Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-10
BLACKSTONE INSTITUTE
Sixth Annual Commencement Elk.
ercIses Pass off Successfully.
Annual Sermon Delivered by DR.. A. Coke
Smith, Of NorfoIk-Annual Address by
DR.. s. A. SteoI, of Richmond-Tho Dis
fincttons and Medals Awarded.


Blackstone Female Institute were sue
cessfu1ly concluded Tuesday night,
June 9th, 1900.
The exercises began with the annual
sermon on Sunday morning, June3d, by
DR.. A. Coke Smith. pastor of Epworth
Church, Norfolk. Va This sermon was
alike all that DR.. Smith breaches. full
of strong. clear thought. but intensely
practical in its character DR.. Smith
spoke in part as follows:
Phil. iv.. 13.-"I can do all things
through Christ which strengtheneth
me-"
This is bold assertion. II ever justi-
fed in any way 1T was in ST. Paul
small of stature, afflicted. hated, perse-
cuted, poor. he accomplished almost
miracles. He seems never to have
shrunk from a task however impossible
it appeared.
He declares always that he did these
things not In his own strength.
study his life there seems to
he incoming of power upon
him. not accounted for by native en-
dowment. What is true of him has
true OF any now who will put them
selves where he placed himself-entirely
IN Gods hands and obey him absolute
ly.
The text naturally divides itself into
two thoughts.
Cd What we can do.
(2) How can we do 1t.
First, what we can do. ct can do all
things" 1t seems hardly necessary
to say he did not mean practice faith
cure, live without eating, etc. SO many
inclined to vagaries in religion may be
roll tn ri -
Ing of spiritual inability. 1t is easier
to believe in so-called miracles than in
power to be Il holy man. See Ill chap
ter. He meant that the highest Chris
tian character was practicable. We do
not believe that. Take the ten COM
mandments, the Sermon on the Mount.
Now this is just what IS practicable.
We are coming closer to those stand
ards. Is the standard for personal
character laid down in this word posi-
bic to attainment? Practically we say
no. Control your temper stop
speaking harshly," quit swearing"
Drinking" questionable business" to
all comes the reply. II cannot"
But go ON the positive side. Chris
tianity is positive. We have come to
thing, non resistant, saying, ut is all
right" St Paul says not "I can be
indifferent to all things" but II cannot
do all things" Religion is the greatest
the highest form of religion. 1t sets he
fore us the highest ideal OF manhood.
It begins with the heart and goes into
all the duties and activities of life. Here
we come upon another common fallacy
that religion has TO do only with
mans private character. To this fall
lacy the church has often lent her
self. What has resulted? Evils have
grown up alongside and inside the
church and thinking men have asker,
-.What good is the chruch?"
Real Christianity Is mn active force.
ut is nncompromising war against
wrong anywhere and everywhere. Yet
we are met at every step III this active
work with the declaration that what
the Bible demands is impossible of ac-
complishment.
Take the church. God says. go we
into all the world" etc. we say we
cannot. Beers. PHILIPPINES. Well go to
this country, to our own State, our own
city. Clean out the slums. saloons.
bagnioS. To all we say 40, no. 1t is n
drema. We must have the slums. ETC.,
etc. This is the rankest infidelity. IT
does more harm than all the infidels.
l declare upon authority of Gods word
that every right is practicable. Ought
and can are correlativeS. You can DO
the man you ought to be. Your home
may be. so far as you are concerned.
an ideal home. Our society may be
pure, our politics clean.
Let us be rid of the notion that right
eotysness is in the world by sufferancc.
1t is here by right and will yet rule
Second This brings us to the how or
this great work Through Christ.
There is vast magazine of forces in
the physical world, and they are all
correlated. There is n sociology Of
forces. In chemistry we call 1T affinity
In biology and sociology we call 1t evo-
luton. Evolution is not from within
alone. If Is Induction aS we'll Coal :
stored sunlight.
Our civilization has not been from
within ourselves. What animal IS weak
er than man? Yet he runs with steam.
lifts with iron. etc, etc. This power
is not in him, but comes upon him
when he puts himself In right rela-
tions to It,
Where did all this power come from?
God provides 1t. Stored coal-made the
earth q dynamo. When man felt his
weakness the power came to him. az
can do all through nature" etc. Has
God provided this and left him without
spiritual help?
1t is spiritual help we need. Cannot
supply this by physical appliances.
Light, heat. electricity is Gods answer
to mans physical needs. Christ to his
spiritual needs.
Christ puts himself at our service on
conditions
Have men wrought wonders by physi-
cal forces? so have they by spiritual
H1Ow did Moses accomplish his work?
See the burning bush, Samuel, David,
luther Wesley. etc.
God is in the world to-day and here
to helm. You do not understand the
power? What is steam, electricity? We
do not make these. we simply evoke
them. So in spiritual matters. We
must put ourselves in right relations TO
e|od for His power to come upon us.