4
THE BATTALION.
staff alone so rigid and stern, but their hearts were gladdened
by a crowd closely following in their wake among which were
fathers,mothers,relatives and friends, say nothing of the least
of the fair sex. The crowd passed on, parents and friends to
bestow words of encouragement and commendation, while
ladies and their escorts lingered behind in order to give the
former especially an opportunity of bestowing such witty re
marks and expressions of “don’t you understand” on the
room of some big manly cadet.
The inspection over, visitors and cadets passed the time
pleasantly until the call for chapel at 11 a. m. The exercises
here were opened by prayer from Dr. Philpott after which Dr.
Moody,who was to deliver the commencement sermon read a
short text from the 6th chapter ol Mathew,followed by prayer
of Rev. West. The choir furnished some excellent singing
after which Dr. Moody began his sermon. He began by
emphasizing the fact that we were here to,and that the gradu
ating class had for the last four years, been here to cultivate
the mind and that the ascending of man is due to the ascend,
ing of mind over matter. He then took his text from first
chapter of 1st Corinthians and warned us as liable to forget
God in intellectual pursuits when the king as well as the
lowly laborer were dependant upon Him. If some men w T ere
in higher positions more work was required of them and it
did not relieve them from equal dependence, retering to Paul
and Appollas. He especially warned the graduating class
against rushing forth into the world with an inordinate guide
of gain, to take time to eat, to sleep and extend a beneficient
human sympathy and experience has proved that one will
come out better in the end. Again he emphasized, do not
forget your dependance on God, moderate your morbid de
sires, do not live only for money but extend a human sympa
thy to all your fellowmen. The sermon on a whole was
highly commendatory and well appreciated.
The afternoon was passed quietly but in the latter part it
grew cloudy and threatening, all began to think that the