The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1912-05-30

life have multiplied, the world has
become one great country through
the means of travel, and the tele-
graph has belted the globe. Surely
you, my young friends, have much
wider scope Of opportunity than
those Of the first century to whom
these words were first spoken. Yet,
because Of this enlarged external
world, there is need that we heed
his injunction to hold fast that
which we have, lest no man take our
crown. s'For life CONSISTENT not in
the abundance of the things that
man possesseth.' $50.
The large expenditure of means to
send you forth with enlarged powers,
multiplied knowledge and trained
minds is not that you may selfshly
keep these gifts to yourself, but that
you may express the spirit of the
Christ, who thought not the infinite
resources of the God life treasure
to be selfishly grasped and Rugged to
his own bosom, but emptied the
richness of his soul life into the
human life of our sad old world and
brought to it joy, health and hope.
His highest privilege and JOY was to
serve and sacrifice for US all. There
are increasing demands upon the
high service of morality and religion
to keep us from being owned by our
possessions instead of being their
master. We need today the old
puritan sense of God and the unseen
realities of their sense of RESPONSE
bility and accountability.
Your class motto is GAS the labor
so the reward.' What, then, are
the rewards of a life dominated by
and ever mindful of the great spirit
of the Christ services and sacrifices?
II you choose this task and lend your
powers of body, mind and heart to it
you shall be the support of the great
temple of humanity which God is
building. This temple rests not on
pillars Of stone or bronze but only on
human lives moved by these divine
motives. Not only this, but you
shall manifest in your lives the
spirit of the God of service and
sacrifice, and of the new city that shall
come out of heaven as the heavenly
graces of love, purity and goodness
shall dominate the great social life
Of mankind, and war, hatred and
greed shall pass away. Not only SO,
but this new redeemed humanity
shall receive the revelation of a
larger and diviner God than we now
can conceive of. Such is your re-
ward. You shall so be possessed Of
this new and divine spirit that he
who runs can read it written across
the fair pages of your lives. You
have not been without concrete
examples of these divine fruits of
the spirit of service and sacrifice.
I remembered, as I was asked to
speak to you, that just one year ago
tonight Father Levings stood before
us and eloquently pictured your
young lives as fair ships putting out
to sea; all was full Of promise and
great expectation, and he faithfully
pictured to you the dangers of the
shoals and reefs upon which many
fair ships had been wrecked. My
dear young friends, take as your
pilot the great Christ, and he will
lead you into life of usefulness
and, when it's storms are past, safe
harbor will be yours. Lead a life in
the spirit of Father Levings, who
gave all the richness of his per-
sonality in service and sacrifice for
us all, and you, too, shall win that
which is more than riches and power
the gratitude and devoted love of
those you have blessed.
This open door demands great
labor, but great indeed is the re-
ward. But do not hold this fair
creed I have outlined only as
creed; ideals will save us or become
real to us only as we faithfully strive
to translate them into the common
tasks of the common day.
AS l look into your intelligent and
earnest faces I am sure that we will
not be disappointed, but that you
will have large share in the tasks
and rewards of of the higher life.
I'VE know the paths wherein our feet should
press. "a"
Across our hearts are written thy DEGREES
Yet now, o Lord, be merciful to bless
With more than these. s
Grant us the will to fashion as we feel,
Grant US the strength to labor as we know,
Grant us the purpose, ribbed and edged with
steel,
To strike the blow
knowledge we ask not-knowledge thou hast
lent - D =.
But. Lord, the will-there lies our bitter need,