The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-06-23
commencement at New windsor college

and Seminary began on June III, anu cloSeu
on the following Thursday night A part of
the proceedings was reported last week, and
the balance received this, and we insert the
whole below, reprinting that published last
Saturday-EDs.
Commencement week was inaugurated on
Sunday morning last, by the baccalaureate
sermon. delivered by the Rev. d. W. Poor.
d. d., of Philadelphia, Secretary of the Pres
byterian Board of Education in the United
States. DR.. Poor is one of the foremost men
in the great ecclesiastical body to which he
belongs. AS a sermonizer he is master, and
q 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 aud
the church WAS absolutely damned TO hear the
learned and distinguished preacher.
His text was in Matthew Is 45-l6-thc parable of
the merchantmen seeking goodly pearls. The pearls
esteemed by all orientals 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 the highest and
most perfect embed iment of wisdom: the one in
knowledge Emphasis was laid on the fact that the
search was for gOOdty pearls. All pearls were not
alike goodly They were ofevery variety; some. di-
mnutive pellets. good of their kind, but small;
others lustreleSs having effect for Communications
others discolored by earthly admixtures Others dis
lOTteu lnIO Ill Vi even ugly
shapes, and not few only clever limitations
And SO it was with the various types of wisdom of
fered in the schools of this world. They furnished
wide scope for choice Some were mere aggrega-
tons of proverbs others, more pretentfous were
badly stained with the corruptions of that nature
from which they sprang; others were monStrosities
of mingled reason and fancy; Others were mere
shams and pretenses of wisdom manufactured in
the shop to slit the taste of depraved age that was
satisfied with cheap shows and regardless of the
genuine substance. Hence the need of care on the
part of the seeker if he would secure the best IL he
| would find at the last, he must have some idea of
what true wisdom is and be animated by an ambi-
verse bias should rule him. false standard should
misead him. He must aim high; his determine
ton should be 10 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
what they are in search of. The prize which will
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 He embodies
in Himself the only true answers to all the most i'm
portant questions which reason propounds; He
what we ought to be. His life and character fur
nish i'll compendium complete system of morals.
He also is the fullest possible revelation of God eX-
| hibiting Him to our Father, and disclosing to
us His feelings and purposes toward us. Moreover
| He declares to the end for which we were ere
ated how character to be formed and blessedness
won; how evil is to be extirpated what the issues
Wbe ee tbe sou to live for ever It is the know
| ledge of these things that makes a man WISE and
this knowledge can be obtained nowhere else but
in Jesus. Hence He is the Pearl of great price and
to possess Him, well may one be willing to surren-
| der all else. When the sun comes up the tapers of
earth and the stars of the armament are quenched
! in its Splendor.
This gives the drift of the discourse, which closed
| with direct application to the young gentlemen
| and ladies of the college, pressing upon them a
knowledge of Jesus the true goal of all study and
| the possession of whom would truly beautify and
adorn their lives for time and eternity
The sermon before the Christian Associa-
/ ton was delivered on Sabbath evening by Rev.
John P. Campbell, of Faith Chapel, Baltimore,
! from the text in Romans first chapter and
| sixteenth verse. The theme of the discourse
was 1.-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
power in great cities from Jerusalem-the capital of
Judaism to Rome, the metropolis of the gentle world
seen in his readiness to gospel to the very
centre of heathendom. with its refinement of literary
and philosophc culture; with its institutions po-
liticay and reigously hostile to the reception of
the truth. In opposition also to those who mlscon-
ceived his teaching, and not prepared to grant
equal privileges gentilesor to those who regard
ed the gospel as containing only elements for shame
in the oWness of Its origin IN dS Pov9 nG OF t Is
rejection by rulers Gifts fundamental doctrines In
contrast to these forms of opposition the Apostle
Paul a1irms boldly his confidence in the gospel as
possessing power and glory 1t is COD s message Oh
! mercy to mankind.
product of mans speculation. 1t is the voice of
God revealed in type, in institution in prophecy
Its origin is therefore divine. Its first proclamation
! in its completed revelation on earth was made by
/ the Angels in announcing 10 the shepherds the au
! 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 by
! trnth II is supernaturaI internalIy-ths power is
like the leaYen in the meal, invisible, aggressive
| Externally as seen i'll the progress of the gospel
to-day it is but the continued work OF a cruched,
The grand aim of the gospel is the salvation of
men, in its means presented i'll the cross otChrSt
in its application to the individual by the word ana
Can it be matter of shame to the believer IN lts
high purpose worthy OF God IN the exsGnon an %
power and in its benefits to men, inestimable and
| divine.
Judged by its results to the individual to society
to world it forms just ground for glorying as did
the Apostle in the cross Of Christ 1t changes the
sinners to of God 1t has overturned systems of
polynesm and idolatry. 1t has sanctifed and sweet
| ened human life by christian homes 1t has mould
ed society. shaped the policy of governments ana
created character. Its great blessings to men social
| ly are-liberty equality, and human brotherhood
Its aggressive power must result i'll the ultimate tri
| umpR of the Kingdom of Christ In the Apostolic
age, the gospel was preached in SYRIA III Egypt IN
# 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 to our own land, and now
from these two great English speaking races, this
light is reflected to the remotest bounds of the earth
| the fondest dream of its most sanguine friends
| Human institutions have risen, fourshed and dis,
| appeared. The Kingdom established by the gospel
| Continues increasing in power and influence and
will ultimately prevail. Light will dissipate dark
ness error is doomed in conflict with truth. and sin
must retreat in shame and confusion before the es-
! tablished power of holiness.
| Mr. Campbell is 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. Il.
Rooms, of Middleburg, Md, 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 condltlon
| of the class and the items of receipts and eX-
penditures through the year, among which
were numerous crooked bills for CONNECTION
cries for the president and other officers.
| The historian of the class was Miss Cora A.
Stouffer, of Uniontown, 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 Stoufer is an embryo historian. The
prophecies of the class was Miss Maggie Buff
fington, of New Windsor. She portrayed the
future of each member in glowing and poetic
language, and ingeniousy assigned to all the
most incongruous places they are ever likely
to attain Surely this young lady Yields the
wand of 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 class-day ex,
ercises of the class of '83 was a success, and
greatly delighted full house.
The soiree on Tuesday night was opened
with chorus by the vocal class, and the full
house inspired the singers to their best efforts.