The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-20
MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE.
seventy-Fifth Commencement.
ADDRESS TO GRADUATING CLASS.

ADDRESS TO GRADUATING CLASS.
DR.. Boardman, IN his address TO the
graduating class, endeavored to impress
the precepts he had set forth. Though he,
personally, had met them but few times
in the class room, yet he felt Interested in
their success. But their success would be
in proportion as they obeyed the laws OF
morality. They would have friends and
power il they followed its teachings. If
the character of moral will was their aim
they would have no difficulty in securing
influence. But if they adopted the
drift theory-that each should believe
what he likes-they would be considered
amiable and kind, but would not be trusted.
In the pursuit of ends there was a better
and worse way They should learn to use
the experience of others and should avoid
their follies. The concentrated experience
of the world was but an expression of the
law of God. They would find the law of
God in the scriptures--not directly laid
down-but in its obvious and general APP
plications. The reward of career in &C
cordance with the law of God was the
highest bestowment-was an incorruptible
crown of glory.
The music for the occasion was by the
Congregational choir, under the direction
of Prof L. II. Higley, and was most ex-
celent.
PHILADLRPHIAN SOCIETY.
| In the evening was the annual address
before the Philadelphia society. This
was delivered by Rev. Geo. L. Walker, d.
d., formerly pastor of Centre church, New
Haven, Conn.
The speaker was introduced by L. d.
Bragg, president Of the society. He began
by saying he had been invited to address
college religious society and that he was
speaking to scholars as well as christians
to men of thought as well as men of faith,
and therefore he should make it a religious
address more than literary. His subject
was "The light giving power of Christ"
Christ said 81 am the light of the world"
| If is a statement of astonishing boldness
Christ occupies place like light in the
physical world. He casts the only true
moral light. 1t is an amazing representa-
tion-can it be maintained In .Chrsts
| mission, in His work, all mysteries were
| cleared up.
But the speaker passed by this general
| consideration and considered ii in more
| specific manner. Christ is a light in his
own person, his very being is the illumina-
ton. Lessons flow from his actual reality
his person, his existence. The speaker
considered first the question Is there
spiritual world, outside, above,a realm of the
soul Is there anything without answer
ing the longing within? We personally
may have no doubt, but it is not so with
all men. Socrates and Plato strove to solve
the problem. 1t is just as living diff
Guilty to-day to some as to the heather of
old. 1t is doubt to the scientific world.
1t is scattered through literary and scicn-
tific and newspaper writings. Scepticism
is even heard from the pulpit. Where is
there an answer to this question Christ
is the answer, the object to which we turn
the mysterious divinity of his person. He,
the Goldman, is disclosure of that world.
If Christ be human, all our hopes are vain.
| But Christ exhibits divine, a superhu-
man person. His miracles do not require
an extraordinary faith when we consider
His person. If God and man became one
in Him all doubt is dissipated. What phil
osophy could not solve is revealed in Him.
Next, the speaker considered the question,
Scan the Divine and human enter into re-
latlOns with each other? Is there a COM
munion between the Creator and the crea-
ted? All desire such communion, all
the mythology of old paganism is but an
expression of such longing. We have
such longing and want the chasm filled.
Philosophy cannot answer it. We find
the only satisfactory answer in Christ,
where infinity meets finity. We cannot
tell h0p it Is but we know it is so. God
has made us noble enough to impart Him
self to us. Again what is to become of
this being which we call ourself ? This
has been question of profound interest IN
all ages. We must turn to the same source
as before for the clearest, almost the only
answer.
We all have a desire, a longing for i'm
mortality. We cannot bear entirely to die
Philosophy can only say the fuIfillment of
this wish is but conjecture. Science says
it does not know what the soul is-what it
becomes. 1t can analyze the body, but it
can return no answer for the soul.
Christ, not merely in words of promise,
but in His person, in His resurrection and
Temperance answers the question. In
His TRANSPORTATION also, He showed us the
glory it is possible to put on.
Lastly was considered q question respect
ing the physical condition of man, concern
ing the unity of the human race. Is there
band of relationship between all men2 Is
there a common center-a common brother
hood of humanity 1t is a perplexiDg and
much discussed question. Scripture says,
90 All men were made of one blood" Some
scientists say all men were not made of one
blood.
There are various things which come in
to perplex us in solve this-EthonlOgy,
mems opinions, their pride, ideas that
some were made to serve, the different ma
tionalities, wars, hatreds. These render the
inquiry almost vain. But the inquiry is
not vain. There stands one among us, the
brother OF us all. He came to all and
found common something in all to claim
His love. He saw beyond all difficulties
which nations and hatreds and wars inter-
pose. He is the token of the unity of the
brotherhood of the human race. Christ's
person is a witness of the unity of all hui
manity.
1t asserted this at the birth in Bethlehem
at the death on the cross at Calvary. Ii
will once more assert this when lie is ex-
allied on the throne of God, when He shall
say: "Inasmuch as ye have done it to the
least of one of these, ~ have done It unto
me-"
The music during the evening was most
admirably rendered by the Middlebury
choral society.