The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-06-17
Baccalaureate Sermon.

The baccalaureate sermon to the
class of 1910 of the high school was
delivered by Rev. Carlos a.. Hanks at
the Congregational church Sunday
evening, large number of persons
being in attendance. superintendent
of Schools, w. E. Hanson presided and
Revs. Keene, jennings and Holland
had parts on the program, the music
being by the church choir.
The synopsis Of Rev. Hanks address
follows:
"Gateways for Life's Forces" was
the subject of an able and helpfdl
sermon by Rev. Mr. Hanks. He
spoke in part as follows:
Human nature is a mavelous COM
bination of dynamic forces. Here
are thrown together energies, i'm
pulses and powers of the greatest
variety. Here are passions of prim-
tive days; the appetites and in
stincts of the ANIMAL the accumula-
tions of an age-long evolution-inher-
tied tendencies, desires, hopes and
mbitions-powers capable of plung-
ing man into ruin, powers capable of
lifting him to the gates of Paradise.
The tendency of these forces is to
get out The instinct of life is to eX-
press itself. Every faculty is striv-
ing to leap into action, crying for
liberty. Therefore the great problem
of life is to find legitimate gateways,
channels through which the energies
of life may flow forth. The differ
ence between the bad man and the
good man is really a difference of
guidance and direction. The bad
man lets his impulses run riot while
the good man expresses his through
proper and useful channels. Three
splendid gateways open before us,
namely, play, work and worship. 1t
is forever true that God has made
everything beautiful in it's time.
There is time for play. There is
always the instinct of play within
the child and we are to carry the
child-spirit over into our manhood
and womanhood. Play is meant to
furnish us with fuller supply of
fitness for life's serious tasks.
There is nothing new or peculiar
about work. 1t is as old as the
world. To work is to give conference
and value and purpose to the powers
and material which man finds about
him. Work is the putting forth OF
human energy in order that the
world energy may find voice.
blessed is the man." says John Bur-
roughs, "who has some occupation
in which he can put his heart and
which affords a complete outlet to all
the forces there are in him."
Every man feels a thrill of awe as
he stands before the majesty and
mystery of the world. Every man
confesses to a power greater, grand
er than himself, that holds and
guides the destiny of men and
things. Every man is stirred again
and again by emotions too deep for
speech. What are these but the ele-
ments of religion? What are these
but the half understood impulses of
worship? And what every human
life needs is some channel by which
these sentiments shall flow out into
visible form.
We can worship on the hilltops,
beside the brooks, at the fireside or
under the blue dome of the sky.
Nevertheless / believe that the
church stands and always will, az
the noblest outlet for the sentiment
of worship.
Through these and other gateways
we are to bring to God complete
lives. Let us not be fragmentary
men and women but rather let us
make life what it was designed to be
complete thing in perfect harmony
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