New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-21
BACCArAUREATE SERMONS.
WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY.

WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY.
BY PRESIDENT CUMMINGS AT MDDLETOwN, CONN.
IRON A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuSE.l
MIDDLETOwN Conn.,, June 2O.-The Bacca-
laureate sermon at Wesleyan University preached
to-day by President Cummings. The text taken from
Matthew XVI, 8: "To what purpose Ia this wastei"
The President described the incident and occasion on
which these words uttered and the gratitude and
devotion Of Mary which led her to pour in proson the
costly ointment the head and feet of tie Savior Judas
codly and hypocrcay criticised this deed OF affection,
and by his sf reasoning and seeming regard for the
poor led the disciples to sympazc with him. Jesus re-
Dukes the complaint and highly comncnds the AIT Of
Mary and declares 1t shall he known wherever the Gospel
shall be known Christ In this commentator OF Marys
costly gift rebukes that low utariansm that fr0wns
reference to the most wants and the simplest du-
ties Culture and beauty and the graces that art can
made all things beautiful, and Himself, the source or
beauty, reoices in s manifestations Had His views
been such many who consider their views as best rep
rcsentlng His entertain, He wond have made the world
far different aud caused It to supply only mans lowest
cloth. There would have been need Of rounded hills
and waving forests need Of flowers AMI varied land
scapts no need Of the music Of birds the mufmurng
OF rvuets whispering OF zephyrs without all these
men might have lived toiled, prayed. worshiped, ond
died God has said man shall not live by bread alone.
He has high aspirations noble faculties, and God has
provided for their qualification and is pleased with their
of the beautiful and the manifestations OF in
religion may I've carried too far Whenever costlness In
worship cease means afd ends, whenever
they minister TO slmplc disqualification, they become
not only waste, bat grevolIs evil.
Turning to what he regarded the legitimate force of
the question Wuy is this waste r. DR. Cummings referred
10 the pcsoner OF the gifts and blessings God
in society and affirmed that their right seemed to he
the exception rather than the rule Great waste,
the waste of mind is far greater As the tree beaute0us
with its blossoms rich in promise, yet in few
days casts them wcred and ftess to the EARTH 40 TO
great extent shall he the results of the glowing
ises that seem to be gwen by the host Of young men
coming al this noon OF summer into active life Only
few will arrive at maturity and bear fruit in old The
waste of mind is seen III the premature death Of large
patural law or decree Of God There may be consoIg
thoughts connected with the death OF children and their
SAFETY In lmmorialiy but to them death IL loss and
depives them of the developments aud rank and glory
be desired from the advantages that improved years
give with reference to the future The waste of mind is
that children suffer from the low views and crmi-
nal neglect OF parents parent would be considered
robustness and selfish love Of gain How much greater crime
Is ii to dwarf immortal souls forever Loss and waste
result from the employment In which the greater part OF
the Is engaged No eevating spiritual influences
connected with them they are eartny aud degrading in
nober faculties Still more criminal waste results from
lives Of the luxurious, and that criminal claSsthe
dle-wherevor found. Every one who does not labor,
having some object in view beyond himself Is sinner III
the sight of God.
severe condemnation was expressed against those
who. while able to labor, retire from business In their
conrse there is involved wrong theory OF lfe time
may when a change OF employment may be ncces
For those WHO have gained competence by toll
perintcnd ng enterprises benevolcnce and works of
mercy. As an illustration or great waste, allusiOn was
made to the great number who leave their employment
duties the purpose Of recreation abroad More OF
this is in this country than elsewhere. There is
much recreation with which, by the attempted
vIya OF Institutions and usdges effective under
different circumstances Is connected ia name at
least degree OF religious interests. There Is kind OF
religious dissipation III which mulltdes partake when
they assemble and enjoy emotional singing and the
abOred efforts Of selected speakers whose dis"Ourses
please and asciDate directed to the cultivated intel
ec and Imagination 1t is not the highest of time or
Christian talent does II the benefit that rightly
directed Christian charity should command. There
agreit waste OF intellect In Improbable pur-
suits. Division Of labor in mental as well as In mt
chanical pursuits leads 10 narrowness, and bias an
unfayoralc effect ON mental power Much study and
scholarship Of little profit. There Is an attenuated
refinement" and "Oyergrown accuracy" Il respect
musty authorities that crippes all practical power and
secures to the world but little profit. Narrow and
confined OF microscopic views are the most
arrogant Of all studious men, and deem themselves
select class, and az thinkers, worthy OF special honOr
study that does not lead Ia broad views and practical
results - OF little value. There ia also waste
that results from wrong religious views The Church
has not rightly estimated this life OF unconneeted re-
ion Ms It should be with the temporal and essential
earthly Influences The Church has devoted It's energies
to absracons sanctioned 10 promote theories and
burned men for hereses relative to doghas that harm
lived in want, In misery and ignorance. The Church
the welfare Of mem our churches to-day are wanting IN
praclieal power There Is much suited for show and to
skill dis ed in architecture, but seldom suited to the
purposes OF a church, we have polished discourses and
gi,llce, but whose distractions and glitter
ing generalties affect no ones conscience;
that affords qualification for its excellence in itself but
leads not 10 devotion. We have houses aud forms ~
worship well calculated TO satisfy and profit all the acul
ties those disnctively religious. Worship becomes
pleasure In itself instead OF means OF glor1fylng tod
The Church il much like holiday army. Its parades
and evolutions with gering arms and stainless uni,
forms pleasing, but IL exhibits nothing oi real ana
earnest We would rather see Dronzd veterans that
have breaIhed the suphurous air OF battle ana nave
stood In ranks broken by fierce assaults wlc ueat ic III
showers upon them; would rather see banners that
have been torn by shot and shell in fierce conflict and
borne in victory over the ranks OF the sam we
would whose rustcd arms ana stained
uniforms indicate that they have waded through
swaInps and stood in cold, dIencllDg storms or
vigorous posts The Church should me re resemble an
conflict, than army dress parade anu snowy review
There power enough in the Church that II wast' 10
carry the saving influences OF the truth 10 the falnsnS
millions home and abroad The wastes that result from
further discussed. There results from us deormitt
of spirit and character which, could be watered would
be more knsive than dcf0rlnfy OF The body.
The Presd u in the conclusion OF Ills DISCOURSE al
dressed kind and earnest appeal ~ the graduating
class lie cXhOrtrd them to firmly resolve To I'VE Useful
lives and only withered iruitless blossoms
lie set before them the nature OF the conict IN winch
they and the opposition fhry mus expect
rhey should he governed in selecting fields OF Labor not
much by the reward they may receive rs the good hey
can perform He exnorcd them To forget the differences
and that might have arisen in their association,
aad Ia clasp hands kindly and forgive each other ther
faults aud To- 90 forth % labor, taking counsel of
humility hut And closed, saying: com
mend YOU God and the work of his grace who alone
il able keep YOU falling and preserve you fault
less before presence OF Ills glory with exceeding joy
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE.
PRESIDENT SMITH AT HANOVER.