The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-03

University Of Penusy lvania that should preach
the baccaloure0te sermon has come TO me with
an authority which have not been able to
resist, Notwithstanding the pressure OF Official
duty. regard II as the voice of new brothers
asking counsel fIom an older brother, for we
ale the sons OF the same academical mother,
and members of the same household OF letters.
Under the influence of this sentiment and hav-
ing in view the intellectual position of those
who have called me here tonight / propose,
with Gods blessing, to discuss a subject sug-
gested by the words of the great Teacher our
Divine Master, as recorded IN the 4sth verse of
the 18th chapter Of the Gospel according to 81.
Luke-"For unto whomsoever much is given,
of him shall much be required; and to whom
men have committed much, of him they will
ask the more"
Our adorable Redeemer propounds in these
words the general principle OF responsibility,
aud we have the sanction of divine authority for
the universal dictate of sound reason which
maintains responsibility in every department of
human thought and action, that prevails ia
moral duties and spiritual attainments in aca-
demical culture, in civil or public othces. Both
God and man affirm the justice of the law,
unto whom much is given, OF him shall much
be Tequired.n
Applying that view, my young friends of the
graduating class of the University having re-
ceived much from the learned and faithful Pro-
vost and Professors of your Alma Mater, pro-
ceed, without further preliminary remarks, TO
apply the principle in the text to yourselves and
to all who belong to the noble fraternity of
letters, and will speak as TO the responsibility
of American scholars. | limit the treatment
OF the subject not only 10 certain Se'ecteQ par
ticulars, but to American scholars, not intend
ing to impeach the essential cal atholiCity whereby
all scholars in all the world and in every age
are to be pledged to common duties and COM
mon responsibilities but because the circum-
stances OF our country seem TO me TO enforce
certain duties on those who are 10 be leaders in
the domain of that culture.
The first responsibility which notice as rest
ing upon American scholars is the spreading of
correct ideas as to what constitutes true scholar
ship. The true scholar is not one who is edu-
Gated in the intellectual part Of his being only,
but in the spiritual also; and he recognizes the
duty which God requires of him to consecrate
His gifts to discover an effusion of truth.
A true education is that training, discipline
and development of the faculties OF our nature
| in accordance with the law of our Creator The
| work of education should be based on the har-
| monious conclusions of revei2tions and science
| II the business of education be merely to crowd
the memory with facts or fancies, then it is not
| mans constitution but mans capacity that
| should be considered. All lovers OF God were
| bound to promote correct ideas on the subject
| of education, and very grave responsibility
| devolves upon those who are to be the intellec-
| tual leaders of the people.
BY their tongues and pens they are to endea-
| vor to spread the principles which will secure
! the most prominent and eternal interest of all
| classes in our country to God. The next re-
| sponsiblity resting upon American scholars
| which should notice is, that scholars should
| be thorough in their own attainments and
should use their influence to promote tho
roughness in the education of the people. Gods
| work is thorough-in power, in beauty, in wis
dom, in love, in creating, in preserving, redeem
! ing, sanctifying God is thorrough-nothing
| left undone nothing done SO as to be revised
| all thorough, all very good.
| If you be called on to teach, make no preten-
| sioDs to teach; but teach thoroughly whatever
| is the allotted curriculum of studies. 1t is due
to those who intrust their children to you; it
| is due to the pupils themselves. Parents expect
| thoroughness in the teacher OF their children;
but alas how often are their brightest expecta-
| tions never realized, on account OF want of
| thoroughness in the teacher!
| There should be high moral conscientious
ness on the part of American scholars to be and
to make others thorough. If the teacher be a
mere surface man, he will tolerate imperfect
scholarship in those committed to his care. If
we are Thorough in our studies it will lead to
thorough spiritual preparation, and when the
heavens and earth shall pass away, and when
we shall meet Him, He will not be content with
our saying Lord! Lord!" but will demand
from each one thorough and practical obedi-
enee to His commandments as well as a thor
ough faith in His perfect sacrifice on theIcross.
| But let us consider another responsibility
resting on American scholars, akin to that
already noticed, which obliges the true scholar
10 accept and promote reality in scholarship
as in all other matters. There must be reality
| in science, and reality in literature. II there
be one characteristic of Gods work or works
stamped on all His creation it is reality.
You are bound to take your stand in active
life as real American Scholars helping to make
| all within your influence real in their several
| spheres and callmgs.
There yet remains for notice one other point.
| With this statement / shall conclude my SER
| mon. 1t is the gravest responsibility of all. Not
only should the American scholar be thorough
| in all his requirements, but his scholarship
should be eminently Christian, and have true
| recognition OF the source OF all wlsdom-Jesus
| Christ, our Lord the Alpha and the Omega, the
| beginning and the end, the first and the last.
| All those who believe in the inspiration of the
| Bible-who accept as the word of God the far
reaching declaration of Jesus =" 1 am the light
of the world"-there can be no doubt as to the
true principle OF investigation in all the depart
| ments of truth physical and metaphysical
| For such man the only true scholarship is
! graduating class of the University, are respon
! sible in your presence and influence in advanc.
/ ing the American nation in the true Christian
! scholar hip.
/ / mean by Christian scholarship of men that
7 research and study which never forgets its rela
tion to Him who is the source of all intellectual
| power, and in whom there is wisdom and know.
| ledge. There is a scholarship that is selfish. II
| seeks personal fame and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. But
| / mean by Christian scholarship directly the
| opposite of this. Christian scholarship begins
! with the acknowledgment of the first great
! truth, that this world, in all its departments.
| springs from God, and is kept in being by the
| same.
You must acknowledge the power and good.
| ness of God in everything, and promote His
glory through the revelation of Jesus Christ His
| Son.
The Bishop then spoke euloelstically of the
| Professors in the University, dwelling particu-
| larly upon the goodness OF the late Or. Reed,
| also mentioning the lamented Professor Bache,
whom he characterized as true Christian
| scholar. There is no scholarship worthy of the
| name that is not avoWedly Christian.
The speaker continued al some length urpinp
his hearers to have IN view the great end OF life
the salvation of the soul and exhortiug them
to establish true Christian schoIarebin IN tIara