The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-06-10
atil You Put On Your Best Suit and Clean Collar
sAccALAuRgATE SERMON
High School Graduates Attended the
Baptist Church.


The senior class of the high school
attended the Baptist church Sunday
evening and listened to the annual
baccalaureate sermon which was de-
livered by the pastor Of the church,
Rev. w. F. Meyer.
The address was an inspiring one
and was listened to by a large con-
gregation in addition to the pupils
of the high school. Mr.. Meyers
text was from Peter 2:21 Christ
also suffered for you, leaving you an
example" A brief abstract of the
address is as follows:
For all of us, regardless of church
or creed, Christ is an example. We
may differ in. our thought of Christ
In other ways, but we are agreed
that his life should be the pattern
for us all. In three respects should
We view Christ as our example.
/ Christ is an example Of Heroic
Living, He suffered" for US. This
sort of life is Characteristic of all
truly great spirits. Instead Of seek
ing the softest and easiest places of
life, the man of real greatness is
ready to endure hardness" At the
beginning of his career Christ was
tempted to yield weakly to an easy
going conquest of the world, but
bidding the tempter depart. He
heroically chose to win the world by
the hard road OF self-sacrifice. His
was no cheap atonement. His
blessings cost him something. The
woman who received healing through
the touch of his garment was discov-
cred to him because he knew that
virtue went forth from him. This
lesson of heroic living, of choosing a
life that involves some self-sacrifice,
| If thereby we are made more noble
and succeed in ennobling others, is
one which this generation sadly
| needs. 1t is evident that we are be-
| coming more and more averse TO
toll and labor. Nature has blessed
US so abundantly that We are in dang
er of becoming luxurious and self
indulgent Self qualification is to
many the first law of life. "Save
Thyself," is the motto of the day,
BE good to yourself" Indulge Your
SELF" is the cry we hear. Who can
not prophesy the outcome of such
tendencies? Who cannot discern at
ready the diminishing strength OF
manhood and the increasing fabbi
ness of our virtue?
| ii Christ is an example OF
Altruistic Living. His life was Civ
en- as ransome. His heroic choice
had an altruistic aim. His object was
redemptive. He brought men from
la mastery that was ignominious and
Ubiquitous for a self-mastery that
was noble and righteous. And fol
this object he gave, not some gift
not some contribution, not some snv
stitute, but He gave himself. Davit
Livingston went to Africa TO enlight
en- 1t, to free II, to give himself to 1t;
Cecil Rhodes went to Africa t.
grasp as much of 1t as he was able
to exploit it, to enrich himself from
IL. Here are the two ideals of life
in vivid contrast One Is altruistic
the other is selfish. One is redemp
tive. seeking to save and reclaim
manhood; the other is egotistic anC
cynical, seeking to exploit the mass
es in their weakness and ignorance
Christ was altruistic in his vicarioul
dying. Not my will, but thine b,
done" were his words of resignation
as he faced the Cross. He came Il
do his Fathers will, which was ben
toward mans salvation. And Chris
as the obedient Son withheld no
himself, that the world might there
by be drawn to God. He, gave him
self for our sakes that we might b,
made like our Father This is tn,
acme of altruism. and a powerful ex
ample for us all. We too must Civ,
ourselves for others as we pas
through life. And SO we can do
whether We be called to follow tn,
pillow, keep books or stand behind tn,
counter.
III Christ is an example OF exalt
ed living. Surely heroic and altruis
tic living is exalted, sublime living
All the graces and virtues in tn,
calendar dwelt in Christ. HE di,
no sim" "He reviled not again.
He threatened not" When called
crazy, he was unmoved and calm
When maliciously declared TO be il
league with Beelzebub, he onl,
warned. When hailed before tn,
civil tribunal and beset by insincer,
accusations, he answered nothing
How different with most Of us. The
Master once said to his slanderers
"Ye are from beneath. am from
above" Christ lived with men ant
never sought to escape human con
ditions, but at the same time his
thoughts and his meditations KEEP
him superior to earthly trifies ant
temptations. This enviable altitude
OF life and character as found II
Christ should be our objective. Tt
choose 1t is our duty, to achieve il II
our happiness. We do not drift in
to the likeness Of Christ, nor do We
accidentally stumble upon the truth
OF life. Wisdom is to be sought q
found; but 1t is not far away, it Is
Christ himself who is both example