Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-06-13
CHAPEL HILL, June s, 1SJ:

Mcssrs. EDITORS Il did not see you among lis
numerous lights OF law, science literature and
ligon that We're congregated at our late Commence
ment. knowing that you and many Of your read
greatly enjoy such congregations, when permit
ted to attend thcm | thought it likely that you
would prefer having description of the festivities
up here to being utterly uninformed concerning
them. In other communities lind traces OF
connection between the State and Religion but it
is glory peculiar believe, to North Carolina, that
she interests the State i'll Literature and Science.
have heard surprise expressed by visitors both
from South Carolina and Virginia. at the pains taken
by the learned in law and politics to be present at
our Commandments; and that ther numbers
great, to entirely eclipse those of the clergy
who the most prominent in other States. 1t
augurs well for the perrnanence If not for the pro-
greSS of any refined state of society," when those
who now contribute to It's advancement take such
to establish their in the paths they
have trad with much credit to themselves and
benefit to their community. We hope that this
spirit may long continne to animate North Carolina.
The exercises of this week BEGAN Monday,
by the examination of the college classes, their
proficiency i'll the know ledge of the Bible. notice
in a late number Of the U1,ice'sit1 Nagazine that
twelve per cent of the time of student at Uni
yerslty is devoted to immediate instruction in the
Bible Man is SO constituted, that the seasoning in
his food must always be small fraction of its gross
amount. One must judge that the intellectual pabrl-
lum OF students is well provided with healthful
correctves, if the spirit that devotes large
ton OF their time to religious teachings is at all sue
tention is paid to the Word of God we are confident
that the laws which regulate His Works present
ed and apprchended in revcrental spirit; and
our youths led through nature up to natures
God"
At night, the sermon before The graduating class
was preached by the Rev. Benjamin M. Palmer, DID.
"a pastor of the Presbyterian church-from CO.
lumbia, S. c. Many excellent and appropriate dis
courses have been pronounced on this occasion, in
Gerard Hail. Hawks, and Gretter, and Hooper, and
Deems, have set the claims of holy faith in
striking lights before the crowds assembled at such
an interesting time But no of them succeeded
better in his object than did Dr. Palmer, Monday
last For an hour and twenty minutes, crowded
house held in almost breathless delight. Some
declared they could have stayed till day-break The
| text was" Then Simon Peter answered him
Lord to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words
| OF eternal life, And we believe and are sure that
thou art that Christ, the Son Of the living Cod
| John, vi: 6s, SO. After showing that religion was
necessary to man as was food that wOrshipping
! was as natural to him walking-the preacher
proceeding the ground that the only question to
US was between the true and some false religion
presented to his hearers series of striking con-
trastS, between the doctrines of the Bible and the
dogmas of other systems, both past and present. A
! solemn and eloquent recommendation of the faith
| that comes from Sinai and from Calvary to the ac-
ceptance of each nearer, closed discourse remark
able for the depth of its philosophy, the severity of
its logic, the aptness of its illustrations, the ele
gance of its dction and the gracefuness of its de-
| livery We are glad to hear that the public will
have an opportunity of judging for itself of this
cellent essay. The press will enable us to examine
at our leisure, some of the veins of thought that
! crop out OF the sermon in many places, and pro-
| mise to disclose unusual riches.
While We thus express our qualification at the
Sermon we must protest against having the solemn