Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-06-07

The commencement exercises of the S. W
| p. University commenced on last Sunday in
| the Presbyterian Church. Indeed, though
not so officially announced, the whole OF
the services of that day had a connection
thus far with the commencement, that the
presence of a large number of the able di-
vines of that denomination gave an un-
wonted impressiveneSs to them.
The morning sermon was delivered by the
Rev. J. n. Waddel on the subject of''The
Evidences of Christian Truth" DR.. Waddel
is the Chancellor elect Of the University, the
complete organization of which is now to
supersede that of the old Stewart College,
and he could not better have -signalized his
entrance upon his duties as the head of a
great institution for Christian education,
than by teaching its members so effectively
how to be always ready to give a reason for
the faith that is in them.
The afternoon sermon was the Baccalau-
reate address by the Rev DIR. Finn, Vice
President of the College. 1t consisted of a
jealous and affectionate urging of the faith
and practice of Christianity upon the gradu-
ating scholars rs the only object IN life the
pursuit of which couId be undertaken with
out the fear of disappointment and failure.
At night Though the weather was unfa-
vorable) the magic name of DR.. Palmer, of
New Orleans, drew as usual large congre-
CATION of all denominations to the Presbyte-
rian Church. That name is now a household
word in GAINESVILLE, but the familiarity
which kis frequent visits to us have now
occasioned has by no means diminished
the impressive force of his discourses, as
would have been the case if they had de-
pended for their effect upon some mere nov
city of style or delivery. He is always
listened to with absorbed attention, because
there is always matter in his sermons sup
piled by profound thought and illustrated
by all the resources of q richly endowed in
tellect.
The text of this discourse was Isaiah
chapter %, verse;: Wherefore do We spend
money for that which is not bread, and your
labor for that which satisfieth not? Hearken
diligently unto me and eat that which is
good, and let your soul delight in its fat
ness.'
This text itself will of course suggest the
main scope of the sermon, which was the
ability of the Christian religion and of ii
alone to satisfy the needs of the soul; but
the beauty of the discourse consisted in the
fine discrimination with which the varied
needs and cravings of mans spiritual nature
were specified and the adaptation of the gos-
pei severally to satisfy them demonstrated.
OF course we can only indicate these divis-
ions of the subject, and those who did not
hear him will have to imagine what gifted
preacher like DIR. Palmer would make of
such occasions for eloquent exposition.
These were:
First-Man's innate conviction of the SUI
pernaturaI and his craving for light in ref
erence to it. TWAS admirably demonstrated
that whenever this void failed to be filled
with rational religion, malignant supersti-
ton always rushed in to fill the place.
Second-Man's need of pardon and it was
noted that a pardon resulting from mere
laxity did not meet this demand; pardon
being required which justified the sinner as
well as released him from the penalties of
sin.
Third-The desire of immortality and re-
lease from its corelative evil, the fear of
death.
Fourth-The irresistible yearning of the
soul for love, a longing Unsuitable except by
love which is at once ilIimitable in degree
and eternal in duration.
A brief adjulatIon to abandon the pursuits
of temporal and material objects which can
never satisfy eternal and spiritual needs,
and to seek those substantial privileges
which religion only confers, closed this adj
mirable discourse.