The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-08-09
Commencement az Burlington.

I
The exercises connected with the
sixty-third Commencement Of the Uni
versity of Vermont and State Agricul-
tural College, commenced on Sunday
with the Baccalaureate Sermon by
President Angel. His subject was,
according to the Times, Perfection of
Individual Freedom, the Perfection of
Obedience to Divine" The discourse
was of great ability, and was listened
TO by large audience. We cannot
forbear to quote his excellent address
to the graduating class:
GENTLEMEN or rHE GRADUATING CLASS,
Ny Belored Pupils and Friends:
Most affectionately and earnestly do urge you
TO show by your lives that you compre bend the
true relation of Liberty TO Law. May you each
strive with your whole might after that freedom,
which is in Christ Jesus and which fits You for
the worthiest citizenship In the state and in tho
Kingdom of God.
Some Of you have known what it is to make
sacrifices for civil liberty by hard service in the
the South. Your Alma Mater, as she sends you
forth with her maternal benediction upon your
heads, gladly confesses that she has already
been honored by your deeds All of you, am
sure, are ready, II need be- to make equal sacri-
fees Though happily the din of civil strife has
ceased, there is still occasion for you all with pen
and voice and example to defend the good cause
OF Christian liberty in the individual and in the
State. The first and second and last condition
of success in your effort, and in your whole life,
is that you seek for that perfect balanced man
hood which was in our Lord and Master. know
no simpler, better, more comprehensive rule of
life.
We, your Instructors, must now forego the
pleasure of directing your studies and labors.
Believe me, We would gladly continue our work
with you longer. While it is with proud joy that
we see you going forth in the fulness OF manly
strength to the duties Of active life, our JOY il
tempered 10y sadness at the thought that we shall
miss your companionship in the familiar scenes
Of our daily life.
Do not suppose that our interest in you will
cease. We shall watch you with tendercst soil
citude, we shall rejoice in your successes, we
shall share the burden of your sorrows. We
trust that YOU will look fondly back to yonder
halls, and regard them as your home and tho
home of your sincere friends. You have bravely
stood by the University in her hours of darkness
and trial. You have thus rendered her true
service. You have aided in assuring the ncom-
ing of that day of prosperity, which we believe
to he dawning upon her. May she not still, may
your affection, and your prayers Above all, if
you would be her crown of rejoicing aim at
reaching the highest type of Christian manhood.
With this worthy aspiration go forth, my dear
friends, to your various posts in life. Go with
out misgiving. There is room enough for every
earnest worker. No true work shall fail of its
reward. And may the God ofpcace make,you per-
feet in every good work to do his will, working
in you that which is well pleasing in his sight,
through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever
and ever, Amen.
SOCIETY FOR RELIGIOUS INQUIRY.
The anniversary of the Society for
Religious Inquiry took place at half
past ten o'clock, Tuesday morning.
The address was by Rev. Nj. II. Vim
cent, of Troy, N. Y, from the text,
John VII, Goth, "That they all may be
one; as thou, Father, art in me and
l in thee, that they also may be one in
us. The Free Press says the dis
course was very fine one, useful in
its lessons, interesting. eloquent and
able in high degree.
PHI BETA KAPPA SOCIETY.
This Society celebrated its anniver-
sary in the afternoon. Rev. Andrew p.
Peabody, ID, of Cambridge, Mass,
delivered the address. His subject
was, Positive Philosophy" At the
annual meeting held in the morning,
Messrs. w. p. Smith, II. O. Wheeler
and A. Phelps, of the graduating class
were elected members
CELEBRATION OF THE ALUMNI.
The annual celebration of the Alum
nj took place on Wednesday, Grafton
by Dorman B. Eaton, of n. Y, and
Poem by VIM. L. Mars, of Chicago.
At the close of the public exercises the
Alumni partook of a dinner at the
Lake House" We shall allude to
this more particularly hereafter.