The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-06-22
EXERCISES To-
NIGHT
Continued from First Page


were omitted in order that all would
feel free to attend who so desired.
Opening with the professional the
graduates were marshalled to seats
reserved at their front by Emery 7.
Dyer. class marshall after which
FIR. J. Louis A. Renaud of st. Mary's
Catholic Church offered the invoca-
ton. Harry Upton. acting substi-
tute pastor of the First Baptist
/ Church conducted the responsive
reading and Rev. F. c. Rogers of the
Methodist Church read the scriptures.
The prayer was voiced by Rev. Geo.
Merriam of the Bethany Baptist
Church and a choir of twenty voices
led by E. E. Towne sang Sing AL
leleuia Forth" by Buck; also Hank.
Hark. My Soul by Shirley. The
soloists were Miss Evelyn NJ. Fland
ers of Madison, Mrs. Harold Bradley
r. W. Leighton, L. S. Moore and a. r.
Watson. Mr.. McElhiney's text was
from Isaiah LII and he said in part
The history of the world reveals
that all those colossal and prophetic
and benignant intellects in their day,
dreaming and deciding upon what
&
progress of the race, with one ae
cord become the patrons of mental
and moral education. Today in our
land the genius of our Republic is
individual excellence. In a country
ruled by a despot. or Monarch or En-
peror. only a few persons or fami-
lies need to be educated. But in a
Republic, every citizen must be in
telligent. and knowledge be wide
spread Hence our Common School
system becomes the great bulwark of
our Government and prosperity, sec
ond only to religion itself. While we
hear much about primary, secondary
and higher education. there is the
Highest Education" we must think
about We are not only to learn to
do; and learn to do, but also to do
"Well''-that is, our best. For mere
intellectual power does not of itself
prove or produce moral character;
these two faculties do not necessarily
shine with equal brightness in the
same life. So often the one eclipses
the other And neither is the cult
walton of the mind alone, the SILL
preme virtue. Each part of our ma
ture must be respected and cultivated
| in due order. The poet is surely
greater than the pugulist, the astron-
omer than the athlete, the ministry
than the market. or civilization Is
done for He who knew the import
ance of putting first things first, and
what were first things, said: Seek
We first the Kingdom of Heaven
And surely there is greatest neces-
| sty for the eXhortaton of this text
Learn to do we'll" Other animals
/ By instinct, substantially dispenses
with the process of learning. With
man. proficiency of mind, manual
dexterity and moral excellence must
be attained through diligence and
perseverance of the school. We
must cultivate even the graces of
haraeter-contentme sincerity
veracity. temper, kindness-eF
perfection of the spirit and conduct.
And this moral training must begin
in life as soon and in cooperation
with, that of the mind and hand.
There are three things essential to a
liberal education of the soul as the
mind and hand Three P's These
three P's are-Pattern, Power, Prac-
tice. These three are to be piled in
each sphere with the same faithful
ness and spirit, To do well, we
/ DePU 10 constantly ste N'Il=bpllo ~
all its perfection, it is Witnessing the
beautiful. pure and normal in life
that transform. Hence we must look
unto Jesus Christ. the supreme pat
tern for all people everywhere. He
only is the greatest teacher of the
greatest art-right living.
And we require power, for right
living is largely a question of capac-
/ ity-power of acquisition. Many
are mere copyst; lack creative fac
ulty. They will ever be disappont-
ing. Holiness of soul is impaired to
the sincere soul only by the Holy
Spirit of God. And this is not like
intellectual ability. reserved for
/ few; but for whosoever will, even the
most unpromising and feeblest. And
after having a pattern and receiving
power we must have practice. Theo-
retical knowledge and technical mas
terry must go together The most
valuable thing in our week day life
is eminence of character. There is
/ absolutely no way TO magnanimity
! save through acts of unselhshness;
/ no way to honesty save through pay
/ ing our debtS-or better-refusing to
contract any. Amid all our despair
| in effort at practicing the virtues OF
life. and following our pattern. we
shall find Him-our glorious maker
and master full of sympathy. quiet
" ignoring many of our failures, in
/ spring us with hope and by His
magic persistence. patience and pow
err will daily make us more and yet
more to His own pattern-life; final
ly presenting us without spot or
wrinkle" before the presence of the
All-Father (Which art in Heaven
Unfortunately the electric disturb
ance affected the lights before the
address was completed The audi
ence disbanded by the light OF
matches.