The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-06-04

spheres. There must be something like a passion for advancement. or progress is wanting. It Is true men frequently make themselves ridiculous by the aims they avow, because there Is such wide incongruity between the ambf- tions they entertain and the capacities they possess. Yet, as a rule. it Is as. piration that wins It Is true. too, that now and then. circumstances are ten deriy propitious and under the tav. orable influence of time and power1ui assistance. mediocrity occasionally climbs to a wealth and place and power out of all proportion to any inward merit which can be discovered
 still even in these instances there must be an eye open to opportunities
 ana a spirit to kindle into concert with
 profYered aid, or all help Is in vain. A
 man lacking in these qualities may pc
 helped. but he will not stay helped. and
 as soon as the hand that held nim up
 Is withdrawn he drops. This principie
 is absolute in the realm or the mora ard spiritual life Christ likeness or
 character cannot be thrust upon any
 soul. No soul can drift into It. Every conmendable element which gets Into character has to be wrought into IL.
 Every stone, from base to turret, that adds strength and symmetry and peau-
 ty to the moral house we are erect,ns has to De neWeu anu pAacou .u ps,,- by the defnite co-working or our wius with the will of God.
 It is easy. therefore. to see In the light of these principles what an im- portant place ones ideals must neces- sarily fill in the economy of moral growth A mans ideals mark and limit | the possibilities of his development m virtue Streams do not rise above their | fountain. If a man would attain unto | tt Al QfQfnrA of inc Iui- ness of Christ he must not keep Tn | thought anything lower than this fash | ion of manhood. People sometimes sheer at views. theories. opinions and say they are nothing, but these are | what sway men and determine the | bounds of their endeavors.
 But the real worth of high ideals Is the reflex influence by which man Is nodded into the type of character which | they image to his mind. This I think l is in exact line with the Apostles mo- | ton when he wrote. think on these things" The soul becomes like that
 which it habituaily cherishes.
 l To what worthier motives can men | and women yield; what loftier aims can
 they entertain and pursue? TO keep
 these high ideals always before the
 mind as manners keep their eyes fixed | on the stars, will not be without cost. Yet there is no lack of reward for sweet and exalted character Is the supreme achievement of man. They who have thought and wrought on whatsoever things are true, honorable. just. pure, lovely and of good report until these have come to be>a vital part of their | being may be sure of the blessing and | fellowship of tho God of peace forever and ever.
 Let the University hold faithfully. as in the past. to this high ideal and che can never die; but this fiftieth an- niversary will be but the herald of the l morning whose ascending sun, stream | ing In full orbed effulgence. shall know, | in future years, neither eclipse nor de- | clinel"
 l The sermon was pronounced an able one. A double auartette. with Burt P. Richardson. musical director. and Mrs. | Thos. E. Knight leader. rendered the following selections; King All Glori- ous." c. Barnby); Hear. o Lord" tMi- chael Watsor); By the Waters of Babylon" (Caryl Florio.)