The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1922-06-09
{ Graduation
GRADUATION.

vice which is part or the DAY
program. The Juniors decorated the
church with evergreen, blue flag,
and bridal wreath, the class colors
being blue and gold. Grace church
was crowded to it's capacity as the
class. led by the Marshal, Harold
Blake, marched up the center aisle
to the designated places. Special
music was sung by the choir and
Rev. T r Frost, d. D., gave splen-
did sermon on the theme of "Life's
Program" which follows:
What is human life without a pro-
gram 1t is even leaf driven hith-
err or thither by every gale. 1t is
chip tossed on the current; floating
toward the infinite sea. What is human
life with a mistaken program
journey through a desert, or to a
desert. What is human 1ife with bad
program A march or a dance through
a hell to hell.
Do you not think it best to have
good program for your life 2 1t Is my
privilege to recommend a program to
you. Only one program for % of you
The, same for each person You are
eleven boys and eleven girls. Or eleven
men and eleven women. Where is the
dividing line between boyhoo6 and
manhood? Girlhood and womanhood 2
Surely, when you have entered college,
you VIII have passed the line. You are
SO near the college portal that we will
think and speak of you as men and
women now.
But is the man among you to have
the same life program as the woman
among you 1 should hope SO. But
you viii engage in diverse occupations
and professions. Is lawyer to nave
the same life program as doctor
minister, merchant, farmer I should
hope so. OF course the program OF
details is not the same for any two
persons, even though they are
"TWo souls with but a single thought,
Two hearts that beat as one
But there may be program of pr1n-
ciples-of honesty, truthfulness, purity
high mindedness-eq desirable for
every person, of either sex, whatever
the occupation.
should give it as my, opinion that
the two most intellectual and eminent
Vermonters in public life in my time
were Geo. f Edmunds and Edward
Phelps. One a Republican I'M politics.
who. like the majority of Vermonters.
faithfully followed the Republican pro-,
gram from childhood to the grave. The
other a Democrat. who never swerved
from the Democratic program through
out his career. Their political programs
differed, even as one star differeth from
another star in glory. But there was
,,it, piTN1a n
which both men were loyal. and on
which they did perfectly agree.
When George Washington was about
~ years old he drew UP ITO rules for
conduct life program. Here are five
of them: "Play not the peacock, Think
before you speak. Speak not evil of the
absent Put on cheerful countenance.
Labor to keep alive in your breast that
little spark of celestial fire called
conscience" Those rules fitted as ap-
propriately into the life of Washington.
the commander-in- chief, Washington
the president. as into the life of Wash
ington, the youngster. The lifelong
observance of his code of conduct con-
tributed in large measure to his sue
cess.
Now, plung1ng to the heart of my
subject in sentence, the program
which I recommend to you is the pro-
gram for every human life set forth
in the teaching of Jesus the Christ.
have a text which gives me author
ity to make this recommendation. But
there are times when 1T is well for the
first to be last, and the last first This
is an occasion on which what is usual
" at the beginning shall come at the
end. Thus, whatever else my sermon
may be- or may not be, it will not end
in an anti-climaX.
How are you to know and understand
the life program set forth in the teach
ings of Jesus 1 shall not explain IT.
nor even tell you what it is Is it not
the business of the preacher to eX-
plain the requirements of Jesus and
urge their acceptance Undoubtedly
that is a part of his business, but it is
no part of my business this morning
There are good and wise men who
think they know and understand these
requirements and are willing to give
Won the benefit of their ideas.a The
voices of cardinals. bishops. doctors Of
divinity and other things also OF per-
sons equally wise and good, who are
and who hold no ecclesiastical offices
are heard in the land declaring and OK
pounding the program of Jesus. Some
of these persons may be able to hell
you in understanding it and in
carrying it out. And you never VIII
become so good. so wise. so great. al
not to need the help of other good anf
wise persons. on a variety OF matters
A truth which in the exaltations Of
graduation it may be difficult for 70,
to realize. Nevertheless. / do not re
commend you to take Christ's program
unuuestboningiy and unreservedly from
any person.
Well. IL not from individuals. shal
you take it upon the authority of tbs
church, Far be it from me to dis
parage the church. Numerous per
sons of broader vision and greate
powers of analysis. discrimination ant
satire are doing 1t industriously. From
the platform, in the press. on thu
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