The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-06


AL The reception rendered by the class
81 1915 OF Blackstone College 10 their
( friends was an exceedingly en1oyaoIe
d occasion. The beautiful grounds of
the college were lighted up and the
aclass formed In line under the eirns
and naples. and received their friends
who gathered from every section OF
y the State and from the adjoining
states, especially OF Maryland. West
Virginia, North Carolina and Tonnes
j see. The striking feature of the re-
! caption wss the large number or old
j students who had returned to pay
their homage once more 10 alma
'gnater. There are no more loyal alum"
nae anywhere to be found than the
I urls OF Blackstone. One Of the prin-
! opal themes of conversation was the
announcement made that day In the
auditorium by the trustees that the
t. campaign would be begun in earnest
To secure at least 100000. Delight
Z full refreshments were served IN great
abundance.
DR. SherJaans Sermon.
Y The handsome auditorium Of the
college. which IL one OF the largest
In the State was filed on Sunday
= morning to hear the annual sermon
by Or. Homer II. sherman, education
! al secretary of the Baltimore Confer
ence, whose home is at stanton, Va
q DR. Sherman had a most inspiring au-
\ ffience On the spacious platform
was the entire student body. headed
by the senior class in caps and gowns
and this audience on the platform
4 Itself was a sufficiently large and In
! terestine congregation to make any
speaker do his best.
- But IN addition 10 the platform
congregation, tho floor Of the audto-
: rum was fi1ed with more than twice
as many more as were on the pint
form. Blackstone College counts a
great multitude Of friends in all the
: neighhoring counties. and automobiles,
and horses and huggies and carriages
I came by the score TO empty their
loads Of people who have for many
years come 70 regard commencement
Sunday at Blackstone as an oppor-
tnnity TO attend n religious service
The chorus singing by the college stu
/" dents Is worth coming many miles
.tso hear. not only the singing of the
special choruses but also the singing
of the regular hymns of the service.
The students came marching through
The porches leading TO the platform
In the auditorium singing on their way
the professional hymn. Holy, Holy,
Heaven and Earth" etc. and by the
time the last one had entered the
building the audience was quiet and
ready for the Impressive service which
followed
The opening prayer was offered by
Or. Richard II Bennett. Of Atlanta,
Ga director Of the Department OF
Ministerial supply and Training Of the
NJ, +, Church. South. All the church
IS In the town had closed that their
congregations might attend upon the
commencement sermon and the local
pastors sat upon the platform and
sook part in the services
Delivers rorccfui Sermon.
Z DR.. Sherman took as his text
BLESSED arc the pure in heart, for
they shall see God" and with that as
he basis of his remarks he preached
simply and forcihly. reaching efec-
lively the student body and the gen
eral audience as Well. He had never
preached in SouthSide Virginia be
fore and was comparatively unknown
20 most Of his hearers. He viii receive
hearty welcome and Will he heard
se~ith the expectation Of genuine profit
and pleasure. should he return to thai
section again.
Al the closing of the sermon the
visitors were nil invited to remain 'ant
take dinner with the student body
and hundreds OF them accepted tht
invitation.
At 330 r. NJ the bell was rung
marking the close OF the public ex
cises Of the college of 1915. the friends
of the students departed, the ground,
were closed TO visitors. for a few
hours the college turned to it's norma
life. and at sunset the chapel bel
rang and for the last time the studeni
body assembled in the chapel to hear
the Farewell Words to the Glass o,
lal6." which are always delivered by
The president OF the college.
a~@ Or. Cannon spoke TO the class from
the second chapter of PHILIPPIANS
THAT ye may be blameless and harm
less the sons OF God without rehuke
In the midst of crooked and per.
verse nation, among whom shine We
as lights In the world, holding forth
the word Of life. that ] may rejoice
]. IN the day Of Christ that | have not
run in vain. neither labored in vain
il This final service Is one Of the char
y, Acteristic features of the Blackstone
commencement. and closes up not
only the commencement exercises but
meeting OF the faculty and student
D body in a service which emphasizes
the Christian work which has beer
carried on throughout the session.
AT the close OF the service the presi-
dent of the college pronounced this
\ benediction and declared the session
Of 1865 al an end.