Daily Republican., 1882-06-19
FOURTHEDITION
BACuALAgrREATE SERMON.
The Rev. M. A Richards Preaches
tn. Annual Discourse Before q
Large Audience.

Specially reported for the REPUBLICAN.
The aup.al commencement exercise
of the Conference Academy, at Dover
opened at that place yesterday morning
when the Rev. Madison A. Richards
pastor of St. Paul's M. e. Church
| Wilmington, preached the annual Bac
calaureate sermon, in the M. e. church
The church was crowded with the stu
dents at the Academy, together will
their many friends as well as the regu
lar attendants at the church. The ser
mon was well delivered and highly ap
preciated by those present.
After being Introduced by the Rev
Mr. Colwell, pastor OF the church
Mr.. Richards arose and announced hls
text as follows:
Twelfth chapter of Mathew, thirty
ninth verse
"But say unto you that every idle
word that men shall speak, they shall
give account thereof in the day OF
Judgment, etc" and further from
First Peter, first chapter, eleventh
verse: "If any man speak, let him
speak as the oracles of God; if any man
minister, let him do it as Of the ability
which God giveth; that God in all
things may be glorited through Jesus
Christ; to whom all praise and domin-
ion for ever and ever
The speaker then designed to show
that speech was a fine art and when
properly delivered was the roadway to
wisdom. He then arranged the power
of speech into several classes, describ'
ing each at length. The private speech
he classed as one speaking to ones self
in private conversation, was ike bird
of the air, which flies no one knows
whittier unit at last it returns to where
it started H then quoted in reference
to the bird sent out from the ark and
stated that the outside y rveyors, who
carry subjects from pl,c . place, and
since all words are ~ : t legion of
surmises between min a." mind, and
A. words pass from mouth to mouth
they become more and more exaggerated.
He then spoke of words growing upon a
single thought, how they become
mighty aud how much trouble they
MAKE and said the only way to get rid
Of this evil was to say nothing but
divine truth, which wears oft that evil
tendency of adding to an idle rumor.
In the epistle of James we learn
"that he that does not offend in word is
a model man., which we truly believe.
The speaker then spoke of the different
kinds Of conversation, CHASING them as
they deserved. He referred to the
Saviour sitting with Mary and others
who were talking of their present and
future conversation, which was always
with grace. The audience was then
warned that in their conversation they
should always speak with grace and in
representing this truth, we must be es-
sentia to truth: The reverend gentle.
man said there was great many peo-
pie wLo get an inkling of a report,
through irresponsible parties, and they
don't stop to find out whether IL is so or
not, but tell it to everyone they meet.
Again, there are those who would not
make or tell lie for their right arm,
but they will take a r"port from Others
or madam rumor and give c'edence to
it bv aiding in its circulation.
There are 80 many anlmatl0ns to
social intercourse, said the speaker,
and he then illustrated the exclamation
by comparing it to the bottom of a tree
and spoke of those in possession Of
such character, saying that the peo-
ple should have the baptism of the
spirit which leads you into the truth.
Words of the mind and heart unspoken
are idle words and will be brought into
the Judgment for account. The enc
mics of the truth were then spoken of
and Gods agent for the overthrow of
popular opinion, which is the holy
spirit, and the character of those who
do not possess the holy spirit, and are
adcted to idle conversation, would not
last week of honest protest.
The different characters ofthe human
mind, the social and domestic life We're
thoroughly discussed, the latter of
which was too tender to be controlled
by harsh words. How often is the
heart injured by harsh words, said the
speaker, and therefore we should take
meekness as our might, and converse
with true christian character
II should be an assurance that every
man has some power of knowledge that
we do not possess; the mechanic can
teach the philosopher, etc, and be-
cause of the important knowledge that
some others possess, it should not re.
tard our progress and matters that con-
Germ mankind should be of advantage
to us. Despise not the little things but
treasure them up, for they often prove
mighty. The speaker then spoke of the
| life we should live and closed by say
ing that it was his desire that the grace
of God would SO strive it'll them (the
students) that when callea to a better
world they would be ready and also
wished them God speed in their future
career. The sermon was an excellent
one and the audience were all wei
! pleased.
| In the evening Mr.. Richards occupied
tho pulpit and preached an interesting
sermon, his principal topic being tht
advent of young man entering busl