Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-06-28
rhe sermon OF Rev. J. e. L. Holmes.


The commencement sermon of Mercer
University. Macon, was preached in the
First Baptist Church of that city on Sun
day, by Rev. ]. E. L. Holmes, pastor of the
Savannah Baptist Church. The Telegraph
and Messenger has this TO say Of #:
"After the prelude to the sermon,
DR.. Battle, President of Mercer University,
introduced DR.. Holmes. The preacher an
nouuced his text from John XII, IL: Verify
I say unto you, among them that are born
of women there has not risen greater than
John the Baptist Subject: The character
of John as exhibiting the elements of true
greatness. The greatness OF Johns office
as a prophet and herald was considered;
also, the greatness of the results OF his
brief ministry, BY way of introduction.
Then attention was directed to the great
ness of John as q man; to the manliness OF
John, as the thought Immediately set
forth in the text Johns real
greatness was found in himself, not
in his circumstances or position merely. He
was more than prophet, more than the
representative OF royalty, because he was
true man. He was man In his transparent
sincerity-in his downright honesty. Other
men were intriguing or feiVning; he could
speak of eternal verities. Some gained
name by the excuses into which their
selfshness led them. John asked nothing
Of the world but the privilege OF doing 1t
good. His humanity was as beautiful as his
sincerity was transparent. He was willing
to be a "Voice'' to point bis disciples to
another: he became everything to others by
being willing for the sake OF others to be-
come nothing.
No man was ever more courageous than
John. He told men what they must do; he
denounced the guilty rulers; he flung def
ance In the face OF king, and had the
courage to put aside every temptation to be
false to his Master This fidelity to his
trust was one of his distinguishing charac-
teristics, and in this he was like his Master.
Duty was the keynote Of his life. Johns
view of himself In his relation to the past
and the great eternity before him contribu-
ted to make his life great, but above all, his
relation to Christ, whom he had studied In
the prophecies, and who came to him as
vision of radiant beauty, and lifted him up
nearer, nearer the foundation Of all good
ness. These points were appropriately IL
Illustrated, aud the sermon concluded with
an appeal to the young men to be great like
John, and to follow the Master whom John
served.
We are but stating the unvarnished truth
when we say that the preacher has every
reason to congratulate himself upon the
effect which his effort produced upon the
minds of his audience. The sermon was OF
proper length, not too protracted as COM
mencement sermons in warm weather some
times are, and was a masterful character
sketch OF one of the most prominent New
Testament personages. And truth, enforced
by example, is always more potent than when
elaborated in a series of precepts. The dis
course was timely, happily conceived, well
analysed, Astounding ia terse, pithy epi-
grams, and in the language Of a distin-
guished doctor OF divinity, was ''incisive,
suggestive, original and pupgent." An
enthusiastic alumnus of the not over pious
legal fraternity said to a comrade that he
would walk five miles on hot summers
morning 10 hear such another pulpit effort.