New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-17
LOCAL MISCELLANY.

REQUISITES OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY
ANNUAL ADDRESS TO THE STUDENTS OF THE UNION
THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY BY THE REV. WILLIAM
ADAMS. D. D.-THE LESSON OF RICHARD BAx'
TIERS LIPE-DIRECTNEss OF PURPOSE HONESTY
AND FAITHFULNEss NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS.
The Rev. William Adams, ID. d., President
Of the Union Theological Seminary delivered the ahhua
address to the students the chapel OF the Seminary
yesterday afternoon. The chapel was wen nlied WIN
students and visitors. Among tine latter were the Rev
Drs s. Irenaus Prime Howard Crosby, william Taylor
H. Vincent, H. ID. Ganse, Wilson, and Phranes OF Sinp
Sing The Rev. DIR. Fading, Principal of Rotham
College in England, made the opening prayer
After exchanging greetings with the faculty and students
on the opening OF academic year, and thanking the
benefactors OF the Seminary whose ibcraty had pro
vidcd them with increased accommodations, Dr. Adams
delivered his address in substance az follows;
Yhc students before iie are special class You have
passed beyond the dsquiet and agtaons which, in your
earlier college days. you read OF IN the hr't Ode OF
Horace describing those who about to choose path
in life You have already entered the preparatory
for great path There is more profound sense
than is ordinarily understood the words, Sufficient
for the day is the evil thereof" The sentiment Ach they
convey applies to duty az well 10 the cares OF life
There is growing cosmopolitan hazinoss about ue
sense OF duty The imagination OF many
students Ia apt to be misled Dy ere"'
thoughts OF the future They live too much In te future
and forget the present. erschels wonderful telescope
80 swung that the objects in the heavens on whio'
it was turned were reflected on a horizontal table
directly under the eye OF the observer II any student
wants to know what he will DO in 10, 90 40 years
hence let him consult his present life and methods Of
work. day by day, In his present curriculum Success
does not depend on chance accident. The laws OF
Providence ere very rigid. Just az much real WORK as
you do to-day Just SO much will you do hereafter and
nothing
II there Is any truth In wordswOrths saying that the
child Is father the man." the power Of the preacher
hereafter will depend the habits Of the student while
in the OF preparation for the ministry froles'
sonal honor and to be expected from
early inattention, superlcality, and ncOrrectnoss
was amazed al reading those words OF Hans christian
Andersen n my life could be lived over again, can
not how 1t could have been altered" Only one in
tOxcated by the honed draughs Of attery and by in
tense sefcomplacency could give utterance to those
words. am there is minister living who would
confess having wasted precious hours in iceness
Dr. Adams then referred to the assembly last Summer
at kidderminster England, OF many distinguished me-
beers Of the religious denominations, statesmen
and men of social standing TO assist at the unVhy OF
turtles ago had the home OF the ody pastor for 20
years Who he He was not an inventor ike Ark
wright he not engineer, ike Brunei or stephen
son lie was not great poet, soldier, PosVpne H.
like those to whom stately tombs have been erected IN
author Of books which contain the material OF his preach
ing TO convert human souls to Christ; why was
lay at the bottom Of the crucble when
all else had evapOrated What was the essence OF the
OF ths man recs1n D bv rrcat
drectness Of purpose from the beginning Dean Stanley
well MS chac ssyc ro e s and deahs
whole nature localized ON that one object Many
confessed and depored the and fathessnes
his early ministry of II years It is the same among
ultimate success who has the clearest ana shrpest con-
cepon of the object Of the Christian ministry III
other unworthy objects nothing was more certain
than that the subsequent career would Dc arAed " III
deiintenc-s and failure
Thoroughncss and fathfness daily work Is another
most important element IN success. Many are no" sub
neglect plain and simple duty which lies before them
of regard for the ultimate ana the masnilceht II
sure re- that he viii be furnished with return
be We good and faithful servants says Christ Honesty
and fhulness in work-that is the standard OF moral
ever lived thought less OF fame as established by
than Richard Baker selfsu3jectlon for the good
others the law Of his holy fe as taught in the
school OF Jesus Christ In accomplishing that now AS
siduous and how faithful he in Christian work In
sought greatness was the result OF his fahfulness.
1t il complaint just now that there has been
decay the power OF the pulpit doubt 1t much II
measured. How many really great men are there in our
country tong in quiet places su6ectns all things
in the circumstances in which we placed
gives no pledge of promotion in the steward
shin OF Jesus Christ. who Is not
faithful now in his time, will he faithful at no time III
not faithful in the seminary he will not be faithful whom
ordained The ore who goes At work with steady pur
pose because God has called him to it, ID the man who
LAYS up for himself professional success The vital es
srnce Of all personal piety. There are great oppor
tun ties for pe'y the midst Of the life around US
OF very best specimens OF piety have known
have been business i'll this city. A Christian minis
ter must follow holiness Selfconvctlon the soul OF
all earnestness All our profession is mere hstrionsm
il we have not this vital force.
Dr. Adams then referred briefly to the attention which
directed to the simple preaching OF the Cos
pei referring very plainly, without mentioning their
names, To Messrs. Moody and Sankey Simplicity and
the power OF interesting in the things OF God must
come from within, from simplicity Of purpose and COM
munon with God You have chosen, he concluded, the
hardest and darkest part that can take for life, II
your hearts are not in communion with Christ.