New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-08-02
MADISON UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT

PROSPEROUS CONDITION OF THE UNIVERSITY
PRIZE DECLARATIONS -DISCOURsEs BY
COUSIN OF MARTIN FARQUAHAR TUPPER AND
THE REV. DIR. KENDRICK OF NETWORK CITY.
HAMILTON, N. Y, July 3l.-Away in the heart
Of the Chcnango Valley where the softest Of Summer
skies bend lovingly over fields and slopes OF emerald
beauty upon stately cmnence stand the white build
ings Of Madison University overlooking the fourishing
town of Hamilton with its parks and abundant shade
trees. No wonder that the "sons Of the prophets" and
other pilgrims this their Mecca ana congre
gate in great numbers during commencement week.
In 1850 the old endowment OF the University amounted
to little $4,000. Under the management OF the
Rev Dr. Spear the Treasurer this sum was Increased in
1854 to nearly OOO in 1866 sl2T co., in 1866 to nearly
$1,000 in 1867 to il7s65; and this year the endowment
fund Is s25 $780, securely invested with no debts to pay
drawbacks any kind The cash receipts VI last year
amounted to sli9,Gi5 which more than paid expenses
The Jubilee Offering Of 1863 amounted to si25 OF which
sll0.259 in cash has already been paid in
AWARD OF PRIzEs-ASsUAL SERMON
The University has three departments-the Grammar
we'll ffd prosperous and healthy On Friday evening
The Grammar School gave very interesting exhibition
prizes in the Freshman Sophomore, and Junior Glasses
took place -Four speakers from each class sontended
upon the PLATFORM the first prize being $40 the second
go in each class The first prize in the Fres1an Gi ass
second to c H. watson Of Jersey city In the sopho
more's. Marcus c. Wilson Of Strkersyile, Y won the
In the Junior Glass the prize and the palm OF the evening
were triumphantly borne off by Charles b. Perkins OF
|
Phillips, and The second awarded to W. Beach OF
Hemilton, n; Y. The speaking was good: -.,. O.
cicty of the State Of New-York" was preached this
morning by the Rev Martin 4. Upper, d. d., OF Wash,
ington, Ca cousin Mr. NJ. Farquhar Upper author or
"Proyerbial Philosophy" DR. Upper OF Georgia, who
years absence from his Alma Mater ventured here and
preached an excellent sermon from LIST Timothy w. 10
and spiritual. He forcbly elaborated each OF these
points which he argued were the sinew and muscle OF
true character, and required the best training.
DIR. HENDRICKS DISCOURSE.
The annual discourse before the society for Inquiry
was delivered last evening by the Rev. j. r. kendrick,
d. d. Of the Tabernacle Baptist Church, NewYork City
lie selected for tex-Romans xiv chapter 9TH verse
"For none OF us liyeth To HIMSELF The general theme
was inhuenoe-conselous and unconscious partcu-
larry the latter The obvious or literal sense of the
words said Dr. Kendriek, lis not their real sense and
yet in the former well as In the latter they contain
mOmentOus truth Taken in their natural import they
declare that mans life Is wholly selfcontned and
without effect other lives Taken In their real mean
ing they describe the Christian in his governing princ
pie and purpose as owning himself the servant OF Jesus
and bound tO live in accordance with His will aud for
death Christian his own, but the Lords Every
human being sustans various intimate relations to other
human beings. There II snch thing standing apart
out OF connection and sympathy with race-ind-
frent and irresponsible spectators of the solemn drama
fellows These reciprocal relations and dependencies
originate what we call indftrence-a word OF pregnant
and awful import, yet so familiar and well understood
"a to require no formal definition.
But there is another kind Of influence yet more potent
for good i-uncOnsciOus influence. When wholly I'M
Of any purpose To affect others, and even while
yehementy dsclaming its exsence influence Is stream
ing from like rays from the Whether we desire
it not, fashioning plastic nature and
shaping immortal destinies Human nature Is no suseep-
tible Ia impressions from surrounding objects that,
chamelonlke, 1t takes it's hue from rock and river
mountain and plain, sky and cloud. The Elton harp Is
not trembngy alive to every wandering zephyr, nor
the sensitive plant 10 the ghtest touch, as IL the human
heart every human word whispers look ever 1t IL
thus that in truth exerng controlling power
over others when We least suspect it. ,., .,o
No particle OF influence l. lost 1t blends Itself with the
and augments the permanent motive power OF soci
ETY. live I'm the books which they write, the institu
lions they found the actions they PERFORM the WORDS
spirit that animates Them and which they communicate
to them within their reach. Alexander the mad boy OF
MacedOn has repeated his frenzy OF universal conquest
in the bloody ambition OF many admirers. Paul more
vital than when he stood on Mars Hill and el0quently
addressed the working Athenians The proigate court
life OF England under the reign of that merry monarch
Charles H. and of France under Louis XIV still pOisons
the civilized world The martyr blood OF Russell and
from the ground In tones OF
Inspiration all patriots and heroes of liberty Whit
field breaches still though his sermons unread Cary
and Judson living missionaries. Washington and
Napoleon, each after his kind, far mightier than
when the stood the fields OF their prOudest victories,
and Abraham Lincoln has not yet received his crown OF
honor fairly assembled to his destined seat among
those sovereign spirits and sceptered kings that rule us
from their uIlls.
IL becomes question OF the gravest practical interest,
how be qualified most certainly to exert right
and wholesome Influence think | may hint tit and
comprehensive reply to this mOmentOuS question: by
proouncing great word character Mach the larger
and commanding part OF our influence results fiOn
the silent force OF character 1t II not Isolated virtues,
nor occasional and irregular deeds Of splendid beneyO
lcnce and selfsacrce that determine our Influence
without true and lofty character, all arts and afua-
tons all busng pretensiOns, ali the accomplishments
of education all solitary virtues and occasional deeds OF
goodness will avail but little