The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-20
COMMENCEMENT COMES AGAIN.
A SEASON OF LITERARY AND INTEL
LECTUAL FEASTING.

Fire Sermons and Eloquent Addresses
What Is Truth? and The Main Purpose
of Life Eloquently and Strongly Told
| Nine Young Men Embark
Life's Journey-A Prosperous
Year for Newberry College.
The college commencement marks
an important epoch in the lives of the
young men who have finished their
course. It is the starting point for
/ their Journey upon life's highway. It
I is fraught with hopes and aspirations
and possibilities to the young men
who are leaving their alma mater to
enter upon the stern realities, duties
and possibilities of theslife that lies
before them. Their years OF study
have been only years of preparation to
| fit them for the realities Of life. They
start out with words of counsel and
| sdvice which if needed will be useful
I to them in the battles that are to be
| fought. ..-
| The commencement In Newberry
College is one of especial interest to the
| people of Newberry. for they have an
| abiding love fer Newberry College.
I The past session has been an eminently
successful one.d The graduating class
this year numbers nine young men and
the Junior class eighteen. The other
classes are also full, and in fact the en-
rollment is the largest in several years.
The Herald and News as is its GUS
| tom gives up most of its space to the
commencement exercises. The sermon
and addresses which we publish make
good reading, and they contain qlany
precious and important truths which
| it would do well for every one to read
and ponder. They will prove helpful
and encouraging and elevating. Much
more 80 than the political wrangles
and harangues that we have been
forced to feed the people upon. Read
them all. .-.,t-.-.~.
| All the churches in town united
with the college on Sunday morning
and attended services in the opera
house. There was large audience
present, pit and gallery being filled to
their utmost. The sermon 70 the
graduatingclass was preached by Rev.
F, V. N. Painter, of Roanoke College,
Salem, Va. He delivered it without
notes or msnuseript. 1t was strong
and logical presentation of the Truth.
TIT was listened to with the closest at
tention and made good impression
ron the large audience present. we
|, give below the sermon in full and we
feel sure it will he read with interest
by every one. Prof. Painter is a scbol-
arIy gentleman and is the author of
several books that have had large
sale. e .- - f-..-..'.
The exercises were conducted by
Rev. DR.. Holland and the Scripture
lesson read and prayer offered by Rev.
S. It. Hallman, OF Augusta, Ga.
THE BAccALAUREATE SERMON.
And. PLATE saith unto him, WHAT'S
truth? John Is: 3S. s..... g.
With what spirit did the Roman
governor ask this question 2. When
asked with proper spirit, it is one of
the noblest questions that can be pro-
posed. Seeking to know the truth is
natural impulse, upon which the pro-
eress and elevation of our race depend.
It. implies dissatisfaction with ignor-
ance and error. 1t shows a brave and
earnest nature. But that PLATE was
not an earnest seeker after the truth is
proved by the fact that be did not wait
.for reply. 1t was Lord Bacon's idea
and one. Often qepeated-that Plate
was in jesting mood. But if We con-
slider the circuMstances-his position
az Judge and his desire to release Jesus
because be found 40 fault in HINT is
difficult to believe that he was in a
temper for testing. It seems more
probable that he had become infected
by the scepticism of Grecian philoso-
phy: and looking upon the innocent
prisoner before him as q young and
amiable enthusiast, be asked what is
truth?" with tone of pity and despair.
LIE had lost faith in all but Che material
interests of life. ......... ......
It is perhaps noteworthy that Jesus
made no attempt to reply to the ques-
tion Of the Roman governor. The rea-
son ofthis silence must be sought, not
iu any unwillingness on the part OF
Jesus to teach, but in some disqualit-
cation on the part of Plate to receive
| instruction. A consideration of the
nature of truth throws light on this
point. Truth is conformity to fact, not
only in material things, but also in
spiritual things. If the universe had
an intelligent, personal Creator, from
whom all things visible and Invisible
have emanated, then truth is Of God,
originating in bis nature or creative
acts, and partsking of his character.
The highest truth pertains to things
unseen, for they are eternal. What
ever truth Pilate may have been capa-
BILE of receiving on the lower plane Of
| material existence, be was not at this
time in a condition to receive the
higher spiritual truths which Jesus had
come to communicate to the world.
Whether jesting or uttering despairing
scepticisp, he could neither discern
| nor profit by the truth. And a ruler
! who could be frightened by the cries of
an insane mob to give up an innocent
prisoner to be nailed to cross, did not
possess the integrity of character and
| the heroic elements that must belong
TO every worthy bearer Of spiritual
truth. No; Jesus chose far more wisely
| I'M committing the treasures of his
teaching to the poor fishermen, who in
spite of their lowIy station were earn
est and strong in character, and who,
when the time came, allowed them
selves to be stoned and crucifiod in
| their heroic devotion to the truth. It
| is men of this character whom God
tehooses in every age to be bis special
messengers, prophets, apostles-the
only men who are worthy to serve the
! sacred cause of truth.
1T will be helpful to Inquirer into some
of the causes that prevent men from
arriving at the truth in spiritual things.
| Why Go men so often reject the exist.
ence of God, the moral government of
the world, human responsibility, and
all that these facts imply? The great
| underlying cause, as pointed out by
Paul, is certain intirmity or defect OF
human nature, by which its spiritual
vision is obscured. The natural man
receiveth not the things of the Spirit
of God; for they are foolishness unto
him; neither can be know them, be-
cause they are spiritually discerned." "
But apart from this general fact, which
| fIS,a