The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-05-30
AT THE METHODIST CHURCH
Sermon Delivered BY
DR.. Dodge-Large Congregation
Attractive Music

IT. DOO9C-GdtS V SOHSt C9oes~h
Attractive Music
Once again has come and gone the
season of the sweet girl graduate. and
the manly boy graduate from the
Ocala High School. and the baccalau-
reate sermon preached at the Metho-
dist church Sunday morning by DR..
w. II. Dodge of the Presbyterian
church was a very important part of
the commencement exercises.
The church was tasteiully decorat-
ed, and the attendance at the service
was very large. the church proper and
the annex both being crowded, and
quite a number having TO stand.
The service opened with hymn,
after which Rev Bunyan Stephens Of
fered prayer, followed by the scripture
reading the eighth chapter OF Pro
verbs-by Rev. ". H. Coleman.
Miss Byrd Wartmann, who is con
sidered one Of the finest organists in
the city, presided at the pipe organ,
and played spendidly Miss Cecile
Downs magnificent voice rose to
splendid heights in a selection Of
solo for this service. 1t was the eX-
quisite Aria from Elijah.
A chorus of excellent voices COM
posed of Miss Downs, Mrs Frank HUI
Der, Miss Bessie MacKay. Mrs. A. Z.
Gerig, Miss Won Engelken, Mrs. G. w.
Martin, Mrs. R. G. Blake, Mrs. L. F.
Blalock. Mrs D. f. McIver Mrs Won
Engelken, Messrs. A. Z. Gerig,, II. c.
Spencer, T. NJ Moore, l.. F. Blalock,
]. ]. Gerig, l.. H. Won Engelken, G. w.
Martin and D. S Woodrow, with Mr.
w w. Condor, playing the violin ac-
compartment, rendered in a very fine
manner, HE Watches over Israel"
from Elijah.
DR.. Dodge selected for his text the
first part Of tie Goth verse of the 18th
chapter of Matthew: Take my yoke
upon you, and learn of me-"
The distinguished divine went to
his task like a soldier equipped for
battle. or one in the gentler walks OF
life anointed to bear a message of
greater import and significance than
those heralded and reinforced by mus
kerry and artillery.
The message he was to deliver to-
day he said was as essential as il was
when first proclaimed by John the
Baptist when he preached in the viii
derness of Judea to listening thou
sands.
The preacher said that he knew that
his text was trite and familiar to all
who heard it, and for that very rea-
son it had been chosen.
He said that Christ was the Great
Teacher and was so recognized by
the profoundest intellects of the
world, and beside his teachings the
philosophy of Plato, Socrates, Aristo-
tie and our later philosophical and
metaphysical writer's. such as Huxley,
Tyndall Spencer, Darwin ct al. paled
into insignificance; that in Christ's
teachings were the source and inspir-
alton of right living-that they taught
us Goodness, righteousness, holiness;
our duty to God, our duty to our fell
low men, our duty to ourselves
al ha 1a4
ed upon the Importance of each of
these themes, and by adhering to
them told what they had done and
what they would do for the glory of
the world in advancing it to higher
and yet higher heights
The Bible, he said, was the first
book, and still held its place as the
Book of Books"
He made short quotations of what
the famous men of the world had ID
about it, He quoted the familiar but
powerful utterance of Macaulay, Eng
lands favorite historian; the beauti-
full p0etical gem of Sir Walter Scott.
and the sayings of great number OF
others, closing with an extended and
superb tribute from Woodrow Wilson,
president of the United States.
DR.. Dodge's sermon was pronounced
as a sincere, earnest and splendid Ell
fort.