The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-07-09
MONDAY MORNING. JULY 9.
BY TELEGRAPH.
MAINE.
MAINE.
R0wd0in Commencement.
President Chamberlain - BaccnIau,..

President Chamberlain BaccaIau,ea,e
Sermon.
BRUNSWICK, July s. -Commencement week
at Bowdoin College commenced to day. with
the annual baccalaureate sermon by President
Chamberlain. He took his text from Exodus.
xix: GA Kingdom of Priests"
This remarkable expression is revelation of
great truth of human history. 1t was uttered
at grand epoch, when God was about to give
to a mass of fugitives from bondage law, ODE
dience to which should bring them to become a
''holy nation The words might with equal
propriety be translated "a priesthood of kings
They imply that mankind stand in need of or
der and organization and law and government,
freedom and defence; and that, being under the
doom of disobedience, perverted and disabled
from the right, they stand in need also of me.
diation and atonement. This shows how it is
that the nation that is to say, the state, or or
ganized society,-is a divine institution. 1t
has offices to fulfil and ends to achieve, which
no number of individuals, as SUCH could ever
conceive or accomplish. 1t is a mediator and
minister between God and man, to establish
righteousness and freedom on earth, and enable
men to attain to the supreme and of their being
These are the highest trusts and duties COM
mitted to this earthly life. Indeed the being
of the nation is that larger life, in which each
true man and woman has responsible share,
and whose rights and summons are recognized
and obeyed, as paramount to all mere personal
interests, and the demands of all other human
societies and relationships. and in the name of
which we are called upon to lay down all
that the individual holds DEAR even to life
itself.
What man puts into the state should be of
that which is greatest and most Godlike in him.
These offices of kingship and priesthood are
great trusts which every person who is mem
Der OF the state,-that is, citizen,-is called
upon to exercise, and for the same ends. But
forAtheiEsake OF clearness, sovereignty.may be
first considered.
LIST. This kingship derives its strength und
dignity from the worth of man as man. No
trick to gain power over men, no confounding
of willfulness with righteousness no invading
holy office with the spirit of petty intrigue, can
ever teach us the sanctty and awfulpess of the
trust of commanding and judging men. This
IS only to be reached by comprehending what
man is in his Wilderness and nobility, a being
made in the image of God and for God. THIS
view makes man of infinite worth, and exalts
every agency that affects him.
I'd. The rights of sovereignty are derived not
from the individual, simple and solitary, but
from the relation of membership in which he
stands. Political rights are derived from a DO
itical being. and politics is the art of living in
society. Political rights are really natural
rights, and not franchises conferred by the
state. Men organized into state, or as it is
called a government,-as government is strik-
ing function of the state,-have rights and
powers over all the members of that society.
including themselves, which no number of pdi-
viduals, simply as such, could dream of claim
Ing over private property, service, liberty, hap
3d-This sovereignty is not in mere will as
arbitrary and caprcious. 1t has character
and instituted office-a law given unto tia
righteousness set above it. by. which its own
right Is to be measured and tried. Here is the
true reason of the sovereignty of the majority
not in mass of will, nor physical force, but
in the deep moral purpose which may not i'm
properly be called divine.
4th,This kingship grounded in morality
proceeds in law. 1t is to find, establish and
to execute by law. This corresponds precisely
with the division of political power in the
three branches of our government-the legisla-
tive, the judiciary, the executive.
5th-There is continuity of life and pur-
pose in this sovereignty. 1t has an obedience
according to promise and faith-that u.s. it
has covenant, and the nations that keen it
shall inherit the blessing, and they that are not
of it are as Ishmael-child of the desert unto
this day.
6th-This righteousness is to be wrought ont
not by restraining human freedom, but by
delivering it from foes, usurpers, and false
guides, that it may follow the law of its own
being. True manhood and right must agree.
90 tnis klngSnp ID medl8tCrlal, working out
the eternal prayer of human history-for man.
side "Deliver us from evil,' and for Gods
"Thy kingdom come and will be done on
EARTH
The preacher next considered this priesthood
the atoning Office. The popularity of this
priesthood in human society is that priest and
victim are the same. Our suffering is bound
up with others as our commanding is. Mere
suffering is no virtue, it is the ministry there is
in it that exalts. To live in others is the no.
blest part of human life, and in the last and
highest station it is the consummate joy, not
to have most satisfied self, but to behold
greater than self to which we belong.
The personal address to the class was to en-
force the high view of the part they were about
to take as citizens, the dignity and sacredness
Of these offices were brought home. The pre-
dictfon was made that they would be called to
great tests in the eventful times that should
fall in their generation. The class was COM
plimented for their obedience and LOYALTY.
They had left record of their character in the
panel picture they are placing on the chapel
wall, with the significant subject Moses giving
the law. Whatever their calling in life thew
were enjoined to be true ministers of Christ, SO
as to be priests after the order the order
of Melchizedec-bo king and priest, king first
Of righteousness and then of peace, and priest
of the Most High God.