Birmingham state herald., 1896-06-16
SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
Commencement Inaugurated Sunday-A Power Sermon-Many Visitors Present.

Commencement Inaugurated Sunday-A
 Power Sermon-Many Visitors Present.
 Greensboro, June 14.--(Special Core epondence 1.-The commencement exer- cises of the Southern university were opened this morning at the Methodist church with a sermon preached by Dr. Tygert of Nashville. His text was taken from Matthew V, 29-30: And ii thy fight eye offend thee pluck it out and cast It from thee. And if thy right hand offend thee cut it off and cast it from thee, for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish and not that thy whole body should be cast into he'll" It has seldom been the good for- tune of the writer to listen to more for cible sermon and one more replete with wholesome and clear cut truths than the one delivered by the distinguished di- vine on this occasion. He demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt that the standard of Christian religion was so high, and the test of ones fitness Tor Heaven was so exacting, that few, very few, would ever travel the narrow road or enter the straight gate which leads to the blessed kingdom; that it was only the weather beaten soldier of the cross, who had plucked out right eye or cut off a right arm, who would ever enjoy that blessing. In estimating the number of persons who would reach Heaven some one had put down infants as com posing one-third of the population, the Insane one-third, and the speaker asked the pointed question. What proportion of tthe ordinary, average men and women, such as were then before him, would con- stitute the other third? His views of the number of those who would be saved were not very encouraging and inn pressed one with the idea that there 4would be plenty of room for all such in the Heavenly mansions, whilst the pros faf- nfI ff1.Ny be crowded. The sermon was listened to with rapt attention by one of the largest and most intelligent audiences that ever assembled in the Methodist church, and was calculated to make deep and last sng impression upon every thoughtful person. The singing by the choir was grand and could not be excelled.
 There are many visitors in attendance upon the commencement exercises, some of them persons of distinction in the state. conspicuous figure is that of Dr. A H. Mitchell, who is now in his seth year, and who has attended every commencement of the Southern univer- sity since its foundation in 1858. He has been in the Alabama conference since 1881, nearly sixty-five years. In other words, he has been in the active service of his Maker nearly three score years and ten, the allotted life time of a majority of mortals. The influence of this venerable minister of the gospel for the good of his race cannot be estimated.
 At the close of the services an affecting incident occurred, in which this aged ser want of Israel figured. He was sitting on the rostrum of the pulpit and in giv- ing out the announcements Dr. Keener stated that the annual love feast would take place at p. m. and Dr. Mitchell, as usual, would officiate. Dr. Mitchell begged to be excused on account of fec bleness-the first time in his life, prob- ably, he ever asked to be excused from religious duty.