The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-08
DIR. Hillary A. Goblin mt De Pnuw, DIR.
w. l.. Brynn ut EarIham and DIR.
j. II. ID. John Mt Purdue
FEATURES OF THE ADDRESSES
LONG LIST OF GRADUATES AT IN
DIANA UNIVERSITY.
Annual Missionary Sermon mt Frank
Ifn-Exodus from West Lafayette
Other College News.
,peciaI to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
GREENCASTLE, Ind. June THE bac-
calaureate sermon of the commencement
season of De Pauw University was
preached to-day in Meharry Hall by Pres
ident III. A. Goblin. The audience that heard
him was very large. DIR. Gobins connec-
ton with the university ceases with this
commencement. and his remarks TO the
class that graduates this week were on &C
count OF this fact tinged with a personal
character that is not ordinarily observed.
His subject was "A Modern Appreciation OF
John Wesley" a theme that is being fol-
lowed at the commencement exercises or
many educational institutions this spring.
in connection with the approaching celebra-
ton of the bieentennial of Wesley's birth.
His text was: They that wise shall
shine as the brightness Of the armament,
and they that turn many to Righteousness
as the stars forever and ever."-Daniel,
xiii 3.
by the ancient calendar" DR.. Goblin
said. I'VE are this morning within ten days
OF the bicentennial anniversary of the birth
of John Wesley. The occasion will be cele-
brated the world over by Methodist
churches and some denominations not call
ing themselves Wesleyan or Methodist will
nize Wesley as the best representative OF
the Christian doctrines or church polity
they prefer. All Protestant churches ex-
press sympathy with this memorial and ex-
tend congratulations and good will to the
large and influential bodies that regard
Wesley as their founder. Even the more
liberal Roman Catholic prelates speak in
high praise of the personal piety and emf
nent usefulness OF the chief leader in the
religious movement called Methodism.
while this bicentennial Is celebrated In
the churches. IL is eminently proper that it
should be observed in our colleges. 1t is
significant of the modern appreciation of
Wesley that in all our schools prominent
place Is given in the commencement pro-
gramme of this year to exercises comment
orative of his life and work. This pro-
cedure is justified by the fact that he was
not only great leader in a most extensive
evangelistic movement, but also the orig
inator of variety of schools and other
agencies in popular education. While we
revere the memory OF Wesley, we do not
low to his name in idolatrous devotion. We
do not worship him as a superhuman hero
We do not canonize him a Saint Wesley
or new Saint john We admit his human
ism and even his fraiities and follies.
'sThe modern appreciation of John Wesley
does not grow out of the fact that he would
be esteemed an ideal person in any circle of
modern. society. He certainly would not be
regarded a popular preacher in the leading
churches OF the present day. He was not
social in our meaning OF the term. DIR.
Earacel Johnson greatdly admired him and
gaze Boswell a letter of Introduction to
him, but complained that he was too seri-
Gus and too busy for conversation. He was
noted as an early riser, and insisted that
ell his preachers should conform to his
natit and rise every morning at o'clock.
In order to keep his rising hour, he must
yesolutely keep his retiring hour. o'clock.
He did this with such regularity and pre-
cislon that he would scarcely take time to
say goodnight TO his guests. He was un-
conventional in everything which he
thought would incur the risk of wasting a
There are other particulars in which his
views and habits would be- regarded with
much aversion in modern times. His ex-
tre.ne asceticism, his belief in special Prov
idence miraculous interventions and Won
derful answers to prayer. his insistence on
the verbal inspiration OF the Scriptures.
and his personal inspiration and guidance,
and especially his belief in ghosts. appari-
fioc5 and wftchcraft, would separate him
from the current ideas of the modern
church.
but there are other characteristics for
(which he Is held in the highest generation
Rnd affection by the modern Christian
world. His implicit candor. genuine philan-
thropy. unexampled industry and consist
ent piety are recognized and admired by all
fair-minded people of every variety of re-
lig.ous belief and unbelief.
shows how tolerant the present age is
toward the frailties and even follies of men
when they are moved by holy enthusiasm
to high and fruitful endeavors in behalf of
the welfare Of humanity.
The address concluded with an earnest
and affectionate appeal to the class to be
worthy of the high regard of the best char
acters of the age in which we live.
The Rev. Wilbur Fletcher Shinday, s. L.
B., of Louisville. KY, who graduated from
DE Pauw University in 1885. delivered the
Mehary Hall on "The Renaissance of Meth
odism.