Evening journal., 1915-06-07
COMMENCEMENT week
Opens At Delaware
DR.. U. Franklin Smiley De-
liverS Baccalaureate
Sermon
Mr.. LAWSON TALKS
TO THE Y. M. c. A.

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
NEWARK, Del, June delaware
College commencement week eXer-
eises started yesterday morning with
the sermon to the Y Nj. G. A.. by DR..
Milton G.. Evans, ID. D., president OF
Crozier Theological Seminary OF
Chester and the baccalaureate sermon
to the graduates by the Rev. u. Frank
lin Smiley, pastor of West Presbyter-
ian Church of Wilmington, in the
Nevening. All the local Protestant
Churches omitted their usual services
yesterday to give their congregations
an opportunity to attend the exercises
at the college. DR.. Smileys sub
iect for the baccalaureate last night
was "The Purposeful Life"
DR.. Smiley took his text from First
Samuel, Seventh Chapter. twelfth
verse, "Then Samuel took stone. and
set it between Mizpeh and Shen. and
called the name of it Eben-ezer, say
ing, Hitherto hath the Lord helped
US" DR.. Smiley said in part
"That is a beautiful scene down on
the plains between Mizpeh and Shen.
The armies of Israel are gathered
about an old man who is placing
stone on the ground. Had you and
been there, we might have thought 1t
a very foolish. a very significant act.
But TO every one of those soldiers 1t
conveyed a world of meaning. It would
tell there generation and the genera
tions to come how that God gave to
Israel there most bitter enemies, the
Philistines, without a battle. And
now, after the bloodless conquest, Is
rael has assembled to give acknowl-
edgment to God for this wonderful
victory. The Prophet Samuel is erect
ing a memorial stone, to which he
gives the most appropriate title. 'Eben-
ezer' saying Hitherto hath the Lord
helped u.s.
VERY similar, II seems to me, is
this inspiring occasion which calls
Us together tonight For every such
occasion, and every human battle
fought and won. are but memorial
stones on the plains of life, memorials,
by which our thoughts are taken over
the retrospective of Gods goodness
to US in the past, and thus are we
encouraged to 90 forth into the fu-
ture. Indeed, il was for this purpose
that all the memorials we're erect
ed among Gods chosen people. There
was the memorial of the Feast of the
Passover, which ever took the thought
Of the devout Jew back to that mem
oriable night in Egypt. when God.
with a mighty hand led His people
from under the bondage of the Egyp-
tians: there was the memorial of the
Feast of Tabernacles, which would
ever remind the Jews of the Wander
ings in the Wilderness, and the dwell
ing in tents: there was the memorial
frI or- bo W. q {
about to lead Israel into the Prom
ised Land a memorial which would
remind Israel in all the ages to come
of Gods power and providence; and
again. here is the memorial Of the
text. telling of a deliverance which
God had provided hitherto.
And so we have gathered tonight
to celebrate with you the compile
ton of your preparation for your
life's work. | urge you to erect your
memorial. and to say from your
hearts. Hitherto has the Lord helped
us. For the word Hitherto as We
have been taught, points like an in
dex finger into the past. and reminds
us that over all the years of oni
Journey, through all the vicissitudes
of life. amid all the changes about us
God our God. has been with us
hitherto"
Sermon TO Y. VI. c. A.
Warren c. Newton, president of the
College Y. NJ. c. A.. presided at the
annual services in the morning wher
DR.. Evans made an address on "Tht
Gift of Influence" DR.. Samuel c
Mitchell, president of Delaware Col
lege, the Rev. william j. Rowan anC
the Rev. E. P. Roberts. assisted a
this service. In his sermon DR.. Evans
said in part
Jesus appeals only to the hungry
the thirsty. the weary the poor, tn,
penitent. He has no message for tn
self-satisfed. For this reason hi
words are timeless and spaceless; 70
men at all times and i'm al places ar
thrust forward by primal desires 70
self-perpetuation and self enlarge
ment.
progress. mans distinctive mark
alone:
Not Gods, and not the beasts; God is
they are;
Man partly is, and wholly hopes t
be-
But for man. progress is throug
influence upon mis- fellows. The nor
NAL person cherishes tho desire 4
shape the destiny Of others. He rejoice
that he is a centre of power. tha
from him issue forces that shape his
tory. To this human instinct Jesu
appealed in the words: If any On
thirst, let him come 10 Me and drink
Nor is it a mere incident in His lif
that He was in the temple when H
made that astounding promise. Ii
only the temple, the meeting place q
God and man whence issue influence
that last. The makers of history hav
been religious men. The men who's
names are household words are fouu
ders of religions. The immortals i