Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-08-03

he tAfIciftE hi Ai-c .1-AA1 A'eN'4+'' N''---
merccnent Of the University opened on
Sunday afternoon, with the Baecalaareate
Sermon. which was preached by Professor
MATTHEW u. BucKHAH
TIE BACCALAJEEATE.
PRor. BrckuAM took for his text, Nat.
XIV. Il. Is, 10
The kingdom Of heaven Is as man travelling
into a far country, who called his own servants
and delivered unto them his goods.
And unto one he gave five talents and to an
other tgo, ard 10 another one
After a long time, the Lord Of those servants
comeih and reckoneih with them.
Mr. Buckham commenced by rcnarking
upon the change il the Specification Of the
word ia'caf, arising iron It's Use by Christ
in tits Ialable. Originally sum OF money
weighed out in the balances. it has come IN
all mod,rn language to represent the chris
tan idea OF encowmen;s tor which the pos
SCISSOR Is Tcsp0nsibie In the full christian
meaning Of the word We must regard
not only mental gifts, but health, personal
beauty, wealth, leisure. ancestral reuown,
high station, whatever gives one pse-omi-
nence and influence over men, as talents, to
be used under the eye of tie great taskmaster,
and to be returned with usury. \ motto
has descended to Us from tie age Of cliyalrY,
well worthy to be inscribed on the Christian :
shield. 1t i :. nobility IS obligation
Whatever dignifes Us imposes responsibility.
Education Is a talent Whoever receives
a liberal education has entrusted to him
fire talents.
Such preliminary remarks introduced the
theme Of the discourse, the responsibility
ofthe Christian scholar. \ year ago, on a
similar occasion, the speaker urged the duty
of securing the highest education. lie now
presented tie corresponding truth, that such
an education creates responsibility for higher
service.
Notcdy denies that knowledge Is power.
Yet sound learning has almost as many
secret fees as virtue. What they deem
easier ways to power are held out by those
who have never entered the temple Of know
ledge. They tell US that wealth, social stand
ing. political influence are easier avenues such
are mosus OF power but the power so gain
ed is often neu,ralizcd for want Of some rcgu-
lating influence. The resources Of a disci-
plined mind on the contrary are constant in
all emergencies. Tie man Of education l.
ARRAYS man Of power, and the highest
power delegated to man is the combined pow
er OF intelligence and rectitude. lfany man
is under responsibility to God. which only
a lifetime OF faithful service can fulfill, II Is
the man. who 10 liberal education has been
led to add the glaccs OF christian character.
Proceeding in the E, cond place to consider
the corresponding obligations involved by the
possession OF the power imTartod by liberal
education, NJ. BuckLam remarked that the
scholar is indebted to mankind Of all past
ages. No strictly self-educated man ever
existed, unless il Was the wild man found in
the woods Of Hungary. The child when he
first hears articulate language, Appropriate
a gift to which Greece and Phenicia, India
and Egypt have contributed. Whoever
reads written sentence, uses the efforts Of
six thousand years. The rudest would
be rudeI if the Roman lad nOt once ruled
the world. The simplest truth which meets
US at the commencement Of a science. cost
some one long ago a bitter Iang. The school
of liberal education leyies on and concen-
trates the productions Of all time. and tine
scholar thus becomes the "heir Of the ages.
How shall he discharge this obligation B.?
Clearly by paying to future ages the debt he
owes to the past. And he must give in great
er measure The much required is necossf-
rily more than the much gwen. He who
transmits only what lie receives, is a wicked
and siothful servant. Ii is the scholars re-
ligious duty, reaching the summit Of attain
ment, tLen to lift the race q step higher.
Again, the scholar is under obligations to
the other orders of society. Educated men
are privileged class the world over. and
other clisses must labor for their support.
When the farmer has toiled his day, lie must
a -, -, 4
leave the sea, he must make one more voy-
age. IN order that tie men mewod up in
libraries may accumulate knowledge for the
general fund. The scholar must return this
obligation by becoming the instructor Of So
ciety. lie has no business to refuse 10 take
his part IN the contests Of humanity. lie
must be the last one to look with Indifference
on the field in which tie great issues Of lis
race are fought cut.
Finally, tie literally educated man Is IN
der obligations to the Church Of Christ. 1t
is Christian bencvolence and enterprise
which have made ii possible Tor him to receive
IN education. Our educational system is the |
outgrowth of the Church. The fist Univer- |
Sly established in Europe,-that Of Paris /
The first American College-that Of Cam
bridge, and not less the last Institution Of I
LIBERAL learning established on the outskirts |
If civilization in the far West, owe their orr
in to Christian zeal and enterprise. For
he great bulk Of liberal learning, and for
he many sided, catholic and profound stand
I'D Of liberal education. We are indebted to
be church Not only 50 but most scholars are
Indebted directly to the church for tie means
II education. Nine-tcnihs of our COLLEGES
ave been endowed by Christian liberalitv.
Dur students pay Dot quarter of its ac-
aal Cost for their education.
How, then. shall the scholar discharge his
litigation to the church? He must do it.
rst, by being christian man, and next by
iding the church in her great work. She
realty needs true scholarship to defend and
ropagate tne truth. She needs it now more