The Yale expositor., 1907-06-21

Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church
of the City of Yale.
voices occupied the rostrum and the
music rendered was especially pleasing.
The graduates, seven in number,
marched i'm to music by Mrs. Staley and
took front seat, while teachers and
members of the school board i'm body
sat just behind.
Rev. LawrasOn read the lesson and
gave the Invocation. Below we pub
lish short synopsis of Rev. Douglass
Sermon:-
"Class of 1907, you have reached an
important period in your life. 1t is i'm
portant because it closes a period of
life; never again will you graduate from
the same rank. Never again will you
enter the same rank into which you are
now entering Those years over which
you have now passed will be passed
over no more by you. Never can you
return TO correct the mistakes you have
made. Never can you return to undo
the deeds you have done. They stand
written already upon the record and
your future will be influenced 10y what
you have done so far. IfyOur work has
been welldone thus far you have indeed
a good foundation upon which to build.
If that foundation has not been laid
well you alone must bear the penalty.
Yet il is not of the past | would
speak tonight. Some one has said Yes
terday is past, you cannot recall il. To
morrow you may never have. Today
is the only time you can call your own.
So let us look for a time to the present.
You stand tonight at one of the most
important times in your life. You
stand at time when you are more
easily influenced than ever you have
been or will be. so hesitate to speak
to you tonight. | know what you hear
tonight will influence your lives more
than you think now. So | hesitate.
Yet who could come TO you more APP
prOpriately than messenger of God
Take the words | bring you tonight
then, not as the words of man but as a
message from him who guideth all
Alright.
You are standing now in the quiet
grey of the early dawn of life. The
glorious light of day is just beginning
to break above the horizon. Behind
you the twilight of infancy; before you
the brilliant and dazzling light of the
perfect day.
There has been no storm To mar the
dawn, there is no cloud visible above
the horizon. But all today is bright
and clear. That your life may con
tinue such is the hope and wish of all
these present here tonight. That your
lives may be free from all clouds is the
reason that these friends and teachers
have helped you as they have. That
you will meet with obstacles and diff
culties in your lives we all know full
well. To help you over these obstacles
and to help you overcome these Difficult.
ties is my desire and my purpose to-
night. If | can say anything to you
that will help you, my hearts desire
will have been accomplished.
You already have had some troubles,
you have had some trials, some Difficult
ties that you have overcome. You have
learned how To overcome and you have
learned perhaps the value of oyercom-
ing. The angel of the Lord said to
John Rev 2:26) in His message to the
church at Thyatira, lie that overcOm-
eth, and keepeth my works unto the
end, to him will give power over the
nations
This is a promise that we can see
fulfilled every day around us. The
man that Overcomes the difficulties of
life is the man that has the influence
and control of the powers around him.
The man that oyercomes little things
first IL the man who overcomes the
greater trials later. Then let us learn
to overcome.
How shall we do that? | hear you
say, tell us how to overcome the diff
culties of life, and we will gladly follow
your instructions. Could you tell me
what these difficulties will be, perhaps
| would be able to give you help; but
your difficulties will not be the same
have had. Your life will not be the
same mine has been, SO my experience
will not help you much. $3.50.
The story of Willie Bodine brings out
the best traits. Quietly, calmly they
did their work best when hard pressed;
strongest when i'm trouble. Such you
must strive to be. The oxen knew not
the greatness of the work they were
called upon to do They heard only
the voice of their little master asking
them to pull and that was all they cared
TO know.
Class of 1907, il may not be given you
to know the greatness of the work you
may be called upon to do. Ii may not
be given you to know how hard the
struggle will be. Like the oxen you
have no need to know. Like them IL
is not necessary that you should know.
1t is enough that you hear the Masters