The New York herald., 1869-06-26
COLLEGE COMMENCEMENTS.


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The General Theological Seminary.
The commencement OF the above institution was
held yesterday at st. Peters church. in Twentieth
street. and opened at ten A. NJ. with divine service
The commencement address to the graduating
class was preached by Right Rev. A. N. Ltttlejohn
ID. d., Bishop OF Long Island, who ably defended the
science OF Christian theology from the imputations
made against it OF want OF truth and exactitude or
the alleged variance OF its dogmas and theories with
natural laws, the pretended inaccuracy OF it's
premises and falsty OF its conclusions. He clearly
vindicated its right to be called an exact science
and pointed out Its place and relations and the i
nuences now at work tending to modify its form
and attitude. The following is an extract from the
address,
1t Will be your privilege to pursue the study OF
theology with some marked advantage In your IA
The progress of events has arranged It's adver-
saries III such distinct groups and fixed TO them
such definite badges that no more blows need be
struck In the dark no more time or strength wasted
upon uncertain issues. The liberty OF the age has
thrown all error into bold relief and given to every
delusl0n tongue. On all sides we witness the ac-
tvity and agitation which truth cOvets as It's pre-
ci0us opportunity. IL moreover the marked INTEL
lecual popularity OF our time that there Is no long
tendency or cherished speculation OF the human
mind that affects belief that has been so far worked
out as 10 justify an assured conviction of Its
logical and practical results. IndlvIduaism. RO-
mansm Ra,lOnallsm, Pantheism, Mysticism and
Materialism are no longer airy figures wandering az
aforetlme in half shadow. They hang before US like
rey eg hsns TOO nv e sney OF the
common thought OF the race. Besides we are
privileged as never before to study the law of re-
actions in human opinions One of the most in
structive OF all fields OF inquiry 1t so Opens that
some OF the most momentous OF their reactions
have well completed thei cycles and it Is now quite
that each and all will cOrrobOrate the lesson
often taught, so seldom needed, THAT no adverse
wave from the outer sea OF sectaran Thought
strikes the foundation of catholic truth which its
refluent path does not leave behind 1t some new
treasure to be garnered In the storenouse
nf Anl i- art nj fhtl lnv
of reaction and opinion and life, that intellectual
movements descend from the few to the many, from
the closters OF thinkers to the busy multitude while
emotional movements emDody the moral wants and
the spiritual wants OF the soul begin with the many
largely occupied with the former and there are evi-
dent symptoms that the next generation will be
swayed by the latter; II So. then we shall see the
husks OF the wisdom OF this world, break forth from
the field OF the alien, and with cry OF anguish,
from the lips of o penitent prodgal. cast Itself on
the Wild Hood Of sOrrowing want, upon the bosom
OF the God and Savour's revelation, uttering tho
old confession, Father have sinned against heaven
and before Thee, and am no longer worthy TO he
called Thy Son." IL Is the strange Providence OF the
hour that che probability of such a reaction ex-
acty comedies with the desire now evident In the
better circles of theological inquiry to eliminate
more and more from church doctrine the speculative
and therefore, variable element, and to return to
The dogmatc simp!iclte5, and, may we not hope, to
the all conquerln love OF Apostolic days. One more
assurance, one more sign OF privilege and cheer for
you. young friends, ana shall be done. There are
those who are never weary OF asserting that not
suits OF the best scientific Thought and the creed OF
the church, but that 1t is constantly growing
wider, 80 that all hope OF bridging 1t Is
tell you an untruth; they bear false
witness. whether through ignorance or malice the
future Will show Here then, is hurried catalogue
of the deeper questions oil the hour and statement
OF their altitude toward the fundamental verities OF
our religion; an altitude will be seen, OF agree
ment, not contradiction, Of the unity not dscord,
OF friendship not hate shall ADOPT the words OF
the most sober accurate and profound thinker OF
nltrf = "A \, In
the Tree thought of the day:-"The superstition
which saw IN all known phenomena the action OF
superstition which sees III them nothing but the
action of invarable laws. Men have been right and
not wrong when they saw In the facts OF nature the
variability OF adjustment even more clearly and
more surely than they saw the cOnstancy OF lorce.
