The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-10
ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT
At SEMINARY BEGINS.
Thompson Points Out Duty of the
Ministry.
WORK IN MISSION FIELDS
DR.. J. Ross Stevenson Tells Society of
Missionary Inquiry That Example OF
European People Should Stir Ameri-
can Young People.

With able sermons by DR.. J. Ross
Stevenson. president of Princeton The
illogical Seminary, and DIR. Ernest
Thompson. pastor of the First Presby-
terrain Church, Charles Town, w. Va.
the annual commencement exercises
of Union Theological Seminary, in
Ginter Park. were begun yesterday.
DIR. Stevenson spoke last night before
the Society of Missionary Inquiry, and
DR.. Thompson delivered the baccal-
aureaAe sermon at the morning SER
vices
DR.. Thompson's sermon was a dis
cussion of the work of the ministry.
the task to be performed and the
method of performing that task. He
pictured two conceptions of life. one
a far country, such as the prodigai
son inhabited. the far country of pas
sion and indulgence. where selfishness
has free rein in the "rdotous living"
This is the country that men should
seek to escape Then there is q far
country of CHRIST, the country to
which He has gone leaving us to oc-
cupy this world until he shall come
again.
The Task of a Minister.
1T is the task of the minister to
point men from the far country Of
passion and selfishness to the far
country of service and sacrifice. In
performing that task the Christian
must occupy for his Master this
world, anu by earnestness, in love and
pity, in conservation, seek to point
men to Christ, men who are not lost,
but who are missed by the Master and
OF whom he goes in search and sends
His servants and messengers on earth
in search
DIR. Stevenson. speaking at the night
exercises, delivered an address OF mis-
sionary bearing. DIR. Stevenson. who
was formerly pastor of the Fifth-Av-
enue Presbyterian Church, New York.
and later of the Brown Memorial
Church, has been closely Identified
with the missionary activities of the
Presbyterian Church. DIR. Thompson
is moderator of the Synod Of West Viz
ginia. and before that synod was Gre
ated was moderator of the Synod OF
Virginia.
Europe's Example.
Before the Society OF Missionary
Inquiry last night DIR. Stevenson de-
livered a missionary address, setting
forth the claim OF mission work for
volunteers. He discussed the religious
issues of the European war. declaring
that the people of the warning nations
are exhibiting unusual interest in re-
i!gion and are giving larger contribu-
'tions and more workers to missions
than ever before.
He thought the example of Euro
peans. giving their lives for national
honor, should inspire American young
people to give their lives to Christian
work.
The danger of America in the
present crisis is that of self-righteous-
ness in comparing ourselves with the
nations at war" he declared. "Amert-
cans. however. are seeking, and Sre
interested In the gospel today as never
before"
DIR. Stevenson expressed the view
that the very gravest crisis now con-
fronts the Administration and that 1t
is being tried as no Administration
has ever been tried before.
The students reception wall De
given tonight in Richmond Hall. The
inauguration of Rev. Eugene c. Caid-
we'll, d. D., as Mccormack professor
of Hehraw and Old Testament study
will take place tomorrow night. The
exercises will be Wednes'
day morning.