The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-06-06
THE BACCALAUREATE.
Thirty-Eight Seniors in Gown and
Cap Hear Sermon.


high school was delivered at the
Methodist church Sunday night by
Rev. John S. Crowder The other
churches suspended evening service
and joined in a union meeting to
greet the seniors and to hear the adj
dress. The church was crowded to
its utmost capacity
This was the beginning of the
closing exercises of the graduating
class, of 1907, which will end on
Tuesday night with the commence
ment address By DR.. w. A. Quayle,
of Chicago. Tae seniors, numbering
thirty-eight, marched in in gown and
cap, led by the minister and the fac
ulty and occupied the front space re-
served for them They represent the
flower of the young people of our
city, and also they represent the
work and the product of our public
schools. Supt. Randall was happy in
contemplating the success of his la
bors, the parents of the members of
the class were happy. The graduates
themselves were pleased, and the
preacher, realizing the opportunity
that lay before him, was dee-lighted.
The music rendered by the choir was
excellent. The Scripture lesson was
read by Rev. W. S. Howard and
prayer was offered by Rev. Mr.. Plug.
The pastor said by way of preface
that he felt a deep sense of graft
tude for the privilege of preaching
to this congregation. He had ac-
cepted with pleasure the invitation
that came from the president of the
class, but trembled, he said, at the
responsibility. This was the first
service in this graduating class
commencement. 1t was glad occa-
sion, and it was a sad occasion
These young people were the pride
of Plymouth, the object of endless
solicitude and untold sacrifice of par
ents. 1t was sad time. This class
would separate, never to meet as a
class any more 1t would be the last
time he would ever be permitted to
enjoy this pleasure with this people.
But we must move forward.
The speakers text was Romans
-. o.. UO,o~~1.x,o o.-,I ..,.tL GOOD ..
The subject was "The Battle of
Life" The text of the discourse is
as follows:
There are only four words TO this
text and | request this class to re-
member them So long as you live
Paul knew the value of words He
wrote them under divine inspiration
and they contain the key that will un-
lock and solve all the problems of
life. 1t is the plan of God, to be ap-
piled to human problems, and it is
therefore the right and only plan.
Those of you who are young cannot
appreciate the value of life, but those
that ar. Older know this value. Life
is a b:ttle No conflicts, no victor
les; no struggles, no success; per
augusta ad augusta-through trials
to triumphs-
Il note first. the things worth fight
ing for The things worth fighting
for are not mental achievements, noi
yet material things. If they were
life would be a mockery. The things
to be contended for are moral things.
The greatest thing to be contended
for is character Characterl whose
essence is a pure mind, trained
conscience, high ideals, noble pur-
poses, meeting the world bravely.
making this world contribute to your
godliness, making the world ladder
by which you may climb into the
skies in Gods great plan. Character.
The only thing that lives beyond the
grave Memory dies love fades away,
but character is immortal. These are
the things worth fighting for.
"Second-The call to battle. Over
come evil with good is Gods COM
mand. The issue is between good and
evil We have heard in the past
week of the great conflict of the
civil war. The greatest conflict IN
the universe tonight is the conflict
between good and evil-the right
against the wrong. There are some
tnat tell US that there is no battle
in this world. The epitome of these
doctrines is, that whatsoever is is
for the best. They teach that the
divine will directs all things well,
and that whatever is is best | am
convinced that it is dangerous doc
frine. There are some things in this
world that are not for the best There
are others that tell us there is no
evil but that which is capable of be-
ing corrected by men. These are
socialists. There are others who
teach that there is no sin at all; you
shut your eyes and it has gone. Such
is Christian science But evil is real
sickness is real, death is real.
II do not understand the mystery
of evil; / do not know where it orig
mated and the cause of evil, but
am not in doubt as to its existence
1t is a perverSion of good; it is seen
in selfshness, murder and rebellion.
The great call of the text is that you
are to fight against the wrong and
for the right and for the holy prin-
ciples upon which we have touched
as en.bodying character. God taught
us that the great choice in life is the
choice between good and evil Un-
mistakable is the existence of sin to
f.,c 4 E<.f~