Was Not Disobedient unto the
Heavenly Vision" He spoke as follows
In the days Of ancient chivalry the
Young squire was admitted to the honorS
Of knighthoGd with imposing ceremonies
Having tasted and confessed all his sins.
the candidate spent n night in Watching
and PRAYER Then. attircd in new robes,
he proceeded to the church to pass an eH-
animation. ana if judged worthy Of adj
mission to the privileges of knighthood.
he received the sacrament and took III"
vows.
If in the darker days Of the 18th CEN
fury, with such imposing cercmon!alS.
after watching. fasting ard prayer, AMI
solemn vow. the young squire passed u
the duties of a knight. it seems eminent
" fitting that in these days, young IA
dies and young gentlemen. standing on
the threshold of the way leading to their
chosen life work, or standing as some of
these do today to place milestone in their
journey in the pursuit of knowledge,
should pause and. entering the house of
God, wait with bowed head and revrront
prayerful heart, some message from Him
who has said Commit thy way unto
| the Lord and He shall direct thy path"
Our message for this hour is found in
Proverbs xxix-lS: Where there is NJ
vision the people perish" and Acts XVI
10: q was not disobcdient unto the heav-
| emily vision"
| Our theme is Visions.
Among the marvellous displays Of Divine
power foretold by an ancient prophet wa'
the promise which was fulfilled at penta
| cost. the promise Of the outpouring Of
the Holy Spirit upon men. women and
children. Gifts of prophecy. power To
heal, to speak with tongues. dreams.
visions and revelations of the Lord wern
| promised and bestowed until the multi
tudes marveled ut the display Of Divine
power through men. and hundreds and
thousands were compelled to believe in
the crucified Nazarine. whose partinp
promise they now saw Fulfilled. Thu
| miracle of pcntacosi has been in SOM
measure repeated until today. 1t is true
that gifts of prophecy are not apparen;
las then; gifts Of healing are not bestowed
las freely as in the apostolic days. except
as W" view the healing art AS exercised
by physician ana surgeon. Divine gift
But men and maidens are today S"ein2
Visions as never hefcrc. Indeed that ill.,
| which Is without its vision is 4 VERY
commonplace. not to say useless hf" an
| in that age and country 'Whcre Their
is no vision the propl" perish" T" tn
ldiscoverer, Columbus, there We're visions
Of undiscovered isles ana unknown con
ltments, wears before hi eye actually saw
them. Watt. in graphic vision, sees TIL
harncsSing of steam to obey the beheSt
of man, and Fultnn'S vision was Of tn
same force applied to navigation. Frank
lin, the seer, had revelation Of electrical
power while Morse. At first in vision An,
later i'm reality, saw the subtle fluid mad
iobedent to his mandates. But although
lthese visions wcr,A 50 great in thcmS:lve5
land even greater in their fulhlmcnt
, | there were vet to com" the visions -
Edison. and the telephone and of MARGIN
with its fulfllmrnt If 50 great value t
l j,.aI. t,l, III ~
still later the submarine telephone nov
being turned to practical account. Their
have hcen there still are. visions of 81,
cess in the great and busy marts, Whry
g with sharp competition ana up-to dat
methods the winner must be almost 81
< perlrIman in physical endurance as We
as in qualities Of mind. From the iuni,
9 mariner down to the office boy. each an
I'll all have their visions of future prone
ltion or achievement. The student has Il
vision Of mental development and m;
= turcd scholarship. Of place anon
J" those who help to mould the destinicS
e men and determine the course Of nation
He, in vision sees himself swayng Il
/ mutitudcs to whom lie speaks. rs wavir
Is harvest fields are swayed before the Il
!" tumn breeze.
But what. we are asked. is the util
of all these visions? DO they not tend
produce discomfort with present conc
a, tons and thus render us unfit for prese
ot duties?
d. | BY no means. For vision gives pu
IS pose. an object, for life and a life wor
Emerson says. "a purpose is 4 compa
III ion." ard this is true. A noble purpo
ne is a companion worth having, for it is
tguide. a reminder. constantly givi
ye counsel or warning to 50 direct and &C
ee troll all powers Of body and faculties
IL mind as to reach the goal and make t
up vision n reality.
But purpose is more than 4 co
ly IA Mon. 1t is an inspiration for a life.
he During the closing years of the i
st century Thomas Buxton was lstlcs
he pursuing n course of study preparat t.
C to n university course lin Dublin. I
Oldest son of wealthy parents, with evt