The Washington herald., 1907-05-27
GRADUATES HEAR THIRKIELD
Baccalaureate Sermon Delivered at
Howard University.
Edifee Crowded for Closing Exer-
cises-President Gives Parting
Advice TO Students.

Before one Of the largest audiences that
ever attended a ceremony at Howard
University. Dr. Wilbur 2. Thirkield. pres
ident Of that institution. delivered the
baccalaureate sermon yesterday in the
Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel Every
seat in the edifce was occupied by an in
terested listener. and in the aisles and
doorways and windows almost as many
more sought 20 catch some Of the part
ing words Of the president TO the go grad
yates Of the university. In cap and gown.
the young men and women who are 20
receive their diplomas tonight heard the
parting admonition Of their leader in ST.
lenoe. and when he finished with a prayer
for their success his eyes were not the
only ones that we're dinmed.
When the ushers had completed their
onerous duty Of seating twice as many
people as could fit comfortably into the
chapel, the graduates entered. Prof Dur
nell, of the arts and sciences. led the wo-
men, while Dean George Cook. Of the
commercial department escorted the men.
The ceremonies were opened with a pray
er by Dean Fairfield, Of the department
Of arts and sciences, which was followed
by Gouncd's ''Sanctus,' from the mass
of ST. Caecilia, sung by a mixed choir.
under the dictatorship Of Miss Lula Chill
ters The immense amount q training
which the singers have done for this oc-
Casion showed itself admirably in that
selection, and the president Of the univer-
sity paid them a sincere compliment when
they seated themselves Before begin
ming his speech, DR.. Thirkield read from
the Bible, and at the conclusion Of this
exercise he announced his text. The
Power Of Unseen Realities" Hebrews.
u27.
Hundreds can talk for one who can
think. thousands can think for one who
can see. To see clearly is poetry.
prophecy, religion, all in one; so said
John Ruskin. the seer. I come 20 you
with a plea for seeing-a vision Of the
unseen and eternal. I have read to you
from that chapter Of seers; the record
Of men who were tall and titanic, because
they saw.
AS graduates you are going forth into
a world Of strong. materialistiC ten
denotes. Mighty forces. material and seen.
are at the fore. The god of this world
hath blinded the eyes Of men SO they
cannot see. The din of this world hath
filled their ears until they cannot hear.
II you are To lead strong, brave, self
sacrificing lives Of service that shall
endure your vision must be Of the un-
seen and eternal
"Our feelings outline and direct our
mental development. our deepest moral
life IS grounded in feeling. Just as God
has given the body FIVE senses by which
II may feel out, realize. and see the visible
so he has given the spiritual nature a
sixth OF highest sense by which he may
| feel out. know, see the invisible. This
| power is faith, which IS the demonstration
I Of the unseen.
/ You observe that l have not given
/ YOU a sermon Of academic counsel. but Of
mere moral maxims. My aim has been
/ rather 10 lift your eyes to a vision Of the
| unseen and the eternal. with the con-
viction that. in the hour of temptation
and trial. in the stress and storm If life.
| It is the man OF wisdom that is strong
/ Il is the wisdom of God that helps one
| to endure.
| "My final plea is expressed In one word
vision for service. You have been here
/ in these years set apart for culture and
/ study. on a mount of vision: but this
| education. this broader outlook and larger
vision is not for self, but for service