Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1927-05-19
BACCALAUREATE SERVICE
FINE SERMON DELIVERED

An audience which taxed the ca
pacity of the opera house gathered
SUNDAY evening at the baccalaureate
service for the graduates OF M. and
M. high school The stage was ar
tistically decorated with ferns. and
Occupying it were the speaker of the
levening, Rev. E. F. Kendle, pastor OF
the Main Street Church of Christ:
Rev. G.. d. Clifford, pastor of the
Malta M. e. church; a girls chorus
from the high school, and Miss Ruth
Pursel, music supervisor in the
schools.
The members of the graduating
classic in number, wearing their
caps and gowns, and members of the
high school faculty, entered the aud
itorium, occupying seats toward the
front, and members of the families
represented by the various graduates
occupied seats to the rear of them,
the whole center section of seats
having been reserved for this pur-
pose. At the time of the entrance
of the class, a selection was furnish
ed by an orchestra from the high
school, under the direction of Miss
Pursel.
Rev. G. D. Clifford presided at the
service which followed. The opening
number of the program was the
singing of America by the congrega-
ton, directed by Miss Pursel. Rev.
Mr.. Clifford led in prayer and gave
the Scripture reading the third
chapter of First Corinthians, the
central thought of which is For
other foundation can no man lay
than that is laid, which is Jesus
Christi A special musical number
was furnished by the girls choir,
with Miss Pursel as pianist An add
ed touch in the effectiveness of the
decoration of the stage, was the ap-
pearance of the girls. They were all
in white, looked pretty, and fitted in
harmoniously.
The address of the evening, given
by Rev. Mr.. Kendle, was excellent
one of the best we have heard here.
Mr.. Kendle is young man of good
presence, has pleasing voice,
enunciates clearly, expresses himself
well, speaks without manuscript, and
had evidently made careful prepara-
tion for his sermon. He began by
quoting the beautiful poem of Kip
lings, showing the correct building
of life and the final test of man,
and from that took up his theme, the
building of life, and the test of char
acter. 81 have laid the foundation.
and another buildeth thereon. But
let every man take heed how he
buildeth ~thereupon.'' He showed
that it is desirable thing for per-
son to be born well, to have the in
heritance of good blood; also good
training and environment in the
home, but that the effect of these can
be destroyed in the life by evil COM
panionship. He pictured the sacri-
efces that many parents undergo in
the rearing of the children and pro-
viding the means for their education,
and the desirability that the chill
dren should render adequate return
in filial regard and worthwhile lives.
He drew lessons from the life OF
the prodigal son who wandered away
from his fathers house and wasted
his life in loose living; also from the
elder son who staid at home and
looked after the fiocks and herds in
dustriously, and showed how the
fathers love encompassed them both
and extended mercy to the erring
fhof tho latter a.
turned to his fathers home and love-
The older son had also his fathers
love and had built his life ON a fourl-
dation that had caused him to stay
with the worthwhile things of life.
It is important that wise choice or
the foundation of life be made.
All, however, whether it be the
prodigal son who "wanders away
from his fathers home" and advice.
and sauanders his life, bringing
trouble and sorrow into his own life
and the lives of others, or the ether
son who "stays by the herds" and
might perhaps thereby become bit
complacent in his good life and cor
rect living, need the right founda-
tlOu, 10 luSulC di1 anu wv WV W
life.
That foundation, in the last analy-
sis, is Jesus Christ, faith in whom Is z
the rock upon which the Master an
nounced he would build his church.
It is the house built upon the rock
that weathers the storms, as the
Master showed in pertinent lessons
to his hearers. No good Inheritance
of birth, no training or education or
correct living, can make the round
ed, complete life, if the foundation
Jesus Christ, is lacking. 1t is the
great foundation worthwhile for
time and eternity.
Rev. Kendle closed his discourse
with a quotation from Longfellow's
Psalm of Life.
The girls chorus sang another
special number, and the service clos
ed with the benediction by Rev. Mr..
Clifford.
Re.Charter Patriotic Meeting
The McConnelsville Boy Scout
troop is arranging for an interest
ing meeting on Tuesday evening,