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


to the limit it was yesterday when
the graduating class of the high
school together with their hosts of
friends assembled to listen to the
baccalaureate sermon of the Rev.
Bunyan Stephens of the Baptist
church. Not only was every availa-
BILE seat occupied, but rows of extra
chairs were arranged in front of the
pews and the kneeling bench around
the communion rail was filed 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 exemplifica-
lion of that fact; every congrega-
Eion in the city was represented, both
by pastor and people, each of the
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
'Denediction, 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
#Eerig as having charge of the mus
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 it's time,
fgolume and harmony was certainly
"a revelation TO every one present,
and like Oliver Twist, we ask for
more.
After everybody (who could get
: I'M was seated, the graduates. filed
in and took the seats reserved for
them They certainly made a pretty
picture and when Prof. J. H. Work
man brought up the rear he looked
as tho he must have had an extra
pair of OSullivan's on his shoes or
had grown a couple of inches taller
lately, as as for the smile on his
face, we'll, cit 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
he was enabled to reconcile these
two houses and fix his throne on a
firmer basis than 1t ever had beer
before. Solomon not only chose
wisely but his choice pleased Goo
and so he urged on his hearers tha1
In the choice of their future career:
they choose that which will be pleas
well. All wise men have been called
a1reamers; they have visions of won
fierful possibilities. Joseph wa
called dreamer by his brethren, blu
when in after years he was raised t.
the highest Office in the gift of tn,
Egyptian king his visions became
realities.
Today there are as wonderful
possibilities for those who choos
the path of wisdom as there were il
the days of Joseph, Jacob or Daniel
all of whom were dreamers. HAVING
visions. We speak of the wonder
Of Greece and Rome but what wer
they in comparison with the wonder
of our own day and time, which ar
dreams realized, but our dreamer
must visualize our ideals to go for
ward
Another point of wisdom was 70
the young graduates not to conside
that as the days of school We're pas
there was little or nothing left 70
them to learn, when in fact the
we're merely on the Threshold o
knowledge. Angelo at the age of 8
Is quoted as saying he was still
learning. and that man with on.
foot in the grave still wished t.
learn more. knowledge today mean