The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1875-05-21
BACCALAUREATE ADDRESS,
Delivered by Rsy. u. ". ssrntton, Be.
= fore the Graduating CInzs OF tho y
Albany Collegiate Ihati- NJ
tHfe, SUNDAY even-
tirs ing. Aprkl
a5thl s.

p ..
.'The feal OF the Lord is the beginning o
). wisdom. A good understanding have all the.
that do his commandments" Psalm Ia. H.
knowledge isEalnable as it can b,
applied to the uses Of practical life
The negative force Of this proposition
is seen not only in that which i
merely speculation, but-also in thos,
empty accomplishments which pro
duce no beneficial results. Som,
kinds Of knowledge is even danger
GUS for the ability they give is wastet
upon idle or vicious ends. It is no
therefore intended TO reduce our men.
tai acquisitions to any strict utilita
rian standard as a means Of money
getting, or to subserve the actual ne
cessities of daily life, for there can be
no thorough culture without the
knowledge Of many things, such as
classical and scientific information
not to mention poetry, music and the
study Of the fine arts. But these
things, however varied, do not in
clude all man needs to know. Edu.
cation however broad and thorough
is radically imperfect and incomplete
unless it indludes self knowledge; and
no man can acquire this essential part
of his education by his own unaided
powers. Man is something more than
an animal receiving cognitions from
the sensible and material universe.
He is more than an intellectual being
bounded in his Investigations and
imaginings by the laws Of mind. He
has to do with spiritual things, far
outreaching the utmost stretch OF
mere mental or intellectual activities.
He must remain essentially ignorant
of many things most important to be
known, who consents to prosecute
his studies unaided. And especially
because man is SO intimately related
to his Creator, as to his present ex-
istence no less than his future desti-
ny, does he need Divine instruction.
The apoihegm that the chief study Of
man is man; may be accepted with
this corresponding truth, that the
highest wisdom of man is to know
God.
If we really understand our own
natures and needs, it must be because
we have been patient learners in the
school of Christ.
Here only can we become acquain-
ted with those moral qualities Of mind
and heart, which are designed to be
the crowning glory of our humanity.
Humility, purity, unselfsh devotion
to the good of others, and all COM
pretending charity, are to be learned
nowhere SO thorough as at the feet of
the Great Teacher. And here as
everywhere a reverential attitude and
ready susceptibility are requisite in
the learner Of any grade-the begin
ner or the one having made consider
able advancement in knowledge. In
this world, the wisest arein a condi-
ton of tutelage, arriving at certainty
Of position often by slow and painful
processes. Every one is imperfect,
even in his best estate, unable to grasp
or comprehend truth in its variety of
manifestations and unfoldings, and
sometimes willing to be taught only
after repeated mistakes. In every
science, conclusions supposed to be
settled, are often overturned by new
discoveries, and unlocked for devel-
opments. So that as consequence
the truly wise man has learned to state
his opinions modestly and with more
or less reserve; while the ignorant is
foolishly dogmatic and positive in his
assertions. In this state Of uncer-
tainty, it is Of the frst consequence
that some truths and those of great
est Importance are authoritatively set
tied by infinite wisdom, and upon
such conditions as fully satisfy the
finite understanding.
There are but two classes OF truly
satisfied beings in the universe; those
who knowing nottingham nothing,
and those who have been taught Of
God. Et
OF the various sources OF this in
formation, or perhaps it would be
better to say, armies through which
truth is communicated, we will men
ton but three. The ,corld Of sense
God revealing himself in sensible
forms. The sCrilten scord-where the
understanding is specially addressed
and The inner Consciousness by which
God speaks to mans soul.
And in our treatment Of so vast a
field of investigation, we may conf
dently assure ourselves that in any
revelation He sees fit to make, God
never contradicts himself. Men may,
and often do interpret wrongly these
Divine manifestations, and draw er-
/ roneous conclusions from premises
whose meaning should be fixed and
plain. And because the race has al
ways been disposed to blind the men.
tai vision and judgment, this evil
bias Of mind and heart, first Of all
needs correcting. Sincerity and q
certain honesty Of purpose are moi
lenoueh Ii insure right conclusions.
! If the compass defects from It's course
the pilot may, with the best Of inten-
tons. nevertheless steer his ship upon
the hidden rock, which will bring
I frightful catastrophe and ruin upon
ali tle precious interests inlrusted q
| his guidance. Whether the evil i
discovered in time or not, it is mani
testify the duty Of all 60 whom re-
sponsibility is committed by repeated
observations and the most rigid tests
10 endeavor to put the possibility o.
mistake out Of the question. But IN
matters affecting the highest and
most vital interests Of immortal be-