Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-06-19
WESLEYAN Female te-COmmencement Exer-

On last Sunday night. in the Methodist
church, the closing exercises of the Wesleyan
Female Institute were begun by the preaching
of the Commencement sermon by Bishop KAY
anaugh, of Kentucky at II O'Clock in the morn
ing, and the sermon before the Young Ladies'
Christian Association in the evening.
BISHOP KAvANAUGH'S SERMON
was founded on the 97th, 9Sth Goth and Tooth
verses of CXIX Psalm:
"Oh low love 1 thy law it is my meditation
Thou through thy commandments hast
made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are
ever with me.
ST have more understanding than all my
teachers: for thy testimonies are my medita-
ton.
81 understand more than the ancients, be-
cause keep thy precepts."
His grand theme was Wisdom-true wisdom
and not that kind of wisdom which is falsely
so-calIed. He addressed himself specially to
the young ladies-they being seekers after
knowledge. The line of distinction between
wisdom and knowledge was very plainly drawn.
Wisdom consists in the choice of the best
things to do us most good, and the wisest means
to attain that end is the right use of knowledge.
Man may possess knowledge, but act foolishly
Some of the most splendid geniuses are guilty of
the most egregious follies, and are miserable all
their lives
A proper disposition of mind is derived alone
from love of God and his laws. In our natural
state none of us love God because we have the
carnal mind which is enmity against Goa.
A radical change must be wrought ID US be-
fore we can love God-the old man must ne
crucified-we must be baptized into the death of
Christine "died unto sin once; but in that he
liveth, he liveth unto God"-he died unto sin
and was raised unto life. The old man is cruel
| fled and the new man is raised up
| Why is human nature opposed to.God? Be-
cause it is not disposed to take religion which
| reouires self-denial. Weare depraved- fallen
love sin rather than holiness-we love pleasure
| more than the service of God-not only the
| learned but the unlearned. All opposition to
| God is the out-cropping of this enmity and car
| naIity 1.-THE things that would do do not ;
therefore it is net I, but the sin that dwelleth
in me" Humanity is opposed to God because
the old man has not been crucifed.
| Consciousness is the strongest evidence of the
love of God. The Psalniist knew-had the con-
| seriousness that he loved God and that God
| loved him.
True science is in the understanding of Gods
| ways and dongs. The true Scientist is not in
the way of the progress of Christianity, if it be
not that which is falsely so-caled. These false
| ~ so-called Scientists have charged that the
Christians God is blind, impersonal being-a
God of chance. But the true Christian knows
that he has personal Coda God of reason
and design, and not one OF accident and chance.
! The Psalmist saw and received wisdom from
the commandments of God. There never has
a like amount of wisdom been compressed into
| the same number of words as is contained in
| the ten commandments.
Christianity rectiies the fallen nature of man
and makes him wise unto salvation.
! Our teachers without the commandments OF
God do not understand. Wisdom is the right
4 use of knowledge.
The Bible is the best authenticated volume
4 ever prnted-God has proven it by the best of
evidepce-C proved himself to be OF God
in his wonderful works-he was acknowledged
by God, angels and men to be the Son of God.
He exhorted his hearers to accept the teach
ings OF the Bible it's precepts being those of true
wisdom, and best adapted for all things-bcst to
live by and best to die by.
| REV. JOHN A. KERN's SERMON =.
| at night was founded the ist verse of the 18th
chapter OF st. Luke's Gospel:
"And it came to pass that, as he was pray ing
in certain place, when he ceased, one OF his
disciples said unto him. Lord, teach us to pray.
as John also taught his disciples.
He took for his theme, Unconscious Influence.
Our influence and moral power flows from our
lives into ths lives of others. All our faculties
and powers belong to God. Personal influence
is either for good or evil. Death is nothing. but
life is everything There are two kinds Of infu-
| ence-conscious and unconscious. In admoni-
lions to Others there is notso much in the words
used as there is in the tones of voice. The
! words may be soft as summer air, and yet the
tone may break the heart. Our lives have tone
| NCa rt a mi w
er we desire It or not Wecannot avoid having
an influence either for good or evil Even
death does not destroy it. The world is much
indebted to graves that are never visited for
the influences of their occupants.
| DIR. Dudley, approaching a house once,
heard child reading the words, 'As our days
so shall our strength be- and it made lasting
impression on him; and we now sing his
hymns, some Of which were doubtless inspired
by the words of Scripture read by this little
| child.
I There is no power earth that can prevent
us from doing good If our lives are upright-un-
conscious influence is inevitable. He compar-
ed our lives to letter or book which is ever
open for inspection. Every day we live those
around us receive impressions from us. We
cannot make social call without giving and
receiving Impressions. Unconscious influence,
| is 10ccSSJIL Inu llluSL pTOuucC SLupenuOuS re-
| suits.
| 1t is not the thunder storm that produces the
harvest, but countless other influences con-
stantly brought to bear on the seed and the
soir AS to the responsibility of unconscious
influence he said we will not be responsible for
the influence itself but for the fountain from
| which it proceeds. We should not ask ourselves
the question as to the effect of our actions, but
enquiries it.pure? is it right? He exhorted
his audience generally and the young ladies
particularly, to become bright and shining
| christians and reflect all the christian virtues
in their daily lives, and as responsible beings
| ''let not the light that is within you be dark
ness"
Both of these sermons were delivered before
large audiences, with great power and earnest
ness, and were listened to with marked atten-
ton.
We do not attempt to give even skeleton OF
either of them, but simply give our readers a
feint outlive OF the general thread of discourse
Before the sermon in the morning the choir
sang very beautiful authenticate q joyful
noise unto the Lord"-in which Miss Lizzie
Daniel sang a solo most exquisitely.
At night the Choir sang "Cast thy Burden on
the Lord" and Miss Daniels vocal class sang
the Syabat Mater, in fine style.
Last night, while we were at press, occurred
the final celebration of the Lee and Jackson
Literary Society, in the Grange Hall. The fol-
low was the programmes
Salutatory, by Miss Roberta p. Johnston, o.
Virginia.
| Essay, by Miss Mary G. Dice, of Maryland.
Essay, by Miss Lula Richards. of Maryland.
Essay by Miss Loula II. Hutchinson, of Vir-
ginia.
Valedictory. by Belle Q. Harris. OF Virginia.
+ Music by the Stonewall Band was interspers-
ed between the essays.
Tonight will occur the Annual Soiree. on
which occasion magnificent programme will
be rendered.
Tomorrow night will be the final night. The
following is the programme:
Salutatory, by Miss Table II. Yelverton, o.
Texas.
; Glass Essay, by Miss Alice A. Coleman, o
Mississippi.
Glass Essay, by Miss Mary S.. S. Grandn, o
Dis. of Columbia.
CONFERRING DIPLOMAS.
7 Latin Valedictory Essay, by Miss B. Blanche
Gilbert, of Va.
Final valedctory Address, by Miss Cornell:
Hardy. of Miss.
STsTyTnN NENtyE gCMIN,pv