Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-08-03


The correspondent Of the Springfield R.pi,Jh-
can gives the following abstract Of the baccalau-
reate sermon, delivered on Sunday last, by Presi-
dent Angel to the graduating class Of the Uni
yersity Of Vermont
1.-THE discourse Of the President, delivered with
force and eloquence, and without notes, for he
never dsturbs an audience with the flutter Of O
manuscript, was on the aggressive power of truth.
lie said he feared good men had spent more
strength in defending the truth than in using it
more pains in protecting il than in eXcmpliiying
| 1t. They misconceyed the power and nature oil
truth, not looking upon it as a seed fer germina-
| ton, as leayen that must peryade all things, as
| flowers that must bring forth fruit Truth has
been 10 them simply negatOn of error, rather than
| the affirmation OF anything They have forgotten
its constructive power in the anxiety to protect it
from its numerous foes. lt is not designed by it,
divine author to be ever crouchipg in entrench-
ments but rather as force 10 march out upon
| the enemy attacking with irresistible might the
strOngholds Of error
This misconoeption has prevailed in the Chris
/ tian church. 1t has practically assumed that the
world belongs 10 the powers Of evil that truth
| is somewhat a usurper, forgetting the inspired
declarations " The earth is the Lords and the
| fullne,s thereof The church Is to yindicate the
divine claim to the ownership Of the world Her
dogmas questioned and then tercely assailed, have
alone awakened her anxiety, and in the ieryor of
| the strife she has forgotten that Christianity is
not only doctrine, but life. She Is commits
stoned to attack. Too much of her force has been
spent in apoogizing for the cause itself A man
always seeking to defend his character finds soon
that people think it needs defense. The church
has often lifted her opponents into notOriety.
Professionalism is ever dealing too much with ne
CATION. Turn from such misconception 10 Christ,
and we find mat life always aggressive, aliirma-
tive, reconstructiye, His doctrine is in the seed
] a.. 1.sr1t 10 Ia. l..
himself His word was, Believe me for the
very works sake - or believe my life In the
last half century the church has seen her mistake
and to a certain extent is seeking to remedy it,
She is now emphatically missionary church
Her best volume Of apoogetics is the story OF her
growth, her upbuilding, her victories in aggres-
siye, offensive warfare.
The effect OF this miscOnceptiOn of the office OF
truth upon personal character was next consider
ed. 1t has developed the mere controyersialist,
who thinks truth Of great Importance to be de-
Tended. knowing little Of its power in practical
life. He is simply an argumentatiye pugilist. 1t
has brought into society the tender sentmentalist
who thinks character and religion something to
ooddle and nurse and watch, lest a fierce breeze
blow them away. II has reared a class Of cring-
ing, crying, cowardly characters, who from apollo
gsts for the truth, come To be apolOgsts for the
defense Of truth, having no courage to defend the
truth even, Such characters never accomplish any.
thing in the world
We need not fear for the power Of truth we
need only fear for our own bravery Error does
not stay in its trenches keep not the truth there.
Our highest mission and greatest JOY as Christian
scholars should be to lead the charge. Let the
timid trembe lest error should blot out the truth
but let them know that error cannot hide the sun
Of truth any than a child's fireworks can for
ever hide the stars The address closed with a
touching address TO the graduating class. 1t paid
n tender tribute TO one who died during the course
and showed how deep personal interest the pres
ident had taken in each individual member oil the
college
CONNECTICUT & PAssuNPsic RIVERS RAILROAD.
The annual meeting Of the stockholders Of the
Connecticut 4 Passumpsic Rivers Railroad was
held at the Memphremagog llouse, Newport, Vt,
on Thursday last, Hon. Henry Reyes, President
in the chair. The annual report was not pres
ented, as the financial year had been extended
one month on account of the leasing Of the Mas
sawippi Valley Railroad, The President stated
that the business of the Massawppi road opened
the first inst, and had largely exceeded his ex-
pectatons. The old board were unanimously re-
elected directors At II subsequent meeting lion.
Henry Reyes was reelected President N. p
lowering, ESD, of Boston, Treasurer, and Hon
D ..ll