The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-06-17
ATTENDS CLASS SERMON.
High School Graduates Hear Inspir.
ing Address at Unitarian Church
DR. Wright Pays Tribue TO DR.. Ed
ward Evaraft uo1o

DIR Wright Pays Tribue to DR.. Ed
ward Everett Hale.
1t was the universal verdict among
those who heard Rev. DR.. j. Ed
ward Wright's sermon before the
graduating class of Montpelier High
school at the Church Of the Messiah
on Sunday morning, that the adj
dress was the most masterful, the
most appealing delivered under sim
liar auspices for many years. The
pulpit was banked with masses of
flowers and ferns and the pews des-
ignated for the graduating class
were distinguished with loops of or
ange and black ribbons, the class
colors, while the Junior pews bore
black and white colors. At 10. 30
the auditorium of the church was
well filled and the graduates, mar
shalled by Grover G. Buck, presi-
dent of the Junior class, marched to
the seats reserved for them in the
center of the church, Immediately
followed by the Juniors and High
school faculty, Prof. L. ]. Hatha-
way presiding at the organ during
the procession.
The choir composed of Misses AL
ice Folsom, Evelyn Bishop and
Messrs. w. J. Fisher and Clayton
Flint, rendered several selections of
marked beauty during the service,
the duet by Miss Folsom and Mr..
Fisher being an especially good mum
Der. DR.. Wright's address was
heard with the greatest attention
and was worthy such a tribute.
DR.. Wright took as his text,
Kings XIX. 4; asking his heavens to
find in Elijah's phrase "I am not
better than my fathers" not the ex-
preston Of encouragement and self
reproach merely, but also acknowl-
edgement of duty, an admission that
one ought to attain a higher stand
ard than that of his ancestors, and
this was the preachers theme. He
argued that this was implied in the
generally accepted doctrine of evo-
luton, the theory of the develop
ment through unnumbered genera
lions of higher and even higher
grades Of beings from the lower.
He described the better conditions
enjoyed by the youth of the present
day, as compared with conditions
century ago, and maintained that
with these superior advantages, ito
be as good as your parents, you
must be better" in the phrase of
Wendell Phillips. Showing how lit
tie appreciation there was a hundred
years ago of the evils of slavery, Of
duelling, of lotteries, and of intern
perance, and how great change in
the popular Judgment of these
things; showing, also, how poor the
facilities for education were in the
early part of the nineteenth century
and how abundant opportunities are
today.
He claimed that it was natural,
reasonable and inevitable that more
should be expected and required of
our young people than might have
been justly exacted of those OF 1909,
especially that they should illustrate
in their lives greater constituencies
and accuracy of conscience. And
DR.. Wright specified several fields
in which this might we'll appear.
l. A more extensive and profound
appreciation of the ravages OF the
drink demon, of which, in spite of
the gains made in three generations
large share of our population are
still practically oblivious, not MOTTO
ing these ravages because of their
commences, as one accustomed to
the roar Of an awful cataract does
not hear it's laundering tones.
2. A fuller appreciation of the
Golden Rule in misunderstanding
and selling to be conducted not mer-
cilessly, as game of cards is play
ed, but in the spirit of brotherhood
Perhaps" said the speaker, Sin the
latter part of the nineteenth century
an honorable man, Christian, ac-
cOrding to accented standards
night by his shrewdness corner, and
by his strength crush his competit-
ors, and so build up an all-powerful
monopoly and a colossal fortune,
without any serious conjunction of
conscience. But I believe, my
friends, that there will be less of
such conduct in the years immedi-
ately before us. I believe that bus
mess men are gonig 10 ask them
selves more frequently not merely: