Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-06-29
THE BACCALAUREATE SERMON AT
BATES COLLEGE.

DIR. Chency's subject was The first Gen.
fury of Christian People" Text, II will
take you to me for n people" Exodus G Z.
This day is the last Sabbath of the first CEN
fury Of Christian people--a people owning
this college and one whose representatives SO
many Of us are. Ii will be one hundred years
next "Wednesday since our first church was
organized, and this Sabbath has been set
apart for special religious services in all our
schools and churches. Under these circum-
stances, am not at liberty to select sub.
ject tor this occasion. for one has been chosen
for me.
The term Christian is the comprehensive
one by which we express our faith in the Re-
ieemer Of the world. All the saved are
saved by Him. The important thing 10 10 be
Christians, but some Christians are better
than others; some more useful some exert
wider Christian influence. As pure State
sovereignty is rebellion, so pure dcnomina-
tionalism is war in ones heart against the
authority of him who says; 'one il Your
master, even Christ, and all We are brethren"
And yet, religious denominations are a con-
venience. perhaps necessity. and il 10 our
duty as Christian men and women to connect
ourselves with some one Of them, the rule
being to throw aside all selfish and worldly
considerations and 10 go where, other things
being equal we are most needed.
Benjamin Randall was the founder Of our
denomination. He was born in Portsmouth,
n. H., Feb. Z, l749. Randall was converted
when he was twenty-one years Of age, under
the preaching of the celebrated George
Whiteheld. He organized on the S0th Of
June. 1850, in New Durham, an independent
Baptist church. An esteemed graduate Of
this institution now presidcs over the church.
II was originally composed Of seven men,
bers--four men and three women. This New
Durham church, is our mother church, and
how many are her children? Randall be-
came an evangelist and died at New Durham,
Oct. %, ls0S, aged 80 years. He was man
intellectually strong. studious in his habits,
and as you may suppose, a natural orator.
He did not worship at the shrine Of ambition.
He sought no praise Of men. lie did not set
himself up as the organizer Of a new system
in religion. lie lived and died Baptist min
lister, not even giving his people name.
The labors into which We Of this age have
entered are to watch over the churches we
have planted; the Sunday schools we have
organized; to establish new churches and new
Sunday schools to persuade men to abstain
totally from the use of Intoxicating liquors rs
a beverage; to give the gospel to three mil
lions of our fellow men in India; to teach the
freedmen their rights and their duties. For
slavery is not dead. The body is, but the
soul is not. II lives in the Acknowledgement
of the colored people. 1t lives in the cruel
prejudices existing at West Point. 1t lives In
the wicked counting out in our own State.
In order to do our work well, we must have
both educated ministers and educated laymen.
This college was founded, not % much be-
cause another college was absolutely needed.
as to do the work of our people. Without
this college, our existence in New England ~
distinct people, must have been short. This
college. which We have set for pillar, should
be Gods sanctuary.