The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1916-06-01
ELOQUENT CHARGE.
DELIVERED IN BACCA-
LAUREATE SERMON
BY DR.. W. A. GANFlELD TO HIGH
SCHOOL GRADUATES.

SCHOOL GRADUATES.
By far, one of the most impressive
and eloquent sermons ever delivered
before a graduating class in this city,
was the ore given by DIR. w. A. Gan
field, president of Centre College, at
the school Auditorium last Sunday
morning. In honor of the occasion for
this service, all the churches in the
city united in this meeting and as a re-
suit the hall was crowded to its doors.
An attractive musical program had
been arranged and the anthems sung
were beautiful and wellrendered by a
choir composed of the best talent IN
the citv Rev. II. S. Hudson assisted
in the service with scriptural reading
and PRAYER. The members of the grad
uating class, in cap and gown. headed
by Prof. Cancer, marched zen masse"
down the aisle and took their position on
the stage. The auditorium was ar
tistically decorated with the college
colors and with palms and ferns.
In well chosen words the speaker was
then introduced by Prof. Cancer who
said we were fortunate beyond measure
and blessed to have with us today one
whom we have learned to love and who
is now no stranger among us.
DIR. Garfield held with raptured at
tention. the large audience during the
entire sermon and quoted as a text
from LUngfellow's Psalm of Life"
the following lines:
1--WE are living, we are dwelling
In a grand and awful time;
In an age on ages telling,
To be living is sublime"
He said in part;
There are some periods of time
which seem to be more important than
other times. As my memory reaches
backward over the past. there have
been times and ages when think |
should much prefer to have lived rath-
er than at other times. sometimes
think should like to have lived when
the Man Of Galilee walked the earth.
There were great forces at work and
great movements stirring then. |
sometimes think | would like to have
lived in the last of the fourth or the
first of the fifth century, in the day
when power was passing from the Lat
in to the Teuton, in the day when the
last little Romulus Of Rome was be-
ing cast aside, in the day when the
rudeGerman soldiers lifted one of their
own number upon their shields and
bore him upon their shoulders down
the street, the sign of their selection
and election of new king. / some
times think I should like to have been
living here then. Again | think |
would like to have lived in the last of
the fifteenth or the early sixteenth
century. In the day whom the spirit
Of adventure gripped mems souls, in
the day when the mind of man began
to think of new and other lands, in the
day when Columbus ventured out upon
the new and uncharted seas, in the
day when Luther broke the bonds of
religious authority and sent the truth
on its light giving and liberty inspir-
ing mission DER the great continent
Of Europe. Those were great days
then. / sometimes think would like
to have lived in the last of the eight
zenith century, in the days of 1776 or
1878, in the day when crowns began
to rest uneasy on the heads of kings,
when thrones began to stagger, to tot
ter, and to fall. When the common
people felt the thrill of democracy and
rose to claim their own privileges,
rights and powers. sometimes think
would like to have been living here
then. | think ! would like TO have
lived in the early nineteenth century,
in the time of the new inventions, the
new discoveries, the development of
power, the rise of the smoke stack
and the growth of the city. But after
all, | think there is no time in the
past when | would have so well liked
to have lived as to be living right here
and now. And yet
ave are living. we are dwelling
In a grand and awful time"
For really | do believe this morning
the age to which you and belong is
one of far-reaching influence and pow
err upon the ages yet to come.
Civilization if oft represented to US as
a beautiful maiden, dressed and robed
in most beautiful and becoming style.
Upon her forehead are written the
words knowledge, culture, refinement,
power. Upon her finger
tips are the word skin, industry, enter
prise, thrift and wealth. Across her
breast are written the words humani-
ty, brotherhood, sympathy apd fellow
ship, and upon her ankles abe fastened
the wings with which she hovers DER
She came long time ago