The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-15
COMMENCEMENT IS
 !. ON AT MONTEVALLO
Rev. l.. O. Dawson Breaches the Baccalaureate
 Sermon

Montevallo. May 14.-(Special) ) Commencement exercises marking the close of the twentieth session of the Alabama Girls Technical institute were begun today with the baccalaureate sermon by Rev. Dr. L. o. Dawson, pas tor of the First Baptist church of Tus- caloosa. The musical programme was especially good.
 Using as text the words of Paul, By the grace of God l am what I am,'' and the words of John, Tt doth not yet appear what we shall be- Dr Dawson spoke on the "Conjugation of the Verb of Life" He said in part: 'Dr. Parker calls the verb to be the verb of life and it is very good name for it. It is a very irregular, rough and intricate affair and it's conjuga- tion gives many students aching heads and swollen eyes. But it is a most won derful affair to those who can see be- meath the surface and take in the full meaning of its moods and tenses."
 PRESENT INDICATIVE
 Continuing. he said: Take the pres ent indicative I am.' The student, without change of countenance as- serts that which the philosophers of the world have sought in vain to prove. This affirmation of existence is a mat ter of tremendous import and since it is affirmed it is a matter of vital con- cern just what we are. I am what I am. Are we mere animals? Are we mere lovers of the passing show, earthly and earthbound. or are we by the grace of God linked to divinity?
 Think of the vast potentialities of life wrapped up in the hesitant T can be- of the grammarian! can be- lower than the swine-many men and wom- en are. But shall we be debased just because we can? We can be great-as God counts greatness-we can be true to self and friends and God"
 He said: "If we can be great are we not under every strong obligation so to be. The soul that says T can be- is bound in conscience to add, I must be- There is no other choice for the right sort of man or woman. The true soul not only recognizes the high obligation to be it's very best, but immediately adds the future indie ative, T will be-. It is a prediction of that which is. to come. We are certainly going to be different from that which we now are and fortunate is the soul that makes this not only a prediction but a registry of the will to guide that being into channels that shall finally make us like our Lord.
 MAY ESCAPE MOOD
 If it be so that we are wise enough to put that will into immediate execu- tion we may escape the pitiful mood and tense of a misspent life where we sit down in the ashes of a burned out life and sadly say, It might have been it might have been''
 Dr. Dawson said in conclusion: "If you would escape these saddest words of tongue or pen, you must be wise today. The passing moment is the su- preme moment of life. The dreams of future greatness come true only for those who pour their whole souls into the simple duty of the passing hour.
 At ' D. m. was held the last meet ing of the Y. w. c. A., which was con ducted by the members of the gradu- ating class. The services consisted of a cantata written for the occasion by MT. Calkins, head of the music depart ment, and sung by the senior class with orchestra accompaniment, and an address by pr. l.. o. Dawson.