The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-06-16
commencement at New windsor College.

States. DR.. Poor is one OF The foremost nlcu
in the great ecclesiastical body to which he
belongs. As a sermonizer he is master, and
a more beautiful specimen of homietics we
have never heard than that presented before
the students of New Windsor College on Sab
bath morning. The day was favorable and
the church was absolutely jammed to hear the
learned and distinguished preacher.
! His text was in Matthew IS 45-46-the parable of
the merchantmen seeking goodly pearls. The pearls,
esteemed by all orientals as the most precious OF
jewels, were here taken as emblematic of the les
sons of wisdom. The meaning OF our Lord there
fore was shown to be that the honest and earnest
pursuit after wisdom would lead the seeker eVentu-
ally to the discovery of himself as the highest and
most perfect embodime nt of wisdom: the one IN
whom were hid all the treasures of wisdom ana OF
knowledge Emphasis laid OH the fact that the
search was for goodly pearls. All pearls were not
alike goodly. They were ofevery variety; some di-
minutive pellets good of their kind, but SMALL
Others lustreess having no effect for Communications
others dscolored by earthly admixtures; Others dis
torted into all manner of grotesque and even ugly
shapes, and not few were only clever limitations
And so it with the various types of wisdom OF,
fered in the schools of this world. They furnished
wide scope for choice. Some were mere aggrega-
tions of proverbs, Others more pretentious, were
badly stained with the corruptions of that nature
from which they sprang; others were monstrosltles
| of mingled reason and fancy; others were mere
| shams and pretenSes of wisdom manufactured IN
the shop to suit the taste of depraved age that was
| satisfied with cheap shows and regardless OF tne
genuine substance Hence the need of care on the
part the seeker if he would secure the best II he
would find at the last, he must have some IDEA OF
! what wisdom is and be animated by an ambl-
| ton to have only that and nothing else. NO per
verse bias should rule him false standard should
miSlead him. He must aim high; his determine
ton should be to be satisfied only with the best
| Such wisdom seekers alone are indicated by the
merchantmen of the parable.
And to such the promise is that they shall find find
what they in search of. The prize which VIII
reward their efforts will be none other than Jesus
! himself But how can Jesus be made unto us Wis
dom? He becomes so by the fact that lie embodles
in Himself the only true answers to all the most I'M
portant questions which reason propounds. he
shows to us perfect humanity, and thus tells us
nish in compendium Il complete system OF morals
He also is the fullest possible revelation OF Cod ex
hibitng Him to us as Father, and disclosing to
us His feelings and purposes toward u.s. moreover
He declares to us the end for which we were ere
ated how character is to be formed ana Dlessedness
won how evil is to be extirpated; what the issues
of the future are to be; what death means. and
whether the soul is to live for 1t is the know
this knowledge can be obtained nowhere else but
in Jesus. Hence He is the Pearl of great price ana
to possess Him. well may be willing to surren-
der all else When the sun comes up the tpers OF
earth and the stars of the armament are quenched
This gives the drift of the discourse which closed
with direct application to the Young gentlemen
and ladies of the college, pressing upon them
knowledge of Jesus the true goal OF all study ana
the possession of whom would truly beautity and
adorn their lives for time and eternity.
The sermon before the Christian Associa-
ton was delivered on Sabbath evening by Rev.
JohnP. Campbell, of Faith Chapel, Baltimore,
from the text in Romans first chapter and
sixteenth verse. The theme OF the discourse
was ''The Gospel, as the power OF God, an
occasion of Glory and not of Shame.
The history of the gospel as contained in the Acts
of the Apostles places before US the progress OF the
church by establishing centres of influence and
mower in great cities from Jerusaen-the capital of
Judaism to Rome the metropolis of the gentle world
The moral heroism of the Apostle Panl, is clearly
seen in his readiness to carry the gospel to the very
centre of heathendom with its refinement OF literary
and philosophic culture with its institutions po
the truth. In opposition also to those who mScon-
ceived his teaching and were not prepared to grant
equal privileges to genteS-or to those who regard
ed the gospel containing only elements for shame
in the Iowliness of its origin in the poverty OF us
apostles in the simplicity of its worship and in the
rejection by rulers ofits fundamental doctrines In
contrast to all these forms of opposition the Apostle
Paul airms boldly his confidence IN the gospel as
possessing power and glory. 1t Is COD message Oh
mercy to mankind.
product of mans speculation. 1t is the voice of
God revealed in type in institution, i'll prophecy
and promise-and fully declared in Jesus Christ.
