Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-06-04
The Churches Sunday.
coMMENcEMENr SERMONS.

In the FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH the
services, morning and evening, were conducted
by Rev. T. D. Witherspoon. D. D., ofPetersburg.
Va, assisted by Rev. ]. E. Booker, Pastor of the
Second Presbyterian Church, and Rev. w. T.
Richardson of the Augusta Female Seminary.
The sermons at both services by Rev. DR..
Witherspoon were able and eloquent, and de-
Nvered without the aid of manuscript.
The text Of the discourse in the morning was
the latter part Of the 18th verse Of the 18th
chapter of Exodus: 'Speak unto the children
of Israel, that they go forward
The sermon in the evening was the Com
mencement sermon Of the Augusta Female
Seminary, the text of which was a portion OF
the 9Th verse of the 3rd chapter Of the Epistle
| of Paul the Apostle to the Philippians: II count
all things but loss for the excellency of the
| knowledge Of Christ Jesus my Lord
After giving brief. but graphic, description
| of the person, and character, and genius, and
| learning OF Saul of Tarsus, who, when he be-
came, after his conversion, Paul, the Apostle,
| wrote the language of the text, he entered upon
the presentation of his subject-''the excellency
| of the knowledge of Christ'-which he did in
| the following ORDER
First, its cers.%pty; second, its object third,
| its permanence; 1>Wth its results.
| After giving sever.sr striking examples of its
power as illustrated in the cases of St.,.Augus-
tine, and Luther, and that Of yong lao.t OF
his own acquaintance whose exrlfng life was
made happy and joyous by its6mysterious, but
potent efficacy. he addressed, in conclusion,
more particularly, the pupils of the School, ex-
horting them to pursue their studies with
diligence, and assuring them that Paul, who
| was himselfa devoted student, did not think
that time devoted to the requirement Of learn
ing wasted, but profitably employed, but they
should "count all things but loss for the excel
lency of the knowledge Of Christ Jesus" which
was infinitely more important than all other
knowledge. The music, morning and evening,
mostly by the pupils, was excellently sweet
and artistic. The annual June offering of this
church, which was collected in the morning,
amounted to about 81, 800.
| In the LUTHERAN CHURCH an able and inter-
esting sermon was delivered in the morning by
Rev. J. Steck, of New Philadelphia, Ohio.
In the evening, Rev. ]. Miller delivered the
annual address to the young ladies ofthe Staun-
ton Female Seminary in his usual happy and
felicitous manner. He based his remarks upon
the 4th verse of the 3rd Epistle of John-'I have
no greater joy than to hear that my children
walk in truth" He spoke errnestly Of the great
importance and responsibility of the teachers
relation towards his pupils; of his duty to bring
them up in the way Of truthfulness and right
eousness. He should endeavor not only to i'm
prove the intellect, but SO to educate the heart
as to lead his pupils towards higher life. He
spoke feelingly of the great and pure joy that
| filled teachers heart when in after years he
hears of his pupils walking in the way of truth
and living lives of christian usefulness. The
address was replete with good advice. beautiful
thoughts and noble sentiments, and was listen
| ed to with the deepest attention and interest
by the large audience present.
IN the EPISCOPAL CHURCH, the monthly
communion was held in the morning, and there
were no services in the evening.
| In the M. E. CHURCH SOUTH, the sermons,
morning and evening, were preached by the
Pastor, Rev. DIR. Martin.
In the BAPTIST CHURCH, there were no SER
vices, the Pastor. Rev. DR.. Manly, being in at
tendance upon the Baptist General Association
of Virginia at Portsmouth.