Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1948-06-19
Mississippi Baptist
Seminary In
Impressive
Commencement
Service

oeIN1Ce
JACKSON, Miss. June 8. 1948--
The auditorium of the Parish
Street Baptist Church, DR.. c. A.
Greer, Pastor, was the scene of
the most impressive Commence
ment Services held in Jackson in
more than a decade.
Promptly at ten o'clock, accord
ing to schedule, the procession led
by DR.. G. Norman Price, and follow
ed by facult ymembers, candidates
an student boy began marching to
GO of Our Fathers" as played by
Mrs. CD. Oats. The 'fullhouse
audience stood in solemn awe as
tn religious atmosphere depended
seemingly with each step of the
procession. AS the mixed chorus
sang "Stand Up For Jesus the
whole audience joined in the cres-
cendo.
AS each participant gave his
part, adding to the ever increas-
ing spiritual atmosphere, the inn
preston gained by the writer was
similar to what must have been
Jacobs at Bethel, when he ex-
retained. "Surely the Lord is in
this place and I knew it not"
The climax of this particular
service was reached with the
baccalaureate- sermon given by DR..
R. W. Woullard, Pastor of Antioch
Baptist Church, Hattiesburg,
Mississippi. Using as his theme,
"The Unsearchable Riches of His
Grace" DR.. Woullard declared
that, "If the world is to have the
dark clouds of World War III lift
ed, the wounds of World War II
healed, and enjoy just and last
ing peace, the peace must be set by
the Church; an the pace set by the
church will depend entirely on the
pace set for the church by the
Minister" Emphasizing the emf
nent place of preaching as Z
means to the end of world peace
DIR. Woullard acknowledged the i'm
portance of education, culture
science, art and philosophy, bu
pointed out that each of thes
must be relegated to its secondar,
position when compared to preach
ing.
During the discourage Of thi
masterful pulpiteer there was
stiffness, a quiet, calmness,
silence as stentorian as lound il
self; that was not broken until, a
the speaker took his seat, som
one was heard to say, ''We cel
tainly are on holy ground" an
a unanimous sigh Of deep sati.
faction was heard as the climas
ing tremor of excitement was fe
and the tension released.
At two o'clock before a packe
auditorium, DR.. Mark Lowry le
the PROCESSION to "God of OF
Fathers with superb dignity an
grace. Again there was that sens
of profound reverence as eac
succeeding participating, addin
dignity and grace, made his cor
j., tribution to a program of CROWN
interest and deepining impressio
q DIR. J.D. Ray of Starkville in tn
Commencement address differen
tiated between wisdom and know
ledge, captivating the audenc
and holding its interest with rar
oratory. Although retired from &C
tive pastorate, DR.. Ray is easil,
one Of the Baptists' outstanding
ministers.
AS DR.. Ray concluded his ex
cellent address and graduates were
presente, it became increasingly.
apparent that were white and Ne
gro Baptists given free reins thu
question of race would no longer b
problem. Unquestionably, more
has been done through Interracia
Cooperative Missions in Mississ-
ippi towards the solution of the
race problem by Baptists than al
the 'Would-Be-reformers, whether
individual or group.
DR.. Fred B. Baker, the princely
pastor of Central Baptist Church
McComb, Mississippi and chairmaf
of the Seminary's Board of Trus-
tees. awarded degrees, diplomas
and certificates to sixty-four stu
dents. 1W
Acid indigestion