The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-26
DIR. JONES AT DAVIDSON.
Philadelphia Divine breaches Baccalaureate
Sermon to Graduating Class
(Charlotte Observer.)

Davidson, May PA large congrega-
ton assembled in the church this morning
at IL o clock to hear the baccalaureate SER
mon before the graduating class by Rev.
John Sparhawk Jones, d. D., of Philadel-
phia Besides DR.. Jones and DR.. A. T.
Graham, Rev c. A. Munroe, Of Lenoir
and Rev. DR.. Boggs, Of the First Presby-
terrain church of Jacksonville, Fla, were
in the pulpit and assisted in the service.
DR.. Jones was dressed in his gown. He
walked in at the head Of the senior class
the members of which also wore gowns
The doctor is man of striking appear
ance. His fine dark eye flashes at times
a light that reveals an intellect OF an UNI
usual order. His features are finely CHS
eled, and the habits OF lifetime have cut
deep lines of thought around his kindly
mouth. There were many in the congre-
CATION in whom an interested curiosity was
the paramount emotion. Here was the
man whom Dean stanly had pronounced
the greatest of American preachers: the
man whom Senator Vance had made fire.
quent pilgrimages from Washington to
Baltimore to hear with unfailing delight;
who had aroused the students and faculty
pitch of enthusiasm whom Gildersleeve
said he heard every Sunday night for the
sake Of his head having listened to his
own pastor in the morning for the sake Of
his heart Surely some degree of curious
expectation was natural. Perhaps some
went away disappointed. Many as a rule
do under similar circumstances. Certain
it is that those who wished for pyro-
technic display. or for a deep, resonant,
far-reaching voice, or for fearful appeal
to the emotions or to see the Bible pound
ed to a pulp. or to hear social. political
and DELICIOUS conditions scathngly re-
buked all these were sadly cheated.
The doctor took as his text John sixth
chapter, sixty-seventh and sixty-eighth
verses: 'eThen saIu Jesus unto the twelve,
Will we also go away? Then Simon Peter
answered him. Lord, to whom shall we
go? thou hast the words Of eternal life"
He read from a manuscript in quiet con
versational tone, and for ten minutes one
wondered wherein lay his power Then
somehow or other the man seemed to be
effaced, and one seemed to be looking at
series of swiftly moving pictures, bril-
liant in coloring, faultless in detail, quiv-
ering with life And when he stopped all
too soon one was powerfully impressed
with the truth, that it is impossible for a
man to avoid meeting and settling the
religious problem, and erly impossible
to find an adequate substitute for the re-
hgion of Christ Jesus. The sermon was
entirely great and the preacher has stamp
cd himself indelbly upon this community
DR.. Jones went this afternoon by private
conveyance for Charlotte, where he has an
engagement to preach tonight.
DIR CAMPBELL'S SERMON.
Davidson, May 24.-The annual sermon
before the Y. NJ c. A. was preached here
today by Rev. Dr. r. F. Campbell, of
Asheville. DR.. Campbell is a former pas
tor of the Presbyterian church and ex
pressed much pleasure at being once more
among his people.
He was assisted in the services by DR..
Graham and Rev. Dr. c. c.. Vardell, of
Red Springs Seminary Mr.. Campbel's
text was taken from II Timothy 81 verse.
Wherefore l put you in remembrance
that thou stir up the gift of God which is
in thee, by putting on of my hand, for
God has not given us the spirit of fear,
but of power, and of love, and of kind
mind"
The sermon was an earnest plea to
young men to accept and develop the gift
of God, especially the gift of courage,
power and love, all controlled by sound
common sense.