The New York herald., 1869-06-14
RELIGIOUS SERVICES IN THls CITY.
laADlsua AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Baccaluureate Sermon Before the Graduating
Class of the College Of the City OF New
York.
The Rev. william Adams, d. d. pastor OF the
Madison avenue Presbyterian church, preached the
annual baccalaureate sermon before the graduating
class OF the College Of the City of New York last
evening The church was completely filed.
Horace Webster, LII. D., President OF the college;
Professor R. ogden Doremus, Mr. r. L. Larremore.
President Of the Board of Education and the forty
two members Of the graduating class occupied front
seats in the body OF the house. After the ntroduc.
tory services the text was announced from Matthew
Xxx, 25, 2s inclusive Starting from this he inquired,
Who makes the most Of lifeS Who gains success
and who failureP What Is success and what is
failures The questions imply order and then place.
Such theme is not impertinent to the occasion 1t
is Of great interest 10 those who have been re-
ceivng culture preparatory to action. BY success we
generally understand the favorable termination OF
our Intentions One who has never succeeded In
anything may lay something to lack Of earnestness
and enthusiasm. He who gives so much OF real
worth 10 the work OF his life may be sure Of cor
responding amount OF honor and accomplishment
In finding an answer to the question of success we
come at once % the substantial facts Of Christianity
Christianity more and more lifts itself up As the
greatest and best Of all duties. II 1t is true at all
1t is true altogether. The time for apologies for
Christianity is past In the past history of this ma
ton there has been time when an insdious scepti-
cism has been popular; but the times have changed
1Uf the better, and Christianity has become
power. He makes the most OF life whose
ambitions land aims are most benevolent, whose
the most by q conformity with the teachings OF
C1ss s sy dong M ne Snes Whatever nset ba
dinate to the promotion OF good to others. Good.
should not be the means merely, but the end Of
all great effort. Selfassertion Is serious fault
by egotism, the ambition which when successful
carries the worlds approval, Is, In fact, bane
and curse. This sin was exempined by the
sSaa be "aS the They ike poll
ticians-each wanting 10 nominate himself. AmDi-
ton sea IL s s own and a weae
answer and he Is the wsest and most successful who
reads It Alright and carries its instruction into effect
minister, and wRosoever Viii be CHIEF among
you let him be your servant. Even the son OF Man
to give His life q ransom for many" Here, then,
ia the rule and measure OF human greatness self
subecon ana denial ior tne good OF % Others H Few Few
lyle, but he asserted false principle when he ele.
vated above morality and philanthropy the suprem-
refOrmers as Howard aud Wllberiorce, and the in
and deeds. Among the greatest Of mistakes men
make one s pronouncng those lives inutlle that do
Of ne time Of the death Of Jonathan Edwards,
fanatic fanatic AID and an obstinate and nncoSSely ma man who
lived hard, dry rough me, and died o. smallpox
work. @ there never lived % msn Any who f was more more
thoroughly spirtualized and who was on such
mountains OF transformation Of the higher realities
Life % Is not mere existence for Unitarian purposes
He makes the most Of life who is the most useful
to Others who in the words dedcates his reason and
Intelligence to the use and helping OF his fellow men.
should this rule apply to so'hoTshp wna, wide re.
quaintance with general literature can be put
70 prohigate use how different would be the
good, instruction and information OF manKnd.
1t Is not necessary that every essay be sermon or
OF Addison. might have served great moral pur.
poses, instead Of being the waste OF talent and
o. sess woS 70 low baYa aIs
been In literature had Moliere Rousseau yoltaire,
Swift Alexander Pope, Boling9roke, sheridan,
make men better instead OF miniser1ng to the
pronigacy. Of the age. There pes been recently a
study Of art has been ignoole in The past to great
extent because men became mere copyLsts or were
nSsue q Art sy 20 onor a a
when 1t succeeds In embodyin9 tnat which is good
and heroic and sublime into VIVID Representations.
generally supposed. Greatness IL that spirit Of self
sacrifce which exists upon ordinary occasions as
well as by extraordinary sacrifices. IL was noble
thought which suggested q prize TO be offered for
the most gentemanly conduct. Who is the true
gentlemanf That question is best answered by
those true words, Jesus Christ was the first gen.
tie.nan that ever lived.r To he kindly afectioned
one towards another Is gentemany action. He Is
true gentleman who instead OF attracting attention
towards himself, Is the most consderhte towards
Tue feelings Of another. Men are heroes and mar
tyls who never made the public exhibition OF their
greatness. Many physicians who carry hope and
comfort to homes Of poverty and sorrow are living
lives OF goodness. Many lawyers who work for Jus
lives Of greatness The pioneers In new lands ana
the missionaries to foreign Willis afe living lives OF
continual success The man who spends his life In
trying 70 hep confirm the Christian religion Is doing
that which Is permanent divine and immortal