Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-06-05

The Baccalaureate sermon before the
graduating class of the High school,
members Of the schools and friends,
was delivered by Rev. E. w. Weber
who is a member Of the school board
of this city. The service was held in
City hall at 7.3O Sunday evening and
was largely attended. Mr.. Webber was
assisted in the service by the several
pastors of the city.
The Speaker took for his subject
The Forward Look" and he treated
it in manner which held the atten-
ton of the audience from beginning tC
end. In addition to the most interest
ing sermon there was special music by
the Universalist choir which was also
greatly enjoyed. Mr. Weber spoke di-
rectly to the graduates and to the 9TH
er members of the school and his
words of advice will be a source OF
great benefit to those who are about
t. complete their preparatory studies
at the High school. some to launch out
into the world to fight the battle for
themselves and others to pursue a fur
Their course of study in advanced in
situations of learning. A brief abstract
of the speakers words. which contains
some Of the most salient points of the
discourse is given below. In opening
his remarks Mr.. Webber paid a high
tribute to the schools of the city and
to the teachers who had done so much
to perfect the system here. He said in
brief:
1T is to me. l assure you. a great
pleasure to address our young friends
on this occasion and I trust that shall
be able to say something which shall
add to the interest of this hour and
prove a blessing to all 1 am asked to
council and inspire.
ITO our young friends who are at
the eve of their graduation from the
HalloWell High school this is a happy
hour; and to the fathers and mothers
there comes a feeling Of joy which
can only he felt by those who have
gathered dear ones around them by
the family fireside, and endeavored by
precept, by example and by prayer t.
kindle in young hearts the noblest as
pirations that can shape and guide
the souls Of men in the ways Of life
Not alone to those directly interested
it is an occasion in which every good
citizen takes great PRIDE. rejoicing that
the boys and girls of Hallowell have
such opportunities and that so many
of them have prepared themselves for
graduate
Mr.. Weber spoke Of the opportuni-
ties Of the age into which the present
generation was born and compared
the times with those Of centuries agt
when even the greatest in the LAND
were almost illiterate. when there
were no colleges and when the schoo
system of today was not even dreamed
or even hoped for. Not only to tbs
members of the Senior class who were
about to go out into the busy world
did he speak but also to the members
of the lower classes and the Grammar
school scholars who were soon to
taste the pleasures Of the High school
room.
He spoke Of the present conditions
in Mexico and said if Mexico had en-
joyed even system of common school
education such as is found in the
poorest of our rural districts, the pres
ent unhappy conditio ms between civ
illZation and barbarian would not have
been possible. nation that car
neither read nor write must find in
terest and nervous stimulation or ex-
element in such thirgs as appeal tc
the eye and ear and unrefined in
stncts of savage men, And where the
| intellectual. moral spiritual and hui
mantarian instincts are not cult
waited the people will turn to such
brutalizing pleasure as offered enter
tainment and qualification to the
coarser grained and least intelligent
men and women Of our so-called CIV
ilized communities
In speaking Of fidelity to duty the
speaker impressed his point upon his
hearers by the relation of the familiar
Scrptural lesson in which various ones
seek to follow Jesus When something
is asked of them in return there en-
thusiasm wanes and they are quick to
| find excuses. Mr.. Webber urged the
members of the class to be diligent and
faithful and when they have once put
their hand to the pillow never to turn
backward. He said: Our Savior taught
his followers that attention. f1rmness
of grasp and patience in duty were
necessary to those who would enter
and become A part in the kingdom of
God among men,"
Mr.. Weber closed with the poem
Those Who Life ard Those Who
Lean"