The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1911-06-08
SERMON TO GRADUATES
GUIDES THEIR FUTURE
DIR. THOMAS GIVES STRONG AID
DIti1sS IN BACCAIAUREATE
SRRMON no THE GRADUATES
OF UNIVERSITY.
Sunday morning began the annual

ouuudy morning began the annual
] commencement exercises of Dakota
Wesleyan University and which fin
ish Thursday morning with the con-
ferring of the diplomas and degrees
to the young men and women who
have finished the course in the col
lege, normal. business and musical
departments. of which there are six
ty-fve.
The b~accalaureate sermon was de.
livered at the Methodist church Sun
day morning. The members of the
senior class donned their caps and
gowns, with the other graduates
marched from the university to the
church. where seats were provided
for them in front.
DR.. Samuel Weir, vice president
of the college, presided over the
morning exercises. The prayer was
made by District Superintendent
Shepherd, while DR.. Hoagland read
the scriptures, Prof. Hobson and
the choir presented a fine program of
music, and it added much to the i'm
povtance of the occasion.
President Kerfoot introduced DR..
William Thompson to the audience,
and referred to his attainments in a
highly complimentary manner. DR..
Thompson is a member of the facul-
ty of Drew Theological Seminary. of
Madison, N. j.
DR.. Thompson's sermon was of a
practical nature as it related to the
members of the graduating class, and
his words were directed in an effect
i've way. While the speaker was adj
dressing the graduates his words
and thoughts were equally applicable
to the members of the congregation.
His thoughts were directed along the
line of what ought not to be done
and what ought to be done, and the
idea was emphasized to show what
one ought to do with your best
self" The was directed to
the idea of one not assuming a prom
inence above their fellow man, and
to not display superiority over them.
BY way of comparison he gave the
life of Christ as an example of this
attitude in ones life in not making
that display of prominence. He said
that in the lives of the people of to-
day they aspired to be in the first
place-frst in business, to become
mayor, to go to congress, to the
presidency of the United States, and
in that attitude they wanted to be
looked up to. 1t was the same way
in the ancient period, when ones
prominence took on She form of
%obesance and in the application of a
high sounding term.
Referring to the instinct in a
mans nature, DIR. Thompson said
that it was brought about through
the universally and st%eadfastness of
an ancient custom or idea, but that
it does not mean progress. Reason,
he argued, should have the higher
place in ones mentality, and by
which we should be governed who'll
ly. He held hat when a man is
governed by instinct you can never
tell how he is going to act, and de-
clared that it was the business of the
church and the university to teach
men to act with reason and not by
instinct.
In the idea of prominence over
ones neighbor, DR.. Thompson said
that it should not be so that a COM
petition comes up between you, but
that the competition should be who'll
ly with yourself-to make the best
of yourself. This rival of yourself
should be a better and stronger in
centive than to attempt to go high
er than some one else.
In his closing DR.. Thompson spoke
to the graduates. who stood in their
places while the speaker directed
himself to them personally. His
talk to the graduates was in the ia
ture of a summing up Of the sermon,
and he declared to them that the
best asset they or the Anglo-Ameri-
can could have was Christianity. He
wanted them, in whatever commun-
ity they lived, to be a part of it
not to keep aloof from the world in
which they are to live, and above all,
Ito live to make the very best of
yourself"
The University Sermon.
Sunday ewing, Notwithstanding
the heat, there was a good. audience
present to listen to the annual Uni
yersity Sermon, which on this oc-
casion was delivered by Rev. John
w. Taylor, o. D., of Aberdeen. The
services were conducted by DR..
Kerfoot and the prayer was deliver
ed by Rev. G.. T. Notson. The choir
furnished some special music.
Rev. Taylor selected his text from
st. Mark 4:2S: For the earth
bringth forth fruit of herself; first
the blade, then the ear after that the