The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-24
DICKINSON COLLEGE.


NINETY-F1FrH ANNUAL coMMENcEMENr-BAc-
CALAUREArE SERMON BIZ PRESIDENT NO
cAULEY-No MAN LlvRTH TO HIMSELF.
CARLISLE Pa, June %. 1873
The ninety fifth annual commencement OF OLD DicK
nson began with sermon before tho Society OF Aeli-
gious Inquiry this morning. The preacher was the
Rev. Aaron Rittenhouse, A. NJ, OF Philadelphia,
gentleman OF exceptional culture and usual oratori
cal abilities. His text was taken IRON the second
chapter OF Colossans: In him are MD all the troas-
ures OF wisdom and OF knowledge" Through this
passage he illustrated certain phases and characters
tics OF Christian truth which establish rs claims 10
pre-emincnce over all other theologea The follow.
Ing some Of the points oevelopeds-
l. Christianity alone teaches the truth without any
mi ngling OF error.
q His system teaches the truth With certainty and
authority.
8. Christianity teaches the whole truth in symms-
try and organic unity.
L. Chrissanity alone presents the truth In it, his
tor,c iulnmsnt in the life OF Jesus Christ v,tazed
by HIS spirit
BACcALAuRgATB SERMON
In the evening the Rev. DR.. J. A. McCaulsy. presi-
dent OF the college, preached the baocaaurests
mon. HIS text was the words OF 81. Paul, Romans
XIV, 7-s'No man iiveth TO himself" He said
IL che principle OF this aphorism absolute and I'm
mutabcf Arc tho lines which u ,pro1scts the only
pathway to succossY IL II without exception thag
failure foredoomed for all who 1.-Two 10 gcIif That
will turn on what We count success. Il seems an
to say that NO life can be true success that
Is out OF harmony with Hfe's true purpose WHAT,
then, 10 TINS purposef Passing Scripture by, that
oioer revelation, written In nature aud Ia The
oruer oil things IN the midst oil which are, ina-
Gates with sumo ent certainty that the supreme
reason OF mans existence of his endowment with
capacities which sci him ut the OF earthly beng
Is truly stated IN the maxim Of ST. Paul-that the
anal emo OF his creation was not himself; that 10 AN
txna md fnr n n n M
Invites must expend not upon himself, but outward
and upward, through all the lines OF his rotations,
seeking ultimate rest IN the Author Of hts being.
Ths say interpreted Alright, 10 the voice OF his own
nature.
around u.s. not, perhaps. the most effective way to
snow the relation OF this principle 10 qucst0 OF
success Oral presentation Is aper TO impress, deal
lug concrete rather than tho abstract, sxh,b
ting what papaby Is, than reasoning OF what must
DO. Entering the laboratory OF actual HE, where
men are totng at its problems and noting the result
In failure aud success OF their experiments, would
more powerfully than the most cogent reasoning
show the vital bearing OF this prnc,p.e on ihe ques-
ton OF success.
The spectacle exhibited Is largely tina. Of men
premsy bent on that winch centres In themselves;
pursuing rs ends what nature meant should DO but
means.
quest OF Tor themselves, even when gained in largest
measure leave unsatished our natures deepest and
most urgent wants: nay. as through just Nemesis,
become themselves the ministers 10 Rvenge such per-
version OF It's powers; mocging them with shadows.
booming them. ike tabled Tanixius. to see tho good
true tho poets words
Man never Is hut always to be blest
The who tried them all to the uttermost who
left no cup untased, walled At last the sad result OF
his experiment Ia words that have walked million
echoes, ''Vanity OF vanities."
sArisyAcrioSs NATURE.
Our nature Is OF mob or blrth and better deetiny
than md It's bss In anything below inc starz And
this suggests more explicit WORD In regard TO the
proper satsfactions oil our nature IL shall DO bric
ana little metaphysical az Tho matter will allow.
Aristotle places happiness In virtuous activities, IN
energies directed TO the proper work OF man. This
proper work OF man. ho argues, cannot be In anything
no SHARES with lower ordors OF creation, but must
be iound 70 that wnion belongs 10 MIN us man.
The proper work OF inan cannot DO merely TO live
plants tnat nor can 10 be to enjoy the pleasures
oi nero sensitive existencc-anmaIs are capabo Of
these. IL must, therefore, pe 10 that which differ
enccs man from ali below him-reason and as reason
may DO viewed s.sither us state exercise, as
tho possession OF faculties or the putting orth OF
their activities forced think .
Hucst, hoblest work forced 70 TINS BECAUSE Az trait
Is ever better than the troe faculties vaueless
man-s therefore the cxertion OF his faculties ac-
coralng to reasoni the going forth Of energy along
nature, then. not the passive reception OF ex.
traneous Influences; is Indeed, nothing IRON without
Il springs IRON the nature itself Is tho reflex OF us
own rightly ordered energies. Ihis dlctum oi the
great philosopher almost touches the truth Of
revc aton, seems indeed almost an adum-
brat.on Of tho living well within sprins-
Ing up 70 everlasting he. Its single ack--a iatsi
one-is It's failure 10 show how reason may be quail
nod Tor this supreme funciion-made able TO dirsct
aud competent 10 rule the energies OF our nature.
None ot the greatest intcilccs That grappled with
these momcutous moral problems had, even IN thor
dvinest moods, more than vague anu misty dream.
mas oi supernatural aid as possibility TO man. 1.
waited Tor revelation TO tell OF the Informing word
nj spirit in whose illumination reason secs to guide
aud knows TO rule tho powers oil our nature Ia such
way make their exercise a source oil per.
icct satisfaction.
| Neglect OF self Is not required. Much OF every
mans excrion must, from uuty aud necessity, DC Tor
bimseiL or IN connection with himself ADd then Tor
those who, TO say, are OF himself, sbarers Of ms
blood there Is much that he must do, or else ON
counter rsproUation anu contempt IL does not
that Que sink sell or family Ia the wider inter-
cs.s OF humanity, TO obey the true law OF his being.
but ouiy that he 10 suffer the ormcr TO monopo-
lizc his encrpicn Whom WIDER interests arc r.cog-
nizod ana cared for regard Tor personal and social
int rests lving unto solf II Isl instead, the
lawful and necessary means OF reaching that true aud
noble lie called by contrast living 10 the Lord the
lawful and necessary means Of SO transmitting our
activities IN beneaction 10 othcs, as that they may
return ~ richer blessing 70 ourselves The hre that
throws ITS warming power iurth-st is the bre that
warns most near by. Tho heart that glows win
ardors Tor tho the least keiy 10 be
| wanting ia true regard ior family or sell.
| Tne junior oraorcal contest will occur on Monday
4 -.