The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-05-25
THE BACCALAUREATE SERMON

- the ocdld lCIUOUISt cnurcn
ever had its seating capacity taxed
TO the limit it was yesterday when
the graduating class of the high
school together with their hosts OF
friends assembled to listen 10 the
baccalaureate sermon OF the Rev
Bunyan Stephens of the Baptist
church. Not only was every availa-
Die seat occupied, but rows of extra
achairs were arranged in front of the
pews and the kneeIing bench around
the communion rail was filled by the
little folks, and then there were
enough people standing around the
various doors to form good-sized
congregation. Surely the people of
Ocala are church going people
We have before remarked that
there are few cities in which the
communion Of Christian fellowship
is more prevalent than in Ocala.
Yesterday was another exempIifca-
ton of that fact: every congrega-
ton in the city was represented, both
former taking part in the service.
Rev. James G. Glass, rector Of
Grace Episcopal church, read the
lesson. DR.. w. H. Dodge, pastor Of
the Presbyterian church, made the
opening prayer. Pastor Stephens of
the Baptist church preached the
sermon and the Rev. Roy Bowers of
the Christian church delivered the
benediction, the whole ceremonies
being under the direction of Dr.
Gross, the pastor of the church in
which the service was held.
To mention the name of Mr.. Albert
ical features of the occasion is
equivalent to saying that that part
of the service was as near perfect as
any musical organization of it's size
in the state could possibly be, and
tho Ocala is noted for it's talent in
this direction, the rendering of the
anthem from the creation THE
Heavens are Falling" in its time,
a revelation to every one present,
and like Oliver Twist, we ask for
more.
After everybody (who could get
in and took the seats reserved for
them. They certainly made pretty
picture and when Prof. J. H. Work
man brought up the rear he looked
pair of O'SulIivan's on his shoes or
had grown a couple of inches taller
lately, as as for the smile on his
face, we'll, sit wouldn't come off,"
The theme of Mr.. Stephens dis
course was founded on the choice of
King Solomon, Wisdom" At the
time that God offered him his choice
of gifts he was a young king, sur
rounded by difficulties. Two houses
were intriguing for his throne but
with the wisdom given him from God
ne was enabled to reconcile these
two houses and fix his throne on a
firmer basis than it ever had been
before. Solomon not only chose
wisely but his choice pleased God
and so he urged on his hearers that
In the choice of their future careers
they choose that which will be pleas
ing in His sight and thus choose
we'll All wise men have been called
dreamers; they have visions of Won
deTful possibilities. Joseph was
called a dreamer by his brethren, but
when in after years he was raised to
the highest Office in the gift of the
Egyptian king his visions became
realities
possibilities for those who choose
the path of wisdom as there were in
the days of Joseph, Jacob or Daniel
all of whom were dreamers, having
visions. We speak of the wonders
OF Greece and Rome but what were
they in comparison with the wonders
of our own day and time, which are
dreams realized, but our dreamers
HuSL tlSudlIZ0 our luSdIS TO go LOT
ward.
Another point of wisdom was for
the young graduates not to consider
that as the days of school We're past
there was little or nothing left for
them TO learn, when in fact they
Eere merely on the Threshold of
knowledge. Angelo at the age of 81
Is quoted as saying he was still
learning, and that a man with one
foot in the grave still wished to
learn more. knowledge today means