The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1900-05-30
Madison Institutes FO'iY-Iourh Commence

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The forty-fOurth commencement of
Madison Institute began Saturday with
the Cradle Songs OF All Nations " On
SUNDAY morning the sermon Dy Rev.
Mr.. Garrison. Outiinrd below:
Sunday night the Y w. G. 4 sermon
Was delivered by Rev. MIR finder, an
eloquent and able minister from Car
Isle.
Monday evening there was an eIocu-
ton entertainment, much enjoyed by a
large audience
Last evening the music class gave a
swell concert
place this morning at 10 O'Clock, Glass
Day, in the chapel.
This evening the alumni banquet oc-
ours. Tomorrow morning commence
ment exercises. and in the evening a
grand reception.
No public structure in town could
have seated the audience that sought
admission last Sunday to the Christian
church 10 hear the baccaIaureate SER
mon by Rev. James II. Garrison, Edi-
tor of tine Christian Evangelist, St.
Louis. The churches of the city were
closed in honor of the occasion. The
students of Madison Institute turned
out in lovely white costumes and the
students OF Central University were
there in body. The choir was made
up of young ladies and the music was
verv fine. Rev. Mr. Lloyd introduced
the speaker after prayer and reading
by visiting ministers. DIR. Garrison s
sermon was strong one, rarely equaled
here on similar occasion. The CLIMAX
is indebted to Rev. Jasper X. Smith, of
the Presbyterian church, for this excel
lent though necessarily brief summary
OF the discourse by the distinguished
ministers:
Rev. Mr.. Garrison took for his text
what are commonly called the last
words of Paul, contained in IL limo
thy, 40 chapter, and 6, Z, and s verses.
He said that it might seem strange that
he had selected the last words of man
as a message to those Just entering the
struggle of life; but declared that life
could be most clearly seen from its end;
its struggle could be best understood
from the results. He spoke of Paul as
a great moral hero and suggested that if
the heroic side of christianity should
be more constantly presented, more
heroes would be enlisted under the
standard of Christ. He showed that
life is battle, a struggle as seen both
IN the vegetable and animal kingdom,
and as we rise in the scale of existence
the struggle becomes more intense.
Paurs fight was with himself, his
higher nature in deadly Struggle with
his fieshly nature. This is battle each
one of us has TO fight, and there is no
contest more bitter. Paul's fight was
with the narrowing influences OF Juda-
ism. lie eontended for broad chris
tianity. The christian to-day has to
centend against narrOwness and preju-
dice in religious circles. Paul's fight
was with the tyrant Nero who held him
in prison, condemned to die. Our fight
is with the tyrant wOrld-lOvers which
Nero represented He showed that life
Is course that must be finished. He
illustrated this thought with a vessel
leaving its port and contrasled this
beautiful sight with the sublime sight
of this vessel reaching it's destination
successfully after perilOus voyage; a
regiment of soldiers going into and com
ing VIGOROUSLY out of a fierce cam
paign; a couple at the marriage altar
and the same couple who have faithful
ly trUd life's pathway together. lie
spoke Of Paul's keeping the faith; that
he had sutferel many losses; that be
had been deprived OF many things and
would soon lose his life, but he tri-
umphantly declared. II have kept the
faith" The minister drew a striking
picture OF the battle SCARED hero Paul,
prisoner about TO be executed and the
crowned tyrant, Nero. with bis glittering
retinue, but the prisoner knows he is
not defeated but IS conscious of victory.
In the place OF his material losses and
sufferiDgs. he has a vision of heaven
and the cross of righteousness that awaits
him. He aptly concluded his discourse
with the inscription on the monument
of President Garfield.
'Life's race well run
Lies work well done
Life S crown well won.p