Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-04
BACCALAUREATE SERMON
At RICHMOND COLLEGE
Rev. ". ,. McGlothIin. ID. d., OF
Louisville, Makes Address
to Student Body.
CLASS DAY EXERCISES TODAY
Final ENcrciscs Will Re Held To.
Morrow Morning, When tho Adj
dress VIII BE Made by DIR. John
II. Lutanc, OF Baltimore.


The commencement exercises OF
HiChmcnd College for 1917 formally
opened at 1850 yesterday morning.
With tho baccaulaureatc sermon by
Rev. W. J. Mct;Iothlin. professor in the
Southern Baptist Theological Semi
nary. LouisNill Ky The exercises were
held IN the collcG" auditorium. over
looking Wcsthampton Lake. One Of
the impressive events OF this occasion
Was the brilliant proccsSion-Sradu
trustees and faculty--clad in their
academic costumes. with hoods of many
colors. The audience WAS large aud
sympathetic. composed as il WA; OF
students. alumni and friends. all re.
j"icins in any favorable report or
pleasant occasion at the college. and
hoping FOR her future honor and sue
cess. Peculiar significance is lent TO
commencement nj this time. in view
OF the approaching draft. which will
call many men from college halls into
military service.
Indeed. the thought OF the respon-
sibility soon to he thrust on the young
men was a thread that ran through
the sermon of DR.. McCilothliu. who was
introduced in pleasing terms by PreSi-
dent f. w. SoatwriGht. The sermon
was. according TO the general impress
sion. direct. appropriate. we'll consid-
cred and pleasingiy delivered. The text
was found in John ii. Il: Il have
written unto YOU. young men. because
Y" arc strong. and the word Of God
abideth IN YOU. and 70 have overcome
the wicked one"
Eeco nizing the presence or num-
Der nj young women III the c:aduat-
ine class. Or. McGlothlin suggested that
were John writing to-day he would
address his words TO women as we'll
as men. in view OF tho emancipation
they have experienced from the spread
Of the Christian doctrine.
CALL COMES TO YOUNG PEOPLE
BECAUSE THEY ARE sTR0NG
AnalyzIng his theme. the speaker
SAID that tho call came TO young pco-
pie 'p because ;ncy arc strong
strong I'm body and strong in mental
qualities: ~ because they are cultured
being the heir OF h" teaching Of natur.
ana the Eihlc. ana able TO read in them
the great message Of God go because
ihcN nave overcome the evil one.
The sneaker here launched into A
beautiful euloGy OF victory al nations
to-day. he said. militan, Germany
bleeding Belgium. gallant .,rance'
p.rSisten; and faithful Britain human
hN-iovinG Am srica. are ali hoping for
victory They all nut behind them
as unth! nhable the thought of defeat
Defeat Tor young men. real humilia-
ton. = to be found in being beaten
10 Greccc rather than Belgium or
SerNH or Poland. as the mos pathetic
hSure III this world crisis-Greecc
suffering all TN" humilia,.ons o: neu.
trality anu many OF the losses of war
without a single memory OF scr:ico o.
81, riiice.
Like this great struggle. the .,.a,,rr
to'd The graduates, their own lives
Would he a war. They could nos. with
n"hor' pursue the course OF neutratit.
or affect the par; OF the innocent by
Sthndcr ITO he 4 hystandor in the
""'t'r between right and wrong is
criminal" The speaker said mai IN.
nc\, !fty years would bc :, -rand Ind
AWFUL time" and that there was INV
ana would be an Unexamrlcd demand
loi consscratcG and trained manbuod
ana womanhoCd.
heierrinG 10 tho South. Dr McC;lo,h
I'M III stirring words spok.. Of tho ma.
tionaiizinS process going On among us
one OF IN" signs OF the wonderful
era, and speaking Of tho nation hc
gave interesting Interpretation 10 tho
internationaiiZinr OF America And in
the end out Of all the strife womb
come tho great victory of tho Man
whose spirit conquered the Roman cm-
pre-. which ronnivcd at His crucifiNion
and scaled His tomb
The exercises Of to-day will consist
of class da% events Of Westhamnton
!"iicS" IN the great court at West
hamrton. This win hc at 1880 o'clock
~ o'clock tonight the class dav
exercises Of the men VIII take place in
'hf college udiiorium. To-morrow tho
hoard Of trustees will meet The an
nual scholastic address viii be deliy
cred ny i'r. John ~. La,ane of Johns
Hopkins University. and the annual
meeting OF tho Society of Alumni will
take place.
FOR the accommodation Of tho public.
snccial car service from town to tho
college viii be provided