Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-06-08
Graduating Sermon to the
High School Seniors.
Preached at Christ Church Sun.
day by Rev. R. ". Plant.
Practical Discourse Upon ''law Of
Character" Presented.

| The members of the Glass CT 1908.
Gardiner High school, attended Di-
vine worship Sunday morning at Christ
church and proved themselves attentive
| listeners to the practical and helpful dis
! course upon Law OF Character pre-
| scented by the rector, Rev. Robert w
| Plant. The auditorium of the church
| was completely filled with the members
of the parish and friends of the grad
| uating class.
| The members of the class entered the
| church marshaled by the class president
| Earle Perry, and took the seats reserved
for them at the front of the church. AZ
ter reading to them the parable of ''The
| Talents" Mr.. Plant spoke in substance
as follows:
We have today a very wide knowledge
| and appreciation of the natural laws of
| life. We know that they are beneficial
when rightly used and when abused they
are cur own relentless judge. The law
| of character is as certain as the law
| that governs gravity. In the parable of
the talents the Lord gave to his servants
| gifts in accordance with their orportuni-
| ties and characteristics of character This
parable is not only for the far off time
in which it was written. 1T is related
vitality to the now and the here.
In the story of the parable the success
| sive steps are traced showing the use of
natural gifts, which brings a splendid
and noble life and their misuse which
| means degeneration of character Tho
servants who We're rewarded did lust as
they would have done had their lord and
master been with them. Faithfulncss
marked their acts. Their success was in
dependent of the amount of their gifts
just as character is always INDEPENDENT
of natural gifts. The mar with the two
talents received the same reward as the
man with the five talents. "Ye have
been faithful was the commcndation.
With all due respect to the trainers of
the Declaration of independence in the
| light OF long experience we are obliged
| to admit that one statement in it is
wrong. All men are not created equal.
| All rnon are created very unequal in
| host of ways. Inequality of gifts in life
| is equally true as in the parable. Christly
character is in no sense dependent upon
natural gifts. The real work of q mans
| life is not to be judged by the material
| he is OBLIGED to use but by the sort of
l
| has at hand. 1t is possible to build
| fine character with few and unimportant
| gifts. Many a man has been very talent
ed vet has trifled with the abilities and
gifts bestowed upon him and accomplish
| ed nothing.
| Note the element of confidence in the
parable. The faithful servant gave
straightforward account of his acts.
| Character never needs an apology. True
| character always stands before the
| world unshamcd and confident and makes
! no excuses. Jacob accused by Laban of
| Wrongdoing stands forth confidently and
denies evel the motive for the act of
| which he is accused The three Hebrew
young men when brought before the en-
ragged King of Babylon. trusting in their
| God Jehovah. confidently declare: 1.-THE
God whom we serve is able to deliver us
| but if he will not deliver us we will not
| worship your God or bow to the image
| you have set up
The lord said to the faithful servant:
| '"Thou hast been faithful in few things,
| I will make thee ruler over many" The
glory of dominion comes not from great
opportunities. 1t comes from faithful
| ness. BY faithfulness comes the develop
| mcnt of the noble Christ-lille character
The one talent man in his acts shows