The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-06-16
BAcCALAUREATE SERMON PREACHED
BY REV. DIR. BLACK.
An Immense Audience in Attendance-Youne
= Mems Christian Association Exercises
in the AftornoOn-Th Program
for the Week.

different parts of the state to attend
the commencement exercises of the
University. The occasion of this large
and intelligent assemblage was the
baccalaureate sermon by the Rev. w.
Il. Black, president of the Missouri
Valley college, Marshall, Mo. The
i faces of those present bore an express
sion of sweet anticipation, for the fame
of DIR. Black had preceded him, and
what city in Texas or anywhere else
can boast of more intelligent people
than our own fair Austin, the cedar
clad City of the Hills.
Music was furnished by the choir of
DR.. Shoots church, assisted by sew
eral prominent members of the Aus
tin Musical Union and other well
known singers.
The services were opened with a
we'll rendered anthem by the choir.
After an earnest and eloquent invoca-
ton by DR.. Garrett the 9th psalm
was read by DIR. benson, followed by
uyuu Wy Iuo CuOlr.
DR.. Black then stepped forward and
in well moderated and clear voice
read the 139th psalm. The audience
then rose and with heads bowed in
reverence listened to a fervent and
soul inspiring prayer by DIR. Smoot.
An anthem by the choir interviewed
between this and the announcement
OF the program for commencement
week by DR.. Waggener. DR.. Black
is one of those rarely gifted men who
by the magnetism of his appearance,
the grace and ease of delivery, the
chaste elegance of his expressions and
rhetoric, charms his hearers and
holds them at his will. Like Cole.
ridges wedding guests "They listen
like 3-years child. The mariner
had his will"
! He chose for his text, John II, 80.
&'And if be lifted up from the earth
TWILL draw all men unto myself"
DR.. Black began his discourse by COM
pairing Jesus Christ the center of the
moral universe, to the sun the cen or
of the solar system around which the
planets revolve in obedience to ma
ture's laws. Although some of them
are removed to Uncomfortable distances
and are of inconceivable bulk, they
move with marvellous swiftness and
in their regular orbits. They move
on year after year, century after cent
ury, never losing their individuality
in the system, impelled and governed
by this mysterious power of the sun.
Far away in the interstellular space,
said DR.. Black, we see star around
which the sun and the whole uni
verse of systems revolve, from which
emanates power more wonderful and
subtle than mere gravitation; that
star is the star OF Bethlehem. An I'M
seen Christ, an invisible spirit works
in every human heart in which there
is consciousness of evil or unrig ht-
eousness. The straight line of human
impulse is detected by it's marvellous
influence.
Many think, said the speaker, that
to preserve their individuality in this
universe and be most unique in them.
selves they must eschew christianity
This is a mistake. Paul was most
himself because most full of the spirit
0kGod. The speaker then eloquently
INSISTED that the church is not place
only for women and children but the
proper sphere for the perfect and con-
summate man. 1t is not brute force or
muscular development, he continued,
as thought the worshipers of Hercules,
nor yet the power of personal beauty
and grace as did those of Apollo, but
it is love that must move the human
heart. Life more abundant He came
to give and life more abundant He
gave. Some, he continued, wrongly
think that by ignoring Christ they
assert God, and thus over His pros
trate form ride into the presence of the
Master of the universe.
He then told the students that il
they wished to attain the acme of hui
man prosperity Christ must form in
them the hope of glory.
All wide-reaching and stirring
events are but to find closer to one
another the children of God, and
the trials we have to undergo
are frequently necessary to our well
being. Alexander the Great Overrun
the eastern nations of Europe, burnt
their cities and sacked their country,
but he introduced the Greek Ian
, guage, the medium through which
they must learn of the message OF
God about to be sent by divine mes
senger.
1t is necessary, he said, for Christ to
exert strong and robust will to win
the world unto himself, and likewise
must the son of man, if he gain glory,
say will.
After the sermon the audience
again bowed in prayer with DR..
Briggs.
/ A solo by Miss Julia Odom and q
wynn INTERVIEWED between this and
the benediction by DR.. Black.
YOUNG MEMS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
The Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton of the University held their fare
well meeting in the afternoon in the
history room of the University. The
workings of the Young Mems Chris
tian Association are not unknown to
the people of Austin. At the begin
ming of this year it was decided to
erect building upon the campus not
to cost less than $4,000. The build
ing is to contain gymnasium, baths,
reception rooms, etc; all under the
auspices of the Young Mems Christian
Association. Who can doubt Dut