New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-07-25
FROM YALE COLLEGE.
GENERAL CONDITION OF THE COLLEGE.
From Our Own Correspondent

from ouI Own Correspondent
YALE COLLEGE, July %, 1861.
Ifthere IL any place where one may find quet cor
ner from which TO get broad aud steady view Of the
busy world, il lie in the balls Of an old umversity'
where opinions are nodded under the hands Of scholarly
men, and the study Of the csuses and connections
which underle events ,emPers Judgment with disere'
ZION. Whatever may be sald Of tho narrowne's WHICH
clear and exclusive attention 70 books ana learning
sometimes induces and the ignorance OF many educaied
men in reapeCt Of tho practical matters Of living ana
taking care Of society, il s fact that the right les
which great causes and events move in, are most oeh
clearly discerned and defined by quiet, thinking men,
whose lives are apart from the stir and fret OF the NUT
titude. But the student who to-day lays down his
books and iuns for an outlook events transfirng N
our country is filed with mingled perplexity and sac
mesa He has learned 10 call the Pas. the prophet o.
the Future but the wise saying fails him here, ana
he gathers only dark hints of what is 10 come he hs
read history and ruus over its RACES TO IND psises
that may help him ont and lead 20 a solution OF the
difficulties. But as history affords 10 parallel oil
government 70 benc6eeut az ours 50 II nfnishes 40
parallel to the madntss and crime Of an attempt 10
subyert and overthrow it.
The ,ense of diminished importance which always
comes 10 men st the close of their academic course
when the issues Of life and acton dohbly uncer-
tain is greatly higLtened at this time. His dip oiua
declars the student educated-at least; that he has
learned the Ist two le,ers in the alphabet of sbolss-
tic pradsiops. Tie question, What shall LdoF wss
peye, before 20 pressed home, aud never 10 hard -
answer The student has been busy wnh great events
Of old time and willis studying the philosophy OF his
tory has watched a. calm spectator the grand process
sion Of events sweep by. Bat to-day be finds bnset
living in historic times The war cry rises and he sees
the mshteet struggle Of any age between freedom and
de potism going on in his eountry and he e not
wise enough for COUNSEL be has little personal in
fueuce 20 throw into the balance, and HE training s
often such thai he hss neither the ply strength nor
the reckless decision which hurry other men INTO the
camp and field. Iariotsm is not wanting, nor the
Willingness to put his life in peril for the cause. But
commissions arc not readily obtained by every one
and, when it comes 70 enisng in the ranks, with no
sxpereree of hardship strengthening toll TO sustain
him. the honest and not unreasonable doubt comes TO
his mind whether under the circumstances, il If the
best dispos ton an educated man make IS bneef.
| One grows nstve by ruch doubling. He seems TO
hear on s sides the old iaunt OF the hrewisb wife,
| "What do Won know about wari" The sonorous
and unstable saying that ideas rule" delights Que in
time Of peace but an army is the certain ex-
| moment of power in time Of II Is fine thing
" say, "The pen is mightier than the sword, but
somehow il doesn't see IN no when the sword Of en-
envy hacks our army pieces, and leaSee 10 The zen
the sorry task Of recording the fact. And 80 In a
hundred ways, influences come TO the thoughtful high
minded student which intensity the struggle in his
mind without bringing him nearer decision. lie
ears 10 DO found unequal TO the demands Of the mes
be fear. lest be shoud grow small and weak by Dot
mstching himself with great chances; and, IN the midst
of all there often comes tina, selfd irus which s the
bitterest trial Of an aspiring mind Thee reflections
have been forced upon at Yale, more especially Of
late by the constant reference the subject by those
who haze come back 10 attend Commencement, snd
the sometimes raher pointed suson to the fact that
90 few in 20 large 8 community u young men have
volunteered for active service 10 the war. The NUN
Der Of Yale meu In the ranks and In command s by no
means small, and will receive numerous additions NJ
the war goes college wboss history % 90 rsch IN
Rev uionHry memories Whose were for,rIos, in
naona councils and or the battlefield then, all Dot
be found wanting now-when the struggle is 70 pre-
serve what was then so hardly The companies
which were formed smoDg the students early in the
term made good progress in drilling and while the pro-
cison of their would scarcely be credable
20 West Point Cadets, their practice in field movements
and The rife mammal has given them fine star IN
military spirit and discipline.
While the exercises Of Commencement day occur on
Thursdsy, tho exercises Of Commencement week
which are really more important aud interesting begin
on Sunday preceding, with the Baccsaureste sermon
preached in the afternoon in the College Chapel. The
discourse this year was preached by Prof Geofye =.
Fisher, Pastor Of the College Church. -
It IL quite common for q graduating slsss 10 be
spoken Of body Of young men starting out to begin
the battle OF life but when Prof Fisher announced
the text, "Quit yourselves Ike men-be strong" il
reminded one Of occasions few months ago when
regiments Of solders sst In our churches 10 hear Ger
mons encouraging 70 brave and martial deeds. Ths
subject, "Manness in educated men," was we'll
brought out In the four points Of Independence Of dg
ment strength Of will, uprghtnes, and public spirit
The sermon Of that suggestiye style which weighs
more with soberminded thinking men, than the hort
atOry. The Lesson for the present duty Of educated
young men was most timely and impressive. The
preacher mentioned "The object Of political society"
and Tbe Slavery question" as two subjects especially
worthy the attention and study Of scholars, that che
nation at largo might in this way be led 10 consider
them from higher point Of view.
The annual address before tho Yale Missionary Soci-
ETY. was delivered in tho evening ct the Chnrchsreet
church, by the Rev. DIR. Cleveland Of Hew-Haven.
His subject wss The manifestations Of Gods provi-
dence IN the present state of the East" He dWet nj
length on the prophecies relating to the nations Of the
East and their furillment. He would make the con-
clusion inevitable that thu fall Of the Papa and Mo-
harnmodan power was near, and the time at hand when
Christianity should achieve her most glorious triumphs.
Tie allusions to the unhappy state Of things in
own couufrV where che world had no much oentcred