The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-06-04
Rev.Dr. Murrah Breaches
 Annual Sermon.
semi-Centennial Celebration of the No- ted School at Greensboro Attend cd By Alumni From Every
 Direction.

Greensboro, June 3--(SpeciaL)-The Southern University began formally its semi-csntennial celebration this morn ing at II a. m., by religious services in the college chapel. Judging. from the number of alumni pouring in on every train, and from all directions. this commencement is of widespread interest.
 The commencement sermon, pronounce cd one of the finest ever heard here. was delivered by an a1umnus of the Southern University. Rev. w. B. Mur- rah. D. D., president of Millsap Univer-- sity. Jackson, Miss. Several hundred persons heard Dr. Murrah.
 His text was "The Conception of Christian Life" 2 Tim. iv-S. Dr. Murrah said in part.
 "Godliness Is profitable unto all things. having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This Is the estimate that inspira- tion puts upon a Christian life. for a Christian life is the highest expression of Godliness we can know. And the estimate is not too high, because religious life when properly understood and intelligently practiced comprehends all that the energies Of man could claim for the noblest endeavor. and all that his hopes can ask in tho grandest possibilities. To every Christian there openst a field for his activities bound less in extent and inexhaustible In re- sources. and to noble self sacrifice and patient continuance In well doing, it yields of priceless fruit. It is unior- tunately true. however, that low con- ception of religion In its aims and This is particularly true among the young In such circles the idea ofren becomes current that religion abridges the sources of human happiness and while all desire to enjoy the rewards 1t offers hereafter they prefer to post pone the assumption of It's obligations as long as possible. This unworthy estimate that is put upon a scheme which God has ordained for elevating man to likeness with Himself is fos- tered by that most pernicious of all heresies that religion is designed pri- marily and chiefly to fit us for sIl- other fife while 1t only hampers us in 0ur relation to the life tha. now is. 'I count It a very great misfortune that the church in some period If it's history has appeared very unattractive to the young. We do not have to so very far back to reach the time when 1t wes thought that about the only appropriate expressions of youthful piety were a weekly lesson in the cat echism and indoor confinement on Sun. day. The appeal made to the young was the death bed plea instead of a bugie blast calling to service. Service through long years. Service unoer the most inspiring of all motives and Ideals. am glad we are getting away from the old traditional idea of the church as an ark of safety. where be- lated Saints want to be left alone with their pious thoughts and heavenly rev.
 Tt shall be my purpose today to try
 and give such 2 Yconception of relig-
 ious life as shall vindicate the boast of the Apostle that--Godliness is profit able unto all things.
 "In order to do this might pursue a purely practical method. could show that religion when properly under
 stood secures first that regulation of the passions and appetites and gives just that direction to the forces of be- ing as are necessary to conditional suc- cess in any department of human activ-
 ity. But this would lead me to exam
 inc certain theories proposed by purely
 scientific and intellectual schools of
 thought, and I prefer, therafore. to
 project the discussion upon a plane where religion moves supreme, taking knowledgsi of certain facts of our na- ture, which are the most real of all facts. which are disregarded or ig nored by all merely human systems of philosophy
 Here 1t Is of the very first import ance that we should carry along with
 us in thought. well defined ideas of the Nature of Man. This is fundament-
 al For if man were wholly material,
 and could know nothing other than his
 material environment; If his physical senses furnished the only avenue to his heart and mind. then certainly this whole subject would have a different bearing.
 Keeping this in mind. we affirm with the utmost confidence, that the Apostle was right when he declared that: God lin ess is profitable unto all things be- cause Godliness which literally means
 Godlikeness harmonizes the soul of man with God.
 ''This Is the great end proposed by
 all religions. It is the grand end se-
 cured by the Christian religion. And
 as respects man nature and prospects here and hereafter, 1t Is the one radical and universal necessity.
 When a man Is adjusted in right relations with God he becomes CO., worker together with Him in the ac- eomplishment of His great purposes; He becomes a part of plan which God al, rects and for the success of which all omnipotence stands pledged.
 Thus we see from another point of view why Godliness Is profitable unto all things. We cannot always tell just what our Work means, put we may be sure that there will be grand out come some day. From the mountain tops of revelation and opportunity we can catch glimpses of the coming day. May we hasten the preparation which the full tide glory of high noon shall reveal?"
 The Greensboro Choral Society, num- bering forty, rendered-'The Lost Chord"
 Arthur Sullivan--'Tnflamatu from Stabat mater.-Rossin.
 "IsraePs Sons With One Accord "- Roseini.
 The Methodist Church was crowded to its utmost tonight to hear the Seml- Centennial Sermon. preached by Rev. w. P. Hurt, presiding elder of the Greensboro District, and an alumnus of the institution having graduated in nEEl9sssee-