Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-09
BACCALAUREATE FOR
GRADUATING CLASS
GARDINER HIGH "a

Rev. n. L. Skillin, pastor Of the First
Baptist church OF this city. was the
speaker at the baccalaureate services
for the senior class held in the high
school auditorium Sunday afternoon.
The hall was filled with relatives and
friends OF the graduates. the class was
marshaled in by James Davidson, pres
ioent. and after they were seated a
selection was rendered by a quartet
consisting Of Keith Ryan, Miss Flor
ence Moody. Mrs Eleanor Fleming and
Samuel Titcomb. Scripture was read
by Rev. NJ. G. Folsom, pastor Of the
Cniversalist church, after which prayer
was said by Ret Edw. C. McAllister
OF Christ church. Principal c. z. Tay-
lor introduced Rev. Mr.. Skillin, who
began by saying that he approached
the task Of giving the sermon with
required the best in any man. and that
he appreciated the opportunity given
him.
The time Is properly called COM
mencement, as It Is truly commencing,
graduates are starting out in life not
only with the knowledge they have re-
ceived but with the training their
minds have received. When all life is
over we will still be commencing, for It
requires one life TO learn how to live.
Speaking Of the usual custom OF speak
ing OF success in life on such occa-
sions as this, Mr.. Skillin said that first
We should ask, What do We mean by
success7r Some men rise to eminence.
and yet they have not made a'success
OF life. Many start out with the wrong
idea OF success in life. The speaker
quoted from the 2sth Chapter of Prov
erbs, 18th verse: ''where there IL no
vision. the people perish" We must
learn to live. Thousands have gone to
the highest and yet failed in life. We
must learn to distinguish between near
success and true living, and must seek
the best and make life pay US divi-
bends. It has been said that we have
lost our vision OF the true value OF life.
We are living in a "jaxx age" and we
seem to have ''jaxx finance, Jazz politics
and even jazz religions" We need to
get our lost sense OF proportion re-
stored and II Is the duty OF Christian
ministers to help in restoring this.
Gold 10 q splendid thing as q servant,
but II IL terrible thing as a master.
Rev. Mr.. Skillin declared that we must
have true character. and said that
this was his real topic for true eharac-
ter 10 the greatest prize and the great
est success OF life. Man timber IS what
Ii needed. and the world cannot exist
without honest men and women and
character. Character abides when other
things are gone. and he went on TO
point out different instances in history
where the character Of a certain indi-
vidual stood out from the deeds Of sup
posedly greater personages.
True character reaches It's highest
and best when man Ia living in har-
mony with God. II the material things
satisfy q person. inevitably we find
failure In the end Learn TO live. Make
life that is real Make q life that
IL true: 20 that At the end you may
60 into eternity without fear. Man
hood and womanhood 10 what is needed.
The speaker extended his best wishes
TO the members OF the class that they
might acquire all that is best and high
est in life and that they might succeed
in every walk Of life.
After this inspiring address the class
was marshaied out. each one being
deeply impressed with the sincerity and
force OF the speakers words.