The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-21
GOD ONLY ANCHOR,
SAYS bA R n " ELL
IN j. Of A. SERMON
Hall Is damned As 91st
Commencement Gets
Under Way
TUSCALOOSA BUREAU |
THE AGE-HERALD
Tuscaloosa. Ala. NAV 20

In these changing times when
civilization Itself is a swiftly flow
ing stream. the only anchor to wind
ward is God. declared DR.. Middleton
S. Barnwell, rector of the Church of
the Advent, Birmingham, in his COM
mencement sermon today before the
graduating class of the University of
Alabama in Morgan hall. The au-
ditorium was jammed with students
and visitors and the exercises cen
tered around DR.. Barnwell's sermon,
which was based on Second Timothy,
ii:19, which says: Nevertheless, the
having this seal. the Lord knoweth
them that are his"
The ninety first annual commence
ment exercises officially got under
way with the sermon and will con-
tinue through Tuesday. Tuscaloosa
is brilliantly decorated for the oc-
casion. The Crimson and White col
ors of the university are everywhere
Hundreds of young persons gathered
here from the four cCrners of the
state for the dances, lend an air that
only college campus can have. Ho-
tells are overcrowded and Tuscaloosa
homes have been opened to students.
Graduates In Reserved Seats
Members of the graduating class
in cap and gown occupied reserved
seats in Morgan hall for the exercises
today. Occupying prominent seats
On the platform were Gov. w. w.
ident; DR.. Middleton S. Barnwell,
the university faculty
Commencement music was fur
nished by leading musicians from the
Tuscaloosa church choirs. Mrs. Harry
y. Eddins was heard in a solo and
members of the University Glee club
joined in to make the other musical
numbers a success.
DIR. Denny, in his announcements
prior to the sermon. thanked the Tus-
caltosa people for the manner in
which they had decorated and CO.
operated in making plans for COM
mencement a success.
DR.. Barnwell was introduced by
President Denny and in his inimitable
manner, familiar to churchgoers of
Birming CHAM. he launched into the
theme of his sermon that in this
changing age God is the only sure
DR.. Barnwen declared that life,
after being practically static for thou
sands of years, has changed in kalei-
doscopic form in the last 100 years
or so. He declared that men are fur
Their ahead of Napoleon Bonaparte
now than he was ahead of Abraham.
Human strength, he reminded his
hearers, has been multiplied many
fold in the last few generations and
time and space have been practically
Man, who once depended
on his muscle, has harnessed the
powers of nature, he said.
God Or Nothing
But amid all this progress, man
seeks sc netting unchanging amid
the storm of passionate change" DR..
Barnwell declared. Gentle winds of
other days have become a sweeping
gale and men crave an anchorage.
There is nothing changeless in the
universe except God. The only al
to resting on God is resting
on nothing"
Continuing he pointed out that
many things seem to be enduring, but
one by enc they fade.
With the end of Sunday all eyes
are turned on the alumni banquet
at IL o'clock Monday in the gymna-
stun, which has been arranged in
will act as POSTMASTER. One of the
features will be "take-offs" on some
of the prominent leaders of the state.
The address of Congressman w. Il.
Bankhead will feature the alumni
meeting in Morgan hall. DIR. George
II. Denny will present his annual re-
pert to the board of trustees at the
meeting in the afternoon.