The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-06-19
T7fE PRIDE OF, NEWEERRT.
Commencement at Newberry' C"lieGr-A
Feast of Learning and oratory--i
Successfr! Session Closes

SnCCts~tC.
Ncwberry College is the pri'le Of ""I
city. \ deep interest has been mann
tested in the institution from TIL" tllne
of its removal to Newberry from Wal
hal!a in 1917 to the present. Our people
showed their appreciation OF II then,
when they subscribed and paid liberal
| " of their means to erect the hanu-
some building which now ovcr!"oNS
the city. This interest has licrci'Sel
from that time to the present, ANA II
uossble it seems to grow aS me Years
20 by.
Many young men from our own
town are numbered among us H!uIlh:'
and many more have received HSlfuc-
ton within lis walls.
These annual commencement eNer-
cises are always enjoyed, and are Ut
tended by all our people. In fact While
the institution is under the immediate
control of the Lutheran Synod of south
Carolina, so far as the instruction goes,
it is not Il sectarian college, but Is IN
fact Newberry College.
Her professors are learned and
scholarly gentlemen, and the influence
of such an institution in our midst
cannot we'll be over-estimated. 1t is
right and proper that we should apprr-
ciate and properly value such centres OF
influence for the good and uplifting
and enlightenment of the youths Of our
land.
The annual Commencement began
on Sunday. Large numbers of people
from town and the adjacent country.
and from all parts Of the State, always
attend these annual feasts Of learning,
and the present commencement is no
exception.
The past session of the college las
been an eminently successful one. One
hundred and twenty seven names have
been enrolled, and the average attend
ance has been upwards Of one hundred
during the entire college year.
Not only this, but the Lutheran
Church in South Carolina approaching
the value of the college and the good
work it is doing for the Church, has
contributed money for the erection of
houses on the college campus for the
professors. One of these is now nearly
completed at q cost Of $500; and two
more will be erected during the coming
summer at cost of 81 300 each, This
need has long been felt. These houses
will also add very much to the appear
ance Of the beautiful campus.
The graduating class this year num-
berS six young men.
The alumni roll now has about one
hundred names, and in most cases the
young men who have gone out from
her walls have been and are men of
influence in their respective communi-
ties for good.
BACCALACREATE SERMON.
The annual sermon to the graduating
class on Sunday morning was delivered
by the Rev. l.. \. Fox, d d., of Salem,
Va. from the the text: "Ferily, verify,
I say unto you except cora of wheat
fall into the ground and die, it abideth
alone; but if il die it brimget; forth
much "-John Xii: II.
The speaker spoke OF the perfect
character of Christ and Of the inlpor-
tance to the world of his cruciiixion
and death. Christ offered himself as
the perfect eXemplar. His character
was perfect. He was the universal!
man. He fulfilled every condition. As
a reformer he did not strike at individ-
ual vices. His whole life was one Of
perform, and such 1 surrender ennobles
and enriches. AS We stand before his
sepulchre his life seems L failure. His
enemies sat upon the stone Of the
sepulchre in triumph. Disappointing
as this was to the world it was no dis
appointment to him. The biblical
point in his mission was his crucitiXion
death, and resurrection. When the
time came for him to meet death he
met it bravely. His life had a two.
fold bearing. The influence upon the
divine government a2A upon mans
motives. The holy infinite and the
sinful infinite had to be brought to-
gether. He bridged the chasm between
the two. Human sacrifices that had
appeared in so many places and so
many ways had proved unavaiiing.
Christ died that he might offer himself
a sacrifice for sin. His death gave
efficiency to his life. Without his death
his teachings were mere philosophy,
and his miracles prodigics. His death
accomplished all and brought back an
offended God.
We should initiate him in a complete
surrender OF ourselves to our work.
He felt that he had Il divine work, and
at the end said: g! have finished the
work thou gavest me to do.n The
preacher said that every life, to be sue
ceSsful, must feel that il is called to a
special work. No man can succeed eX-
cept where God puts him. God did
not speak the world into existence and
then turn it loose. He would he les
than omniscint OF he permitted us tC
creep into existence.
Christ felt the magnitude Of his work
and devoted all Of his energies to it.
His was indeed 4 great work, yet hs
spent twenty years of his life as Il car
penter. No matter what our work is
however humble-it is worthy of oul
best efforts. The speaker then spoke
of the forgetfulncss of self that charac
teriZed the whole Of the life and WORK
of Christ. All great men die to the
world when they enter properly upo!
| their work. If you would be grea
don't be seeking greatness, but sinl
Yourself in your work. DO the worl
| that is at hand, even small things, aut
they will open up greater things. Tn
selfishness is the secret to loyalty, tt
leadership. Kingdoms founded upoi
farce soon pass away. Christ founded
his Kingdom upon love and it lasts.
Men will follow those who seek no
themselves but q cause. The man wht
sets himself up in the town, the com
munity, or the synod as L leader, dc
serves and should receive unrcServct
| contempt.
Not environment but character, moi
wealth and glory and fame, but useful
ness should be sought. The man wh'
would lead Il great cause or bring abou
:. great reformation should not scca
his own glory and selfish ends but slnl
himself beneath the principles 70
which he is fighting, otherwi$" he viii
he reduced to failure. The preachc
advised his hearers to be ChristliIie.
| The sermon was Il superb one ant
was brimful Of great truths plainly an(
forcibly put. Many valuable and in
portart lessons may he learned from it