News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1918-06-26
BACCALAUREATE SERMON
Delivered by Rev. Frank A. StOckwell Be-
fore P. A. Glass Of 1918
bject: ESSE GUAM VIDERI

Subject: ESSE GUAM VIDERI
Text: Ephesians 6:10 "Be strong in tn
Lord and in the power of His might"
Esse guam videri. You have trans
lated it "To be is better than to be
SEEM" 1t might also have been trans
lated, 80 be rather than seemingly to
be-"
Mottos are chosen as beacon lights to
guide the way over the stormy sea OF
life, and to land us safely and surely il
the harbor of Content. A foolish man is
the captain who does not guide his ship
according to the message which the
beacon carries and unfortunate are the
passengers who put their faith in him
and trust him to guide them safely to
shore. Lighthouses are not used today
because they are of time onored ira.
dition but because they are of practical
help.
1t is pity that we do not pay closer
attention to mottos because they are to
life's journey what a beacon light is to a
sea journey-they help to bring Us safe
ly to our goal. Instead of being used as
a practical help, motto is too often
chosen as a matter of form and custom.
The motto committee is assigned to the
task of putting together, with as few
words as possible, the greatest express
sion of condensed wisdom that ever was
spoken by the tongue of man. For a
week or more each member of that
chosen group racks his brains to the ut
most to fulfill worthily the task hat has
been placed upon his shoulders. 1t is az
all important task. The future of the
class depends upon that motto. TIE
committee finally meets. Each member
appears at the meeting with heavy eyes
as result of several sleepIess nights,
some feeling rewarded for the nights of
restessness, others not quite satsfi ID
with results, but forced from lack of
time, to submit what they have. After
much weighty discussion and argume emit
the motto is finally chosen aud submitted
to the class for adoption. The class not
being quite satisfied refers it back to the
committee for further consideration and
after more sleepless nights and another
meeting it is again placed before the
class for adoption. II is accepted and at
graduation, appears at the top of the
Commencement program in the place of
honor, which it assuredly deserves, that
the world might know that here is the
rule and guide of the greatest class that
ever graduated from any institution.
A year following the graduation
of the class is asked to give the
class motto. "Why er- er- really-I
can't think just now what it is but if you
will wait minute l will look it up.
"He refers to his stunt book. Yes, there
it is at the head of the program, "Esse
guam videri." Great blessings are stunt
books and diaries. l wish thai [ had |
kept one now that might tell you what |
words of wisdom were in the motto of
that illustrious class of 1905
Am | ridiculing or being sarcastic?
No, for what 1 say is only too true, aud
as l have already said, it 10 pi1abls.
And it is because we SO easily forget
mottos that 1 thought it w)ald b. wise
10 preach on a subject that refers es-
pecially to these-words of wisdom which
you have chosen that they might b 'tter
be retained in your minds aud made
vital part of your future action, because
| believe, should you seriously determine
n your hearts TO live in the spirit OF this
MOTTO, that you will becoms the most
amous class that ever graduated from
his institution or any other institution.
'To be is better than to q, cen"
There is something very signiticansa-
hat expression "To be- To be! To b /
What? To be shiftlesss To be lazy?
70 Je failuresP To be wrOng-doers?
You have not told us, how shOlld We
now? You surely have not expressed
D words what you meant.
In spite of the fact that you have not
Did us. we would be fools and degener.
ties if we did not know what you meant.
/ would mean that we had lost all sense
{ the goodness of God; it would mean
rat we had lost all faith in humanity,
nd in the idealism of youth if we did
OF know without you telling rs what
on meant. We kno that 10 your
carts and minds there is the desire to