Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-06-08
Two Interesting Discourses at
the Presbyterian Church.
The Baccalaureate Sermon Preached by
Rev. Neander Wood and the
Anniversary by DIR.
Witherspoon.

pathetic audience. The sermon was
generally agreed to be a mastery
one, and its delivery was attended
by a degree of interest that must
have been very gratifying to the rev.
erend gentleman.
His text was well chosen, being
the words addressed by Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego, the Israel
itish captives,to the Babylonish king,
NebuchadneZzar, declining to wOr-
ship the golden image set up by that
idolatrous monarch. The theme of
the discourse was "Fidelity to duty
and its rewards" The minister re-
hearsed the historical narrative of
the heroic devotion of these three
young men to the true God, and their
firm, yet gentle response to the king
when brought before him charged
with not bowling down and worship
ping the golden image-"O Nebuch
adnezzar, we are not careful to an
swer thee in this NATTER followed by
the royal command that the furnace
should be heated seven times hotter
than il was wont to be heated, and
that the three young men, with Dan
iel, be bound and cast therein. With
the result all are familiar. The min
lister pointed this out as the grandest
exhibition of moral heroism and de.
votiOn to duty contained in Scrip
ture, and from which he drew practi
cal lessons that told powerfully on
his hearers.
The sermon, while intended cSnn
cially for young men, was applicable
alike to all who would live blamelcss
lives, its central idea being that
right-doing and right-living proceed
from an inherent principle. True
Christian heroism consists in doing
the right thing day by day, unin-
huenced either by the smiles OF
frowns of men, and doing
it especially when by your
self. This was partly exem-
pIifled by the young man at college,
who, refusing a hand at cards, be-
cause his father told him that he did
not want him to play, earned among
his associates the title of "the boy
who knows how to say no and stick
to it." Some men may not do the
right thing themselves, but are quick
to recognize it in another, and will
respect that man to the extent Of
pulling off their hats to him. A
gambler even will thus salute the
performance of such achievements.
The above affords "A bare idea of a
very logical and powerful sermon
GAINESVILLE people will always be
glad to hear this able divine.
AT NIGHT.
The Rev. jerry Witherspoon, d.
D., of Nashville, preached the ami.
versary sermon before the College Y,
M. G. A. in the Presbyterian church
last night. A large and representa-
tive audience was present on this oc,
casion also. DR.. WitherspOon took as
his text the 18th verse of the LIST chap
ter of Mark-"And Jesus said unto
them, come We after me, and | will
make you to become fishers of men,"
These were the words of the Savior
to his Apostles.
DR.. Withersp0on prefaced his dis,
course by explaining that it was only
a special desire TO contribute some
thing on this occasion that he had
consented TO leave busy pastorate at
home. He counted himself fortunate
moreover that he had been asked to
address the representative of so large
and important a body as the Y. M .
c. A. lie would not only speak to
this body, but to all within the sound
of his voice. He took it that these
young men were actuatcd by a sin
cere desire TO become earnest work.
crs in the Kingdom of Christ. 1t was
this deep desire that led to the or.
ganizltion Of the y. M. G. A. The
very fact that so many young
men had connected themselves
with the organizations was evil
dence that they wished to be.
come more and more useful in the
Masters kingdom. lie viewed the
young man in his relation to his
Master. Our religion was founded
10y young man and by him adap.
ted to young men, and this quality
it will retain until the dawning of
the day of eternal morning. The
teaching of our Lord was eminently
practical. Jesus got near to nature /;
went into the homes of the people,
penetrating their Utmost lives. His
teaching was like the fragrance of
spring, the beautiful flowers, the
green grass and bursting buds. Christ
was a sower who went forth to SOW,
and He says to man, "Come after
me and | will make you fishers Of
men," This, in short, was the sum.
ming up of His teaching. The min.
;stnr Juun1i plonuantIy upop thn mir,