Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1911-06-20
Strong sermon
FOR GRADUATES
Rev. Robert E. Smith breaches
To Seniors of Mckinley
High School.

VII ohuNdN tNtulHS NtN. II. Il.
Smith of the First NJ. 4. Church
preached the first Baccaulaureate
Sermon 10 be given to the GRADUATE
Ing Glass of Mckinley High School.
This is somewhat of an innovation
in the graduating exercises of the
High School and the service waq
largely attended by pupils of the diff.
ferent schools of the city.
The school colors, white and green,
formed the motif OF floral decorations:
and special music by the choir made
a most interesting service.
Pastor Smiths address was one
very fitting for the occasion. In paIt
he said
Greek, Latin and Hebrew Luke
23, 3S."
1t was customary for the Romans
when any extraordinary execution
took place, to put over the head of the
malefactor an Inscription denoting the
crime fol- which he suffered. Several
noted examples of this occur in Rom
an history. In conformity to this us
age an inscription by Pilates order
was fixed above the head of Jesus
This inscription was written in three
different languages: Greek, Latin and
Hebrew, and represented the three
great cosmopolitan nationalities of the
time. Greek was the current lang
uage, Latin the official language, and
Hebrew the language of the country.
These were the chief languages of
that age and the use of all three made
1t possible for all the spectators 10
read the inscription.
Now, these three ancient nationnli-
ties suggest three great ideals to
which ! invite your attention in the
address of this hour.
! am very sure that If every young
man and young woman before me this
hour will fashion their lives after the
three great ideals suggested by the
text. they will achieve success as God
counts success; they will MI the
places in Gods temple they were
meant to ill.
|. The first nationality suggeste I
In the text Is the Greek. What ideal
does the ancient Greek suggest? II Is
not difficult to answer this question.
The ancient Greek clearly suggests
the Ideal of culture. Culture Is a gem
eric term. 1t includes education, re-
finement, ethical, mental and aesthetic
development. The ancient Greek in
cluded all this. In art, taste and elc-
giant culture he. was unequaled In his
time and unsurpassed in all time.
have known some young men and
some young women TO vainly imagine
that their culture was practically COM
pleted when they graduated from the
High School, the academy and the col
lege. This Is very faulty conception
and leads to disastrous results. The
schools of learning simply lay the
great foundation Of culture. No High
School, no Academy, no College. no
University can complete culture. They
are simply convenient and helpful
highways over which we pass In pur-
suit of culture. Culture Is not mere
child's play; II is not simply the COM
pletion of certain prescribed studies.
II Is not indicated by the receiving and
framing a diploma. II would be bet
ter 10 irke the diploma from the High
School. the Academy and the College
and throw them in the fire than To
Imagine that self culture was corn
plete Culture Is a lifelong task and
involves close attention. study. perse-
verence. character. toll sacrifice.
Include in your life culture personal
refinement. | mean by this dellcacy.
gentloness, courtesy, and grace In
thought. feeling and action. No man
Is cultured who lacks refinement,
There may be some excuse for some OF
a mans mistakes. failures and short
comings, but there ls no excuse what
ever for man not being a gentleman
under all circumstances. A man may
have n good education and yet sadly
lack culture. Such men were Bentley
and Porsan-men of giant intellects
and fine scholarship but rude In man,
ner coarse In speech. brutal In contro-
versy What contrast there Is when
We compare such men with men like
Thomas Arnold, a thorough scholar.
but man also with a genial spirit and
refined manners. Men like Bentley
ana Person are soon forgotten by hui
manity. but men like Thomas Arnold
live In other lives long after their
bodies have crumbled into dust.
Include in your life culture the read
ing and study Of great hooks. Let me
emphasize the words great books. Few
books are really great The vast ma
jority of books die before the printers
ink Is scarcely dry. Many more 'only
live few years. Some, however, live
on generation after generation, bless
ing and inspiring humanity every.
where.
2. The second nationality suggest
ed in the text is the Latin. What ideal
does the ancient Roman suggest