The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-05-31
EXERCISES At
STATE COLLEGE
FOR WOMEN
MAGNIFICENT DISCOURSE REM
DERED BY REV. J. q. MITCHELL
OF TRINITY CHURCH TO TIRE
MENDoUs CONGREGATION.
Special 70 The sournai.

Tallahassee, Fla. May So.-The sixth
commencement OF the Florida State
College for Women opened yesterday
with a magnificent discourse by Rev.
]. B. Mitchell, OF Trinity Methodist
church. Tallahassee A tremendous
thousand, had gathered In the spacious
auditorium OF the college and listened
with rapt attention and intense In
terest to a most logical. effective and
inspiring sermon on the theme. THE
Unavoidable Christ" the text being
Matthew xviii. %: What shall do
with Jesus who is called Christ pc
Rev. Mr. Mitchell began with a clear
but brief exposition OF the details Of
the trial before Plate. OF Pilates In
CURRY. OF the attitude OF the rabble. OF
the scourging and leading away to the
crucifxion. The words OF the text
are an all-important question for each
individual. on which Is dependent his
welfare or his woe. As surely as
Jesus stood before plate. 30 does each
man and each woman stand before
Christ Two claims the speaker set
forth:
(a) That Jesus was q real person
has been demonstrated beyond all
reasonable doubt: that he was more
than the best OF man or q mere ideal,
that he was the Christ. the Son of God,
has been indicated by his character,
work and teaching. influences on the
world, his flIlfillment OF prophecies and
by the universal verdict OF subsequent
history.
OBJ If this be true. He is entitled TO
our favorable Judgment, our faith. love
and service.
concise outline of the speakers
convincing appeal and argument fol-
lows:
CD The real existence Of the per-
son of Christ:
/. He could not have been the crea-
ton of gospel authors.
2. He could not have been merely
a national ideal, according to Strauss
theory.
8. re must have been real, and
although we may deny the miraculous
In his life the greatest miracle of all,
Himself. remains.
OBJ His divinity outside the nirac-
ulous. an appeal to reason:
1. What He became in the light of
circumstances that surround His life
/. The law of environment: early
life shows future character-man sell
dom rises above such early environ
ment. In Nazareth were most unfa-
vorable conditions morally. This was
the worst period of the world. This
nation was full Of bigotry and exclu-
siveness.
2. Circumstances in His life: hum
BILE parentage-this and poverty con-
stitute hindrances in life-without this
| worlds education-possible helped in
the support of His Fathers family
without the patronage OF great con-
| temporaries-died a young man, 3S
years of age, 80 being spent in seclu-
sion, three only in public labors.
8. His character, His work. His
reading:
(a) Christ without consciousness of
sin and weakness-never prayed for
Himself--had oneness with God-as-
sumed prerogatives of God, as in Thy
sins be forgiven thee" Blasphemy
this, If only manufactured eternal
| life, as when saying to the two weep
| ing sisters, 81 am the Resurrection
and the Life" or in Come unto me
all We that labor" etc, and this, too,
| from a carpenter!
OBJ Either the grossest imposter
and wonderful deceiver or more than
mere man-testimony of John the
| Baptist, Peter, PLATE. For two thou
sand years critical dissection but all
! in vain and critics are forgotten-ver-
| dict of every age, like Pilates. I find
no fault with this man"-not king
of material but of spiritual world
gave the world its greatest code of
| ethics-reversed it's idea of happiness
/ by his beatitudes with sanction Of
subsequent philosophers. i.
| (c) Teaching corrected worlds ma
| terialism, giving acknowledgements
ted personality and spirituality of
God-called God a spirit brought from
oblivion the doctrine of the soul, set
| forth its indestructibility weighed its
value against the world-showed re-
Cancellation with God, as in the story
of the Porigal Son.
II. Christ's influence in the world:
l. What has been accomplished IN
| His name: Empires have been over
turned, states undone, manifold books
written, civilization advanced, crimes
overcome, slavery stamped out, wom-
anhood honored, childhood protected.
Dr.. Palmore in London saw city s
traffic stopped by child in the care
of a policeman; back Of the star Of
the oficer, that of the empire, back Of
this the Star of Bethlehem.