The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-06-07
He INSPIRED THEM
DR., Broughton's Strong Ser
mon at EIon College.
Prof. CIaxton's Powerful Plea For Education
DR.. Broughton Especially impressed
With Music Department
Especial to News and observer.)


Elon College, N. c., June 6.-The Sec
ond day of the commencement exercises
of Elon College opened up with the an
nual literary address, delivered by Prof
p. p. Claxton, of Greensboro. at 11:30
o'clock a. m, Prof. Claxton took for his
subject: The first commandment and
our relation to it, and in his mastery
style pointed out the great work that
God intends for man to do in developing
the natural resources of the world We
must have dominion over nature and
earth, not men, he says. Among the
things which we must subdue and con-
troll he pointed out the fertility of the
soil, the mountains, the rivers, land
time and space, laws of chemistry, and
laws of health. The one great problem
to be solved in subduing nature is ed
ucation, and wherever men learn more
of these laws is not only a Christian
college, but a sacred and progressive
spot While the advancement along
this line has been great. especially with
in the last two decades, we have but
yet made a start in this direction. Men
living century ago had no idea of the
great works of nature as we view them
today, and so men living today cannot
conceive of the world as it will exist a
hundred years hence New forces Of
nature are ever being brought to light
and the more knowledge men have, the
more advancement may be made. The
great Piedmont section of West Vir-
ginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, South
Carolina and Georgia is more abundant
ly endowed by nature than any. spot on
the face of the globe, hence the respon-
& ncti inn flaa. To- Of h il
section is greater The greatest trouble
in this section is the lack of independ-
ence. We must learn, and are now fast
learning the lesson that our raw mate
rails must not be sent to Northern mar
kets, and then brought back and sold
to US for enormous prices, but that right
here in our own section by Harvesting
the forces of nature they may be pre-
pared. All this may be done by knowl-
edge, for knowledge is power. There is
no freedom from ignorance, vice or pow
erty without education
The address was powerful plea for
education expressed in chaste, select
words. and delivered in charming
manner
In the afternoon, at 8 o'clock, the an
nuaI sermon was delivered by Rev. T.
c. Broughton, of Atlanta. The text
of DR.. Broughton was taken from Num-
bers 21:4, and his subject was: THE
Philosophy of Discouragement." After
discussing the disbursement so often
arising from physical causes, immagi-
nation. environment and necessity, he
appealed to men to face and battle the
realities of life with an energy, a vim,
and ambition and a perseverance that
knows not diScouragement. His sermon
was one of the strongest and most for
chile ever delivered at this place. With
his eloquence he held the audience al
most spenllbound for an hour, and no
one heard the sermon but that they felt
benefited, and better prepared to face
life with all its obstacles. DR. Brough-
ton is a profound thinker and deep
scholar.
In the evening at 8 O'Clock the exer-
cises by the society representatives took
place The orations and essays were all
of high order, being we'll written and
we'll delivered After the conclusion of
the program DR.. Broughton made a
short talk, congratulating the institu-
ton on the great progress it has made
and the influence it is exerting in North
Carolina. He was especially impressed
he said, with the music department, and
spoke in high terms of the music rem
dered during the exercises.
Tomorrow morning the graduating ex-
ercises take place, and tomorrow even
ing the musical concert. Large crowds
are in attendance.