The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-06-03
MERIT IS SURE TO.
TRIUMPH, SAYS
MATTHEW'S
Took This as Topic For BAG
calaureate Sermon to High
School Graduates.
WILLINGNESS TO TAKE
POSITION WORLD OFFERS
Until ,Beckoned to Come High
er is Given, Means Success
in the End.
WILLINGNESS TO TAKE
POSITION WORLD OFFERS

The baccalaureate sermon to the
graduates of the Grand Forks high
school was delivered Sunday morning
at the Presbyterian church by Rev.
Matthews. The church ediice was
crowded with friends Of the gradu-
ates, members of the congregation,
and the graduating class. Special
music had been arranged for.
The sermon by Rev. Matthews was
an excellent one, and most impress
sively delivered. He said in part:
Topic-Romans 1921. "If God be
for us, who can be against us?"
From this text desire to take Che
theme, The Sure Triumph of Merit.
l know of no thought more valuable
for graduating class than this one.
You are going out into the world.
Some of YOU are to continue your
studies in higher institutions of learn
ing. Others are to begin their life
work. For all this theme is equally
appropriate. The whole world needs
to consider this text. Many are be-
ginning to believe what man or wo-
man requires to secure a prominent
position-a position of influence in
society-is what the world calls a
pull.
IF this belief is permitted to grow,
1t will blossom into pure atheism.
If merit is not to win in this world;
If trickery and political pulls are to
gain the day, it simply means that
the little innocent maid of AsolO was
greatly mistaken when she sang be-
fore the window of the wicked Sc
bald and Ottime.
Gods in his heaven
Ais right with the world
What this world needs is to give
earnest heed to the wise words of
Gamaliel: If this work be of man it
will come to naught; but ii it be
of God, We cannot overthrow it; lest
haply We be found even to fight
against Cod The Sure Triumph of
Merit should be the absolute cOnvic-
ton of every man, woman and child.
Starting out with the major promise
merit will triumph and half the prob
lens of the world would be immedi-
ately solved.
Believing in "The Sure Triumph of
Merit the question of vocation is set
tied. That question revolves itself to
this: In what work can the most be
done fer the world?' and For what
work am best fitted? God has for
ordained us for particular work and
that work is what we can do best.
God has so ordered this world as to
make a place for every one. Confu-
sion comes when we take which does
not belong to us. instead of seeking
to know his will. One says, How
can l know his will?' You can know
1t by honestly and carefully consid-
ering the work itself and your fitness
: for the work. Much prayer is need
ed-not so much to bring God over
to our side, for he is already on our
side, If we are in the right, but to
Clearly our own minds, so we can see
the right.
IF God has particular place for
each one of us, it is not fitting for
us to distress ourselves, but we
should be ready to take up the task
when it is presented. We should con-
slider the words of the wise Caliph
Ali, who said: Thy lot or portion of
life is seeking after thee, therefore
rest from seeking after it. An angel
of God is walking in our Garden of
Eden, seeking to find us and put us
to work. II we have not been feed
ing upon forbidden fruit of idleness,
unholy imaginations. pride and SEN
suality, he will find us and give us
work which will make us happy all
our days; If we have been unfaithful,
and have yielded to the temptor, he
will order us out of the garden to toll
in pain and sorrow. How sad to look
at the men and women who are la
boring at duties which are distaste-
full to them; not so much from an
error In the choice of vocation, as
from the choice OF no vocation and
the failure to fit themselves for any
definite work-idleness in the school
Garden of Eden;' diobedience in the
eden of their homes.
That our conviction may be strong
er concerning this truth, let us con-
slider some of the reasons why merit
Will surely triumph and see also by
what means the triumph is won.
Merit will triumph, because it leads
to the best preparation for life's du.
ties. II young men and young wo-
men go out into life believing merit
alone will win them a place in the
world, they will better prepare them
selves. In every walk of life prep
aratiOn for life's duties is winning the
day. II We allow the atheistic thought
to enter our minds that we can Sc
cure places Of influence through
friends and hold them, we will not
neglect the preparation.
This leads US to the thought that
merit will surely triumph. because it
Is based on truth. and truth is sure to
win the day. Look back over the his
tory of the world and see how truth
has gradually been winning the day.
Can you point to one error which has
permanently triumphed in the world?
All the power of kings has been I'M
able to prevent the mighty march of
republican principles. These princi-
pies have marched on to victory, for
truth led the way. All the traditions
Of thousands of years have failed to
hold woman within a narrow sphere.
Woman has overcome all the old pref
udices against her capacity. Truth
has given testimony to her capability
for education and so. each year, ev-
cry high school turns out a large per-
centage of young women as Q tro-
ply of her victory. King Cotton, with
his thousands of gins, could not hold
the black in s1avorv IL Jinnolc ho5