Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-11-12
A SERMON TO NAVAL CADETS


Yesterday having been appointed as
day of prayer for young men by the
Christian association Of this county, the
morning sermon OF Rev Robert III. Will
iiams of the Presbyterian Church, was
specially addressed TO the young men OF
the Naval Academy. a large number OF
whom he has connected with his coDgre-
CATION.
The text was taken from | Kings. 2.
2-"Be thou stoong therefore, and show
myself q man" After speaking upon
true manliness aud its value the preacher
remarked: Many OF the young men of
our congregation have unusual oppor-
tunities for the development of manly
traits OF character They are in school
where truthfulness aud courage and self
respect and obedience are continually in
culcated, and where the opposite of these
are condemned and followed by dismissal
We do not know of any school in the
land where young man is likely 10 be
more thoroughly developed intellectually
than in this school. The attention Of
skillful physicians is given to the health
of the cadets, and they have a kind Of
physical exercise that has been approved
by years ef trial as the best 10 fit them
for their duties, and to give them sound
body 10 which well-disciplined mind
may be found. They are isolated from
the cares and friVolities of the world, and
have nothing 10 do but to attend to the
special studies and duties that fit them
for after life. They are taught TO be OBJ
serving from the first, so that upon land
or sea they are expected to know certain
things that others would not be apt to
take into consideration. The very thing
af lAw eli La
ly, the enforced seclusion, is after all the
very thing, with their regulations and
habits, that tends TO their advancement
in knowledge For this reason a high
standard of scholarship can be acquired
and maintained Without seclusion we
doubt If such high standard could be
reached except by few.
1T was the testimony of an eminent
professor in leading university, who
was on the board of visitors a few years
ago, that the studies were better learned
in the Naval Academy than they we're in
his own institution. The words of Ad
miral Porter-that the government wants
the best men, il they get only ten in a
hundred-show what is required of these
young men in the Academy. When he
tells us, too, that the cost of every gradu-
ate from the academy is not less than
$22 900, we feel that the government
ought TO have good men in its
naval servive. Then they have great
names and great deeds 10 stimulate them.
Within the grounds Of the academy are
the monuments of brave men. In the
chapel are tablets telling of men who are
famous. The library is adorned with the
portraits of men who stood high in their
profession. While they have examples
of scholarship aud heroism and nobleness
to stimulate them, we rejoice to feel that
they have examples of piety and useful
ness in the cause of God to pattern after.
Many of these, who have been eminent
for their piety as well as their valor, have
done much in the positions which they
filled TO advance religion in heather
lands.
The republic of Liberia, occupying
territory in Africa 400 miles in length and
100 miles in breadth, and containing a
population of 1 200, 900 Christian people,
owes its very existence, as we think, to
the bravery and determination of young
naval officer. The securing of this conn
try for one OF the grandest missionary eff
forts of the church is thrilling story
that We cannot now relate.
The biography of Admiral Foote is
one OF tender. thrilling interest. His
Christian training, his early conversion.
his consistent character from boyhood
until the close of his life, make a record
that is worthy of study. His influence in
behalf of missions in the Sandwich Is
lands, the impression he made upon the
King Of Siam when he said TO him, i.
too, am a missionary his influence in
banishing intoxicating liquors from the
vessel which he commanded, and the
duties of chaplain, which he often per-
formed. make bright page in our naval
history.
such characters and such deeds,
which are found among those who have
preceded them, show that it Is possible,
amid the temptations OF their life, to hold
fast their integrity and show the manli
ness which the Christian religion de
veleps