The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-06-21

II dJucI D. w. DdlIdJ y. W IL, u6llN-
cred forcible and eloquent bacca-
laureate sermon, Sunday evening,
June IL, in st. Mary Magdalena's r.
G. church, before the members of the
graduating class of the Honesdale
High school, A large congregation
were assembled to hear the dis
course, which was of an intensely
practical character, and was based
on the first verse of the 126th
Psalm, viz: "Unless the Lord build
the house they labor in vain that
build it; unless the Lord keep the
city, he watcheth in vain that keep
eth it." Father Balta spoke in part
as follows:
my Dear Young Friends: l am
we'll aware that you expect some ad-
vice to be strewn on the footpath of
your future life. But you have re-
paired here this evening because you
all believe in a Supreme Being, and
know that you will not dare entrust
yourselves to the billows of misfor-
tune before coming to an altar of
God to ask him especially to give you
that enlightenment that in future
your life may correspond to the pre-
paration which you have made under
able instructors
DR.. Balta announced that he would
take for his subject Religion and
Religious Education" "By relig-
ion," he said, 81 understand that
bond that unites man to his Creator,
and that homage and respect that is
due to a Supreme Being. 1t assures
us of a supreme, inflexible law before
which every human will must bend.
1t assures us of duties which we as
sumo. 1t assures us of future sphere
of life, with rewards and penalties.
Religion is to society what ce-
ment is to building. 1t makes it
cohere. Rob a man of his religious
convictions, rob man of his moral
principles, and you have quenched
his soul.
Society is composed of various in
dividual members with different re-
lations to each other. What do we
as members of society expect of our
rulers and magistrates? And what
do our rulers and magistrates ex-
pect of us? We expect that they
shall hand out justice with an even
hand, and be loyal to our constitu-
tion. They expect that we shall be
conscientious in the payment of i'm
posts and taxes. They demand that
we shall be faithful in our oaths and
promises, faithful in all our con-
tracts and obligations, and that we
shall be good to one another.
"The final destiny of Education is
that we should give to God what be-
longs to God, and to Caesar what be-
longs to Caesar.
"Where shall we find these mo-
tives and incentives strong enough to
enforce these duties?
There are passions to be over
come. The motives must be univer-
sal. The motives must be eternal,
because they must be valid every
time. Where apart from Religion
shall we find a motive that shall
rule Alright?
Would any one of you vote for a
Presidential candidate of avowed
atheism? Assuredly not A man
who would disown a Supreme Being
would be tossed to and fro by public
opinion.
'"The old proverb that the man
shall not seek the office, but the Of
flee shall seek the man may be ele-
waiting but is fit nowadays to be put
in national museum of antiquities
The most successful office-holder Is
the most successful office-seeker.
"Is it true that as education and
training of the mind advances crime
tecedes? No. AS education ad'
vances so also moral depravity in
creases. Take to your hands any
of the large newspapers published IL
the large or small cities, and you
will find every page covered will
startling descriptions of well-lalc
plans for burglary, murders, and es
pecially of number OF so-called actS
of lustful refinement. These deeds
we're committed by men OF exception
ally good education and refinement
"There we have a proof that oul
education must perhaps be fallure
Is it not true that there are men o.
the greatest intelligence who nave
become the greatest thieves? The!
care no longer for social morality
Their knowledge of intrigue and law
is so strong that they say 1 VIII NJ
myself in the state, and do my heart
desire Men great in knowledge anC
exceptional mental ability ina
should become examples retrograd
and give proof that mental tram
ing is a failure.
'If all these motives are insuffi
cient, then where snail we nnu ina
motive, that power that shall max
men do right?
zone little word. 1t has beel
abused by the man behind his desl
in the college room. That word
Religion, is the only power that cal
curb passions, that can keep societ
right, that can make men obey tn
state. Because God made me
member of society, l know l mus
obey it, because God wants it.
Convince me that God is a pro
vident God, who looks into my
heart; convince me that this Co
is the avenger of right and wrong
yes, then, you have placed powe
in my mind before which l vii
cringe and obey, and to which vii
say 4 must obey
"Politeness without religion /
cold and barren and soon degeneI
ates into mannerisms.
LET us not forget that Religio