Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-14
Sunday Morning Talk
findings and Beginnings.

Once more we are in the midst OF that
most zestful period known as the COM
nencement season. AS the fair young
graduates take their rightful place IN
the center of the stage: each in his or
hey most becoming garments. each eye
lighted with pride and enthusiasm, the
looker-ou can hardly help being thrilled
even though a dozen or forty times mas
the scene been substantially re-enacted
before his eyes. What he now beholds Is
being repeated in it's essential elements
during these golden June days in count
less institutions of various types, in
scores OF great cities in thousands OF
towns and namlets. The bearing of IT all
upon the future of the nation, the nope
and promise of it all fills the beholdel
with joy.
But however much it may mean to the
outsider il means even more 10 the par
ticipant We look leniently upon the fur
bellows and the Irills. We pardon what
seems to us an unnecessary outlay, pro-
Vided We are confident that the graduates
themselves enter 10 some extent into the
deeper meaning of the occasion. They
surely must do that. for no r!ght-mind-
ed bog or girl can reach the end OF Il
definite period of study without being
stirred 10 gratitude and to seriousness
1t is u great thing to get diploma, to
class you have kept up with the pro-
cession that in that bit of parchment
you have the certificate to fidelity and
success in one good piece of work. i am
because of i'll health, poverty or indiffer-
ence, never receives al least one diploma
never carries a prescribed course OF
study through 20 the finish.
But the real glory OF graduation con-
sists in the fact that 1t makes both an
ters in life are forever closed. but under
meath each one in fine type are these
beautiful words: Continued in our next. "
Think of it first in the realms OF knowl-
edge. You. my graduating friend. have
been packing away in your mind informa-
ton. Once student inclined to be
pathetic at parting with a favorite teach
er said: professor. l am indebted to
you for all / know pray don't men
ton such trifie," was the prompt reply.
But even that rattlebrained boy was
wiser than when he entered-the institu-
ton Few go through a period of study
without increasing their store of in
formation or without acquiring the thirst
for knowledge. But they are only on the
edge OF the ocean of truth. The ending
must be also a beginning.
The same is true in the realms or
character. The late President Woolsey
of Yale used to say that 1t was impos-
sible for even a careless student to go
down into the springs of his character
something that would make him forever
better. But I'm this particular, too. he
comes to the end Of the path only to
start afresh IN another that Will lead
him, IL he persists to higher levels OF
character.
A student In good school also learns
to sae-that is. he begins to get a glimpse
of-H hat life tx for. of what he ought TO
do with his own life. The element Of
idealism liz never far from growing youth
The tendency of scientific studies. The
influence OF matcrialistic age. make
often for the dulling OF the vision, but
II there have come In this student period
flashes OF insight they are the browning
blessing of the ended period. and as the
new chapter opens the graduate should
pray that In coming years he may nave
In addition to know ledge and character
vision of unseen things. Il vision. too. OF
human life In all its need and of his duty
toward weakness and ignorance wherever
he shall encounter them.
Thus commencement viii he i'll truth
the commencement of richer. nobler,
more useful life. THE PARSON.