The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-06-13
The Baccalaureate Sermon at the
Bethany Baptist Church.
Continued from Page One.)

thC winning lOt Ill Vi the HBuTb, AT
last the day and the hour came
when the imprisoned figure came forth
in radiant whiteness! But 1t was
not an angel. 1t was the figure of a
young man. 1t was the figure of a
young fellow eager to serve his coun-
try and his God, whose voice he had
heard. 1t was the young man of our
text-David with his sling ready to
meet Goliath.
All that occurred a long time ago
three hundred years ago. 1t is said
the statue stands in an Italian Ar
Gallery. | hope that you may see
1t some time and when you do think
of this beautiful June evening of 1912.
Our blessed God, the Christ looks
upon us, as did Michael Angelo upon
the dirty blackened marble. He sees
our faults, our mistakes, our future,
our sins. But he too sees more. He
sees what he can make of us If we
will only let him. If he finds that
we are willing. and sees in us
something worth while, he will put
his sharp tool, upon us. 1t will hurt.
But to be our best, we must be re-
leased from our prison of selfishness,
pose. But as we submit He will IL
Illuminate our souls with new thoughts
He will slowly fill our hearts with
satisfaction. with Joy, with a peace
with an uplifting purpose, and at last,
little by little, He will bring US not
an angel-but something very beau
tiful in His sight, boy, girl, man
or a woman, strong, pure, purposeful
of inspiring helpfulness and radiant
In white.
The scene with which our text is
connected is full of stirring, vigorous
life. Hold in your mind two hills,
between them a valley. An army
is encamped on each hill. The Phil
istines were on one hill and the
lsraelites on the other. For forty
mornings mighty giant, some ten
feet in structure, came out of the
camp of the Philistines and defed the
the army of Israel, challenging them
to send man to fight with him. You
will recall that young shepherd lad
came into the camp of Israel He
learned of the situation. He quickly
offers to accept the challenge of Co
Hath.
The time had come when something
must be done by somebody. Inaction
does not improve the situation. Who
is ready to meet il? The future of
a nation hangs in a balance. Goliath
maybe a symbol of life's difficulties,
also of life's opportunities as you
twenty-five young people go out to
your life's work. The opportunity
seems difficult. The task seems to be
lit,
impossible of accomplishment. But
the situation is this either take up the
task or fail. Either grasp the oppor-
tunity and master it or fall. Dayids
life, David's training, David's prepara
ton, David's condition found him
equipped for this unexpected surpris-
ing and difficult situation in life.
AS David walked down the hill he
left his countrymen in fear. AS he
crossed the brook at the bottom of the
valley he picked up five smooth stones.
In the midst of these spectacular sur
roundings, armies crossing the hill
tops, in their amazement watch this
youth. Undaunted he quickly walks
along. Quickly he puts his hand in
his bag hanging at his side. He puts
it in his sling and slang it. He was
young, the youngest of eight boys. By
the request of his father, Jesse, he
comes to this military camp bearing
some remembrance to his brother at
the front. David little knew that
the opportunity up to this hour of his
life was just before him. 1t came
and David made good. My young
friends yours may come within the
limits of this summer 1t is sure TO
come Unexpectedly and it may come
very soon. If you are ready for it
you can meet it successfully. But
you cannot get ready for it after 1t
comes. David could not learn to use
the sling after he came to the Camp
of Israel. He had learned that
months before. Our town has eX-
pended a good many thousands of dol
lars upon you twenty-five young peo-
pie that you may be the better pre-
pared for life.
a certain young woman, who had
been given chance to make good in
a very big position, lost this chance
recently. There are some things con-
nected with this incident worthy Of
your consideration The challenge
Was llldut W lllt yOulS NOAhhA t'iAh
she accepted. But the Goliath was
to much for her. Her employers
were quite as disappointed as she Was.
They say she did not know how to
take criticism. Whenever her en-
ployers criticised her work she always
rushed to her own defence. She never
failed to fight back. In place of be
ing forgiying to them for giving
time and effort to make her a success
full business woman, she was angry
resentful at every critical suggestion.
She always tried to justify herself 1t
is always a serious mistake to try to
Justify ourselves when we know
criticism is undeniably just. Many
however are of the temperament of
this young woman. Some one has sug-
gested that it Is a fine art, to be able
to weigh a criticism of ones self
calmly and dispassionately.
Mistakes make the greatest founda-
ton in the world for success but they
should never be used for anything ex-
cept the foundations If we incorpor-
ate them in the building we build
failure, we build a failure which will
come tumbling down upon us. The
way you accept criticism is a proof