The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-06-23

SlIngluH and Rose Weaver, and MeSSrS. w.
Stuchell, Leyburn Shorcy, Coleman Rat
clific. John Franklin, Fred Robinson, Willie
Bradford, Dan Hutchinson, Truman Lambert,
Harry Jelly, Walter Getty, w. A. Price, g..
w. Cook and Jordan McCOmas. Prof B. l..
Bowen announced the programme.
At the conclusion of the soiree there was a
reunion of the Alumni Association, and the
spacious dining rooms Of the College were
filled with guests, who did ample justice to
the good cheer provided by the committee
appointed one year ago to arrange the pro-
gramme for this occasion.
On Wednesday night the literary societies
celebrated their anniversary. and the Rev w
Z. Roberts, ID. D.. of New York, the clio
qucnt secretary of the Presbyterian Board of
Home Missions for the United States, was
the orator. The Doctor fame brought to-
gether u large audience in the Presbyterian
Church. The following is synopsis of the
gentleman S address:
He commenced by saying that it ought not
to be hardship for an old student to give Il
few kindly words of counsel to those. who are
following his steps, The scholar ever recog-
nizes mysterious power hallowing to him a
college soiree and classroom exercise, and
investing dingy dormitories and shady walks
with the delightful associations of his boy
hood. An address before company ofedu-
Gated youth ought to be on some weighty
theme of practical importance and not on any
of the passing events of the day, and be eX-
pressed in strong Saxon to enlighten the
mind and move the heart, and not III weak
terms and snowy rhetoric. Deriving hint
from the reason assigned by the president for
urging me to address the students, | propose
as my theme 1.-The Responsibility of Our Ed
tlo thn
ment and the Christian Religion" The cOun
try is the largest and richest given to a peO
pie. 1t is nearly as large as the whole CONT
nent of Europe. 1t is 81 times as large as
the land ruled by David and Solomon. One
portion of it, known as the Valley of the Mis-
sissppi, is one and Il half times larger than
the Roman Empire when it was supposed to
embrace the known world, extending from
the far-off banks of the Euphrates to the Pill
lars of Hercules. 1t is true of it as of the
British possessions, that the sun never sets
upon it. All this vast country was dedicated
to God by it's illustrious discoverer, Christie
pher Columbus, and its first settlers, North
and South. They bound their descendants
by legal documents and expression OF views
to perpetuate it as land given of God to
specially trained and divinely guided people.
The government given us in this land is a
God is not mentioned in the constitution, yet
the principles on which it is based, and the
laws enacted for the government of the peo-
pie. are all christian i'll their character. The
early colonies were based on the principles of
morality and religion. Those of Virginia,
New England, New York and Pennsylvania
zeal as the power of nations.
christianity" says Mr.. Webster, in speak
ing of the general government, sis u part of
the law Of the land. Everything declares
that the generations which have gone before
speak of it and pronounce it from their tomb.
We feel it. All proclaim that Christianity,
of sects and parties, is the law
of the land
From the time of history, from the refor
nation onward, it is plain that the Protestant
was intended to be the religion of the land.
All attempts on the part of Roman Catholic
to possess the land proved futile.
Even Great Britain, whilst she was subject to
the Pope, made no progress here. One hun
dred years had to elapse in the providence OF
God between the discovery and settlement of
our country By that time the whole aspect
gion had been born, and its adherents mainly
came to seek homes in this far off land.
Our educated youth are particularly respon-
sble for the carrying out of the dedication of
Columbus and the first settlers of the country
to Christ. They are entrusted with the edu-
cation of the aborigines and of those who have
come hither to seek their fortunes, as well as
our own people. They are to see that they
enjoy all the blessings Of the gospel. They
are to attend to this at once. Things are
moving with wonderful rapidity. The mate
rial progress of the country is without paral-
lei. Its educational is rapid, but there is
danger of its becoming thoroughly secular
led Those going forth from christian col
leges are expected to guide the educational
and religious as we'll as the material progress
of the country Whilst speed may be good in
developing the resources of the EARTH it may
be ruinous in the development of the mind
and heart Colleges should not be run on
railroad principles. No short cuts to knowl-
edge should be sought. Impatient youth
should not be whipped over the surface of
college and sent spinning like so many
humming tops into the whirlpools of business
and society. The grand old doctrines of the
gospel should not be set aside and weak, pith
less and meaningless sentimentality substitu
ted in their ROOM Stand like wall of ada
mant against these ruinouS tendencies of the
times.
The educated youth of our land are entrust-
ed of God with the simple religion of the
apostles, revived at the Reformation and call
ed Protestant. 1t is that which is in keeping
with the genius of our institutions, calculated
to meet the needs of men in our day, and
which is destined to fill the whole world. 1t
is not necessary to abolish all the principles
of religion from our system of government.
1t devolves, once more, on our educated
youth to perpetuate our free and christian
government. 1t is now assailed by infidels at
home and ignorant men who come here from
abroad They want license, not liberty;
atheism, not christianity. They advocate alb
solutely secular views of the state, claiming
that the maintenance of religious services i'll
our national institutions, the appointment of
fast and thanksgiving days by civil authori-
ties, the use of the judicial oath instead of the
simple affirmation, and the existence and en-
forcement of laws for the observance of the
first day of the week as the christian Sabbath
and similar practices are self-evident viola
tons of the great principles of church and
state There has never been a free country
on the face of the earth without some religi-
Gus principles in its government
You, gentlemen, are entering upon the du-
ties of life at the most critical time in the his
tory of the country and the world. Use all
the powers given you of God and trained for
work in this institution for the glory of God
md the good of the land. Realize fully your
possibilities and your responsibilities. Re
member that the lifting of your hand and the
ltterance of sentence may reach the reno
,est bounds of the earth. The feeblest power
which you may set in motion may futter and
swell on when states expire and shattered
empires go down to death.
The church was tastefully decorated with
lowers, the work of the ladies connected with
The congregation. The music on this occa-
was in charge of the combined choirs of the
Presbyterian and Methodist churches, as on
Sunday. On Sunday Prof. c. C. Kraft, of
,he College, presided at the organ, and on
the usual organist, Mrs. Ionic
Stoufer, each exhibiting skill and proficiency.
The Commencement proper was held on
Thursday night at College Hall, in the pres
ence Of an immense audience. The program
was introduced by an instrumental quartette
by the Misses Diehl, Mason, Gladden. and
Horner, after which prayer was offered by
Rev. ]. R. gladden.. The salutatory was pro-
nounced by Miss Cora Smelser, of New Wind
sor, in clear and impressive manner. An
solo, "Marche des Tamboqrs,''
by Miss Bessie Jelly, was we'll executed. The
orotiou EtMind and TtS TriumnhS - nv Mr.