New-York tribune., 1876-06-26
YALE COLLEGE.

BACCALAUREATE SERMON OF PRESIDENT PORTER
frnou AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT of THE rEIBUSEl
NEw-UAygN, June % The baccalaurcate
sermon WAS preached by President Yale College
to-day. The ext taken from John xv.. l6 have
chosen You and ordained you that you should go and
rng fo fruit aud that ut should remain Inc
times in which living, said be- are eininrntiy IN
certain and depressn especially to those who are form
ing plans for life. Fifteen years ago the country
WAS couvulssd by the throcs OF civil war Following
ts came of financial speculation, succeeded by
period Of sagnation The revelation Of gigantic frauds
has weakened our faith In human nature. Science S
infected win spirit Of romanclng and philosophy con
alny tells us that the universe is unstable and that
men ust give place higher order OF beings In one
gew this outlook Of uncertainty Is uot very hopeIni 70
young m IA who stands he threshold Of life. On the
one haud tempted to depression or despair on The
her 10 reekcssDess of faith lie ~ prone ~ grasp al
tbe lowest prizes despair Of attaining any other
Let me remind you that che times were anything but
opefnl when Christ uttered the words Of text H.
was 10 eavr bis disciples alone ~ desperate struggle
With powerful foes and was TO die His dsciUes feared
,lia I'm few days they shOud he scattered. and their
work destroyed Yet Le assures them That they alone
should bring forth fruit and that their fuit should TO
man. What Christ said them is true OF every Young
man who IA gong forth life My theme is success IN
life Not the general applied to all men, but
m the s,.,caI sense III which II Is OF the Christian.
shall CONSIDER ~ conditions, aud GU the character df
uJ Waat are the conditions Of n successful life The
dst condition is just ANA hearty acceptance OF te
CHRISTIAN id al OF character The flh In Christ which
constitutes disciple has two sidrsthe ethical and te
trrsInal From slo bIau believes IN Cbflrts
sulrit ana delights Ia His example oin tis obor he
loves and trusts Him as person. IJo ctnicil comes
drst to our DOre If haS not the spirit VI Christ
ns ia none of His Tns Is the fundamental condition ~
Chr-tian success No ecstatc worship Of Christ be
the pgect Christ as tue idau Of human
Ierfecf0n f2 The condition OF erlnAn nj frut IL
nsIg nee n the exenpllheatiOD of tine Cufisian ideal
ue c,.nt to Cdrist IA the Inspiration o our lNng "
not euuu need 10 realize that idea under the con-
doing snod 20 should 1t be with the disciple who would
he IKE Him BE not Children but lh understanding DO
W. men We must cultivate Intelligence IN our hyin2
13l The prnetc Wisdom Winch studies the relation Of
means d, ends will overlook Refinement ami culturo
he capaity for culture disigusbe- tie man from tie
brufa Whatever feeble alaiOges modern tcOIlsis I'D
yure under the unnatural desire 10 dtbumablle The
hnmau spci.s only scrs 9 " make tbs an In man
nIore di.tnct (t Energy IL another con1Jn OF frl't
fuI discpesbip The IDEAL may be accepted, the means
of making IL real may be undcstOOd, bat " energy ana
ze te wanting there win be- litle irat The iuans own
sul an ay bs safe but wUfd Will b. te better for
hIs having lived IN it but zeal and energy ony come
from TN. (l condition Of success, and that u iib IN
CDrists prson The the Christian life Is In tbe
n a Christ more real wonderful nUre worthy OF
love aud trust a. The persoD lives oDgor for Him
Let us next consider the sucocSs which wI follow the
lie described a. He viii have permanent fr'nt ia hln
self lie will tbs Joy of rational anu worthy
faith There blessing TO oan 50 great ~ ~ nave
sofnethins is which hs tboronghly baeycs. Courage
also comes permanent fruit OF e cbrstian life
s who has bra,sy fought the FIRST battle fought al
thss are 10 follow intellectual growt II anoth fruit
of always the result, bat