The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-06-21
Bacc calaureats Address.

Rev. A. J. Holland rector OF
Christ's Episcopal church, preached
the baccalaureate sermon, Sunday
evening, to the graduating class IL
1912. The services were. held in the
Baptist church, the large auditorium.
gallery and Sunday school room be-
ing filed. Revs. A. j. Holland, G. G.
Staffeld, j. S. Steininger, j. e. SOM
ers, e. r. Stevenson and J. G. York
were present and participated in the
exercises as previously announced,
The special music by the large choir
added not little to tae impressive
ness of the services.
Rev. A. j. Holland preached a
strong sermon, replete with sound
advise to the members of the class,
The text was portion of l Timothy
WE, "Let no man despise thy
youth" He spoke in part as follows.
The maxim, "Think first and act
afterwards" is not verified In the
broader activities of human history.
There action precedes thought
The common estimate Of these ac-
tions, events and individual agents
in the light of their social and religi-
GUS significance, constitutes public
opinion. Now public opinion, espec~
tally in free country like ours, Is
very powerful and more and more ex-
acting. Because it has grown out OF
struggle and sacrifice it is deeply
moral in tone. Therefore while one
may not respect individual opinion or
at all times even his own conscience,
he must perforce stand in awe and
wholesome fear of it's public consci-
ence.
When you graduate from it's public
school, public opinion becomes your
sohoolmaster. The public demands
which will be made upon you will be
commensurate with your preparation
and your ability. From the halls OF
public opinion you will never gradu-
ate. Higher and higher standards
you will be called to face. During
your life time great tasks will call
you. For these no preparation nor
ready-made ability will be adequate.
If you calculate too nicely your own
capacity, you will turn deaf ear to
the call of these high tasks. But II
you will remember that God has de-
creed that each great unselfish work
shall furnish half the power neces-
sary to it's execution, then with heart
aflame with faith and resolution you
will go forth bravely to it's accom-
plishment. This is the secret of the
great things men have done for God
and righteousness. If you fail here
public opinion may not look down
upon you but men of faith and high
ideals will pity you.
But on the other hand do not tune
your life to unbroken success. You
may have high purposes and good
canse but yet you can not travel
straight to victory without defeat.
History and fiction are full of ex-
amples of men who made gods Of
Success and Pleasure and thereby
wrecked their life work and their
lives. Therefore, cultivate quiet de-
termination in the face of danger and
opposition. This is the teaching from
the kingdom and patience of Jesus
Christ.
In conclusion. The youths of to-
day are the children of love and long
public sacrifice, inheritors are they of
liberty and high ideals. Around
them gather the great powers of
thought and institution but greatest
of all, the power of great personal
ties. These great examples at once
teach and inspire. They make the
hearts of the young strong and the
hearts of old young.
Amongst the greatest characters
the One that Is most winning and in
spring is Jesus Christ. II He con-
fesses you before God, no man can
despiso you. ,.
$50 near is glory to our dust,
So nigh is God to man,
When duty whispers low,-Thou
must
The youth replies-T can.'--"
II II a..