The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-06-15
The Subject Of The Address
Of Rev. Dye
To The Graduating Class Of
The High School

Vernon high school took place
Sunday evening at the Presbyterian
church, when the baccaaureate ad.
dress was delivered by Rev G. Rector
Lye of the First Baptist church.
The auditorium of the Presbyterian
church was filled for the interesting
occasion. In addition to the members
of the graduating class, there was pres
ent superintendent, principals and
teachers of the public schools and rela.
tives and friends of the class. The
program for the occasion, as publish.
ed, was carried out.
The address of Rev. Dye was exceed.
ingly interesting and its delivery was
given the closest attention. The sub.
ject of the address was, The Promise
of Life, suggested in text from First
Timothy, fourth chapter and eighth
verse: Having the promise of the life
that now is and Of thai which is to
come" In part, Rev. Dye spoke as
follows:
"My text deals with life-throbbing,
happy exuberant life, such as fills this
room this evening.
| Life dominates everything and yet
no man can tell what it is. The geolo.
gists tapping the rocks is but reading
the epitaphs Of past forms of life.
The biologist in his laboratory is but
performing an autopsy. They describe
only the phenomena of life. Having
the promise of life what will you do
with it?
First, know thyself. Where do you
find in the curriculum of any school
course in the study of life? You study
everything else but yourselves. Very
few people are really masters of their
own mind. They can drive a horse
but cannot guide their own brain.
Secondly, train it. The chief end of
an education is the making of man.
not merely the passing of examina-
tions. The same school, the same
teacher and the same methods may
turn out one boy to be thief and an
other boy to be a minister. The diff
ference between the penitentiary and
the pulpit was determined in the boys
themselves. You are to this extent the
architect of your own life.
What we have thought and done
becomes a part of us for good or i'll
This chain of cause and effect may be
chain of gold which binds us to the
feet of God or it may be chain of
iron which binds to the consequences
of our sins Jesus alone can break
that chain
Thirdly, we ought to make good use
of our lives. AS students it is not on
ly our duty to see the light where it
falls, but also to follow the light where
it leads. The grain of wheat unused
abides alone. Jesus used life till he
used it all up. He is our perfect ex-
ample in the use of life."
The address to the class was as fol-
lows:
"Class of 1915, this is your COM
mencement period. The commence.
ment of what? Have you struggled up
through the grades and the high school
with the thought that this is the end
a goal in itself? Let me impress upon
you this fact-that you stand today up
on the threshold of your career. Be.
fore you lies promising future. rich
with possibilities and fraught with
|great responsibilities, yes with the bud
ding tree of immortality which shall
stand for you by the river of the water
of life. Parentage gave you your life
and nesting care. This beautiful city
has given you pleasant environment
which has moulded your childhood and
youth. The state has furnished these
faithful teachers for your training
Hundreds of dollars have been spent
upon each of you by the state with the
expectation that you would be worth II
to the community The churches OF
the city have offered Gods counsel fol
the guidance of your life.
"Now may use the language of the
street for want of a better expression
and say It's up to you?"
"Parentage, home, study, teachers
churches, all look to you for the prop
er use of your life.
"T6is is your first account in the
hank of life with which you begin youI
career. Do not bankrupt yourself by
drawing out all your principal and put
ting nothing back, but by the right use
of your initial deposit which you have
in your hand today add to this COLDER
treasure such additional deposits as
an honorable career may bring to yor
and you will find yourself gradually
growing richer and richer in the life
that now is and the life that is tc
come"