Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-01-08
CONVOCATION SERMON
Preached to Large Crowd on
Sunday Night

HVh bls htlHoiuSs htN. a. M.
Buchanan, Rey. j. l.. McChtehe0n
and Rev. Gilbert. Hanna Assist Miss
Gregg Sings a Solo--Notes ON the
Exercises.
The convocation services at Com
meneement Hall was very we'll at.
tended whenthe state of the weather
is taken into consideration. All
but two Of the churches in town
We're represented. One of these was
engaged in revival services and the
other one had special services for
the evening and could not make 9TH
arrangements.
Rev. A. NJ. Buchanan delivered
the invocation and Rev j. L. Nc
Gatcheon read the scripture lesson.
This comprised eighteen verses of
the first chapter OF st. John. DIR.
L. B. REYNOLDS then lead in prayer.
This was followed by vocal solo by
Miss Mary Gregg who sang THE
Plains OF Peace Miss Gregg is
one of our sweetest singers and new
er appeared to better advantages.
The convocation sermon was then
preached by Rev. |. A. Barnes of the
NJ. Z. church. Rev G. Gilbert Han
na pronounced benedietion and the
congregation was dismissed The
music was under the direction of.
Prof. Ellenberger OF the School of
Music.
The theme of the sermon was obi
vine Purpose in Human Life and the
text was taken from John l:6, s.There
was man sent of God The speaker
started by saying that success and
greatness are not accidents of birth or
fortune. Every age since the begin
ming OF human history has had its
men and women who seemed to be
made for the times in which they lv-
ed. They step into the stream OF
public thought and by the might of
their greatness church It's onward flow
and change the course of the stream OF
public sentiment, thereby producing
revolutions and reformations which
mark new eras in human history and
man progress.
ssBut the vast majority OF mankind
seem but the moral products and por-
traits Of the age in which they have
lived, rejecting its spirit and echoing
its sentiment, unwilling to breast the
stream they float like drift wood upon
the current Of public or popular opin-
ha tt,A nd
OF natural selection, which like the
fragments from the potters wheel
must go back again and be wrought
into other vessels
sin enert matter acted upon by the
impulse of unconscion stimuli has pro-
duced all the phenomena OF lie and
thought and emotion experienced In
humanlife or else behind allof these has
been the purposeful, genius OF an
Almighty Creator. / prefer to be-
leve the latter. And the noble ar
my o. the worlds benefactors have
been the men and women who be-
leye in Divine purpose in human
life, and accepted their life tasks as
a Divine appointment and gone forth
as the .'sent of God" TO accomplish
his purpose in their lives
'aThere is Divine purpose In every
life but many are unwilling to learn
that purpose in their individual lives
and have chosen professions and cali
ings for which they were not person
ally fitted simply because they be-
lieved them to be more remunera-
tive or respectable than other callings.
All necessary work is honorable and
any occupation may be ennobled and
dignified by the personal character
of the men and women who engage
in them.o
ssIf we would learn the secret of
success from an humble teacher ask
the young eagle who has just depart
ed from the nest how he learned the
art Of aerialDnayigation. He would
teach US that the impulse to lift his
wings and scar to the clouds was
Gods command to fly. Then who
would dare to say that bird or insect
or animal may know their powers and
learn to use them and man not be
able to discover his God given endow-
ments OF mind and heart, and learn
TO develop and use them in fulfilling
his mission in life?"
Another important factor in the
problem OF life is preparation. This
should be in anticipation OF the life
work which one has chosen and should
include the fullest development OF all
the powers Of our being. This can
best be ACCOMPLISHED: First. by a rec
ignition OF Gods purposes in the call
TO duty which is heard through our
conscious powers: Second, by conse-
Grafton OF our time to the fullest pos
sible development Of their powers.
This precludes the sinful waste of
precious hours in harmful pleasures. .
with such preparation any life
can become great and successful even
though 1t be in an humble sphere. .
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