The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-06-19
A DAY AT WAKE FOREST COM
MENCEMENT.
Rev. Thomas Dixon's Great Speech.

Being an active member OF the restless
masses, we joined the procession to Wake
Forest College on Wednesday to hear the
Young genius, orator and divine, Rev.
Thos Dixon, Jr., OF New York. A native
of North Carolina, an alumnus OF Wake
Forest College, one of the most dlstin-
guished divines in the city OF New York
and the most famous man OF 26 years OF
age on the continent, he attracted
great audience of distinguished and
lovely North Carolinians. \ II o'clock a.
m, Wednesday, spacious Wingate Memo
rial Hall was filled with one OF the most
cultured and inspiring au-
diences of the State. On the speakers
platform sat many of the great leaders
of the Baptist church and intellectual
headlights of the State.
Mr.. Dixon who had graduated in a
great speech from the same rOstrum just
seven years ago, appeared after these
seven years of great triumph, and sue
cess, in which he has achieved SO much
fame to again speak. AS the speaker en-
tered the great heart of Wake Forest
swelled and throbbed with great Joy and
gladness in the presence OF the highest
achievement of her own. No orator In
modern times ever stood up before a
more expectant, a more eager and q
more appreciative audience. On the tab
let OF every heart, was written '..Our man
is before us
Dr. Garter of Raleigh in a most apprO-
pirate prayer, brought the audience face
to face with their great Father and
Maker, and DR.. C. E. Taylor, the Presi-
dent of the College, introduced Mr.. Dixon.
Dr. Taylor said that while returning with
friend from hearing a distinguished
orator and lecturer in the city of New
York he told his friend that he thought
there was at that time Il young man at
Wake Forest College that was n better
speaker than the distinguished lecturer
Just heard. His friend was incredulous
and thought his opinion was warped by
partially. The young man at Wake
Forest was Mr. Dixon.
MIR. DIXON
has a striking personal appearance, tall
angular, lean, long raven hair, a pair OF
the keenest black eyes that mirror an
earnest and intense soul, heavy jaws and
u great mouth, voice for every passion
and emotion of the human soul, dramatic
in every GESTURE and poise, a veritable
v
thought and it's expression. His North
ern friends say he resembles Abraham
Lincoln.
After paying a high tribute to the lit.
erary societies at Wake Forest College
and telling of his college timidity and
aversion to ladies and how he used TIC
think the young fellow "a fooP' who es
corted ladies on commencement occasion
1,,f 70
lady, he did not know who, he was the
first of his class to get married and how
dangerous a timid man is among the
ladies, he announced the subject of his
address.
THE RESTLESS MASSES.
This is restless age, an age of transi
ton, of struggle, of battle, of disintigra
ton and dissolution. The farmers are
restless, the labOrers are restless, the cap
italists are restless. There is unrest ir
theology, unrest in all the departments
of life. Never have we seen such before
and never have we seen such progress
The boys know more than the old men
but the rush is a serious inconvenience
| remember when | longed for a pair O
trousers and | was the happiest boy il
the world when l got into my first pair
My mother never could get me to pui
them off, so that she could make anOthe,
pair by them, because [ did not for mo-
ment want to check the march of pro
gress. You know it is q serious incon
venience for boys to wear baby dresses
See the infinite possibilities that lie be
fore us. Nothing is in settled condition
Men don't have homes in the cities, they
live i'll great bee hives. In the great cities
they don't know their children Thu
other day a New Yorker saw one of his
children playing in gutter and he boxet
the child's ears and sent him home. TIT
child came crying and the mother asked
"what is the matter?" The youngstel
said a man had struck him. GA maj
has struck you, what man." the mother
asked. THAT man that stays here O
Sundays" said the young American.
We do not know what to expect, wha
the future will reveal. Wild propositions
are being suggested and it is Difficult
thing to answer them, but we have go
to meet them.
THE SOLUTION.
There is a central principle in all thi
turmoil. The superficial mind does no
recognize it. 1t is not the almighty dol
lar, it is not force, but it is Christian sen
timent. Underneath all is this truth
The financial world is founded on faith
Without faith it would go to pieces in
| few hours. The most cruel, heartless an
INSCRIPTIONS and dishonest political OF
ganization in the world is Tamman
Hall, organized for spoils and with n
other purpose but spoils. But Tamman
Hall does not dare violate the Christia
sentiment of this land. Sheriff FLAG
committed a breach of trust. Tamman
Hall rebelled, because it knew it would e
down, if it did not. John Stuart Mi
told his friend George Henry Louis tina
in Jerusalem a man was crucified, who's
career has shaped history since | la
aside the question of that mans super
natural life, take the teachings of tina
man for purposes here on earth. II
preached against caste and he taught tn
world new prayer. His disciples aske
him how to pray. Say "Our Father
which art in Heaven "Our Father
The world never heard that before. Sou
Father then We are all brothers. O.
the LIST and End commandments hang a
the laws-the list teaches the fatherhoo
of God and the End the brotherhood c
man. They unlock the mystery of tn
ages. Slavery is disappearing, war
disappearing. The sword is dull. Yo,
never see a sharp edged sword Such a
instrument would be revolving to huma
feelings. God has dulled it's edge W
are all brothers.
l received a pulling letter from a Wa
street business man the other day. |
was ingeniously and admirably writer
He said a man could not do a successful
business and be a Christian on Wa
street. had to answer that letter | ha
to think and the more l thought, til
more [ feared | could not answer il
*What is Christianity asked mysel
Christianity means lose yourself and fin
yourself. But men can succeed at bus
ness and be Christians They can no
make the millions that some of them dc
But there is a principle in business circle
which teaches this resolution: That W
will love ourselves as our neigbbors Low
themselves, &c. But this principle is fall
ing before that higher principle, the con
mon brotherhood of man. The forme
principle imposed competition, war t
the knife in business. What do we sc
I