The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-23

STRONG SERMON TO
SEMINARY CLASS
DR.. John S, Foster breaches to
Birmingham Seminary
SPHERE OF EDUCATION
Points Out to Ladies' of Graduating
-.
SPHERE OF EDUCATION



| The Rev. DR.. John S. Foster pastor Oh
the First Presbyterian church, delivered
the commencement sermon to the sradu-
at,ng class of the Birmingham seminary
Yesterday morning. The First Methodist
| chv.ch was crowded. and Dr. Foster
sermon on THE Sphere of Education
made a deep impression. His text was
| taken from Isaiah 1914, THE Lord Goa
hath given me the tongue of the learned
| that | should know how to speak WORD
in season to him that is weary"
| 1--WE have briefly sketched here the
Prophet Isaiah's vision of true educa-
| ton" he said. LAS he was speaking by
divine direction we have Gods, ldeai.
This ideal takes cognizance of the two
most important things in this world The
first is life The second is education.
In life lies the possibility of achievement
of happiness, of success, of progress. In
education lies the ability to convert posi-
| bilities into actualities. Without educa-
| tion there would be no development. the
term education efrom the Latin educere.
to draw outD denotes the result or pro-
cess of training and developing the fac-
ulties of the individual In this sense one
education is not limited to the discipline
| of the schoolroom and the facts of text
hook. but to the direct and indirect IN
auence of whatever modiies or impresses
ones life. 1t may be factory STORE
an office, whatever. in fact, draws out
| the latent talents of the individual and
carries him forward in the scale OF power
and capacity
Is Intense Reality
Life. therefore, is the most intense OF
all realities. 1t is not compound Oh
sentimentalism and frivolity. Life is ike
the rose Its charm is embedded III us
heautv and fragrance. Destroy these per-
factions and it's charm is lost. Life is like
the graceful train. Its power ana USE
fulness are dependent upon adherence 10
the glistening rails. Life is analogous
to a soul-thrilling anthem. Its sweet
ness lies In it's harmony. 1t 10 for this
reason that SO much thought and energy
is being given to the subject of ife's ed
ucaton. 1t is very evident that false
/
nerverted estimate of the purpose of edu-
cation will have vital influence upon
ones own personal welfare and the pro-
gross of the world. 1t is therefore emf
nently proper, young ladies, that each one
of YOU should desire to know the sphere
| of life's largest measure of usefulness
.rThe days spent within college walls
the hours spent in acquiring knowledge
and disciplining the mind that 1t might
grapple with all problems, the moments
devoted to physical culture that the body
might be strong, the separation OF some
from home with its joys and comforts all
attest the fact that you realize the dig
nifty of womans' sphere, the value of
special training, and the need of earnest
thought and careful preparation to make
it truly blessed. Our text Is of great prac-
tical value in that 1t defines for us the
| character of true education and states the
gauge for human achievement. 1t is only
as this divine ideal is incarnated in life
that ones existence which is a series of
co-ordinated actions and reactions, can be
declared to be truly blessed and successes
| full.
|
Il. In the first place, the divine idea of
education may be described as service
ableness. The Lord God ham given me
the tongue of the learned that l should
know how to speak a word in season to
him that is weary"
| In other words, education is con-
stantly growing process whose aim is the
fitting of the individual for personal SER
vice in a world OF moral and physical
complication. This idea Is everywhere
emphasized in the scriptures. 1t finds its
elimination in Him who Is not alone the
Son of God, but the WORLDS greatest ed
ucator, who said, The Son of Man came
not to be ministered unto but to minis
ter"
This idea of serviceableness as the
grand aim of education also finds express
sion in the acts and words of every ad-
vanced teacher of pedagogical science.
| AS the direct result of their fellowship
with the Master, or indirectly from a
| study of human needs In the light of
what Christ has impressed upon the
world. they are setting forth the idea of
training rather than the idea of impart-
| lns as tHe nisHest sphere VI teaching.
Let me quote the words of few promi-
nent educators: 1T is absolutely impossi-
BILE" says one. for US to identify edu-
cation with mere acquisition of learning !"
| Love-" saws another, lis the greatest
| thing in the world, and to fix It upon
the greatest objects in the world is the
| end and aim of editsuca. n o SHRDI-
| end and aim of education" in so far az
It depends upon conscious exertions. !"
says another. education is that process
by which the human being is able to
transcend his original nature and be the
most desirable thing that he can be-"
Make Use Of Information
"Modernt pedagogics more and more
strive not to make the pupil Informed. but
to enable him to make good use or the in
formation which he acquires. Such senti-
ments are an exposition of the Christian
idea of education-to coordinate ana de-
Avelop the functions Of mind and body.