The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1869-10-12

Letter on the Occaaon Of Laying the Cor
ner.Ssone Of the Yase Theological Hail.


Letter ON the Occa4on Of Laying the Corr
ner.Stone of the Yase Theological Hall.
The corner stone Of the new Theo-
logical Hall in New Haven was laid on
Thursday with appropriate ceremonies.
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher was expect
ed to be present, but instead sent the
following letter:
"PEKksKrLL, n Y, Sept 90
professor George +. Day
"DKAR SIR-Although 1 am relieved
of the more vexatious symptoms of my
summer complaint, I am liable for a
time, to attacks Of asthm ., and the dust
and cinders of car travel are peculiarly
adapted to excite the psroxysms. lam
therefore obliged, against my will and
feelings, to stay away from the services
and the occasion which deeply interests
me. New Haven is the home of my an
cestors. Yale College is the first col
lege that ever heard of in my child
hood. The Theological School of New
Haven was in its glory when began to
be old enough to think. and / was bro't
up to suppose that Drs. Taylor and
Fitch were the ab.est men in the world.
While all other seminaries are march
ing, should be sorry if Yale should
halt, and, if any department in the uni
versity is to recede, the last thing which
we could expect of Connecticut would
be that theology was to suffer neglect
With new accommodations, may new
spirit core to the prophets Thatyoung
men are to such an extent averting their
faces from the Christian ministry. gives
an unfavorable impression to their man
Illness.
IAN ambition of wealth, of political
power, of literary eminence may not be
disreputable, but to go past the noblest
profession of all, fearing its trials-to
take up with secular pursuits at a time
like this, when the continent from ocean
to ocean asks religious instruction, indi-
Gates state of mind much to be deplo-
led. Even if preaching to day was ac-
companied with as many privations as
1t was of old, it would still be the nos
biest profession of all. No man that
ever entered heart and soul upon the
work of the Christian ministry but was
thankful all his life long for the choice.
After the vicissitudes of thirty years,
the earliest ten in straits of health and
OF means, ard all Of them laborious
with clear understanding of the hon
ors, emoluments and pleasures of other
liberal professions I would to day, If I
were to begin life again, choose eager
ly, irresistibly, the Christian ministry.
It has its burdens; all professions have;
it has IT'S limitations, but not more than
other pursuits. 1t is the freest, the
most engaging, the most satisfactory of
all caliings, to those who are Of the
right spirit for it. The commerce of
the mind is with the noblest themes,
the business Of its life is the most be-
nevolent. 1t keeps q mans heart rela>
ted to his fellows in the most generous
moods. Better than all, the crystal
vault above ones head is not darkened
by such passions as too often send their
fuliginous influence into other avoca
tions, and one has fruition of the com
ing Joys, even while q pilgrim and
stranger At the present day the work
of the ministry demands the service of
every good mental endowment. In
teaching, in pastoral work, in ten thou
sand humble fields, men Of good sense
and deep devotedness will find abund
ant acceptance, although they are not
children of genius.
'But in dealing with the phases of
philosophic thoug ght-in bringing relig
ion in its authority and beauty above
the level of Jurisprudence, of literature
and Of civic affairs, that to it every
knee may bow and every tongae con-
fess, is q work on which men Of the no
blest parts fired with the truest
genius, may find the noblest op
portunities for the benefcent ex-
ertions of their whole nature That
which approaches nearest to God is the
most natural the ministry of Jesus
Christ is the most intensely natural of
all pursuits. And 1 fervently hope that
many young msn who shall be gath
cred in the goodly company, to see the
laying o. the corner stone of the Theo-
logical building, will be found, when it
shall be completed, ready and anxions
to occupy its rooms and compose its
classes. l do not forget that near you,
side hv side, reposes the dust of two
ministers of Christ; second to none that
Connecticut has reared. Great was their
love for God and for each other. II in
terest for the work could give life again
to their dust, surely they would come
forth among you to-day as venerable
and more benigo than the spirit of Sam
uel of old. They would come with
trembling hands outspread to beseech
blessings on this School. But they are
with you invisible and in the full sym
pathies of sainted spirit, they bear to
you the benelictions of the blessed
above May the God OF my father abide
ever more in the halls which you now
rear.
''I am very truly yours.