The Meeker herald., 1914-05-16
The Baccalaureate Sermon

9ATUhUAxs AAI - tu1s
The Baccalaureate Sermon
Some time ago. the 1914 graduating
class of Rio Blsnco County High
school invited the Rev. Father Fa-
janelle TO deliver the baccalsurate
sermon. The result was the follow
ing classic, delivered before large
audience In the high school auditor
ium last Sunday evening:
DEAR STUDENrs-I an kindly re-
quested on this joyful occasion TO ex-
press my thought to young people
who are reaching the end Of their
high school days and are about to
face the realities Of life. I accept
your invitation ~ . work Of love. It
IL pleasure, indeed, to applaud
the attachments and sncourgs the Of
forts Of yoar age. While appreciate
ing this act Of courtesy I offer each
and all of the class 1914 my best
wishes for happy and successful
career.
You rejoice over your accomplish
ments this evening aud you are right
to do 20. It 10 the legitimate salts
faction Of the work done, Of the re-
suits obtained. When you took ~ .
motto, Life 10 What We Make It."
you had already formed . substanti-
81 and energetic conception Of exist
ence. However, in the making Of
life, remember ths end for which life
IL given. There 10 none among you
to take the base, materialistic, Inn
possible view that we are on this
earth TO grow, decay, pass away and
be no more; none TO believe that the
Intelligent and responsible part
which We play with our mind and
our will 10 going to have, In the end,
no more meaning and consequences
than irrational life. You and I are
convinced that our destiny - human
beings il higher and nobler than has
ever been dreamed In the philoso-
phies Of men.
Now when the mariner ssils for .
port afar be needs the compass; your
life also 10 . journey; you must take
your 0rientation. I will make my
thought clear and complete in the
Language Of Josiah Quincy: Human
happiness has no perfect security but
freedom, and freedom mono but
virtue, and virtue none but know
ledge; aud neither freedom nor
virtue nor knowledge has any vigor
or immortal hope except In the sanc-
ton Of the Christian faith and ia the
principles Of Christian religion"
The star that will lead your days
will b. hope, the star Of Bsthlshsm.
The Ansl psrposs Of yoaf sducasioa,
my frisnds Il Identical with the pur-
pose Of life. Education trsins our
physical. moral and mental powers.
By it, very etymolosy It means To
bring out what 10 In the child. The
mind must be developed. The will
strengthened, the heart purified. It
brings forth thought and sentiment,
forms the intelligence, shapes the
character. This training begins at
home, and, exactly speaking, 1t the
cradle. Who opened your eyes to
the light Of this world ? Who made
you feel and realize the early car
esses Of life? Who understood in
your cries the language Of your needs
and taught you how 70 express them !
A gentle and loving being that we
cali by the sweet name Of mother.
In the eyes Of nature and education
she 10 the first teacher, and persona
llss devotion; sacrince, patience and
tenderness. Then you were sent to
school and the teachers who gave
You the benefit Of their knowledge
acted In harmony with the parents
to see that while you were growing
in age you we're also growing In viz
tue and wisdom.
To educate 10 . delicate and difii-
cult work ~ 1t IL meritorious and
honorable; II cuts and polishes dia-
monds the value Of which We cannot
overestimate for the simple reason
that they are human.
Now you have reached h stage
whore your training will be put to .
test. Conscious Of your physical and
mental vigor, your sentiments are
generous and noble, your aspirations
and houea ara akrnnr and v0ur
dreams arc golden. May those
dreams unroll themselves in peace.
However, you have seen only the
early spring Of life with its promises
and possibilities. You are practically
unacqusinted with the realities Of
our existence which spell worries.
disappointmSnts, trials, suffering Of
some kind, and which demand cour-
An~ v,oenovoe~nNa C1aa Of mas