The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-06-19
RECEPTION AT DIR. LEWIS .


On last Friday evening the twenty seventh
graduating class of Western Maryland College
were entertained at supper by President I.
H. Lewis. Then at eight o clock the whole
school attended a reception given by DIR. and
Mrs. Lewis. The ladies marched down then
walk from the college to the President s house
in regular class order, juniors first, and were
! followed by the boys arranged IN the same
way. TO one who could stand aside and
watch the young ladies as they marched along,
dressed in their daintiest gowns. the scene
afforded IL delight to the senses surprising
that which will be received from a vision OF
the loyelest of flower gardens. Over the
gateway leading TO the lawn was row OF CHI
neSe lanterns on each of which letter was
painted, the whole row making the Latin word
"SALUETE,' which combines III one word
the meanings, ''We hope you are we'll we
greet you, "WelcOme, God be with you
Around three sides of the house were electric
Jets so close together that the light in every
part of the lawn was almost equal to that OF
the sun. The students were received IN the
parlor by DR.. and Mrs. Lewis, Prof. Black
introducing the young ladies and Miss Ferns
performing the same ceremony for the young
gentlemen. When the intrOductlOns were over
the students separated to every part OF the
lawn and house, and during the rest OF the
evening they spent the most delightful time
imaginable in walking about the lawn, sitting
i'll the swing or resting on the rustic benches
under the trees. Refreshments were served
to all, in the dining room. At9.3O. the school
very reluctantly took leave of their host and
hostess and walked back to the college, this
time with the young gentlemen escortlng the
young ladies in whose company they had spent
the evening.
CREMATION AND EFFIGY.
As soon as the reception was over, the
Freshman class crcmated Cyrus and English
history on the lawn before the college. a
coffin. supposed to contain the dead body Of
Cyrus, was placed on trestcs while the oil
ciatng priest. H. II. Price, delivered the
funeral Grafton. Then an English history
was placed on the collin and torches applied
by Mr.. Price and his attendant priests.
fine display of fireworks followed. The plan
of the Freshmen was to cremate Cyrus III
order to lead the SophomoreS to believe that
no attempt would be made to burn an etfigy.
Then while the school was enjoying the fire
works. the cligv was to he burned. But the
Sophomores suspected the truth and carefully
guarded the campus all night. At four clock
IN the morning, thinking the Freshmen had
been defeated. they returned to the college,
only to learn soon afterwards that the etilgy
had been burned "a soon as they left the
campus.
CLASS MEETINGS.
On Saturday evening the faculty granted
each class the privilege Of holding Il JOINT
meeting to celebrate the lose of the school
year and 20 bid one another goodbye for the
holidays. Accordingly, the Freshmen gath
cred for Il GOOD time in their study hall, the
Sophomores were granted the privilege of
meeting in the assembly room. while the
Junior boys entertained the young ladies of
their class at the president house. Two
teachers chapcroned each party. The hour
and half allowed passed all too quickly for
the Young people, and when the hour for
parting arrived il brought slight degree of
sadness to those who were to separate for the
holidays and possibly forever.
EACCALAUEEATE SUNDAY.
On Sunday morning began the exercises
celebrating the thirtich anniversary and
twrmty-seventh commencement of Western
Maryland College The college auditorium
i'm which the haccalaurcatc service was held
was filled with AN apprecative audience of
visitors and friends of the college. As the
male students marched up the right aisle and
the females up the left i.uthrr'S hymn, "a
Mighty Fortress is our God was sung by the
whole school as professional. The pulpit
was tastcfuiy decorated with flowers furnished
by Mrs. Scott Roop, Of Westminster.
Following is the program Of the service
Invocation, closing with the Lords Prayer, Rev.
Joel Brown.
HYMN "Oh praise We the Lord school ana con-
gregat0n.
The Apostles rrcei.........Kev. W. r. Graham, ID. ID.
MrndclSSoInIS. 20 for the Wings of Dove" Miss
Clarke and the Choral Society.
The Commandments with responses Kew. j. W.
Reese. PHI. u.
The Psalter and Goria.........Rcv II. L. Elderdice
SGrP@Gf ami Marvellous are Thy WoFk nSs %y
city the Choral Society.
President ThoS. II. Lewis. ID. d., preached
the haccalaurcalc sermon, taking for his text
Micah, Vi. s. "What doth the Lord thy God
mercy. and to walk humbly with thy God ,"
His theme was "Thc lrreducible Religion.
He referred briefly to the various changes and
developments taking place in religious
thought. instancing the loose hold demomina-
tiomal distinctions have upon men, the lax re-
gard to the authority OF the Bible as a stand
ard and the increasing use of Sunday tor
pleasure. Passing on to a discussion OF tue
Bible and man 5 relations to God, he said:
Gods great business with MS in the Bible Is
not about mysterious doctrines and critical
difficulties over ancient manuscripts and
questions of pulpit millinery and the forms
in which we express our praise; 1t Is about
life. about our way of doing. 1t Is about our
obligations as citizens, about the forms OF
government we tolerate and the public olil-
cialS we approve. 1t rises to It's highest Ter
vor. not in eulogy of Il creed or ritual, Dat
in direct appeal to put away the evil OF your
doing from before thine eyes; cease t" do evil:
n. IN, ,..ltl var al
mate from the Bible the straight tcrSe, IN
Si<tont note woven through every strain of it
thai religion is. first Of all, just life Il life
among men and for men: life of just Pur-
poses and Just achievements: II lite good
enough for heaven, bat not too good Tor earth.
If the time shall com" tu any 0t you when
il seems hard for you 10 grasp the hlrIracIeS
of religious discussion and the mysteries OF
faith seem inaccessible to you and yon feel
that you get no furtherancc from the vast
range of bibli al criticism. do not. | beSeech
You, despair of attaining religion. One thing
at least may be forever sure. Do right ana
it is impossible for you to be miserable here
or hereafter. Plant Yourself on this and you
shall find it rock beneath you. BE honest,
he true be pure, be Just and you shall stand
four square TO every wind that blows. VIII
not undertake to tell You what religious name
YOU Will pear, bui l hllON Npu win nav ''''
for your father and Jesus Christ for your
brother You will know all good men for
your fellows and you may at least call yours
the irreducible religion.
On Sunday evening, Rev. Hugh Johnston,
d. D., of the Metropolitan NJ. +. Church of
Washington, d. c., preached the annual ser
mon before the College Christian Associations
in Grace Lutheran Church. His text was a
part of Matt. Al, ''What do We more than
others. His theme was "The Superior Obi
cations of Educated Christians"
He said in part that people who seek an
education must accept the increase Of obliga-
tons as well as of privileges. Truth is being
sought, and that which is false is being e imi-
mated, but there is much yet to be done along
this line.
No fears need be entertained about the
firmness OF Gods word; the Bible will stand
sure in spite of everything. The advance OF
modern science does not interfere with rell-
zion. The survival Of the fittest can never
explain the arrival of the fittest. God Is now
and will ever be acknowledged as the creator
Of all.