The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-24
a. AND VI. COLLEGE.
Rev. DIR. j. ID. Huffman breaches to the
Cadets.

The services before the graduating
class of the A. and NJ. College on Sun
day morning when the Baccalaureate
sermon was preached, took place In
Pullen Auditorium, this being the first
time that the hall has been used.
The sermon was preached by Rev.
DR.. j. ID. Huffman. of Scotland Neck,
who is perhaps the most highly es-
teemed of all the Baptist ministers of
the State. He is a loving and a loved
man of God, and his words of admoni-
ton and advice come from a heart
and mind rich with the golden stores
garnered in life spent in the service
of his Master.
The auditorium seats thousand
people and it was filled to its capacity.
1t is an airy, light room and the con-
gregatiOn gathered in it Sunday was
q handsome one there were many
young ladies present, these adding to
the charming appearance. The cadets
were seated in body at the front, the
thirty-siX seniors occupying the two
front rows of seats.
The services were under the direc-
ton of the First Baptist Church, and
Rev. w. G. ryree, the pastir of that
church. was on the rostrum with DR..
Hufham, while large part of the con-
gregation of the First Baptist church
was present, the music being rendered
by the choir of that church.
The anthem, Lift Up Your Heads.
o Ye Gates by Ashford, was first
sung. and as ltclosed the congrega
tin united in singing the first verse of
"All Hail The Power of Jesus Name"
the invocation being made as this con-
Guided. folliwing the congregational
singing of Lord, We Come Before
Thee Now, the lesson of the day was
read by DR.. Hufham, this being follow
ed by an earnest prayer for Gods rich
est blessings upon the college and
those connected with it. Again the
congregation united in singing, and
following the announcements, most
beautiful duet, Forever With The
Lord" by Gounod, was sung by Miss
Jones and Mrs. Brinson.
The sermon was next heard, and
i'm delivering it DIR. Hufham held the
undivided interest of his congregation.
1t was a sermon full of thought time
not being consumed in the mere utter
ing of words, for it was only twenty
minutes in length, yet in even this
short period the eminent preacher
spoke words of truth and wisdom that
could but be of value and of use to
the young men to whom the sermon
was delivered.
Baccalaureatc Sermon.
The preacher announced the text:
Cor SIS. But first gave their own
selves to the Lord, and unto us by
the VIII of Cod"
After a brief introduction he said
You see tho truth which lies on the
surface. 1t is, that giving ones self
is the condition of all heroic living.
/. The Christian life begins with
the giving of ones self to God through
Christ. 1t is the one thing which, if
you do it makes you a Christian, the
one act by which you pass from death
unto iife
2. This absolute, complete sur
render is the condition of all larger
knowledge. Nature reveals her Sc
crets only to Him who has given his
life to her. Art, literature, the pro-
fessions open their store-houseS and
give their treasures to such as prize
them above everything else and seek
for them with singlenesS of heart.
Even so Christ gives the larger knowl-
edge of Himself and the Father, of
life and truth and duty to those and
those alone who have accepted him as
their only hope of salvation, as their
only Lord and Master.
3. This entire surrender is also the
condition of happiness. Christ was
called the man of sorrow. But it is
true also that He was anointed with
the oil of gladness above His fellows.
His life. notwithstanding its sorrows,
was the hapDiest life that has ever
blessed this earth Those who walk
IN His footsteps with loving. truStful
hearts and unwavering purpose are
made sharers of his joys.
4. The giving of ones self is The
condition of over. You may recall
Macaulay's description of the Puri-
tans. You might smile. he said. If
you had seen them prone on their
faces and lamenting with sobs and
tears. their sinfulness and unworthi-
ness; but no one who met them at the
council board or on the field of bat
tie, had reason to smile when they