Los Angeles herald., 1891-06-22
THE CHURCHES.
Dean Matthews Baccalau-
reate Sermon.
He Gives Advice to the Students
About to Graduate.
Rev. j. A. Gordon breaches on Ma
tiOnal Piety.
Features of Yesterdays Services-News
Notes of Interest About the
Churches and Church
Matters.

Yesterday w. S. Matthew, DID,, vice
president of the University Of Southern
California, preached an unusually inter-
esting sermon before the graduating
class of the College of Liberal Arts.
The chapel was filled with large and
appreciative audience. After hymn
was sung and Bishop Fowler offered
prayer, DIR. Matthew announced his text
from Col. 1-24: "Who now rejoice in
my sufferings ior you and fill up that
which is behind of the affiictions of
Christ in my flesh for his body's sake,
which is the church."
He said, substantially, that Paul did
not mean to say in this darkly suggest
i've text that the suferings of Jesus as
our atonement were not complete, but
that the biblical expression of love is
vicarious suffering. Love has only one
law-the law of toll and sacrifice
for the beloved, and in no other way can
love reveal itself. The ideal for every
man is Christ. For this we pray, for
this we long, for this we strive. For
this Jesus suffered and died. The
church needs to learn this lesson of love
and sacrifice anew. The tendency is to
sell the down town churches and follow
the rich and great into the suburbs. 1t
might be hard to raise the funds to sup
! port it, but, the church is one body, and
''inasmuch as ye have done it unto one
of the least of these, my brethren, We
have done it unto Me-" s'If l wash
your feet, ye also ought to wash one an
others feet" The mission OF the
n Il - - Ill I~,,k flx,
to the poor. What we call culture needs
to learn this lesson of self-denial and
service conscious of its real superiority,
and by its very nature somewhat exclu-
sive, culture is peculiarly in danger of
wrapping its mantle about itself, and
stopping its ears to those less favored.
All through the history of culture and
education its votaries have been re-
moved from common people, and de-
spised alike the poor and ignorant rich,
and in my judgment only as culture
gets out and serves others, shall it solve
the question of the day, "What is your
superior culture good for ?' Charles
Dudley Warner, in a speech before the
alumni of Columbia college. pictures the
college graduates ranged in line along
the highway of life, clad in immaculate
garments, each full of sense OF his
own Importance, and holding in
his hand bundle labeled Culture" !"
''Warranted to cure all ills," and
vainly imagined the world would run
and fall at his feet, then he said,
"Young gentleman, the world is wait
ing in no such way" And yet l say the
world needs you. You are to go out
among men, SO pure, so loving, SO sweet,
so strong, that you will compel atten-
ton. And then you must bear your
selves so meekly, so grandly, that they
will not be frightened away from you,
but will lean upon you and counsel with
you, and give themselves up to your
leadership" He then told the history
of Livingstone, his service for the good
of mankind. In conclusion, he said:
members OF the class OF 81, l bring to
you in the name of my Master this
message of love and sacrifice.
You have been these years
with us. We have borne you
in our hearts. You have been faithful
over few things; believe God will
make you ruler over many things;
commend you to these thoughts. May
the spirit of God be with you."
In the evening Rev. S. A. Thomson,
presiding elder OF Fresno district,
preached the annual sermon from Mat
thew 7-13, IA.
Tomorrow (Monday) night is the an
niversary of the Arlstotelian Literary
society, when classical programme will
be presented by the young men.
~ a.
Rev. j. A. Gordon, ID, preached in
the First Presbyterian church yesterday
morning from Psalms cxlix :ii-15., An
abstract of his sermon is as follows: !:
A nation is prosperous when it is de-
tended by divine power; when its youth
possess in high degree the elements Of
true manhood and womanhood; when
there is sufficient supply of the neces-
saries OF life; when it is at peace with
other nations; when all classes are con-
tented, and when its people worship and
serve God.
Some of the enemies by which our
country is assailed today are the liquor
power, socialism, false religions, mate
rialism, organizations for breaking down
the Sabbath, greed of gain, the power OF
vast wealth used in expressing and rob-
bing the people.
I'M 4 L. ..lI