The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-30
COMMENCEMENT AT
 OWENTON COLLEGE
Dr. B. Riddlck Preached the
 Annual Sermon
CHURCH AND SCHOOL WORK
pr. j. F. Turner of eadsden Delivered Sermon Before Student Body of North Alabama Conference
 College Last Night.

The commencement of the North Ala bama Conference college was opened yes- terday morning with the annual com mencement sermon which was preached by Dr. c. B. Riddck, pastor of the First Methodist church. The college chapel was filled to overfiowing. Dr. Riddicks theme was "The Study and Life of the Apostles" The commencement exercises will come to close on Wednesday morning when the members of the graduating class will receive their diplomas. The baccalaureate address will be delivered by Hon. William B. Bankhead of Huntsville.
 Preceding his sermon Dr. Riddlck read the following staments, which he said he had written In order that he might be cor rectly reported: Before entering upon the discussion of my text I want to say that 1t gives me real pleasure te worship with the faculty and students and friends of the North Alabama Conference col lege. MT. Wesley, our immortal founder, said 1t was a good thing to teach, but 1 would amend by saying that 1t is better to do both than to do either.
 Church and School.
 ''The church and the school go together hand in hand. They are both alike the harbingers of a better civilization. The preacher may have a wider sphere for his labors, but the teacher has the ad- Han of his instructions. No man does a more permanent work than the professional teacher, provided he be thoroughly eaulp- ped and thoroughly religious. An insin- cere man, without faith in God and his pupils, may have all the technical train ing the university can confer, and yet be a notable failure in the real work of train ing the young.
 T am glad to be able, by my presence at least, to recognize the importance and value of christian college in our midst The fires that burn in our furnaces are sending out the materials for a marvellous commercial development. But within these quiet walls are molded and sent forth greater forces for the upbuiIding and en- richment of our common country. It is true you have had fiery baptism, and every inch of the ground you now occupy has been seized and possessed by men who believed that even the Kingdom of heaven suffer the violence and the violent take it as by force You are only reneat- ing the history of similar enterprises With hearts overfiowing with kindest wishes Tor all sister institutions, and yet In hum- ole gratitude for what God has done Tor you let us hope that the night is far spent and the day dawneth. a day of great prosperity for the North Alabama Conference college"
 The College Founder. Speaking further. Dr. Riddick referred to Dr. Parker, who has been largely in- strumental in the founding of the col lege, as 'the plumed knight of Christian education in North Alabama" and he hoped to see the day when bronze statue of the great man should grace the col lege campus.
 The text was; St. Luke VI, 13-"And when it was day he called unto him his disciples; and of them he chose twelve, whom he named apostles
 The sermon was a masterly effort de- picting the differences In temperament of the apostles representative of the various characteristics, of humanity, and the Masters manner of dealing herewith. The sermon showed that every type of charac- ter could be used by the Almighty for his own glory and the betterment of hu- manity. In concluding his sermon he ap- pealed to the young men of the college to live in harmony with Gods law. to make the best of every opportunity anG | success and usefulness.
 pr. Turner Breaches. Yesterday evening" pr. J. r. Turner, presiding elder of the Gadsden district, preached a forciful sermon to the stu dents and patrons of the college. Monday morning there will be declama- tions, the contest of the freshman and Sophomore classes for gold medals. Mon day night the annual debating and ora torical contest of the literary societies will take place.
 Tuesday morning the Rev. w. R. Hen drix, pastor of the St. Johns Methodist church, will deliver the address before the literary societies Tuesday night the juniors will have their oratorical con- test for gold medal
 Wednesday morning the graduating ex- ercses will be held. The senior speakers will deliver their orations and the an- nual address will be delivered by the Hon. William B. Bankhead.
 During the commencement exercises, both day and night. the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company has | agreed to run cars from Birmingham c,,o.., t1..er,tu trainIites nuer the OMentOn