The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-23
PEACE INSTITUTE
EXERCISES BEGIN
ForcibIe Sermon BY DR..
w. R. Laird.
HAPPY CLASS DAY
The Graduates Present a Unique Pro-
gram With Exercises On the
Lawn-..A Banquet Given
Last Night at the Var
borough.

Beautiful and impressive was tn
First Presbyterian church of this cit.
last Sunday morning, decorated il
ferns and cut flowers, and filled t.
overlooking with pc lie from every
walk of life-aged and young-Wh'
had assembled to hear the Baccalau'
reate sermon preached to the 1ali
Young graduates of Peace Institute by
the Rev. w. r. Laird, ID. d., OF the
First Presbyterian church at DahVlile
Virginia.
out of the sun of the beautiful May
morning. the graduating class and
other students entered and occupied
the middle portion of the churcn.
They looked the picture of health anu
beauty-clothed in their gowns OF
thinnest white, and the innocent ana
happy faces seem to touch the hearts
of all around, until with one accord
the congregation rose ana sang
praise God from Whom all Blessings
Flow"
other students and teachers OF
Peace Institute constituted the choir
which was directed by Prof. j. T.
Brawley, and the songs and music
were unusually pretty and Wen rem
dered. They first sang Jerusalem on
High q selection from Hauser. rms
was followed by Hhymn number 53V
"A Mighty Fortress is Our God.
DIR. Laird then read the 12th chaptei
of PauPs letters to the Romans, when
seems to sound the keynote of all
the teachings of Jesus Christ: Be we
kind one to another. Weep with
those who weep and rejoice with those
who do rejoice" He then prayed to
the Almighty and ever gracious Coo.
He rejoiced that we had been allowed
to assemble in His house on this oc-
casion. He acknowledged his power IN
all its forms and prayed the Holy
Spirit to come and dwell in our hearts;
He gave thanks for all the blessings
which we are receiving from His
hands: thanks for the blessings of this
temporal life. and thanks for spiritual
blessings. Thanks that God so loved
the world that He gave His only be-
gotten Son that whomsoever believed
on Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life; He rejoiced and gave
thanks that we had accepted His invi-
tation and prayed that our hearts
might always be full of His praises;
he asked for help so that we might do
the perfeeb~aNfll=of G od.aslTD~ spend our
lives as Jesus spent His. A r2ind and
spirit of true servants OF God. A
prayer for all those around u.s. A spe-
cial PRAYER for these young women.
"Send them message today; one of
love and one that will be practical;
grant that thy will bear thy truths and
that they will be helpful in this life,
and that their lives may be consecrat-
ed to the Lord Jesus and may they
glorify His life and love; a blessing on
Peace Institute, it's teachers; grant
that the streams of their good deeds
may continue to go forth. Pour out
unto them a greater love; bless their
President and may thy richest bless
ings be ever upon him. Send out the
light of the gospel that all may know
God, our Saviour, whom we expect to
go home and be ever within our Faith
er'S house..
Then strong and deep pealed forth
the mighty organ and the choir, sang
Heaven a selection from Henry
Stuart beautifully and impressively.
Then the collection of the weekly
offerings was taken while the congre-
CATION joined the choir in singing the
hymn, Father in Thy Mysterious
Presence Kneeling."
DR.. Laird. who is a young man Of
about thirty-five. with hair and eyes
inclined to be light, is tall and dis
tinguished looking, and has good de-