The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-05-08
sEMrNARy con1MENcEmENT.


The Westminster Theological Seminary Of
the Methodist Protestant Church held its
third annual commencement in the NJ. p.
Church of this city on Sunday, Monday and
Tuesday of this week.
On Sunday morning the annual sermon was
preached by the President. DR.. Augustus
Webster, of Baltimore. had consented to
preach on this occasion, but sudden lndis-
position prevented his attendance. The Pres
ident preached from Ii Timothy. iv:5-"M Make
full proof OF thy ministry and his discourse
was able throughout.
At night DIR. j. j. Murray, of Baltimore,
delivered the sermon before the Missionary
Alliance of the Seminary, from Mark xvi:15.
A large audience, completely filling the
church, listened with great interest to the
| discourse.
Monday evening the Stockton Society cele-
| brated their third anniversary by literary and
musical exercises in the church. Mr.. Elmer
Simpson, of Maryland, presided, and delivered
the opening address. Mr.. L. l.. Albright, OF
North Carolina, delivered the anniversary
essay on Morality and Literature" Other
features of the programme were eulogy OF
Thomas H. Stockton, by Mr.. Dyott; recita-
ton of "Jephthah S Daughter by Mr.. Wood
| en-, and a discussion limited to five-minute
! speeches of s'What is the most important
question before the church to-day?' partici-
pated in by the Senior and Junior classes
| The music of the programme was rendered
by the Society in chorus and solos under the
| leadership of Prof. c. Fl. Spurrier, with Miss
Davis at the organ. The exercises were gem
orally interesting, but there were some evil
dences of insufficient preparation.
Tuesday evening was the commencement
occasion, and brought together good
audience Rev. j. ID. Kinzer, of Baltimore,
opened the exercises and the graduating theses
were delivered by the following:
f. T. Benson, A. B., on "Ihe Rise and
Development of the Messianic Hope"
L. r. Dyott, on ''Athanasius, the Defender
of the Faith"
J. L. Lawlis, on "The Representative Idea
in Church Government"
Z. Simpson, on 1.-The Limitation of Rea-
son."
These papers were all carefully prepared,
and presented very encouraging manifesto
ton of the drill and progress of the work done
through the Seminary course.
The degree of Bachelor of Divinity was then
conferred on f. I. Benson, A. B., and testi-
monials of graduation delivered to the other
three members of the class
Thus, the Seminary sends forth IN It's third
class eleven young men In all, who take their
places in the itinerant ranks as the fruit OF
the brief existence of the institution. There
are, perhaps, few institutions which can show
so good record in so short a time.
Of the present class, Mr.. Benson is a grad
uate of Western Maryland College, and will
enter at once upon his duties as pastor of Mt.
Tabor Church, Georgetown, D. c. Mr.. Dyott
is from Easton, Nd, entered the Seminary IN
1888, and will assume pastoral charge OF the
church in Harpers Ferry, W. Va. Mr.. j. II.
Lawlis is from West Virginia, took partial
course in the W. Va. University, and entered
the Seminary in 1885, He will, perhaps, en-
gage in teaching until the West Virginia Con-
ference meets in September. MIR. Simpson
is from Libertytown, Md, took the course at
New Windsor College to the Junior year, and
entered the Seminary in 1888. He will be
associate pastor OF Frederick circuit, IN the
Maryland Conference.
The Board of Governors held their annual
meeting on Tuesday at 10 a. M. DR.. l.. W.
Bates was elected President, and DIR. j. /.
Murray Secretary of the Board. The financial
showing was very gratifying. The Seminary
not only paid all expenses during the year.
but reserved small surplus. The debt on the
building is now paid within 5000, and that is
provided for by an assessment on the Mary
land Conference.
Changes were made in the Faculty as fol-
lows: DIR. J. 7. Ward was elected President,
to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resigna-
ton of DR.. L. Ii. Lewis, to accept the Presi-
dency of Western Maryland College, but who
will continue in the chair of Hebrew Language
and Literature. Rev. J. W. Kirk was elected
Professor of Ecclesiastical History, and DR..
]. 7. Murray of Pastoral Theology. The
Faculty is thus enlarged by the addition of
one professor, the other chairs remaining as
now.
The outlook for students for another year
is encouraging. All the students go to their
homes enthusiastic for the institution, and the
fact thatit is the only Theological Seminaryin
the church, and that its charges are extremely
low, make it almost certain to attract an IN
creasing number of students. The next ses-
sion will open on Tuesday, September 7th,