Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 108, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 May 1917 — REV. BEARD ADDRESSES H. S. GRADUATES [ARTICLE]

REV. BEARD ADDRESSES H. S. GRADUATES

“Stick” Was the Subject of Baccalaureate Address Given to 23 High School Graduates. Rev. F. H. Beard, of the Baptist church, delivered one of the greatest sermons to the members of the high school class of 1917 that it was ever the privilege of Rensselaer people to hear. Every single member of the class cannot help but be inspired by the words of advice contained in the sermon of Rev. Beard and it should be of inestimable value during the latter years of their lives. There we re several musica 1 numbers ren tered during the evening by the audience* the high school chorus, Mrs. Bert Hopkins and the girls’ quartet, and all added to the pleasure of the evening. The subject of “Stick,” as delivered by the speaker, follows; ; “Stick,” Psa. 119-31, Pro. ' 18-24. Jas. 4. Intrb.: Defination: “To Adhere. To Abide. To told fast to any position so as to be removed with difficulty. It has been well said that the strength of the English language Bes in its short words. These are the words in which the emotions of love and hate, joy and grief, and all the nobler feelings oL our souls seek expression. “Stick” is one of the strongest of this group. In fact it tells largely the secret of our country’s development. Historically, England is made of the same sterling quality. , The following is related of a man from the U. S. who was visiting an •English" friend m-Ganada-r - They were driving thru the city park when the Englishman called the American’s attention to some old fashioned cannon that were mounted in the grounds. “Do you see those cannon,” slyly asked the Englishman. “I see,” said the American. “Well those are some of the cannon that we took from you at Bunker Hill,” complacently continued the Englishman. “But I want you to wit,” retorteci the American, “that we kept the hil’ and please God we mean to keep it to the end of time.” It is this ‘element of “stick” tha. has made England and America the leading nations of the world. It is this sterling quality which means so much in the making or marring of a life Because of this fact, therefore, young Ladies and gentlemen of the graduating class, I wish to call your attention to the importance of this little word in your life’s work. I. Stock to Somethin«. Text. There are Kosts that never stick to anything. (1) Many business failures are due tn the lack of this element. (2) Many professional failure traceable to same deficiency. - (1) Unstable. f3) Many in all vocations fail because Tf~ dependence. All these are like the chaff, that the wind driveth away. It is entirely worthless and good for nothing. (b) “It is hard pounding (sticking) gentlemen,” said Wellington at Waterloo, “but we shall see who will pound (stick) the longest.” So there are many who are represented by the psalmist as a t I ’ , ?e planted Ibv the rivers of water th a I brinigeth forth his fitiit in his season: his leaf also shall not wither: and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (1) Stick to business, overcome difficulties and thuff gain success. Be a power in the business world for honesty and fair dealing. 11. Stick to Something Worth While. Be sure it is a good thing. (a) The devil sticks to whatever he undertakes with an infernal persistence.

,e sticks to business with a tenacity of purpose worthy of a better cause. x (c) So ungodly men-Atidc-boo often to their ungodliness. (1) Ephraim to his idols. (2) The drunkard to. his cups. Intemperance. (3) The miser to his gold. “The love of money is the root of all evil.” (d) There are few human beings.'a whom you can afford to stick? (1) Yet “a friend loveth at all times and a brother is born for adversity.” Such devotion as that of David and Jonathan, does much to redeem the element of friendship and love in humanity tho such examples are the exception and not*the rule. (2) “Woman sticks to a shattered hulk of a man whom all the world has forsaken, illustrating what the poet has said: -- - - Woman’s live, like ivy, .. Where it grows ’tis seen To wear an everlasting green, Like ivy, to, ’tis found too Often to cling around a worthless thing.” , William Wirt became a drunkard. Most of his friends forsook him. But one, his sweetheart, afterward his wife, stuck to him. He became so drunk one day.that he igot down in the gutter. She, passing iby, recognized him, spread her kerchief over his face that the curious passersby might not recognize him and also to protect his face from the sun. He awoke, saw her name on the kerchief, touched by her devotion, then and there, resolved that he would never take another drop of liquor. He stuck to his resolve. She stuck to him and he became attorney general of the

U. S. A. J v , (a) Stick to those who need a helping hand. Be a friend. (b) Stick to the friend true and tried. Be a helper. * 4 (c) Stick to your calling onlv so long as it tends to minister to humanities’ many needs and to the better living of all concerned. (d) There is no man to whom we may stick without question* except Jesus of Nazareth, He passeth by today. He alone is the light of men. To Him alp,ne can we_ stick with certainty of love, and help at all times and under all circumstances. “To the law and to the testimony if they speak not according to this word t is because there is'no light in them. Hence the words, I have stuck to thy ■testimonies. 111. The Bible and Jesus Christ are the only things in all the universe to which we may stick eternally. i(a) The Bible or Word of God is

eternal. (1) We can afford to stick to it. Its history is verified. (2) Its science is faultless. (3) Its ethics of life is pure and ekalting. No other so expansive. (4) Its teaching as to doctrine and duty is clear and certain. (5) Its precepts and examples are neither impossible nor irksome in application to or amplification in toe life; stock to the Word. (b) Jesus the same yesterday, today and forever. None other like unto Him. His, Mission. Stick to Him. He will stick to you always. (1) His love. (2) His sacrifice. (3) His power. 4) His service. All given that men in all climes and at all times might live the best life possible. As partner in your life’s work, young people of the graduating class, Jesus will enable you to render the highest and most efficient service possible to your home, church, community, state, nation and the world at large. Live the biggest life possible by sticking to Jesus, for “In Him was life and the life was the light of men." * Yes, a friend is never known till needed. In calamity false friends make excuses and hastily go. Lip friends relapse into silence andrpass into oblivion, but a true friend will “stick and us” no matter what comes. The friends thou hats and their adoption tried, 'G Grapple them to th- soul with books of steel.” ■ .. . Jesus is indeed the “friend above all others, whose love can span the distance between His throne in glory and the meanest hovel upon earth, and having suffered being tempted, has proved himself to, be pre-emin-ently the friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” ■■■■■“STn'b'arf<sWS~tlrc‘--suut —Religion-en-larges it. Young men and young ladies, as you go your ways in life I covet for you the enlarged soul, with a world wisdom. A world strife is now on. After the war ceases a world reconstruction in every sense of the word is sure to come. To be able to do your part and do it well, you must have this world wisdom with not only' your education but with a true appreciation of moral and religious values in life. David had this vision and expressed the secret of its possession in the words, “I have tuck to Thy Ttestimonies.” It is my earnest prayer that ou one and all will so continue your edu cation in the schools of higher learning and in the sterner but not the least important school of experience, that-when-your life’s work draws near the closing hour you can say with the Psalmist and of the Great Teacher, “I have stuck to -thy testimonies,” and with the wise one of old “There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” " Yes, stick to those in need, stick to friends true and tried, stick to yoru home with all its sacredness; be patriotic and stick to your country in times of stress us well as in peace. But, young people, above all else, in oivki- to best serve all the foregoin g stick to Jesus and His Word.