Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-04-29
NASHVILLE UNION AND AMERICAN WEDNESDAY, ApRf 1874

Thus the parties are Of great service, one |
to the other. He felt safe in predicting the
most favorable resuhs 20 the future govern
ment of the institution, from tie causes
just referred to.
With what profound satisfaction does the
thoughtful mind hail the erection Of such
seat Of learning! You who have SONS to
to be seiit hither in time 70 come feel this
to-day. You who are at all aware Of the
mental activity, the stir and the perils %
the age; of the fermentation Of ideas; OF the
confusion of halftrutlls; of the impotence
Of authority; Of the feyerish rush after new
theories; Of the uDroOting Of established
opinions of dariIs speculation and pre-
tentiOns ypOthesIs-stripping with IN.
trembling hand personality from God, and
dignity and ethical worth from man; sub
shutting mechanical laws and a so-called
'-stream Of tendency" for the living JehO-
yah, and for man his offspring, an
origin in and a descent from the
Sscidian; demanding for rawlings o;
this sort the authority of science and scien-
tific niethod-in time like this, must you
Iiot feel the devoutest gratitude TO God for
the establishment in THE greet erntre, Of
future population and social influence OF nj
institution Of learning such as this is des-
tined to be9 Here will be taught the true
metaphysics, comprising and conserving the
sublimest objects of theoretical and moral
interest. Here will be imbibed the philOs-
Opby which holds the law of moral recti-
tude Is gfOuIided IN conscience, and in
vOlving responsibility, and slowing differ
ence in kind, wide as the poles, between
the instructive intelligence of horses and
dogs, and the august pTerosatiyes Of reason
in man.
The speaker was not here to present
| special pleading for what has been for
years the av0Sed policy OF the leading
churches of the land, Of the Methodist
Communion in particular. The pleadings
| had long since been fUreclOsed. The az
guuient had resolved itself into action.
| The religion of the New Testament held the
place of honor; its leavening spirit was
most earnestly sought to pervade the entire
progress of educational development from
the Sunday-schOOl up to the high places Of
thought in university culture. This was
the position of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, fundamental, recognized
and pronounced. She sought her prOper
share of influence in the education Of tbe
young, not merely by virtue OF self-Tespect,
or the interest of selfpresevation, but be-
| cause duty to God, loyalty TO Christ, de-
msnded this.
IL gave depth to the sentiment which the
occasion SO fitly called up, to remember the
proximity of the Publishing House whose
cornerstone was laid two years ago. 1t was
sending out daily and hourly publications,
which reach the borders Of the GUlf-stream
and the shores Of the Pacific.
1 Vauf.railf 1TuivprSifv had nhVioUSlr
very decided advantages. 1t concentrated
upon i-self the largest combination of
patrOnizing conferences. IL would set out
with an ampler endowment than any yet
| invested in such an enterprise. Its scheme
of educational facilities and appliances
was, Of course more comprehensive; and
Its appointment Of books, apparatus, etc,
more abundant than can be furnished at
any of the colleges.
| The speaker discus e., 1t some length the
prospective library and scientific apparatus.
The location Of the University was at the
| headquarters Of Southern MethOdism- 1t
/ would be accessible to the East and the
/ growing West, and to all points alike.
/ Graduates of other colleges would seek the
Masters degree or pursue professional
studies here. Manifestly, Vanderbilt Uni
/ veTsity completed the system Of educational
agencies required by the position and
wants of the Southern Methodist Church.
Might it ever be the crown and
| glOry-ClecuS e tHGneIl-Of that sys-
| tenn. Possibly the speaker was
expected to say that he felt proud, on this
memorable OCCASION, as a Methodist. He
burst not use that word, or indulge the
feeling indicated by il. What he did feel,
aud what he trusted all felt, was an en-
! HANGED sense Of responsibility. This cleft
| down. as with the stroke Of the cimiter, the
towering crest of pride Tie saw emerging
| from all the gratulatiOns, auguTieS, hopes
Of this day--Outlined upon all its glowing
antieipatiOns. the form and features of Re
! spOnsibility. "Where much hath been
! given, much will be required.
The peToration Of the Bishops address
turned upon the thought OF responsibility,
and was in the following words:
s.Ah, that word responsibility. Methinks
L see it written on those foundations, in
ribbed on that cornerstone, blazOned over
the doors of all the halls, cabinets, libraries
| lecture and pc.tatiOn-rOOmS; shining alOft
amid all the magnihcence Of fluted pillars
and springing arch, of tower and pinnacle.
| That responsibility binds us by all the
memories of the past, by all the hopes Of
the futuretO DreSerre TIE old simplicity and
ferror Of the Methodist religion, Nth the
| neJr culture, and the higher Intellectual
stGRding trbich fOIiOtrS IL. The response
/ bility requires that we should never allow
the devotional feelings which moves the
heaTt-springs and inspires the will with
energy through love of Christ, TO be over
! laid with decent iO.ms, or Supplanted by
mere philosophy or sentimentality Of re-
/ ligiOn. IL demands that while we stand
! finn as a rock :pOn the fundamental prin-
ciples of revealed Truth, as against ration
: alistic tendencies or the pOmpOuS shams
| of Ritualism, we shall at the same time in
crease through the influence of this insti-
| tuition the working power Of the
| Church, clergy and laity, into an &C
/ tivity thOusand-fOld intensifed-its OBJ
/ iect the elevation of humanity, the saliva
| tion of men; its lofty end the spread Of scrip
| tural holiness around the globe. to the last
| tribe of our depraved and suffering race.
You can ask for this University, on
| which patriotism will lavish its hest wishes
and means, and for which piety will offer
| its devOutest prayers, no higher boon than
| that, 10y Gods special and gracious bless
| ing, through Christ Jesus, Il may be equal
to Its responsibilities r