The evening Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1902-1902, 1902-06-16
old della. WARES.
COMMENCEMENT.

| L ulo 10 COllultl1CcHuoHl Weeh dL
Delaware College and the exercises
for the occasion began yesterday.
In the morning Rev. John Shape of
Delaware Avenue Baptist Church,
Wilmington, preached an interest
ing sermon to the College Y. M. c.
A., and in the evening the baccalau-
reate sermon was preached by Rev.
VIM. WHIT King, pastor Of Grace M.
E. Church, Wilmington. The ora
tory was crowded to the doors with
an attentive congregation, despite
the oppressive weather.
Attired in gowns and wearing
mortar boards, the graduates
marched to the platform where
they occupied seats during the ser
mon.
The members of the faculty and
several ministers also were on the
platform. The ope ming prayer was
offered by Rev. Martin L. Kopfen-
berger, and the scriptures were
read by Rev. DR.. Rowan.
Dr. Kings subject was playing
the Man." based ON the text from
second Samuel 1, ~: BE of good
courage and let us play the men for
our own people and for the cities of
our God" In the course of his ser
mon DR.. King said.
This is or ought to be the goth
century drum-beat for Christian
men and women. If there ever was
a time when courage was needed
and when it was necessary not to
dawdle or shirk or skulk OF skimp
or trim Or trifie, but to play the men
in the worlds work, that time is
right now. A great many of us
have somehow gotten the idea that
the heroic age in the history of
Christian service and achievement
that is the age when the spirit of
heroism was especially needed-is
in the past; in the days when the
badge of Christian discipleship was
not aglory, but shame; when men
and women were prosecuted for
righteousness sake; when they We're
put to death for their faith-thls
was the heroic age of Christianity.
That was an heroic age and the men
and women Of those times We're he
roes. There is no doubt of that.
There wasn't a white livered man
and woman among them, for any
day they were likely to be put to
test which only determined, daunt-
less heroic soul could meet and stand |
and before which a paltroon would |
wilt and pale and cry and shrivel |
up and blow away.
yes, that was an heroic age, and |
the men and women of it were he
roes, and ! would not utter q sylla-
bic that could be construed to the
contrary.
l would not take one leaf from the
garland of honor, which justly be-
long to the memory of those who
lived and wrought and witnessed
and died for the sake of Christ.
Nothing could be gained by that if
it We're possible. 1t would not add
one whit to our honor to try to de-
tract from their honor. 1t would
not make us greater than we are to
try to prove them smaller than they
were. To knock hero from his
pedestal may be very damaging to
the hero, but it is of no benefit to
the one who strikes the iconoclastic
blow, and never lifts him to the
place which the overturned and de-
hero occupied
In conclusion Dr.. King said:
But while none of us in the
present age are at all likely to be
called upon toEave the courage nee
essary to die for the truth. we are
each called upon to meet the ire
mendous responsibility of faithful
living for it, 1t does not require
much courage simply to live, but it
Ices require great courage to live
right, to be constantly loyal to d.
vine standards of truth and rights
eousness. That requires the high.
est courage and no one who has not
he heroic fibre in him can do it,"