The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1915-06-04
U. C. TRAINING SCHOOL
GRADUATING EXERCISES
Large Audience Sees Student Body
in Fine Program. a

LII E1uV AUS Ao1n' 2
The annual commencement exer-
cises of the Union City Training
School began last Sunday morning
with the baccalaureate sermon by
Rev. H. H. Drake at the Cumber-
land Presbyterian church. The
church was beautifully decorated
with pot plants and an abundance
of cut flowers. An immense audi
ence was present. The singing was
inspiring and uplifting. Rev. G. M.
Zwingle had charge of the service
anda offered the invocation. Rev.
Rogsr L. Clark read the fifty-fourth
chapter of Isaiah and prayed a most
fervent prayer. The sermon was
preached by Rev. H. H. Drake, pas
tor of the Baptist Church of this
city. We cannot give the sermon in
full, but the following extract will
give to the public the gist of the
address. We give in full the speak
er's opening paragraphs. Said he,
This Is indeed momentous occa-
sion. To-day we are met in a COM
mon cause, having come together in
honor and recognition of, and under
the auspices of one of the institu
tions of learning which helps to
make our little city one of the most
attractive in all the Southland.
Education is no longer dream of
the Imagination, it is a glorious
reality, and as l look to-day upon
this sea of faces, and see the sparkle
in the eyes of these young men and
women who are launching out more
fully into life, l can but thank God
for the leadings of his grace and
for the men and women of the past
who have made this occasion pos
sible.
Life means development. These
flowers of this Lords Day are but
the developed buds of yesterday.
The bulb shuts up in summer in it's
breast that which in winter will
come out a fragrant hyacinth. The
giant oaks of to-day were the un-
noticed acorns of yesterday. The
men of tomorrow are the embryonic |
men of to-day"
The text was then announced, it
being Isaiah SAP. Enlarge the
place of thy tent, and let them
stretch forth the curtains of thy
spare not; lengthen thy
cords, and strengthen thy stakes"
From this text the speaker deduced
the theme, "Progres, or the On
ward Stride"
He spoke of the progress of this
politically, materially, edu-
and eligiously. Then
aunching into the teXt-theme proper
le said that the law of progress is
Reciprocity. Jesus gave this law to
nen when he said, "Give and it shall
)e given unto you" He said that
God meant for men to be rich, but
them to use their wealth
If strength or intellect or gold in
he interests of their fellows. In {
this division of the ad- :
Iress the poem, "Give to the World {
he Best You Have" was quoted.
But" said the speaker, this is (
lot enough. There must be also a
ealization of the spirit of progress, !
nd this spirit is optimism" He {
aid that optimism is made up of ,
hree essential elements, viz: ego
SIN, or, a belief in self; altruism,
r, a belief in your fellow man, and :
otheistic-faithism, or, a belief
n the one true God. He emphasized
in contrast to self ex-
ltation. And then in stirring {
words he urged that we keep faith |
With humanity, showing that the '
eason we judge so harshly and I
wrongly is because we do not under {
tand. He emphasized clearly the
ecessity of belief in God, and with
'hor's hammer struck the doctrine
f Evolution squarely between the
yes. ...
But reciprocity plus optimism is
lot enough. One must have the I
ynamic force for the onward stride, c
nd this force is determination" S
lie urged upon the graduates to be {
omething worth while in life and {
aid they could not be without de-
and that if they would
eally accomplish anything this de-
must be seasoned with :
he grace of God. He urged that
re all make our determinations
resent ones, quoting in connection ]
nth this thought, the poem, What i
lave We Done To-Day" 4
Keep your eye on Jesus" said C
e, "for he is the inspiration for the b
inward stride" He pleaded with a
he young men and women to make b