The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-06-05
HIS SUBJECT WAS FAITH
His Handling Of it Something of a
Revelation.
REV. JOHN E. WHITE PREACHED ON DOUBT
First Annual Debate For the Presidents Prize
Took Place at Gerard Hall Last Night.
The Programme For tuesday
and Wednesday.
Especial to News and Observer.

Especial to News and Observer.)
Chapel Hill, N. c., June 4.-The COM
mencement was formally inaugurated yes
terday with the baccalaureate sermon by
the Rev. Owens B. Stricken, d. D., of TIE
Union Theological Seminary, of Richmond
Va. The sermon was preached in Ger
rard Hall, which was taxed to it's utmost
capacity to hold the large number that
had assembled to hear the eminent Tres-
byterian divine. And a most prohtablo
hour did we enjoy. DR.. Stricken preached
one of the strongest and ablest sermons
ever heard here. 1t was clear and for
chile. eouched in all the beauty and pow
or of simplicity-a discourse literally
loaded with food-thought and so logically
put that the chain of that could not be
lost His text was taken from the sixth
verse of the 18th chapter of Hebrews: But
without Faith it is impossible to please
Him." DR.. Stricken said he would en-
deavor to explain why Faith had been
given so prominent place in Scripture
why it was we are united to Christ by
Faith, justified by Faith, why we live by
Faith, walk by Faith; are cOnSecrated
and sanctified by Faith; saved by Faith.
Many. do not understand why Faith has
been aiven so conspicuous a place-they
think it strange, mysterious, arbitrary
and needs explanation. They think that
there is something derogatory to religion
"a blind intelligent, unreasonable Faith
and hence conflict between Faith and
reason. The fact is there is nothing mys-
terous about Faith and no conflict be-
tween it End reason. Reason is In reve-
lation; SO lis Faith and since from
the same source must be in harmony. e
Faith is rightly interpreted, it, vii! BE
rightly used--we are not required to be-
lieve anything without reason--we have
to believe many things above and be-
yond reason-the creation. the Trinity,
the union of the human and divine ir
Christ Take for instance the divine origin
of the Bible. The history of the Book
shows it's divine origin. BY forty differ
ent authors and yet the only instance is
all literature of such unity in teaching.
It's influence shows it and in many 9TH
err ways does God demonstrate it's divine
origin. Is there any arbitrary belief?
Any conflict between self and reason?
Faith does only that upon which reason
insists and reason does nothing but that
which is in harmony with Faith.
Many believe that religion taxes reason.
but it is easily shown otherwise. LIST.
Faith is the controlling principle of human
conduct--not only in religion but everv-
wherein the family. in human society.
in organization. in the BUSINESS world. in
the intellectual world-in fact all knowl-
edge of every sort rests at it's bottom
,n;4 yo;t oil 1oI
of the material world rests on Faith
even of our own existence. Hence if you
object to Faith of religious knowledge
you must object to all other knowledge.
End. There is a great deal of negative re-
1igion we cannot understand and cannot
receive. But this is no popularity of re-
ligion, for Faith is the basis of all things.
Nature is as mysterious as revelation
Hence Faith is given prominence be-
cause we must understand by Faith. The
great truths of creation must be received
through Faith. n
3rd. Faith has received its
prominent place in Scripture because
it is a parental grace-a fontal grace.
All affections of the soul rest upon Faith.
1t controls conscience, emotions. life.
4th. This prominence comes from the
fact that in the very nature of the case
Faith is the only grace that will bring
us to the Lord Jesus Christ. We must
be made new creatures in Christ and the
old things pass away and all things be
made new. Can we do it ourselves? We
must be brought into the Lords family.
Can We do it for ourselves? No. If
these things are ever done for us, they
must be done by our Saviour and we
must accept him by believing-by Faith.
Yesterday was a rich day for Chapel
Hill. DR.. Stricken at night preached in
the Presbyterian church on Salvation
and Rev. John e. White. Corresponding
Secretary of the Baptist State convention,
preached at night in the Baptist church on
Doubt Both services were largely at
tended.
Today (Monday) has been spent in get
ting ready for the commencement proper
Tonight the first annual debate for the
Presidents prize was held in Gerard
Hall. This debate is substituted for thu
old Disclaimers contest" and a prize
of $40 in gold is given by President Al
derman to the side which wins. Debaters
must be elected by the Dialectic and Phil
anthropic Literary Societies from the
junior class. The debaters for tonight
were: Lauren Thomas Johnson of SAM
son. and George Vernon Cowper If For
syth from the PhilantRropic. who lefenl-
ed the negative side of the debate; and
James King Hall. of Catawba. arl Der
man Steele Thompson, of Iredell, who
presented the affirmative. The one:y
was: Resolved That the English Were
Unsuitable in Entering into War !, ith the
South African Republic"
Mr. A. r. Berkeley acted as president
and Mr.. lvey Lewis as secretary. The
debate was of very high order an,i
showed thorough preparation OF the part
of the debaters.
Mr. Thompson opened the debate for
the affirmative. and was followed BY Mr.
Cowper for the negative
The second speech for the affirmative
was then made by Mr.. Hall. Mr.. john
son closed the debate.
The program for the next two dVys
is:
TUESDAY, JUNE 5.
300 a. m.-Seniors form in front of Ne