The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-05-23
THE BACCALAUREATE SERMON

The baccalaureate sermon preached
yesterday morning at the NJ E. church |
by Rev. w. III. Coleman drew a full
house. The annex was comfortably
crowded. The building presented a
lovely picture, filed as it was with the
representative people Of the city and !
heightened by the variety Of color and |
style Of the hats Of the ladies': the rib |
bons, flowers and plumes. nodding so
pleasantly as the motion of their heads |
reflected the variety and styles Of head
gear.
The music was indeed a delightful
feature OF the service and the express |
sion in the faces of all told of the deep
impression it produced on all minds as
the deep tones Of the organ and sweet
voices Of the singers gave harmonious
expression to the songs they sung.
The choir composed of the fol-
lowing we'll known singers: Mesdames
Johnson, Lapham. Mote and Gerig,
soprano; Mesdames Martin, Blake and
Coin, alto; Messrs. Gerig and Cullen,
tenor; Messrs Woodrow, Gerig and
Martin, bass. Mrs. d. f. McIver pre-
sided at the organ and played beauti-
fully, every touch Of the keys denot-
ing the skill Of the performer.
Miss Mary Connor on the violin rem
dered a violin solo, accompanied by
Mrs. McIver at the organ. 1t was in
deed pure and refreshing selection.
The audience was dismissed by singing
america" Rev. Gabby of the Baptist
church, read the morning lesson, while
Rev. J. w. Brigham outlined the hymns.
The altar railing was prettily dec
Grated with magnolia leaves and bios
SONS, while bouquets of rich, rare
flowers adorned the communion table
and the windows.
The sermon was a most appropriate
one a lesson from the life of Daniel,
conceived in deep thought clothed in
expressive language and delivered with
an earnestness that showed the deep
appreciation the speaker had for the
material and spiritual welfare of the
young graduates. At the close of the
service Rev. Coleman received many
warm and hearty congratulations on
his masterful effort.
1t was a morning of deep religious
and educational interest, showing the
hold the school interests Of the town
had on it's patrons and friends and the
high esteem in which said interest was
held. The following is simple out
line Of the sermon, from which all who
heard it can review it's salient points
and those who were not present can
read and ponder it's words of golden
meaning.
Rev. Coleman read the LIST, 9Th, 9th
and 18th verses of Daniel and took his
text from the 1st to 9Th. He spoke Of
Daniels piety, learning and statesman
ship and the key to his success, which
was magnificent one, was a purpose
He then congratulated the class fac
ulty, trustees and citizens on the splen-
did character of the school and the
good work 1t was doing for our child
rem. 1t stood the equal of the best He
pitied those who in the years of the
high school course dropped out and de-
MED themselves the great and glorious
privileges of those who fought the
flight and came out with their di-
plomas, an evidence of their applica-
ton and requirement.
He then referred to the times in
which he lived, what the sixty CEN
turtles in the worlds history has given
to us Of today in all the improvements
that have come to make life worth liv-
ing in material comforts. How space
was annihilated and man became the
lord Of the material world and in il
lustration of this apparent and tangi-
BILE fact said that a person of today
lived more and in a greater sense in
thirty five years than did Methuselah
in his $50.
He appealed to the class to have a
purpose, no matter what their inten-
tion and purposes and to be Jealous
and steadfast in their attainment, for
by this would come perfection and
success. He told a pleasing and sug-
gestive story of a German boy. That
parents would do well to ascertain the
inclination and adaptabilty of their
children, their bent of mind and to
urge them to follow that bent with a
noble purpose. The German couple had
a boy. To test his inclinations they
put on the family table a dollar, a
Bible and a bottle of whisky. If he
chose the dollar he would become a
great merchant; if the Bible, a great
minister; if the bottle, great loafer
and no good. Judge of the good peo-
pies surprise when the boy entered the
roof, sized up the lay out and scooped
them all in, and the old man exclaimed
to his Katharine, "One big politician -
He told what was a worthy purpose
and how said purpose carried out
would pay, namely: three principles
Effect on self, is it right; is it needed
These principles referred to statesman
ship, learning and piety. The great
est of the three was unadorned pety
He spoke of our experimental govern
ment; barely 100 years of existence
how the best blood of the nations OF
the earth came here and founded a
home. How as years rolled on. mill
ions have been added to our population
and not all Of the desirable class most
ly mongrel and in numbers to equal
the population of Florida annually
How could this crude and unenlight
ened mass and of opposing ideas OF
government be assimilated and become
an integral part of our democracy. This
was a question of serious import ant
one that required the wisdom anC
statecraft of the nation to arrange
Hence this important period in the life
Of our nation and the responsibility o.
you as citizens to assist in solving it.
At this time came the question o
governmental expansion, balance O
power, and to do work the man
hood, patriotism, citizenship and con
science of the people that it woult
eradicate graft, that the conscienceles:
and dishonest politician Is applying t
our material affairs. In presenting Thu
dark cloud Of pess1mism, he did not de
sire to so impress his hearers, as h
was an optimist and always loved t
look on the bright side of every darl
proposition and see the silver lining