After President Stealey opens in prayer and the reading of Colossians 1:9-19 (start-06:44), he introduces and reads the Abstract of Principles (6:45-21:04). After making some concluding thoughts, Dr. Stealey moves on to having two new professors sign the Abstract of Principles (23:30-26:55). Those professors were Dr. James E. Tull, Professor of Theology, and Dr. Emily K. Lansdell, Professor of Missions.
After the introduction, a prayer, and announcements (start-4:00), Dr. Sydnor Lorenzo Stealey, the first president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, speaks about his life with his father.
After reading Colossians 1:17-21 and a prayer (start-5:41), Dr. Sydnor Lorenzo Stealey, the first President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, discusses the importance of the executive committee and the behind the scenes aspects of the Seminary. [The original audio fades out before the message finishes.]
After the reading of a poem, the reading of Romans 7:18-25 and John 4:23-43, and a prayer (start-8:38), Dr. Sydnor Lorenzo Stealey, the first President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, speaks about ministry in general.
After reading Romans 8:28-30, announcements, a reading from the hymnal, and a prayer (start-5:33), Dr. Sydnor Lorenzo Stealey, the first President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, preaches about what the love of God is in the context of Romans 8:28.
Dr. Sydnor Lorenzo Stealey, the first President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, speaks about meeting with the other Southern Baptist seminary presidents and about the further development of Southeastern.
After the reading of 2 Timothy 3:16 and an introduction (start-2:20), Dr. Sydnor Lorenzo Stealey, the first President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, emphasises the students' relationship to the school from Philippians 2:2-5, as it relates to the Covenant of the Student Body (2:21-end).
Dr. Sydnor Lorenzo Stealey, the first President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, talks about being careful in speech and carefully defines several important theological concepts.
After announcements, the reading of Philippians 3:4-11, and a prayer (start-9:26), Dr. Sydnor Lorenzo Stealey, the first President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, shares a few more announcements and reminds the students about the importance of the Cooperative Program (9:26-end).
On Friday, May 16, 1958, the graduation program was given in the SEBTS Chapel. The audio begins with the conferring of awards and degrees by Dr. Sydnor Stealey, the President of SEBTS (start-19:14). Dr. Olin Trivette Binkley, Professor of Christian Sociology and Ethics and Academic Dean of SEBTS, then gave the charge to the graduates (19:15-33:02). [The recording ends at this point due to the rest having being inadvertently overwritten at some point before digitization.]