Its origin is therefore divine Its first proclamation
in its completed revelation on earth was made by
the Angels in announcing to the shepherds the ad-
vent of the Redeemer.
Its universal adaptation to mans need his ply
steal mental and spiritual nature, and especially to
man as a sinner is no occasion for shame
The divine power seen in the application DH
the spirit, does not inhere merely IN a system OF
truth 1t is supernatural internally-this power is
like the leayen in the meal, invisible, aggressive
EXternaliy as seen in the progress of the gospel
but risen Redeemer. .
The grand aim of the gospel is the salvation of
men in its means as presented i'll the cross OfChrist
in its application to the individual by the WORD ana
Spirit flow mysterious how wonderful is all this
Can it be Il matter of shame to the believer III It's
high purpose worthy of God; in the execution OF
that purpose possible only to infinite wisdom ana
power and in its benefits to men, lnestlmaoie ana
divine .--.-.--
Judged by its results to the individual, to society,
to the world it forms just ground for glorynG as dld
the Apostle in the cross of Christ 1t changes the
sinners to sons of God. 1t has overturned systems OF
polyneism and idolatry 1t has sanctified and sweet
ened human life by christian homes. 1t has mould
ed society shaped the policy of governments and
created character Its great blessings to men social
" are-liberty, equality, and human brotherhood.
lis aggressive power must result in the ultimate ri
umph of the Kingdom of Christ IN the Apostonc
age, the gospel was preached i'll SYRIA III Egypt IN
1t is true that the church suffered partial eclipse
during the Dark Ages but the Reformation hurled
the light of revealed truth into the Netherlands.
Hence to the British Isles, own land and now
from these two great English speaking races, this
light is reflected to the remotest bounds OF the ear
Its progress during the last century has surpassed
the fondcst dream of its most sanguine friends
Human institutions have risen hourlshed ana dls-
appeared. The Kingdom established by the gospel
continues, increasing in power and innuehce ana
will ultimately prevail Light viii .. dSs,Rate aar TX,
must retreat in shame and confusion before the es-
tablished power of holiness.
Mr.. Campbell is a young man, full OF
promise. His sermon was the very thing for
the occasion, and more than met the highest
expectations of his many admirers in New
Windsor; and, notwithstanding the rain storm,
the church was filled to hear him.
The class-day exercises of the senior class
were held on Monday night in College Hall,
and were full of wit and humor. Mr.. W. &.
Rooms. of Middleburg, Nd, was president,
and conferred the laughable honors and prizes
Miss Cora Smelser, of New Windsor, gave the
greeting in very happy manner. Miss Bessie
Gladden., the secretary of the class, read the
minutes, which were very amusing. Miss
Mollie E. Horner, of Gettysburg, Pa, the
treasurer, read her report, which brought down
the house, in view of the financial condition
of the class and the items of receipts and eX
penditures through the year, among which |
were numerous crooked bills for confection- /
cries for the president and other officers.
The historian of the class was Miss Cora A. |
Stouffer. of Unontown, Md. She gave a
glowing account of the exploits of every men,
Der during their college life, and every mem
Der of the Faculty came in for some hard
knocks, which greatly amused the audience.
Miss Stouffer is an embryo historian. The
prophecies of the class was Miss Maggie But |
fington, of New Windsor. She portrayed the !
future of each member III glowing and poetic !
language, and ingeniously assigned to all the
most incongruous places they are ever likely |
to attain. Surely this young lady yields the |
wand of a prophecies. Miss Effie Weaver was
the vice president of the class, and in view of
the fact that the president lived through his |
term, her burden of responsibility was not
great. However, she conferred the degrees
and badges upon the president in very |
solemn manner. All in all, the classday ex-
ercises of the class of SO was a success, and
greatly delighted a full house.
An account of the soiree on Monday night, |
DIR. Roberts admirable address to the socie- !
ties on Wednesday night, and the commence
ment on Thursday night will be given next
week.
Owinss' Mills Items.
Corn with us has come up badly thissea
The long dreaded cut-worm has certainly been
healthy and industrious, treating corn, beans, |
peas, tomatoes and potatoes all alike.
The Colorado potato beetle is doing its full
duty this spring Some of our potato farmers
are feeding them Paris green, the surest of all