Daily Republican., 1880-06-14
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10 NLxG GRADUATES.

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Yesterday ia tae Glssses Of Wes'
Aeyam College, Delaware College
and sha ConIersnce Academy.
Rev. J. NJ. Williama, President Of
thu Wesleyan Female College, preach
ed the baccaiaureate sermon to the
graduating claes at Grace NJ. L. church
yesterday morning, from Proverbs 4,
% keep thy heart with al dill.
gepca, for out Of 1t are tho issues Of
life"
The speaker considered the prolon-
CATION OF life the Threshold question
Of human investigations. Sins and in
discretion shorten life, said he, and to
substantia,e tho assertian, he mention.
ed the effect sustained from excitement,
ignoring laws Of health, drunkenness
and moral suffering. After showing the
Inconsistency Of Euch sins and indiscre-
tions he aptly explained the manner
in which they might be avoided.
Having considered temporal affairs be
then proceeded to the questions OF eter-
nal life, ''as the heart 80 is the life
both temporal and eternal" The dis
course was very interesting indeed and
the strictest attention was given by the
large congregation.
THE CONFERENCE ACADEMY.
Rev. g. w. Miller, pastor of the
Grace NJ. E. Church, preached at Dover
yesterday to tho graduating class of the
Wilmington Conference Academy. The
college pupils occupied the front seats
in the NJ. Z. Church.
The choir sang the anthem "When
Soft Winds Blow after which Rev.
W. H. Davis offered prayer. Rev,
Mr.. Miller chose for his text: "Whai
is Prayer ?"--Luke IS: l..
The reverend gentleman defined
prayer to be the outcropping of law
in the moral nature Of man. 1t is
something for which we feel an instinc'
tive need, and it is an imposgibility tc
find an age or nation that was abso
lntely prayerless. Men who have arisen
above their brethren were those who
manifested o prayerful spirit, Su3h
was fact not only within but also
without the Church.
Prayer is the law of our nature and
the revealed law Of God, consequently
no true Christian will soon give over
its exercise, and God will have respect
to the man who prayB. We do not de-
sire that Gods will should be changed
If prayer is the will of God then the
fact that God works by law should lead
us 10 seek to be in harmony with the
law of prayer as with all other laws.
that We may seek to share its benefits
In prayer mans heart, mind and will
are act like mirrors toward the mild,
heart and will of God,' until man i:
changed into the image of God.
TO say there can be no efficacy in
prayer for temporaral things, because
OF the imperative reign of natural laws
;s to say that thing ID impossible will
God which man accomplishes every
day. He maDipulates natural laws
within certain limits for his own ends
If God has not the same power then h.
has created power greater THAI him
self, and such conception Of natura
law is in reality a denial Of the exist
eIce of God.
The best evidence Ct the reasonable
ness AID power Of prayer is the cen
scious communion with God. The sou
finds an opening homsward in prayer
God bows the heavens and comes down
aud the soul rises up to NEST the shin
ing wonder Of his presence, aud tb'
cntreaching Of his everlasting arms
True prayer IL the heart grasping God
DELAWARE COLLEGE.
Ray. W. Z. Gordon, pastor of thu
Smyrna P. Z. church, dlscouTsed yes
teyday morning to TIE graduates of the
Dela~&re College st Newark. President
| Purnell conducted tie opening service
Mr.. Gordon took fer his te~t tbs
words "Simplioity and Cody SiE:eri
ty,"a portion Of Second Corinthians ];
y. lie spoke Of the nature Of The
religion described in the text, consider.
ing that it united the culture OF those
traits men esteem for their manliress
ard those God require for society; il
harmonizes with all that is lovely anG
pure in the natural sentiments o
humanity; it IS consistent in Its man
ifestations; it acts from within out
ward, that is from faith into Wis
ible fruits of righteousness i
fits the facts Of experience, from sir
and its misery, up to reconciliation ant
its peace. 1t is areiigior profound ans
practical, contemplative and enterpris
ing, as afFectionate as a mother, as in.
flsxible as justice, as tender IS St, John
as bold as St. Paul, as solemn az III,
stars and as cheerful as sunrise, awfu
rs midnight and as frank as day
one with the innocent Joy of chill
dren stretching their arms to the flu
turs, one with tie calm rest of old az
waiting between its little yesterda,
and its infinite tomorrow a religion
al once benidcent and prayerful watch
lag at Gethsemane, feeding the famish
sd in Galiiee.
In conclusion Professor Jeffsries OF
tfersd q prayer and Mr.. Gordon pronoun
|ced the beGediction.