The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1916-06-23
Baccalauerate Address.
Continued from page -

AS you enter the open door you VIII
need the same sterling qualities OF
Faith, Patience, Courage and Obedi-
ence, which assured your success
thus far. Therefore, lest you fail
and the crown which is designed for
you. is given to another, Hold fast
that which thou hast"
In this brief exegesis, then, we
have the basis for our theme this
evening. Here is a message for all
who desire to enter into larger
spheres of usefulness.
1t is then declaration of law
which governs the question Of Re-
wards and Punishments. Here is the
fundamental law of success whether
that success be physical, mental or
spiritual. Primarily, 1t is a spiritual
law but.it reaches down to the mate
rial world and operates there. We
sometimes imagine that q different
set of laws operates in each realm,
one set for the physical, another for
the mental and third for the spirit
ual; whereas the more we study the
universe In which we live, the more
of this universe are very few and SIM
pie and that in fact the laws of the
spiritual apply to the material.
Take for example two laws in
Scripture, one of a positive and the
other of negative character. The
first Is stated in these words"What-
soever a man soweth that shall be al
so reap" and the second Is expressed
in the question, "How shall we es-
cape IL we neglect so great saliva
tion?"
In each case the writer refers to
spiritual law. But we all know that
as touching the first the same law
operates in Nature, and so the farm
er Is careful as to the nature and
kind of seed he sows. And as touch
ing the second, neglect or indiffer-
ence inevitably leads to death in the
physical realm as well as in the spir-
itual.
So these words were addressed to
a church. They speak OF spiritual
principles and rewards. of essentials
of spiritual success, but at the same
time as applied to material success
the same laws obtain. And so this
text is OF immense value to you. as
you look out into the future. In fact
should not be violating the
principles of Interpretation If / were
to paraphrase the letter so as to read
ITO the Graduating Class of the
Owosso High School, Write: You
have done we'll. You have obeyed
the laws Of the school. You have
fulfilled the requirements of the
course of study. l have therefore
set before you an open door through
which you may enter to larger re-
sponsibilities and rewards. And nc
man can shut It,"
Now where this open door may
lead, am not in a position to say. II
may lead to the farm or the home, or
the factory, or to the University and
thence to larger fields of usefulness
and great honor, but whether you be-
come famous or must live little and
unknown, loved and priced by God
Alone" this much you may BE sure
Of; that at the end of every useful
and honorable life there is crown
of glory which fadeth not away. This
is the inspiration of life. "Be thou
faithful unto death and l will give
thee a crown of life"
This subject of Crowns is intense
ly interesting; especially to those
who live or have lived in countries
governed by kings, and is no less at
tractive to those who believe in re
publics. The oldest crown in Europe
is the Iron crown of Lombardy. i
is resting now in the cathedral o
Mona, upon the mountain side abov'
Milan. For thirteen hundred year.
it has held its place as the most ia
nous European crown. The las
man who wore it was Napoleon LIST
who in the presence Of a great roya
military assemblage placed this oil
iron crown upon his own head, re
peating the proud motto which goe
with 1t, God has given 1t to me, Wo
to him who touches it."
In the regalia room of the Scottis
kings in Edinburgh castle, hav
seen the Coronation Crown Of tina
romantic hero, Robert Bruce. Thi
crown is made out Of the gold ear
rings and chains of the high born Ia
dies of Scotland contributed for tina
purpose by these loyal women whe
Robert Bruce was an outlaw befor
he won his kingdom.
The new crown first worn by Viz
toria and now by King George
England, has its entire surface cover
ed with jewels, many of which ar
famous in history. There Is said
be one heart shaped ruby said
have been worn by Edward the Blac
Prince. The crown was made in 1888
old crowns being broken up to suppl
Jewels. It's estimated value Is owe
five millions dollars.
Now the Crown is a symbol of al
thority, OF success, of honor, OF So
ereignty and of triumph and victor,
The possibility of wearing the crow
of victory in the Olympian games an
the Grecian races was the inspiratio
of every young Athenian. And in I'll
spiritual realm God is holding befol