New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-10
COMMENCEMENT SEASON.
YALE.
YALE.
OPENING or COMMENCEMENT wEEK-PREsIDENT
wOOLSEY'3 BACCALAUREATE SERMON.
July D. 1871

YALE
OPENING OF COMMENCEMENT wEEK-PREsIDENT
wOOLSEY'5 BACCALAUREATE SERMON.
NEw-HAvEN, July 9.-In spite of the heat
this afternoon the old college chapel crowded with
audience assembled 10 hear Dr. Woolseys last bacoa-
laureate sermon preached during his presidency. His
text was "wilt thou noNfro this time cry unto me,
MY Father, Thou art the guide OF my youth. -tJere-
mah iii, ~ After some remarks on the appropriateness
OF thoughts upon the guidance OF God both for the class
"a just about TO enter life and for himself IA
now performing OF his last official in the pulpit
OF the College, and at the end of his fegork. the
President proceeded to speak Of the cry the text
alcompehensve "a really including all Of life although
1t especially relates to the Of youth The words
"from this time" however. and the call on God
"a Father" are especially earnest and tender The
implies desire that God will be guide from youth
onward. and that he really will be a guide If we want
him to be such. There who in their sefreance
do not want any other guide but their own GOd-gven
powers and the laws Of Divine Providence Such young
men grievously mistaken II they imagine that
religious trust at all impedes the exercise of
powers devotion to life-work 1t rather
helps us TO use our powers to the utmost encour-
ages and insrits. In fact really look for
Gods guidance who not his own powers TO the ut
most But what is intended when sincerely ask God
TO be guide and in what will he he suchi He will
not fulfill all expectations. show himself to
a guide crafty contradictory plans But apart
from limitations like these there is nothing great
small for which we may not look to him a. a helper
Nothing small in his view; but every thing
great so far bears the formation of character.
Among the occasions when youth has a right TO
expect help from God If he really wants IT, named
First the time when he chooses his professions secondly
those times when he examines for himself into the foun
daons OF his faith. having before followed chiefly the
judgments Of older persons; and thirdly, certain I'M
lookedfor crises ofe when the future almost entirely
dark before him. These points discussed at some
length being turning points Of life at which mistakes
serious in their consequences than at most
Others Surely If God is guide, he may be invoked
on such occasions. He may be unperceiyed, and his
lead may be indirect. but in the third of these
cases at least men can tell Of remarkable
openings, OF light when all seemed dark in
AVOID whether it is logical or not, believing that God
interiered-that there was a divinity that shaped
their ends" The preacher then called the attention Of
the class the fatherly character OF Gods guidance his
Next tbe effect OF such faith in Gods guidance on char
acer noticed, a man passes into middle life and
is aided TO bear great burdens Of responsibility, and to
rise above corrupt social and political Influences Ana
life Is prolonged he enters into old truly wise
man, tranquil and hopeful man, man who puts faith
in cod not only as having plan for himself but for his
country also and for the world In seeming disasters he
benevolent purpose And this very faith growing
strong such advances in life, is continuation OF
atheism for If there God, who, In His prOyi
dence. invsiby guides him and the world his fond
dream OF having God for his guide would a7snlItdly
suffer shipwreck upon the dreadful reality OF things
His experience would give the lie to his faith instead OF
| confirming il. -,
The closing part the discourse appeal TO the
class which to separate, to take God Tor
their guide, and to faith in Gods guidance Some OF
| them would without doubt die young; others would
with disasters, following haps from their
| own hcadstrOng will and vast desires. Happy would
such be II calamity brought them into harmony with the
divine cOunels The preacher presented the picture or
the class 10 or IS IN ALL assembling
here 80 wears hence and with the trennal catalogue in
hand, reviewing the class history. number OF prop
characters and desnes were depicted in regard to
all which those old would perceive that trust in
the guidance OF God had boon preservatiye OF Gharac
such trust had been the fatal want
And those odfmen themselves those veteran SURVIVORS
OF what Judgment will they be Obliged 20 pass
on one ap0heri viii they say, "The Lord is my
shepherd. shall not wantP Tho sermon closed with
the preacher giving his testimony that our faults are de
chiefly sclf-wi, that tn follow Gods cOunses Is 70
attau TO peace and that one Increases IN years
and looks back on length life il is! JOY for him To
have eudeayOred 10 walk with God