The Parisian. (Paris, Tenn.) 1907-1962, 1920-05-21
BACCALAUREATE
SERMON COMPARES
MANHOOD TO GOLD
Graduates Admonished Not To Leave
Our Moral Character In Plans
For Future.
BACCALAUREATE ADDRESS BY
DR.. TILLETT OF VANDERBILT
Forty Two Graduates and Capacity
House Creets Speaker at First
Methodist Church.

Taking his text from Is. 1912, DIR.
w. F. Tillet, dean of theology of
Vanderbilt University, delivering the
baccalaureate sermon at the First
Methodist church on Sunday morning
to the forty two Grove graduates and
a capacity house audience, spoke on
Manhood versus MoAey. He am
swered the questions: "What is mon
ey, what is mani" "How is mon
ey made, how is manhood NADER"
What is the mission of money when
made, what is the mission of man? ?"
His delineation of his chosen text
his sincerity of appeal to the young
people just reaching the highway of
life, his impressive and forceful de-
livery--held the vast audience in
attentive appreciation for more than
an hour.
Whenever the Lord has work to
be done in the world, man is got ready
for it," began the speaker "There
is always need for manhood, and
God is always calling for volunteers.
Not through conscripts, though, does
the Creator and Sovereign work. He
also needs money, though not money
alone. Two things are needed to
carry on the Lords work, Manhood
and Money"
He said that the highest aristocracy
of our American nation, of our own
Southland, of our state and county
was firm moral character, that be-
fore the World War, the aristocrat of
New York, was he with money; the
aristocrat of Boston, he of literary
culture; the ari'tocrat of Washington
City, he with the best chance for re-
election; the aristocrat of Chicago,
he of brains and push and power,
who caused tie biggest new thing to
{ happen in the shortest possible time |;
the aristocrat of London, he of loble
blood; and the aristocrat of Constant
tinople, he who in the highest degree
could administer to lust and carnal
pleasure, but that aristocracy as God
sees it, is not made up of money, Pc
litical preferment, commercialism,
family blood, or carnal pleasure, but
"are you cultured Christian, then
you are an aristocrat" and an aris-
tocratic life is life of service"
Emphasizing the figure in his text,
DR.. Tillct said that no better meta
phor could be found to say 'that
man is pure gold" that what gold is
among the metals, so is pure manhood
in the realm of character, that paper
money had no real value, that silver
fuctuated, but that gold was worth
100 cents to the dollar anywhere in
the world, as likewise was true man
hood, and that no higher compliment
could be paid than to say, 'he is a
man. or she is woman
He also declared moral character
to be the best collateral, and stated
that a Christian education would
bring the best possible investment
the pure gold of manhood, that would
give itself in service for others.
"Don't leave out moral character, in
your plans for the future, young
people," he said. "Sound Arithme-
tic for the pulpit-for any Christian
profession is, that the sermon, or the
value of the profession is just plus
or minus the character Of the man.
he who lives uprightly all the days OF
the week"
The speaker warned his hearers a.
gainst compromising their moral
characters, saying no happiness no1
honor ever resulted from moral
compromise, and urged them "to keep
the white ermine of their characters
spotless." He approved the honor
system of Southern institutions, as
an aid to strengthening the moral
character of the students. He de-
fined Man, as something down
right honest, bat-footed, open1heart
ed, sincere, and of pure gold".
Four institutions making manhood
DR.. Tillett declared to be, the Chris
tian home, the Christian school, the
church, and righteous civil govern,
ment. In speaking of the power ot
a Christian home, where love dwells
as builder of character, he paid {
beautiful character to Mother. Ht
said that it was the duty of the stat'
to put down everything that defeated
character building, and that the hom,