The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-29
NOBLE CAUSES
invoke TRIALS
or PERSECUTION
Or. G. A. Andreen Tells Augustana
Graduates That Christ Spirit
Gives Strength.

when Jesus left this world. His
disciples would have DISCOURAGED
and scattered had it not been for
the promises of the Holy Spirit to
guide and to strengthen them,
which promise was fulfilled in
wonderful manner al Pentecost."
These words formed the keynote of
the baccalaureate sermon given by
DR.. G. A. Andreen, president of
Augustana college, at the services
held in Zion Lutheran church, Rock
Island. yesterday.
Applying his text to the present
age and those living in it, he con-
tinued I'VE are yet living in the
era of the Holy Spirit which has
built up Gods kingdom on earth,
and abides with all who earnestly
invoke His guidance. The great
comfort which He doth offer to
suffering humanity and to hearts
longing for peace is the salvation
offered us through Jesus Christ,
His atonement and victory over sin
and death.
lluOuL Tie "OTh DI the HOLY
Spirit. there would be no Christian
church, no kingdom of God upon
earth. Every Christian school and
college is a fruit of the life engen-
dered by the Holy Ghost in human
hearts AS graduates, We today
thank and adore the Holy Spirit for
the light we have received and for
the blessed guidance which has
come into our lives and our expert
ences.
aye also shall bear witness
says our text. The influence of the
Spirit shall appear in our daily life,
in our business activities, in our
cultivation of art and music, in our
influence for good in the munich
pality, ana in the state in our eff
forts for the advancement of the
kingdom of God.
Strength For Opposition.
I'm obeying this bequest from
above. we must expect opposition
and even persecution. They shall
put you out OF the synagogues;
yea, the time cometh that. whose
ever killeth you will he doeth God
movements is one of suffering. of
misunderstanding, of imputation, of
wrong motives, of persecution.
Read in that light the story of
the prophets of old, of the apostles,
of st. John, the author of our text,
of the martyrs, of Athanasius, of
the reformers, of the pilgrim faith
ers. We consider Abraham Lincoln
as one of the greatest men of all
times; and yet during his life. ridi-
Guile was heaped upon his head, and
the assassin's bullet ended his life.
The pioneer fathers who founded
our church in the northern Missis-
sippi valley were also the object
of much opposition and enmity.
And yet the Holy Spirit teaches
that it is worth while to give our
selves to endure all things, and to
sacrifice. if need be, our lives in a
noble cause. We celebrate soon
Memorial day in memory of the
men who gave their best endeavors
and their lives to the Civil war and
in the Great war for the preserva-
ton of liberty for our country and
for the world. Not in vain did they
give the full measure of their de-
votion. We and generations to
come are receiving untold benefits
from their sacrifice. The Holy
Spirit will fill our hearts with peace
and joy as we accomplish His
work.
The Greatest Victory.
Graduates, go forth then as
champions of what is right and
true If We lose your lives in the
service of a great cause, we gain it,
yea, We gain everlasting life May
the spirit of truth strengthen you
in every endeavor and guide you in
all the days of your life"