Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-14
STUDENTS HEAR
FINAL COUNSEL
GRADUATES ASSEMBLE ST,
VINCENT'S COLLEGE
FATHER REARDoN DEFINES DU-
TIES TO SOCIETY
"Desplse Sin and Choose Good in
Life" Is Advice of Clergyman
to Class That Leaves
Institution

Commencement week was inaugu-
rated at st. Vincent's college with the
annual mass of thanksgiving yesterday
morning in the Church of st. Vincent
de Paul, adjoining the college building
1t was celebrated by Rev. d. A. Dug
gan, assisted by Rev. Thomas Lille as
deacon and Rev. S. Depta as sub dea-
con. Joseph O'Brien was master of
ceremonies. The students were in at
tendance.
The affairs had been elaborately deco
rated with the college colors, yellow
and white, and white carnations and
other flowers were used against back
ground of ferns.
Rev. James A. Reardon, pastor of St
Anthonys church, Long Beach, an
alumnus of the college, preached the
sermon. Father Reardon pointed out
the duty of the college-bred man and
criticised modern society. He took his
text from the eighteenth chapter of st.
John, verses 81 and 38. He said in part:
"As a creature in the image of the
Creator man Is inclined toward and
seeks after the truth. There are many
men in the world who do not possess
it and whose years are spent in seeking
the unattainable. Does this mean that
God has failed in manifesting justice
and mercy? No, the fault lies not with
Cod but within ourselves.
"From Adam and Eve to the present
the majority have tried to discover the
truth, of life in mere worldly maxims.
the utopian ideal or the dreams of
dreamers. They have failed to near
the voice of the Almighty from Sinai:
I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt
not have strangs gods before me-
Search for the Truth
"Thanks to the good God number
have not sought truth in the world S
pleasure, but have discovered true hap
piness in Gods truth.
"There have been some at all times
who have not been carried away with
worldly possession or position who hear
at the feet of the Man of Sorrow: I am
| the way the truth and the light He
that cometh to me shall not hunger
"You young men of st. Vincents are
| fortunate that it has been your priv
ilege to receive the larger part of your
education in a college of God-along
spiritual as we'll as physical lines,
where it has ever been upheld that sue
cess in life is not so much living
greatly as living right.
You are well fitted to play your
part, and unless the world is better for
your having lived in it you will have
missed the best part of the learning
which you have received within these
walls. No life is so base but that 1t
affects those with whom it comes In
contact Every good life is of inestim-
able worth in this world. as is every pure
life in a society world with almost pagan
ideals, as is our society of the present.
Love of the good and wholesome, the
detestation of evil, are virtues in the
world of men and women today who
are devotees of mammon and sin.
For Strife Against Evil
att is your duty in an especial man
ner to strive with might and main to
root out those things that mar the face
of society today and to set your face
against infidel philosophy.
ut is in your power to bring men
back to God, who alone can satisfy the
heart. Mayhap none of you will ever
attain a lofty position, but each in his
own way, not only can but should live
and move that others will have grace
to leave falsehood and sin. Fear not
the world as long as you despise sin
and choose the good.
"This is your commencement week;
let it mark the beginning of your life
for others. Heretofore you have been
centered in self, living selfish lives, but
now you begin your service of unset
fishness. Your stock in trade is we'll
trained head and a heart well placed.
Let your light so shine before men that
they that see may glorify the Father
in heaven"