The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-28
YALE COLLEGE.


BAccALAuREATE sEEMoN or PRESIDENT PORTER
on CHRISTIANITY AND IT'S E-PRoGRAAIME
or THE COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES.
NEW HAVEN, June p, 1875.
President Porter delivered his baccalsureate
sermon tails morning in the college chapel, IN
presence OF the senior class. The text was
nom Philippians, l., 9, 10-"And thus pray that
your love may abound yet moro and more In
knowledge and In all Judgment that ye may ap-
prove things that are excellent
These words OF prayer express the best wishes
Of the apostle Tor the pupils who had been under
his training. They bring out in oOnt-asted relief
the two elements OF the Christian liie-!ove and
knowledge Love, the animating force. is kindled
ana sustained by Christ and mis- promises.
knowledge ennghtens and directs man In his
judgments, concerning the arts ana illustra-
tions OF duty, and Is capable OF an Indefinite
refinement and culture what is true OF the
Individual Is true OF the race. II Christianity
is permanent anu divine 1t must be equal TO
all the possible wants OF man in rhese two
sides or mans nature. II must 60 on TO the end
OF time, Ending q new life or feeling and spirit
ual force, and adapting itself to every condl-
ton or human progress in tue most advanced
development OF science and art. II Christian
ity cannot DO both these things IL
Is neither permanent nor ciyine. II
man or humanity snail ever outgrow the need
or the capacity Tor IL either or both these APP
plications Christianity must take its place among
the religions OF the past Ii Is no secret that
Christianity at the present time Is assailsd at All
points, and that TO all the assaults which are
made upon 1t men OF education and culture are
especially sensitive. Ii Is assailed as history and
speculation. It is assaulted on the side Of posi-
tive science. Ii is also assailed unequal 10 the
new places or our private and public life. VI all
these forms OF assault the suhtlest and the most
dangerous Is that when is made upon 1t as prac-
teal system. As long Christianity can show it-
SELF 10 be the best and strongest Of ali existing
moral forces and TO De equal TO the new demands
OF individual and social life, long Will II stand.
Rut so sure as the faith OF shall be shaken In
IL as tne best inspiration and guide OF human life
IL must sufIer a temporary or hnal eclipse. pro-
pose 70 speak Of christianity as ethical force In
relation 20 modern questionings and objections.
RELIGION or SENTIMENT.
IL is charged that Christianity Is re
lgloR or sentiment and that sentiment Is
Inconsistent with or hostile TO science.
Human lie must hereafter be regulated BY
strictly scienunc principles, and very soon no
place will DE iefs for Christian impulses and max
ims. Science now rules the world, and sentiment
mast give way. To this we answer-ChristisnitJ
Ia not q religion OF sentiment alons, but OF senti
ment directed and enlightened By knowledge. IL
calls itself the truth, and therein implies that It's
disciples should accept whatever IL approved as
true The light and knowledge which Christianity
recognizes are limited TO few objects and rela-
tons. Christianity processes to despise the pres
ent life. Many obvious virtues u does not even
recognise, much less does Il enforce them.
stuart Mil asserts, awhlle 10 the morality OF
the best pagan nations dutJ 20 the State holds
even disProportonats place, in purely Christian
ethics that grand department OF duty Is scarcely
nouced or acknowledged The new science
OF humanity tells US that tho widows
and children Of parents VINO have not
insured their lives ought to surer as
q lesson and a warning against improvldence.
Everywhere the science OF living is organized on
solo principles, the logical deductions from which
are enforced with unsparng rigor. lt would seem
that when the new science OF life snail have
reached It's perfection marriage will be no lsrger
a matter or anectIOn but or the coolest calculation,
based upon data and grounds that ally Us with the
brutes In respect TO our earthly lie. Education Will
be rigid and lmpersonal drill process, making ma
chimes BY means OF the most improved educational
machinery. Weak aud unpromisinE infants will
be disposed OF as burdens 20 society. Feeble In
yaiids and Improbable old men and women will
be scientifically and painlessly relieved Of the lie
or which they ana their friends are wearying Last
or all, the body which onends the earth 70 which
IL Is allied ~ 10 % tranengured by nre, the most
etnerlal Of agencies, that science may triumph
over death In LIS special version or toe song, %
deatn where Is thy sIingl ON, grave wnere - thy
yictory.n
WHAT rs THE TRUTH
Bat what Is the tTuthf simply tnis-Cnr1stianity
does not profess 70 be in am sense perfected
science el human conduct OF q science az Will.
The New Testament 10 IN no sense rounded
code Of morals, neither rude nor scientific. It
kndles new SPIRIT II wakens living energy
which Is subtle enough TO penetrate all POSSIBLE
human relations, expansive enough TO animate
every possible relation or human lie and strong
artificial structure OF human society. II we are 50
know we must learn, and as soon az we begin 10
learn In the school OF life we begin TO study the
science or human living and acting. A eash
generation makes new advances in the science on
wite iviog Christianity takes up the results into
It's practical creed and eniOrces them by q
code 81 duty whlch ~ ever making progress. Inc
brief maxins OF barter and exchange, which hela
good between Abraham and the sons OF Heth are
m due time expanded into the rehned and compil-
Gated principles OF political economy. But, az
there = no point In ths progress where common
sense ceases and science begins, 80 there IS no
point az which Christianity can be dispensed WIN
NO science 81 human life ana duty caR rnsh 50
rapidly into being as TO outrun Christianity; meme
can expand SO widely as not 70 be nled on the
instant with the subtle element OF Christian love.
THE CHRISTIAN fDEAL.
IL Is urged that the Christian ideal or character
Will be displaced IN tue progress OF modern Gull
ture. The Carstian ideal Is love 10 man tnat IS
dlSinteTested, sincere and sel-sacrncinE. That
VI be narrow