Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-05-31

mately blessed. Such a fellowship viii
call for the dedication of all that you
have 20 offer.
Second. The second element is dis
cipline. not only as commonly under
stood. but in privileges and opportuni-
ties. You have been looking forward to
greater freedom by your graduation.
Freedom. in nation and individuals en-
tail grave responsibilities You have
just become a new figure with new re-
sponsibilities to the service and your
countrymen. For four years they have
been patiently and faithfully doing
things-large things, for you. Now you
have an opportunity to return this de-
votion. Heretofore your sins and vir-
tues have seemed TO be those of pro-
bationers. Henceforward you have
the task of man. Two things are at
stake-the esteem in which your coun-
try is to hold you, and your own sue-
cess in your life's work.
Third. 1t is necessary TO be faithful
70 the right patriotic creed. Not TO
your belief This was, undoubtedly.
Absaloms attitude. Failure can only
come to you by willful indifference or
conscious disloyalty to clearly marked
lines of legitimate service. / call upon
YOU 10 be faithful to the Navy Not TO
clique or party, fad or fancy, but to the
Navy. There can beno Christian life or
experience or rewards to the man who
is not faithful to his life's work. Thy
- f1.rx ha
earth as it is in Heaven. is the true
philosophy of conquering religion
and of victorious life.
Again, call upon you to be faith
Gul to the Navy. No matter what men
think of the size of the Navy, whether
they regard it as cause of confidence
or concern, / wish to inform you, with
confidence born of experience that they
will all hold you responsible for the
right use of the Navy as an argument
for diplomacy or weapon of war
"All that l have said of fealty to all
that is noble and inspiring in morals,
in patriotism and religion are conson-
ant with the faithful performance of
your duties as naval officers. If l did
not believe this with all my heart, l
could not stand here. as l do in the
name of our divine Lord, of your de-
voted parents, and of our common
country. and pronounce upon you a
benediction."
Quoting from Father Michael Earls,
the Catholic Priest-poet, the poem "Ohf
TO the War" the Chaplain ended his
sermon with this fine lyric. the last
three verses of which is:
Christ with the brave young lad today
Who goes to the sweet command
Strengthen his heart wherever the way
Whether he march or stand.
And whether he die in q peaceful cell
Or alone in the lonely night.
The Cross of Christ will keep him well
And be his deaths delight
At the conclusion OF the sermon
collection was lifted which viii be do
mated TO the Navy Relief Association.
At the end the doxOIogy was sung. fol-
lowed by a special prayer BY Chaplain
Casard. for the graduates. The bene-
diction was pronounced by Rev Dr
Courtney. and while the congregation
AAaANAAHa WIN ANW@A MtaAea AAAE NAANAA
sang its usual closing hymn
Eternal Father, strong to save.
Whose arm hath bound the restless
wave,
Who bidest the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed bounds TO keep
Oh, hear US when we pray to Thee
For those in peril on the sea"
The choir then rendered, the con
regation still bowed. God be with You
Till We Meet Again" Prof. Charles
A Zimmerman. organist. executed an
improyised "Recessional" of exquisite
harmony and in expressive sympathy
with the affecting services of the day.
Amongst the visitors at the Chapel
services yesterday from a distance
were Rear Admiral Albert Ross, U. S.
~, Capt George r. Clark, U. S. N. Col.
Robert M Thompson, of New York, Capt.
James II. Glennon, U S N, and Major
Robert Alexander, U S. A., the two lat
ter having sons in the graduating class
at the Naval Academy this year