The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1918-05-16
ELOQUENT SER: { Mon
Father Willenbrink Delivers Meri-
torious Baccalaureate Address
to the Graduating Class.

Choir of st. Edwards Catholic Church
Renders Several Selections Of
Very Excellent Music.
One of the most eloquent. and in
spring baccalaureate sermons ever
delivered in Princeton was that Of
Father Joseph Willenbrink to the high
school graduating class at the armory
on Sunday evening. We feel unequal
to the task Of giving the sermon the
credit to which it is due in a condensed
form and therefore reproduce it YER
batim. A large audience greeted
Father Willenbrink and expressed high
appreciation of his address.
Inspiring musical selections were
rendered by the choir Of st. Edwards
church under the able direction Of Mrs.
c. A. Galley, while Rev. Larson offered
the Invocation and Rev. Geer pro-
nounced the benediction. The sermon:
|
in the race, all run indeed, but one receiveth
the prize? So that you may obtain. And
every one that striveth for the mastery, re-
] fraineth himself from all things, and they
| indeed, that they may receive corruptible
crown, but we an incorruptible one."-I Cor.
! 9-25.
| My Dear Graduates:
This is one Of the most beautiful passages
of tho anosf1al IF tho nafionc Sf pou1 To
arouse Christians to enthusiasm in the race
for the imperishable prize, he employs rs an
illustration the famous Olympian games which
| took place annually in the land of Demosthenes.
Long before the hour arrived, every youth of
| the land looked forward with the keenest in
terest to the time when he might be partici-
pant in the contest. For we'll he knew, should
he be the successful winner, his brow would
be crowned with laurel and pine and the
poets and orators of his native land would
delight in sounding his praises,
+! St. Paul is careful to note one thing, that.
these athletes, striving for the mastery, .re--
Trained themselves from all things that might
endanger their success and partook of what
| ever was useful to gaining strength and en-
| DURANGO. Then in eloquent tones he bids us
compare the pagan with the Christian athlete
| in the race for nober- crown. Only one
could possibly be the winner in those games
and then could expect only corruptible crown,
whilst the race for the imperishable prize, tor
be gained by each and all of us at the hands
of our Supreme Master, every one may be
| successful. Hence his powerful conclusion:
So run that you may obtain.
For you, dear graduates, the eventful hour
has arrived-the hour SO long desired and
labored for-when you are to enter the race
for crown, not the crown of gold or power
or social pre-eminence, for these will fade,
but the crown of noble Christian character,
that will adorn your life here like glittering
jewel and bring you the reward of unending
felicity in the eternal years that are to fol-
low.
The sacred pages of Holy Writ remind us
that our sojourn here is contest, a struggle,
a battle-ground that puts to the test our best
energies, where powerful enemies to be
conquered and where there must be either
glorious victory or ignominious defeat
In these days of world unrest we are ac-
customed to think and speak of war and
terms of war. Daily we see the patriotic sol
der in the fighting uniform of his beloved
land. entering the training camp to prepare
for real battle. We see him conquering the
enemy in the sky, in the trench and at the
bottom of the ocean. He looks for assistance
and encouragement from home and those near
him. and well he knows that if he is to fight
a glorious battle he must ever keep watchful
eye on his general and be ready at all times to
go whittier he is sent.
What perfect picture of the battle we all
are called upon to wage in this life. Were st.
Paul again to address his faithful band of
Christians. we may well imagine how he
would illustrate his message in modern terms.
"Over there" he would say. we have>all en-
listed in the all important service Of our SUI
preme Master, in love and loyalty to Him we
must go ''over the top and may then expect
"over there the palm of victory, the in
corruptible crown. But three must be no
camoufiage in our service, no deceit, no false
character, but truth and sincerity if we are
to be the winners.
Before the soldier enters the battlefield he
is sent to the training camp to prepare for
real battle. The training camps Almighty
God has provided for all of us, the home, the
church and the school. In each of them he has
placed His officers, who are to prepare us for
the battle of life.
!. In the home God has placed his most able,
and efficient officers. our good parents, father
and mother. who so wonderfully instill in our
hearts the important virtues of love, loyalty
and obedience, who mould our very life and
teach us those ideals that we t'pust strive to
attain to become useful citizens here and
worthy of reward of Gods own glorious
kingdom. And it is wonder that we should
set aside special day in memory of her. to
whom, after God, we owe all what we have
and are, our own good mother-the dearest
gift Of God to man. o that all the world
treat their mother as she treated them when
infants in her arms.
In the church we given greater oppor-
tunity to learn the life work and teachings of
the Chief of Officers, the generalissimo after
whom we are to pattern our own life. who is
the foundation of our hope and the source Of
all our strength.
And then there is the school which so nobly
develops the power of our mind, gives us
broader view of the battle arena and furnishes