The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-05-27
COMING THIS WAY BACCALAUR[ATE
Fr. O'C0nnOr Addresses High
School Graduating Glass
GIVES GOOD ADVICE
Opera House Filled to Its Capacity
by Friends of the Members
of Class of 'O9


FIR. T. f. O'Connor, pastor of the
church of Our Lady of the Angels,
preached the baccalaureate sermon to
the class of 'O9, Sauk Centre High
school, at the opera House Sunday
evening. The seating capacity was
taxed to accommodate the relatives
and friends of the twenty young
people who will this year receive di-
plomaS from the Board of Education.
After the opera chairs were all filled
many extra seats were placed in the
open space in front of the stage and
these were quickly taken, leaving
some people standing through the
services. FIR. O'Connor suffered from
a bad cold, making it difficult to speak,
yet though laboring under this handi-
cap he justified his reputation as an
eloquent pulpit orator.
Before the sermon sextette of
ladies consisting of Mrs. Farrell and
Miss Campbell, soprano; Mrs. R. E.
Hansen and Miss Carr, first alto;
Mrs. P. Lamb and Mrs. J. H. Simon
ton, second alto; rendered ''The Last
Chord" in highly artistic manner,
Miss Winnifred Cooper accompanying
on the piano. Miss Mildred Lathrop, a
member of the graduating class, sang
solo, ga Dream of Paradise in fine
style, Miss DeMeules accompanying.
After the sermon the boys choir of
the Episcopal church rendered in an
acceptable manner selection, "Praise
Ye the Lord p, Miss Hrrriet Erwin
playing the accompaniment.
FIR. O'Connor took for his text John
VIII: II: II am the ligh5 of the
world, and he that followeth me
walketh not in darkness but shall
have the light of life''.
The speaker emphasized strongly
the idea that it is the duty of every
person to fulfil the will of God: that a
life without Christ in it is a failure;
that without right living and think
ing there can be no success; that the
man who tries to work out his own
salvation without God makes the
greatest possible mistake.
History shows, he said, that many
men have lived only to crafty their
desires but that they have failed.
There are men who deny the divinity
of Christ, there are skeptics, agnos-
tics, materialists, but these all live
lives that are failures. The man who
has no time for the church, for faith,
for right living, cannot possibly at
tain success. Life is too valuable to
waste: it should be employed in SER
vice and sacrifice.
Fir. O'Connor spoke with great fer
vor in his direct address to the
graduates, his words coming in an
eloquent rush and holding his audi
ence. He assured the young people
that he was personally interested in
their success, and adjured them to
love God and their fellow men and to
seek their highest development. Five
things he emphasized as necessary for
them to do if they hoped to succeed,
namely; profess their Christian
faith; stand for the church; stand for
the goal for which they strive; stand
for the people; and stand for the fra
ternity of man.
In closing he urged them to count
their blessings, to remember how
their parents. had striyen in their be-
half to have them secure the advan-
tages of a liberal education. He ask
ed them to improve their every oppor-
tunity to help themselves, their fell
lowmen and to make the world better.
The graduates listened attentively
throughout the discourse and evident
ly took heart the excellent advice