The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-06-23
SPOKE TO SENIORS
DIR. E. A. Bishop Delivered
Baccalaureate Sermon to
Seminary Students
SELF RELIANCE ADVISED


Church TO Hear Final Address by
Principal of Montpelier Seminry-
Petition For Loyalty - Special
Music.
Under as fair skies as could be
desired the graduating class OF Mont
pelier Seminary accompanied by the
juniors Of that institution marched to
prinity church Sunday morning
where the annual sermon was deliv-
cred by Rev. DR.. e. A. Bishop, prln-
cjpal of the school before a large
congregation that numbered many
townspeople and practically all OF the
faculty and student body of the Sem
mary. Ferns, daisies and carnations
beautifed the altar and pulpit while
the pews reserved or the seniors
and juniors were designated by rib
bons of the class colors. Just over
the pulpit was placed the class-moI-
TO- "Recta Primum Distingue rum
Preseuuere" Mark Morse and Waiter
Gould acted in the capacity of mar
shals and a chorus from the Semin-
airy conducted by Miss Coralie East
wood. instructor in vocal music, rend-
cred several anthems during the SER
vice, Miss Greta Norton, Miss East
wood and Arthur Barnard assuming
the solo work, the quartet which
sang in conjunction with the chorus
consisting of Misses Eastwood and
Jessie Gates, Messrs Howard Smith
ers and B. w. Griffith.
DR.. Bishops Sermon.
Rev. V. F.. Hendee offered prayer
and DR.. Bishop delivered the COM
mencement sermon taking his text
from Acts 26:16
Rise and stand upon thy feet; for
1 have appeared unto thee for this
purpose to make thee minister and
a witness both of these things which
thou hast seen and of those things
in thee which l will appear unto
thee" Dr.. Bishop said in part:
Paul was sent on a mission &c
Damascus on the authority of thu
high priest to kill, imprison and per-
secute those who loved the crucifieC
Nazarene Suddenly, light from
above shone down and blinded hin
and he fell upon the ground and {
voice from Heaven saying,
saul, Saul, why persecutest thor
me? No more startling announcement
had ever fallen upon human ears
the clear call of God to erring man
The results were as marvellous as the
call. Saul answered, saying, Lord
what wouldst Thou have me do?'
Somewhere along the path of life
God calls upon all men 1t may have
heen in the quiet Of the night wheI
we could hear our own heart throb'
or it may have been under the spell
of some earnest appeal to holy con
secretion in right living or it ma!
have been in time of danger or .
sin. Somewhere, some time, God ha
appeared to all of us. Happy is h.
whose vision is clear, whose call i
as sure as that Of Saul. Thrice hap
by if he is ready with Saul's reply
Lord, what wouldst Thou?
wendell Phillips once prayed t.
God, 4 belong to Thee Take Tho
that which is Thine own That wa
the turning point in the life of tn
man we know as Wendell Phillips to
day. Never did his courage deser
him or his faith forsake him =
seems peculiarly fitting on this da
that we should ask of God, Saul
question. Jesus told Saul to rise an
stand on his feet The apostle Of pei
secution of the Christians was
rise at divine command. Today Go
asks men to bow down to him but nc
to show their loyalty and devotion b
forever remaining PROSTATE at hi
feet sitting with hands outstretche
to Heaven. Stand on your feet, fac
your Maker, approach your God.
seems to me that the call today is fo
Christian men and women to fac
their God with the consciousness {
the strength He gives. We used
sing line to the effect that we migl
be nothing, only lying at his feet
The world has no place today fc
people who have an ambition to |
nothing. 1t cannot be that God love
people of that class.
The Divine Plan
"God has other plans for Paul.
we mistake not God doesn't want me
to remain on their faces by the roat
side. There is need of pentience ar
prayer but there should rise out
these things manly and woman
Christian living and uprightness
character.
"Why did God appear to Pau
There are many reasons. Possibly
was to stay the hand of the bittere
prosecutor of His people, possibly b
cause of an interest in winning ov
this enemy to the faith to Christia
ity but the best reason of all is giv'