Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1910-06-09
THE sAccALAuaEATE.
Rev. Fraser Metzaer Addresses r. n
S. Graduating Class.

was held Sunday evening in Chandler
Music hall, in which a much smaller con.
gregation assembled than would have
been present had not a hard rain kept
many at home. Still 266 were seated on
the door OF the hall.
The ushers were six members OF the
junior class Gilman Gay, Tracy Peyeke,
Paul johnson, Misses Aurelia Danyow,
Mary Oney and Cora Osgood, who wore
ehevrons OF the 1910 colors, black and
gold. Flowers bordered the stage, to
which churehly furnishings lent the APP
pearance OF a pulpit platform.
The pianist of the evening, Miss Edith
Marcott, played a beautiful "Scottish
Legendn by Mrs. Beach for a voluntary
and followed it with a march by Laehner,
/ to which the graduates entered the hall
/ and took the places reserved for them in
front of the stage.
4 The ladies' euartet-Misses Blanche
I Sparhawk, AIettha Bailey, Lucille Grant
and Minnis Barbour-blended their
I voices most tremendously In the anthem,
"Shepherd OF Israel, " after which por-
I ton OF the 18th Psalm was read for a
Scripture lesson by Rev. Homer White.
ssHark. Hark, My Soul, an exquisite
duet by Misses Sparhawk and Barbour,
preceded very eloquent sermon by Rev.
Fraser Metzger, who took his text from
John 10:10-"I am come that they
might have life and that they might have
it more abundsntly." Mr.. Metzger said
ia part.
A good woman of our town asked me
at the advent OF one of our little boys
into our home as to our preference be-
tween boy and a million dollars and
seemed amazed to hear that we preferred
/ the boy. Laying aside all sentiment
what is it that makes that the estimate Of
the child. One sees in that little bit OF
humanity, created in the image OF God,
not alone the possibility OF making that
million dollars, but of fulfilling the larg-
er work of a human being, which is
/ briefly stated in the common phrase
making this better world.
What sordid estimate that is OF a hui
man being which puts him on level
with the common things of exchange.
That is Indeed a minified manhood which
does not recognize that the life is more
than meat. What paltry conception Of
life that youth has who feels that his mis-
sion is to make a fortune. The very
greatness of his nature prohibits heal
thy, active interest in that sort OF a
thing. Ii is morbid life and for neces-
sary relief he eventually finds his way to
his real sphere Of being saviour among
men and we call him philanthropist, or
he sinks into the recreations OF vice that
distract him from the grind of selfishness
and we call him an outcast.
II we attempt to get at the real value Of
a human life, there is one word we must
use aud that word is spiritual. Look TO
our own history in proof. The spiritual
conflicts OF England, Scotland, Holland,
Germany, Sweden and France gave us
Carver, Bradford, Winthrop, Hooker,
Cotton, Davenport, Roger Williams and
these in turn BY their mighty champion
ship of the truth as they saw it gave US
the might to gain our freedom, both poll
tical and religious. Back OF the Puritan
were the independent divines Of England
Carlyle says we must go back to Luther to
find the moral forces which made Ameri-
ca possible. The Christian Scriptures
constituted the basis OF the Declaration of
independence. And since our nationality
has had this heavenly birth 1t is right
that the American youth be reminded OF
it, and more that they be taught the les
sons of spiritual values.
In agreement with this, want first to
say that every man must have real in
terest in something vital to the worlds
welfare. The world moves only under
the impulse Of that heart interest. We
call this by many names, loyalty, patriot
ism. cons ecratiou, devotion, and In palmer
terms it is putting ones self to his task.
Because of the institutional environ
ment of the youth OF our day they gain
the notion that things 60 Of themselves.
A man sometimes comes to feel that be is
a sort OF cog in the wheel of social ma
chinery and it goes because OF some great
momentum given to ii somehow, some
where, sometime. instead of realizing
that be, by virtue OF the soul that is in
him, constitutes the impelling force OF all
social life. Our schools, our. churches,
our government are all impotent of them
selves. They need the soul OF a man
working through them.
You have seen these little models OF To-
under glass cases. II you drop
a coin in them they will 60. There are
some people who will be set running II
suggestive thought is dropped into them,
and they will hum and spin until the five
cents worth is used up and then stop. As
DIR. stryker put it in q recent sermon,
They have emotion but NOT motion. +
They are toys. 1t is progress that differ
entiates hobby from horse. The man
who is wanted is not be who merely I
Frances with the bat but he who can
make a three base hit in the eighth in
ming"
Not long ago railroad issued an order
that all clerks over forty-tive years of age
should he dismissed from the service. K
The reason assigned was that II q man
bad not risen above clerkship at the age
Of forty five, be had not the earnest, en-
thusiastic ambition that the company
wanted to see in its men.
This means that there is plenty of room
for the man OF right spirit to work. In a
certain battle, have heard, that the COM
mander of battalion came up late and
hastily going to the general said, 'Where
shalt go with my men?3 The general
replied, 'sOh, go anyw here you like, there
is plenty Of good fighting all along the
Iine.n The largest question is not what
calling a man shall pursue, or in " hat