,an,s, @9Ig rs tSass neuomeoa nu Wrog w9 a
nOmena OF mind. They were right when
tney regarded tneir own lasity OF contrivance as
the nearest and truesJ analogy by which the consti-
tuition Of the universe can be conceived am Its order
understood. They were right when they regarded
its arrangements as susceptible Of change, ana when
they looked upon change OF VIII (wnether IN God
or IN mani as the et!clent cause Oh other changes
without number and witnout end. IL well 10
be the light OF reason. IL h an immense
cal analysis does but confirm the testimony con-
seriousness ana run parallel with the prineval tradl-
tions and beliefs it is unspeakaby comforting tnat
when we come to close quarters with the vision OF
unvariable law. seated on the throne OF nature,
we find it 4 phantom and dream-a mere night
OF speech abused We are after oil what we thought
ourselves to be. Our freedom Is a reality, not a
name. Our faculties have, In truth, the relations
which they seem to have TO the economy OF naCure.
Mans acton IL a real and substantial action IN the
nature were not appointed by the Great Law l;iyer
to bafe his creatures in the sphere OF conduct still
less ~ confound them IN the region OF beleis As
parts Of an order OF things TO be more than parity u-
deIstood they are presented under some difficulties
winch perplex the intellect but the
whole tney stand IN harmonious relations with the
human spirit. They come vlsiDly from one perv ad-
ing mlnd and express the authority of an enduring
kingdOn.n NY young brethren
let it be the business of your lives TO study ana to
deliver unto men science which Is the living sap OF
all knowledge, science 50 rradlated with heavenly
light and consciously symmetrical, built upon
foundations which are none other than the pillars or
the throne OF God.
The graduating class numbering twenty-five, was
presented to Bishop Potter, of New York, who pre-
sided and who delivered to them their diplomas
The following are their names:--Rev. sidney Beck
wtn A. B.. 0. NJ, Michigan; Rev. Mortimer NJ Ben
5. g., New YORK; Henry A. Dows, 4. b.. {. c. New
YORK; f. Augustus EdgertOn A. NJ, st. r. O., New
YORK; J. Alexander tillilan, Minnesota; Edward q.
Houghton, A. b., q. c., New York; Henry Emerson
Hovey, B. A., L. e.. Connecticut; Rev. Frederick s.
Hyde, New York; Peter Augustus Jay, A. M, Q. c..
Reynold "A. Kirby, A. b., IL. O., Western New York;
Charles Charles $ Knapp A. b., Il; C., New York; Edward
stephen. A.. McNulty, "A. b., kn. g., New
I0sfph KIP sUrSs DTe A. Name "a rsssnS rs"sS
Horato Stubs, A. b., X: g., New Jersey Isaac vaa
WInkle, A. NJ, q. o., New York; George Herbert
Watson, A. b., II. O., New York; J. Bloomfield
wetherill New York; Clement J. whipple A. b.,
X g., New OrK.
The morning prayer was read by the Rev. George
b. Draper, ID. D., Rev. DIR. Edso and Rev. DR.. She.
ton. The first lesson was read by the Rev. Charles
r. Hale, M. A., ana the second by the Rev. John r.
Lundy. Bishop Potter Of New York, presided, as
sisted by the Bishops OF Pittsburg and Long Island.
The sacrament OF communion was administered to
the students and congregation.
DC In Sale Institute.
The annual examination OF the pupils OF the Ia
Sale Institute, situated on the corner OF Second
street and second avenue, under the superintend-
ence Of Brother Steven, took place on Wednesday
evening, 23d inst.
Quite large audience were assembled, prominent