The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-05-15
DR.. Wray, Pastor Of First Baptist Church,
Addresses Inspiring Message to
Members Of Graduating Class
Of High School
CHURCH CROWDED TO
UTMOST CAPACITY
Many are Turned Away; Other Ministers
Participate in Service; c. H S. Chorus
Sings Splendid Anthems; Sum-
mary Of Discourse

Probably one Of the most interest
ing, eloquent discussions ever deliv-
cred from a Chickasha pulpit was the
sermon addressed last night to the
members Of 1916 graduating class OF
the high school, by DR.. John r. Wray,
pastor Of the First Baptist church of
Chickasha.
AT an early hour the public followed
the forty-one members OF the gradu-
ating class into the Epworth Methodist
church. BY o'clock the full seating
capacity of the church, 100, was oc-
cupied and standing room was at a pre-
MUM. while fully 500 people were
turned away from the church.
The students were seated in the
central section OF pews, while the
school choir took its place in front
OF the pipe organ.
Under the directorship OF Miss Ma
bel Byers the school choir sang the
opening hymn.
Rev. Lawrence L. Cohen Jr,, pastor
Of the Epworth Methodist church pro-
nounced the Invocation ant then the
congregation joined IN singing ~coro-
nation" followed by the reading OF the
Goth Psalm. by Rev. Il. b. Teis, pastor
OF the Presbyterian church. The
scriptural reading ,gas followed by
Let the Heavens Be Glad" rendered
by the high school chorus.
Dr. wray based his sermon on the
ninth verse of the first chapter OF
Jeremiah. In his opeing sentences
he showed that IL behooves all. even
from lfe's beginp'rs. TO consider the
end OF mortal existence; that is the
ultimate and the highest design for
which life is lived; the way Of life
should be used and not abused. ''rhe
true import and object of life is of such
infinite importance to every one who
has life to live that no sane. man
or woman will proceed far upon the
earthly journey without asking him
self or herself Where am | going?' "
The speaker dweh upon the neees-
sity OF including the future in all plans
and said that this was one of the
marks OF a mans mental ard spiritual
superiority. "Forethought reveals the
difference between the child and the
man, between the savage and the civ
ilized man. between the successful
man and the failure"
Perseverance, the speaker said. was
an essential OF success; by pcrsever-
ance men Of genius had flashed forth
in the fields OF art. Of science, OF gov
ernment.
Never since God commanded Adam
to subdue the earth has the race Of
man made an upward stride without
bitter struggle. while those who light
the lamp OF truth and push back the
curtain OF darkness which enshrouds
the earth may do SO only by persistent
effort and faith and belief in God.
God cannot be cheated There is no
crown without its cross. Your di-
plomas mean nothing If they do not
mean sacrifice; they are worthless II
they have not cost you something and
do not lead from the hill OF beginning
to broader knowledge and nobler liv-
ing"
The speaker dwelt upon the great
need of the guiding power Of Deity
through life. He said the successful
man must look beyond the present and
lay the foundations of the future, not
depending upon luck or something
turning up. The mariner who puts to
sea without a compass or char
inevitably meets with shipwreck. And
so with man in any walk OF life.
"The achievement of earthly sue
cess cannot bring satisfaction to the
soul of man, who is created on toe
grand scale to be decked in the frill'
of fashion or charmed with the diI
of applause or the empty jingle OF
golden toy.
1.-THE certain true and abiding end j.