Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-06-12
Commencement Sermon of the Stanton Female
Seminary.

In the Lutheran Church. on last Sunday even
ing, the commencement sermon Of the Staun-
ton Female Seminary was preached by Rev. j..
l. Miller, the Principal of that Institution
Like all sermons delivered by him on similar
occasions it was very appropriate, and marked
by sound, practical sense and good counsel, and
earnest solicitude for the temporal and spiritual
welfare of his pupils and we regret that, for the
want of space, we are unable to give it the no.
tice it deserves.
The text was 81 portion of the Sth verse of the
4th chapter of the epistle of Paul to the Philip
pians:-"Whatsoveve things are lovely, think
on these things
Lovely is q word which is often misapplied,
and it always grated upon the feelings of the
speaker to hear il applied to a bonnet. 1t may
be applied with proprety to character, and to
the character alike Of both sexes, though it is a
feminine term, and specially applies to that o.
females. To be lovely is to be womany; and to
be womanly, is to be lovely.
He considered the subject first negatively by
showing what was net lovely.
Selfishness is not lovely, but odious-it is
to female character as is the dead fly in the
apothecary's ointment
The time was whom it was considered woman S
highest Office to sew, darn, patch. wash, bake,
and cook but that time, fortunately, has pass
ed, and whilst these are duties which it is still
proper for her to perform, yet she is qualified for
higher attachments, and no woman, can now
afford to be ignorant. With two many it is yet
true that they have but three principal topics
| Of conversation-wha is good to eat; what is
fashionable to wear; and beaux.
Their minds should be cultivated and their
tastes improved. They should read poetry-not
the sentimental nonsense. niiscaled poetry
but such as is elevating and improving in its
character as that of Milton, Young. and Pollok.
Gossiping, meddiing, &C., are not lovely, and
these vices are not confined to the female sex.
In considering the subject affirmatively, he
dwelt upon the virtues which are lovely, and
mentioned particularly modesty. sincerity,
compassion, affection, sympathy, and the
browning virtue-piety.
Modesty is the protection and glory OF female
character The doctrine Of so-called woman's
| rights, he characterized as hell-born.
Sincerity is indispensable, and no circHm-
stances can justify assembling, AS Mrs. Phelps
truly says, "fattery among school girls is too
common a vice." The love of praise is an APP
petite that grows upon what it feeds, and it
should not be gratified,
| Compassion, kindness, tenderness, and SYM
pathy for the humble and unfortunate, should
be prominent features in the character of fe-
males.
The crowning virtue, however. is piety-hon-
est, sincere, devoted piety,
In concluding his remarks, he alluded in a
feeling manner to the fact that all his grown
pupils, with one exception, had become MEM
bers of the church, and expressed the hope that,
though they would be separated in a few days
never again to meet on earth, they would meet
in another and better world where parting IL
unknnWn, and where they wanld spend tQgeth-
er an eternity ofbliss. The hearts Of his pupils
were deeply moved, and the cheeks of many
were suffused with tears.
The commencement exercises of this school
will take place tomorrow evening in the
Chapel of that Institution, on which occasion
the address will be delivered by Rev. J. o. Mil
Ter, D. D., Of f9rK, IA,