The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-06-09
HAcoAIAUREATT SERMON
IlsrOrs the Graduating class Of the
WhO0ling RomaI0 COLLEGE.

Wuoolink EOulule GoLlokes
Rev. J. 7. Mcclure, D. D., last night
preached the ~Baccalaureate sermon before
the graduating class Of the Wheeling Fe.
luale College, ut the United Presbyterian
Church, The church was crowded with q
largo congregation, all the seats being ccu.
pied and quite a number Of peoplestanding
in the yestlbule. The young ladies com.
posing the graduating class, together with
the Faculty Of the College, occupied seats
directly in front Of the pulpit.
The services were opened with prayer
by Rev, Cunningham, pastor OF the First
Presbyterian Church, after which Rev.
MoiIat, oftheS Second Presbyterian Church,
read an appropriate selection from the
Scriptures. Rev. Hall then offered pray.
or, when Rev, Mcclure announced that
he would base his remarks upon 1.-THE
Claims Of Religion" from tho text, seek
80 first the Kingdom OF God" Mat. vl.32
This text, In the opinion Of the speaker,
presented the broad theme Of the claims
Of evangelical religion. The theme was
selected as suitable especially to the
young, and profitable Tor all. The subject
was so very comprehensive that II must be
discussed largely by definitions and by
brief propositions. Religion, as the term
Is here used, Is the name OF the bond that
unites the believer to Christ. This deGni.
ton embraces the following points, viz:
!. Belief in God as He has revealed
himself.
.. The reception Of the Bible as the
supreme rule Of faith and practice.
8. A sense Of sin and the reception Of
Christ Us our Saviour.
4. Complete conservation 10 Christ.
8. Lives Of obedience to the revealed
will Of God.
Love is the fulfilling Of the law.
II 1t can DO shown that this religion is
necessary to nj well.being as individuals,
aS families, as societies, as nations, and
especially as immortal beings, It's claims
will be logically established. Religion is
necessary to the individual man orwoman.
It gives knowledge Of divine truth leads
to sound principles and correct habits,
and thus reiines and ennobles its possessor.
Its object is peace with God, and good
will to man.
Religion is necessary in our domestic re.
lations. What elements are necessary to
comfort in the family?
i. Mutual affection.
.. A just regard for the rights, privil.
eyes and interests Of each member Of the
family.
B. The wise exercise Of discipline.
s. Industry and frugality, that natural
wants may be provided for.
s. Earnest and continuous efforts to rem.
der each other comfortable and happy.
Evangelical religion insists on ali these,
and without it they cannot be perfectly
attained. But We are pointed to families
where these elements exist, but where
there is no religion. l answer, these fam.
lilies have been built up in the principles
Of evangelical religion, though they may
deny It's power. Show me such a family
among tho heather, where this religion
has had no influence, either direct or in.
direct. Goddess families usually have too
close a connection with the ways OF sin 10
be fair examples. Some habits lead to
death, like the pipe between the marble
basin and the sewer leads to where the
disease Is produced.
Religion is necessary to society. Here
are involved u business interests, our
good name, on safety, and all the long
range Of social comforts. What elements
are necessary to good society? Honesty?
Cannot u man be honest without religion?
Yes, without personal religion; but not
without its principles. Heather honesty
is only heather policy. Are chastity and
truthtulness and regard for life and good
name necessary? These are parts OF this
religion. Is charity necessary? Who out.
side OF Christian influences has ever cared
for the poor and destitute and helpless?
Look at some Of the substitutes that are
gravely recommended to take the place Of
these elements in our social economy.
Communism, or the tramp nuisance, Free
Love, Polygamy, the grisettes OF France.
The comparison is fair, but Odious. Neces.
sary in political relations. Preach poll.
tics? Yes, always when truth and hu.
manity are concerned, Look at the follow.
ing propositions, viz:
/. The moral Law is the best bill OF rights
in the world.
.. This bill OF rights has stood the test
OF criticism and experience from the be-
ginning OF human history, and has grown
stronger from every trial.
8. All history shOwsthat the more close
~ the laws Of any nation have been
modelled afterthis God given bill OF rights,
the better has been the system Of govern.
ment so founded.
4. All history shows that the more per.
fectly such a system has been administer.
ed in the true temper and spirit of this
divine bill Of rights, the better has been
the condition both Of rulers and OF people.
j, All history shows that whatever OF
wrong and suffering have existed have
been brought about BY departing from the
true letter and spirit OF their moral law.
Nations have risen and fallen, but they
had departed from these laws.
Religion is essential to man as an i'm.
mortal and accountable being. Look at
these propositions:
|; Man is an immortal being, and as
such accountable.
!? Man has siuned, and is already in
spiritual death.
8. God has provided a way by which
the sin ner may be saved.
1. All necessary agencies and means
have been placed in u hands, while In.
finite Wisdom has so arranged all things
as to harmonic the divine sovereignty
With human agency and accountability.
5. By this plan OF salvation the soul
may be saved IRON its sin; without it the
consequences OF sin must be endured,
8. Evangelical Religion is the name Of
this scheme Of salvaIion-the bond that
unites the believer to Christ.
I. God, the Sovereign Ruler, has ap-
pointed a time at which the destiny Of
every soul shall be fxed forever, either in
heaven or he'll, according as these claims
OF Religion have been accepted or denied.
How then Is the sum Of the argument?
This religion Is necessary to our comfort
anG happiness in all the relations and DO.
sitions we occupy in life, during our exis-
tence in this world and is essential to any
well grounded hope for the great here
after.
My dear young friends, l commend
these claims to your most serious consid.
MT -