The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-06-11
THE COLLEGE Y. NJ. C. A.
REV. DIR. BA TILE, or PETERSBURG.
PREA CHED THE ANNUAL SERMON.
An Able Address Full Of Instruction and
Good Advte-1hs Presidents Report
of the Organization.

The annual sermon before the \. VI. =.
4. Of Richmond College, was preached
before a large audience at Calvary Bap-
list church Sunday night. by the Rev.
Or. II. W. Battle. pastor OF the First
Baptist church in Petersburg.
The exercises OF the evening were par
ticipated in by DR.. G. II. Rylani and
Professor II. II. Harris, Of Richmond
college. and Rev. II. a. Bagby, pastor OF
Calvary Baptist church.
Rev Dr. Battle preached IN able and
instructive sermon full OF valuable in
formation and strong advice lie was
listeised TO with the closest attention
throughout.
Dr Battle took as his text the eighth
verse OF the first chapter OF D1hit4.
"But Daniel proposed In his heart inat
nc would not defile himself and spoke
in part as follows.
we have here noble purpose On inc
yart of young man sOrely tired.
losire TO point out some Of the consider
atoms which must have induced TINS
very remarkable resolution on the part
OF Daniel, and 10 inquire now ilr NORA
principles JUSTIFIED, anu subsequent
events rewarded, lis brave stand.
THE YOUNG MAN N BABYLON.
Look at some Of the Things involved
ip the purpose. a young captive from
the comparatively small an very consti-
Natiye to~n of Jerusalem has peen miro
diced into All the ponlp dul glory OF iSh
life ga Babylon, with fullest opportunity
10 quam its jcwelled cup Of unrivalied sen
suous delights; tutors provided al me
kings command, ready not only 10 con
duet the inquirng mind through the lab
yTinths of Chaldean philosophy, put 10
point out with many a lauiation each
material object, which, u associated
spiendOr. made Babylon the slo-N oi
the kingdoms, the beauty Of the ChalGee
cACtllCuCy.
Imagine the feelings Of the yccns He
brew as he eazcs on th.s strange aiH
magnificent things which everywhere
NICE MS eyes. Marvellous walls, wonder
ful streets adorned by the most mag
nincent specimens Of architecture on
earth. superb temples with The light re-
nected from ivory and gold on every
corner. inI'umerablc statues and affairs
! by day the arterial blood Of the world
commerce beats with mighty thrOb down
those streets. and by night delicious mu-
sic steals forth from palatial homes,
with its VOuptuOus swell and soft eyes
look love 10 eyes that speak again All
involved I'm BabylOn's political, CONNER
cial, ana social life. combine 20 form that
subtitle and well nigh irresistible thing
we call the genius Of a mighty city. j.
concentrates In glowing focus of mag
netic splendOr at the palace Does Daniel
feel the power OF these things \ young
man of magnificent physique. passions.
appetite. ambition. think you. his cye
does not sparkle with a new lustre. and
ms BOSOM swell Win the dream OF Alli-o
that may be as he gazos upon magnil-
cent Babylon? But a difficulty has arisen.
IT is easy TO see that something Of serious
import has arisen. What has happonedt
The king has said that Daniel must eat
Of the rich meats and wines from the
royal table those viands first consecrdt-
ed 10 the gods. What Of IT. Are they not
OF delicious favor DO they not come
from the kings own table: Where IS the
evil? II young Daniel will permit the
productions Of Chaldean thought. satu-
rated with intellectual poison TO enter
through the portals OF the mind. upon
what ground can he refuse that which is
simply physical. and which, II IL be
wrong is wrong by virtue of its assOcia-
ton: Young Daniel is thinking about al
this Let him think. II Is a grand thing
10 think. If YOU would be a man You
must think. The very word man IS de-
rived from the root from which we get
mind, and. alphabetically at least. a
man is one who has mind. one who
thinks 1t is a sublime thing for man
20 lift himself out of the trend OF his
age. and challenge the moral quality Of
that ages demand.
CONE. LIT rs nE,soN TOGETHER
LET us leave Daniel to his meditatons
for few moments. while YOU and / do /
some thinking. What a transcendant
compliment the Creator paid man when
he the quintescencc OF mind, the fullness
Of wisdom. said. come. let MS reason to-
Ccthcr.' God wants man to think the
the contrary Notwithstanding. Colleges
are erected and endowed men Of great
intellect and broad culture consecrate
themselves 10 the teachers noble Office
IN order that human brains may be train
- in the art of thinking. 10 think Alright
There IS certain dangerous faliacy
which would have as believe that one IS
not responsible for his conclusion. just
50 IL Dee honest. and by honesty in this
connection is meant nothing more than
absence OF hyIocrisy. What did God
give brain for What did the great Crca-
tor mean 10y afording us multitudinous
sources of evidence Think - think Suf
bee sure YOU think right. 4 flistake upon
a moral question may involve the most
far-reaching and tremendous cOntrOVor-
sizes. Nature. society ana God demand
that We should think right thoughts. Hu-
man law finds the evil I'm the act. Divine
Law discovers it I'm the thought Well
thouehts-our thoughts are heard IN
Heaven The wise man declares that the
thought OF foolishness Is sin. aud the
condition upon which Jehovah declares
his willingness TO receive his apOstate
people back TO favor is that The unright-
cous man shall forsake his thoughts The
place % meet an evil thought is upon the
threshold Of the soul. before IL has en-
tered In and entrcnched itself.
REsITFD TIE TEMPTATIONS.
Daniel purposed that he would not de-
file himself. sublime gelf-respect, Baby
Ion is Babylon. but Daniel is Daniel. bat
Daniei in the strength of his incorrupti-
bic integrity looked proud Babylon IN the
eye ana said i viii not
In this age. which so emphasizes tho
power OF environment until we are al
most tempted 20 believe that man is but
the product OF the conditions which sur
round him. and life. the science of circum-
stances. IL Is well that we can point 20
Instances like this. ] tell YOU that which
tnc eloquent PurcheOn calls the manhood
Of a man can sometimes conquer his
surrounding conditions. Louis stood be-
hind his palace door while the mob thun-
derel outside. ON suTges the rabble The
monarch filings the door open and steDs
forth. What do yoI WANT he calmly
demands. Veto remove the veto" fhOnts
the mob. This is not the time nor the
place resOlutely answers Louis fiercely
they beat upon him. lie is pressed back
into an embrasure at window. The rel
cap of the commune is placed upon his
head. d bottle thrust 10 his furnishing
lips. a faithful grenadier whispers. sire
do not fear Louis takes the hand of the
soldier and placing II on his own royal
heart. cNciaims. Fear feel that II beats
with a calm and measured pulse 4
man within has triumphed over the tu-
multi without.
WAS This the purpose Of fanaticf
Was he mad when he thus threw 10 the
wind the sOlden chance Of destiny: We
might be tempted TO think so but for one
facts. the central sun i'm the system OF
facts. lie central sun is the system OF