# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1909_S38 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 38 The Lutheran Pioneer. Closing Exercises of Immanuel College. The end of the schoolyear is again drawing near, and many are the preparations being made for the closing exercises and finals. Graduates are arming themselves with essays teeming with the wisdom of a finished collegian, and other scholars are mak- ing a last strenuous effort, some to increase their already good percentages, others to make up for lost time. But alas! while those who have faith- fully plied their books now find that “knowledge pays good interest,” those who have squandered their time and talents cannot recall with even the subtlest bribe the lost opportunity! ‘The outline for the closing exercises embodies a baccalaureate sermon on Sunday, May 30th, an entertainment by the students of the Preparatory Department on Tuesday evening, June 1st, religious addresses by the grad- uates from the Theological Department, Wednesday evening, June 2d, the annual concert, Thursday evening, June 3d, and the commencement exercises by the graduates from both the Theological and the Preparatory Departments on Friday afternoon, June 4th. The valedictory will be delivered by student Charles Peay, graduate from the Theological De- partment, the commencement address by Rev. J. McDavid of Charlotte, N. C. H. G. “God Is Not Mocked.”’ The following sad and warning incident we heard some years ago’ from the pastor under whose personal observation it occurred. A young man, just entering upon the practice of medicine, had become a scoffing infidel through the reading of some wretched books in which the Bible was attacked and its teachings were ridiculed. He seized every opportunity to pour forth a tide of shocking blasphemy against Christ, and spoke of the Bible in coarse and obscene language. In his des- perate wickedness he at last went so far as to utter a willful lie and plan to carry out a monstrous fraud, in order to express his contempt for Chris- tianity. He pretended to be converted, and asked permission ini a meeting of Christian young men to confess the Lord Jesus publicly by leading in prayer. 5 His request was gladly granted, but meanwhile he had carefully prepared a prayer filled with hor- rible blasphemy and devilish insult of the Savior. Spreading the writing before him on a seat, he kneeled down and began to read, when his voice was suddenly hushed, and his body was heard to fall on the floor. The young men who were present hastened to him, but found that he was dead. In unspeakable awe they carried the corpse of the scoffer to his home. Ever and anon God causes His voice to be heard, and lets His’ hand be seen among the children of men, at least enough to show that His eye is still on them. If there are not many such instances, it only proves the long-suffering of God; but that long-suffering, despised and set at naught, may give place, and sometimes it, does give place, to sud- den and overwhelming judgment. “God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded,” Ps. 64, 7. “He that, being often re- proved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be de- stroyed, and that without remedy,” Prov. 29, 1. It is a serious thing to make light of God and His Word. Alas! alas! for the doom that shall sooner or later overtake the despisers of His offered grace. es “Be not deceived; God is not mocked,” says the apostle. ‘ —__—____oe-o——___—__ A Mild But Effective Reproof. A Christian rode in a stagecoach with a young man who swore a great deal. When they stopped to change horses, the Christian said to him: “Young man, I see from the registry books that you and I are going to travel together a long distance in this coach. I have a favor to ask of you. I am getting to be an old man, and if I should so far forget myself at any time as to swear or use any profane language, you will oblige me if you will caution me about it.” : The young man instantly apologized and of- fended no more. Do-not allow profane or obscene language in _ your presence. Nasty talk is only for nasty people. A Boy’s Faith. Two little boys were talking together about the ' story of Elijah’s going to heaven in a chariot of fire, which their mother had lately told them. “T say, Charlie,” said George, “but wouldn’t you be afraid to ride in a chariot of fire?” “Why, no,” said Charlie, “I shouldn’t be afraid if I knew the Lord was driving it.” 4