The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-06-07
BaccaIaureate Delivered BY
Rev. E. C. DOwDcY
CHURCH WAS CROWDED
Strong and Inspiring TAX opered the
Commencement Exercises Of the
School on the
Yin.

Nlass SUNDAY OF lne CLASS q ADVS -
Goddard seminary was held az the IRA
versalist church at l0;s0 o'clock yester-
day morning, the baccalauFeate sermon
being delivered by the Rev. Edward @.
Downey, pastor Of the church. The SER
vice was largely attended, the seating
capacity OF the church being taxed.
According to the custoln followed each
year. four members OF the Junior class
Of tho school took shc places Of the
regular ushers and seated the people.
The four juniors were, John B. Mclean,
Aaron White, Joseph Moore and Doug
lass HAYES. Seats were reserved at the
front of the auditorium for the members
OF the Junior class, the faculty and tho
seniors, numbering twcnty-three, who
marched into the church In separate
bodies. The altar was prettily deco
rated with flowers, school banners and
class colors.
The service throughout was very en-
ioyable Pleasing selections were sung
by the quartette, consisting Of H. s.
Chapman, Mrs. G. r. Scott, Mrs. w. 5.
Bassett and Hermon ID. Hopkins Two
violin solos were also beautifully played
bv Edwin W Bruce The Rev. Mr.. Dow
ney took for his text ii Chronicles sass,
While he was vet young he began to
seek after God" He said in part:
aThe nineteenth century is distin-
gnished as an age Of inventions These
inventions multiplied man as a wealth
producer many fold, they centralized ac-
tivities and interests. These thihgs
make possible higher civilization than
the world has ever witnessed. Its real
ization demands a higher ethical stan
dard Of life. The cali Of the twentieth
century to You 1.-THE classl il to this
labor Of recasting society to accord with
the new vision which the economic con-
ditions Of our age makes possible. All
walks Of life are calling yon to enter
with such purpose. There Is no busi-
ness or profession that viii place you
upon a pinnacle Of greatness. They arc
only means Of working out your great.
ness. Remember that the greatest OF
earth have set themselves to lifes hum
blest tasks Those who see the great
need Of the age are not SO much inter-
ested in what you shall do in hfe as
how you will do it.
~The call Of the age is not to enter
the various walks Of life as simply fields
Of labor, because the world needs one
more doctor, lawyer, merchant or priest.
\ Not that 1t Is q call to enter the
field with the purpose Of adjusting your
calling to higher ethical standard de-
manded BY the age. The strenuousness
Of life, the rapidity Of our pace reveals
/ two possibilities. Our civilization will
1 give way to barbarism or else men and
women with clear visions, strong hearts
and steady hands must seize the helm
and guide us to a higher civilization
which the economic conditions make pos
sible by revealing and forcing higher
ethical standard,
''The larger the opportunities, the
more glittering the prizes, the more need
Of a sobering, steadying, balancing pow
er in the individual consciousness that
power IS religion. I do not mean dog
matte religion do not mean religion
Of beliefs, Of ceremonies nor of other
worldliness. ] do mean a religion Of
truth aud principles vital to life, a reli-
gion that makes men strong to wiz and
to do, and brave to dare and to suffer.
Too long the world has sung:
There is a divinity that shapes
our ends
Rough hew them as we may
1t nav contain truth of interest to
the speculative philosopher. But bow
evil its influence when applied to indj
vidual lives Rather should we say wi4
that other sage, We are architects Of
our own fate Our fate %o-morrow de-
pends upon the designs we draw to-day.
Every day IL its demands sits in judge
ment upon all the days that are gone.
If man goes down In life's storm, It IL
because he has not taken on the ballast
OF righteousness. I am pleading with
you to take the principles Of the gospel
of Jesus and bury them in your soul
that when the age calls for strong ard
mighty men and women to perform no
bic deeds, it shall not find you wanting.
Il care very little what ceremony
starts the flow Of that wen Of water
sprinQing up into life eternal in quality,
| If only it be started I care very little
around what altar you Behold the prin-
eiples Of the gospel in their glory and
welcome them to your soul am anK-
ious that you take this religion with
you, for only then is it possible for yov
to hear the call Of the age and lifs
society to a higher ethical standard.
sThe call Of the age Is thus a call to
service. The price Of the high calling
Of God as seen in Christ Jesus Is not
personal salvation. Service to the world
! is the high calling Of God There is
personal salvation. The Development
Of the faculties and pov rs of mans
nature saves him from th i Of decay.
The putting of mans powers to right use
saves bim from reaping corruption as
his portion in life. Personal salvation is
preparation for that larger salvation OF
service. He who would teach must first
be learned. He who would fight for
country must first be able to bear his
musket
aThe parable invited al to the feast
If the kingdom Of God, but him who had
not on 4 wedding garment they cast out.
There is the personal element IN saliva
ton. but the more it is attained the
more man knows himself bound to the
family OF man. The sin Of the world
/ is every mans shame. however pure he
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