The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-23
THE CLOSING EXERCISES.
The Annual Commencement Of The Rich
mOnd College.
SERMON PREACHED BY DR.. WHARTON.
Display OF Mind and Talent-The Oyo-
luton of Virginia.

national educational institution, is no less n
local one, and Richmond people Of every
creed delight TO participate in all its enter
tainments. The college is all life and animation,
and all who dwell about its halls and walls
are absorbed in the glories of commencement
week.
The regular annual exercises for 18g0J9l
were opened Sunday evening by an interest
ing religious prog ANNE in the chapel, when
every seat was taken, and the speakers plat
form filed with the States best ministry.
The Baptist churches throughout the city
were closed and their pastors and the peo-
pie, or as many of them as could be accOmmo-
dated, turned ont 20 hear the haccalaureate
sermon by Rev NJ. h. Wharton, ID. d., pastor
OF treemasOn church, Norfolk. Va.
Among the distinguished divines present.
some OF whom claim the college as their
alma mater. were Hon. j. l.. " Curry Rev.
Dr. George Cooper. Rev. j. Calvin Stewart,
Or. j. NJ. Frost. After prayer by Rev Mr..
Stewart, Rev. Or. Cooper introduced the
baccaleureate speaker. whom no announced as
being one Of the colleges own Sons Rev.
d. Wharton then proceeded TO deliver one
OF the finest gospel sermons overheard within
those walls and every word was eagerly lis
tened 70 from beginning % close by this
large and highly intelligent audience.
DR.. WHARTON.
His text was John. xiii 90: IF We know
these things happy are We If We DO them"
While our knowledge ls limited we may
know something. and what insist on tonight
is that we do the things we know. Away
with men Of words but not deeds, men II
thought not action; men who are acquainted
with the methods Of success fail bv Incidence.
10 is sad % see q Christian who is not
know-nothing but dJ-nothing. who refuses
10 let his light shine though divinely llu-
mined. That was a wonderful sight when
Christ washed the disciples feet. lie said on
rising and laying aside His garments. know
We not what have done unto You, J have
done this As an example that You shall do as J
have done. If We know these things happy
are We If you do them
Dr. Wharton said that the text taught that
religion consists oil knowing aud doing, OF
faith and works. God had Joined these to-
gether. and we could no more employ one 20
the exclusion of the other than q man could
row a boat with one oar or bird fy with one
wig The first point he presented was that
knowledge mustprecede the performance Of
work. This is true of al the trades and pro-
fessiOns and lis true OF salvation itself. This
Is eternal life that we may know that the
only true God and Jesus Christ, whom'thou
hast sent. God has given us abundant means
of knowing Him. Man cannot know himself
except he study himself IN relation O. his
Maker. Altar should be built to the known.
not unknown God. Nature tells of God. day
unto day showeth knowledge but nature
does not tell of Christ. This we
learn from the Bible which is full Of God and
Christ TO one who asked Locke how 10 be
informed az 10 religious duty, he said study
the Bible IL has God for IT'S author, salvation
for its end. and truth without any mixture OF
error for it's matter Why should not the
Bible have q better place in our colleges If this
be SO; When the young lawyer or physician
or philosopher is studying his fayOrite au-
thors why not Jet the candidate for immortal
ity study the Bible. Religious liberty, You
say, opposes it. To say the least. IN America
the Bible should have as much attention
shown il as the sacred books OF the heathen
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.
Religious liberty does not mean religious
ibertinsm If education is not subOrdinated
o. religion. it only increases the pOssess0r's
power for evil In proportion as the Bible is
legislated ont Of public schools II ought %
be legslated into denomlnatonal schools
where young men may know the things OF
God.
We must not only know but do these
things Mutitudes know but do not. lncon-
sistent Christians, false swearers. tlme-sery-
ING preachers. Journalists fatal,t9, hypocrites
know, and do not TO all such Jesus Christ
says: why call We the Lord Lord and do not
of his own blessed example
Lastly. our happiness consists IN doing the
things that we know. We cannot be happy
while delinquent. The servant That knows
hls Masters will and does IL not shall be beat
en- with many stripes. ON the contrary, the
well-dOer Is happy man. lie is recognized
as q Christian man and viii Oe rewarded a.
cording TO his works hereafter. Our executed
retrospect when we die will be the reco.lec-
ton of the good deeds We have done. and the
most delightful prospect the hope Of meeting
those We have benefited who Will stand with
open arms TO receive us.
Christ compares those who DO and do not
his words % builders. Let us not e satisfied
with the cumbhug dwellings Of time. but
build for eternity. Let each edice we erect
bring in man to the house not made with
hands, eternal in the heavens.
DIR. Wharton made his closing remarks 10
the class going forth into active lilo and iu-
sisted on the importance OF eternal things.
closing with that beautiful poem, ' 4 Hundred
y ears TO Come"
The music was composed of appropriate Sc
lections. and the choir OF the First Baptist
church rendered them in most excellent style
Rev. Mr.. Stewart pronounced the benedlc-
ton al the close OF one of the most impressive
occasions IN the history OF THIS
college
THE EVENING TXERCIsEs.
At night the chapel was again crowded
The evening was All that could 10
desired, the we'll ventilated chapel was filed
with the cooling breezes of a falling tempera-
ture and Ia brave and beautiful assemblage
faced the platform.
THE OPENING TXRRCIsEs.
Rev. j. C. Long, ID. D.. of Grocer Theologi-
cal Seminary, opened the exercises with
prayer
Dir. Charles T. Taylor of the Philologians,
made the salutatory address. and, following a
disclaimer Of any power % speak, made fin
shed and interesting speech. He outlined n
easy phrases the history of the ceties,
their defeats ard triumphs for the year. He
referred IN touching terms 20 Frank JOhusons
death and loss 10 the Alu Sigma Rho and also
to that of i. Is. Winfree out OF the PhiiOlOgiaI
ranks.
TIL COLLEGE MEDALIsT.
Mr.. Francis f. Causey. who won the ora
tors medal Of the college, made an Grafton,
taking as his subject The Evolution of Viz
gnia." Mr. Causey has an impressive style,
expressive gestures, and speaks with conyic-
ton IN his tones He painted graphic word
pictures of old Virginia from the Colonial
days to the happy days of peace before
the invading armies came. The hospltable.
Intellectual old Virginia gentleman, lord
IF all and king of all he surveys, was