The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1920-06-07
Baccalaureate Address by
Rev. f. A. Poole

against the will Of the people. There
is open treason by groups OF people
that are trying to overthrow our gov
Ell ment. The profteers and eX-
plciters are adding to the growing
discomfort. There is the same spirit
OF selshness and disregard of our
country's interest in united labor as
they deliberately approve of a partial
days labor for a full days pay.
This same selfish policy is trying TO
dictate our foreign policy, which is
as shameful as it is selfish. II you
don't believe his look at Armenia.
We face an opposition to established
order and justice in the international
4ei i'm, and we are not willing to ac
cept the responsibility, but like the
priest and the Levte pass by on the
other side.
This has brought about a turning
t) socialism, which is not freedom
q. all but dcspotism-the absolution
OF the state. We are witnessing to-
day not the failure of democracy, but
the pelversion Of democracy. Pop
ula. government or democracy can
reNor succeed when separated from
christianity. To remedy these many
lis we are turning back to the old
Hebrew theory which christianity
wa intended 20 supersedc. We are
ditregarding the gospel and turning
to law. Our labor unions are asking
for larger share CT the profits from
theil employees and would so limit
The hours by law and by soldering
and strikes that they are limiting
production and we face IA scarcity of
the necessities of life in our own
country and famine in the world.
As last resort government con-
troll is being advocated and it in evil
der ce. This only tensifies the very
evils it was intended to correst. 1t
j. selfshness contcnding with selsh-
moss and irving with the law to cir
crmvcnt selfishness. "a house divid-
cd AGAINST itself cannot stand
It is time to define democracy as
we have grossly perverted the def
milton. Liberty does not mean IL
ccnse. Is it a democracy for selfish
people? No, Is Lincoln said. at is
freedom for all or for none" De
nc cracy to be successful must be de-
fined as Government of christian
pee ple. by a christian people, and for
9 christian people We may as well
surrender all our ideals unless we arc
willing to adopt this definition. The
country that attempts popular gov
crrment must become christian
First because it is inherent man.
he cd. and again, because it is the
srrit of human service in the con-
duct of human relations.
Government control is only tenn
pclarv makeshift-necessary in a cri-
sis. The only effective control in a
democracy is moral control. The es-
SERGE of christianity is the spirit CT
honor in service Christ pleased not
himself; he was among his fellows as
ono who served. This IS the chris
tan standard. We have set this
standard for two great callings, the
ministry and the teaching profess
SIGN. Their rich remuneration has
been the joy of service. But there IS
no sense or justice in
singing out these professions. The
Christian standard should apply to all.
The christian standard is for all or
fol none. Without this standard the
spirit of democracy is doomed. We
had it in the great war, but we have
lost it now. We must restore Il. his
class and the generation it represents
must do it. The older generation is
about done. You are a chosen gen
Grafton and we look to you to save
America and the world. Once more
tho call is sounding to preserve the
urion--the union of christianity and
den ocracy Nothing else will save
America and the world. Government
control is a make-shift and delusiol
and moral control is the only hope
Please do not fail US in the great
crisis, but make the spirit of homer
and human service triumphant over
mans selfshness.
The service closed with the singing
of america"