The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-24
delivered ON Tuesday evening by 4. ". rbompso&
Secretary Of the Navy.
YALE COLLEGE.


TIE BAccALAUREArE sERxoS-cHR1sr THE
LIGHT OF THE WORLD THE NECESSITY
WHICH MODERN SCIENCE AND CULTURE HAvr
OF THIS LIGHT.
NEW HAVEN June 23. 1878.
The baccalaureate sermon was delivered 10 the
Ba,el Chapel this morning by President Noah Porter
The members OF the graduating class occupied tue
middle aisle and the rest OF the edihce was well Oiled
with the usual congregation and q large number Of
vlsitora Presidcn. Porter announced as his text.
John viii l2-sI am tho light OF the world; ne thas
iollowe.h me shall walk In darkness, but shall
nave the hight Of life" Christ claimed very much ior
Himself when He uttered these sayings He claimed
SO much that many OF HIS hearers were offended ~
what they conceived to be either insane or oiaspns
nous words Those who believed Him the most and
loved HIM the best did not and could not comprehcne
thei reach and import But,n saying SO much 10 w
the faith Of the world Christ furnished ample mats
rails with which confirm the faith Of the world; fos
He clearly ioresaw and dared 10 say what eighteen
centuries have ever since been proving 10 DO true.
During oil these centuries as all confess Christ mas
been the light OF the world, shining moro brightly.
enlightenng more variously glowing more intensely,
. ne generations have gone and come II - trus .ns
light has always shone in darkness aud equaIy
true that the darkness has uniformly failed 70 com.
prehcpd it. Wild enthusasms and fierce fanaucisms
have attended II. Bigory and ignorance have caused
IL to burn dmly, but IL has always burned brghtess
al the most critical moments. Christ has consumed
the evil He found In the world ana has tsu2nt Inc
world TO discard evil and abandon u. Some thought
ful mon think the world Is so bright That wc no
longer need Christ Not few men OF culture and
science think mat there Is need Of personal
Christ the guide and nspirer oil our personal nic
Let me AK YOUR attention 10 several particulars u
which these men Of thought and culture need Christ
precautionary IN this present generation ana ~ con.
sequence OF its science and culture Firs, ney nsea
make Him very real the tendency OF modern science
and culture being just the reverse Modern science
he n,ntu fhniaht
SO far as It understands ITSELF Every
scentiao disoOverer aud observer assume: assumes
II is the plot OF the master mind which s uncon.
scously confessed and gives zest and credibity TO
popular OF late because OF the impaticncc OF the
human mind TO accept the teachings OF reason. And
pense OF liberal king and to the damage OF true
culture. IL has never yet brought II single ray Of
light uto the mind or added strength or cnaracter 70
man broader and drawer and noblcr than he who
dcnies Coo aud Providence and prayer. Christ Is .
light to boil sconce and philosophy, not by what De
teacnes, but bv what He Is Hc manests God ~ liv-
ing and personal. He comes among mon IN human
relations He gives US courage and help and belief IN
the existence OF God. This help men OF science
and culture need by their own confession
second reason for needing the light 10
m an power to know truth. He teaches caution,
docilty ana certain quality Of seil-dstrust, ana
clear aud tenacious CONVECTION. The bewiiderment OF
the scepticsm Of modern thinking nnds no coun-
tenanco in HIS school. HIS teachings are clear me
light 10 bright and there Is especial need tnHt u
should shine when distrust OF mans capacity 70
know what he most needs 10 know has been hardened
into philosophy and consecratcd into iath, when
philosophy aud faith chanted as liturgy IN tho
daily OF myrads Of the devotees oil modern cu
turc. Third Christ asserts tor man his true dignity
anu his rigniui place In the universe. Even the
worst sinner has an Intrinsic worth 10 me )udgment
OF God Christ dicd that the sinner
might be saved. Christ reversed all the wrona
estimates Of man rs race and as an IN.
dividual, and emphasized each mans personality
Fourth, Christ IL the light OF human culture. Ia
that Ho both stimulates and rchnes IT, The light OF
Christ Is manifest culture and u 10 evidenced IN
manners by the graccs OF modern life, which are
more numerous and more precious than we know Of.
But culture and manEars exposed to the danger
Of being end and not means. Tho suress
safeguard against this danger ~ the acceptance OF
Christ US the light Of the world Fifth ana lastly
Christ makes clear aud possible TO man another and
better life through tho opened doors OF that I'M
mortality which He has brought to light through Hts
Gospel Christ has verified Immortality as fact
the tact that immori Atty 10 Questioned or disdaned
In our times by many men Of thought and culture
10 striking proof that the risen personal Chriss
Is much needed a. the light OF the world
With this light see clearly, and we Will nnd
real worth aud meaning IN our earthly life. With
ths light no event Is ipsgnthcant, no JOY empty
and sorrow could be spared. Hopes and regrets,
successes and defeats stres and reconciliaions are
but steps OF dscip for the immortal lite to which
they lead.
The president closed hts remarks with the usual cd
dress to the graduating GLASS; which rose As no SAID
luded TO the TACT that they had been educated In
Christian college winch had for It's motto "LuS ct
verias which possls dissety to ChStst the true
light which ightsth every man that cometh into the
world: reminded them that viewed in tho light Of hs
remarks, Christian college involved NO contrad'c.
ton In terms and NO incompati5iity IN fact; OK
horted them not TO tear thought and 10 make their
OF the universe oil man. oil culture, oil me
future HE and tho present characseristicaly and
earnestly Christian. With u few words OF earnest
well wishing he bade them an arsctonate farewell