The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-05-18
BAccALAUREATE SERMON

The Baptist church Sunday morning
was crowded with patrons and friends
Of our public school to hear DR.. w. II.
Dodge, pastor Of the Presbyterian
church. preach the baccalaureate SER
mon.
The following ushers Of the Ocala
High School seated the audience, viz.
Messrs. Phil Robinson, Robert Ander-
son, Clarence Meffert Marion Pelot,
Carlisle Izlar and Holrues Walters.
The members of the different church
choirs furnished the music, led by Mr.
A. E. Gerig and assisted by the Misses
Conner on the violin and created har-
nionious notes that delighted all. At
the close OF the sermon Mrs. Mote
sang solo in her sweet and inimita
bic manner. Rev. G. III. Harrison, rec
tor, Of Grace Episcopal church, led in
prayer. Rev. Barnett, Of the Methodist
church, read the scriptural lesson,
which he took from the Psalms and
In substance 1t importuned the world
TO get wisdom. Rev. Dodge then took
for his text these verses: Finally
brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatso-
ever things are just, whatsoever things
are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
hatsoever things are Of good report,
if there be any virtue and there be any
praise, think in these things" CHOSE
things which We have both learned,
and received, and hear, and seen in
me, do; and the God of peace shall
. be with you" From them he preach
ed very fine sermon.
He divided 1t into two heads, think
ing and doing. Referred to the ideas
the philosophers of old had of life.
The epicureans slipping the sweet as
they fioated past and letting care take
care of itself. Those of Zeno to take
things as they happened. He set up
st. Paul as the sensible and exem-
llary man, one worthy of all accep-
lance and to be patterned after.
He then defined the difference in the
thoroughness of our educational sys-
tenn as that compared to England.
There Ii was a perfect understanding
CT the Greek verse and Latin transla-
! ton, while the sum total here was to
acquire the three RS and let the rest
take care of itself. This was ma
terial and commercial age in which
utility set the pace-that which could
be used in every day life and dealings.
IN making this sweeping assertion,
which in the main is correct, he ad-
mitted we had many men and women
who gave their best time and talent to
rhe culture of mind and the heart,
Z making wealth subordinate and in IL
iustration of his theme he referred to
the fact that at a late commence
ment at Plant City, of the seven
graduates there was not one boy, they
having to leave the classroom and go
into the world and become bread
winners. The same was true Of the
Ocala school, as there were only two
boys in the class.
He deprecated the thought that our
schools should be the means to an end
To make our boys bread winners, but
that the teachers should infuse into
the pupils high thoughts and ideals of
life. To so direct their thoughts that
due consideration should apply to the
mental and physical, as well as to the
mere important element inNour make
Gp-the moral and spiritual of our be-
4 ing-character should stand out over
Eaterialism and Christ over all.
He then pointed out false righteous
ness. that which eases the conscience
&C the individual at complying with
the demands Of the civil law-by 1t
they escape it's penalties and so ease
their conscience. On the same prin-
ciples of Lycurgus, it was all right to
steai If you were not found out. All
law should embody itself in love OF
its school room, in love of the home
| and of the state. Then there was the
outer conduct and the inner life. They
should conform.
He then referred to the study of the
sciences and what student should
find in them-the love and image OF
Christ the Savior of the world, AND
about them he drew beautiful pictures
OF the Lilly of the Valley 1.-THE Rock
OF Ages" 1.-THE Rose of Sharon" ant
THE Lion of Judea," learning in them
true, unselfish and devoted love o.
the Master and the Savior of th'
World. ~
We have merely intimated in out.
lines this thoughtful and potent ser.
mon and which left deep impress OF
al its hearers.
The graduates, five in number, oc
cupied the first middle seat and con-
sisted of Messrs. Lawrence Price an(
Ralph Robinson and Misses Annie At
kinson, Genevieve Smith, Mary Gates
The pulpit was adorned with flow
ing ferns and flowers, while the spring
attire of the ladies lent charm to thu
scene, heightened by their swee
smiles that indeed cast a Sunda,
morning radience over the beautiful