The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-06-29
BACCALAUREATE SERMON.
A LITERARY MASTERPIECE

III inc va Cnapel, out before Jne noun
arrived, the hall was so crowded that
it was found necessary to repair to
the hall in the new building in order
that the great concourse of people
might be comfortably seated.
This is the first time in the histo-
ry of the institution that the old chap
ell would not seat the audience pres
ent for similar occasion.
The subject of the discourse was
the 18th verse of the 4th chapter OF
Pauls First Letter to Timothy: "Let
no man despise thy youth"
Ephesus was wicked city, and
to Timothy, q young man, entrust-
ed the duty of cnvangclizing it, were
written these encouraging words by
Paul.
The object of this discourse, which
was specially directed to the gradual
ing class, was to show that the pop
ular idea that youth is the period OF
dreams, not of realities; of hope, not
of fulfillment, is false.
The world has always believed that
life's greatest duties and stemest re-
alities were only successfully to be
grappled with at the mature and ripe
age offorty or fifty. The falseness
of this was conclusiyely shown, and
that youth is not so much of dreams
as of fulfillment, and of great achieve
ments.
The speaker ventured to prove
that the greatest undertakings have
been accomplished by men under for
ty. The greatest poems have been
composed; the greatest discoveries in
science have been made; the most
life-like statues have been carved +;
the finest political and literary essays
have been written; the subj NEST
chants'and requiems have been com
posed; the greatest orations have been
pronounced; the greatest battles have
been won by men under forty.
Dryden composed his finest pro-
auctions and was poet laureate of
England before thirty-nine; Milton
I'll Penseroso" before thirty; Shak-
speare liking Lear" before thirty
five; Byron, his "English Bard5 and
Scotch Reviewers" before twenty
one; Bryant, his "Thanatopsis" be-
fore 20. Phidias had conceived and
executed his subinest ideals in
sculpture before 40, and was coadju-
tor with Pericles at a.. Raphael and
Leonardo ola Vinci made themselves
immortal on the canvas before 80,
and were dead at SO. Mozart, Men
delsohn and Beethoven composed
their inimitable chants and requiems
before 80, Jean Paul Richter COM
posed his philosophical essays before
40; Addison and Goldsmith gave
their best works to the world before
30. Gibbon completed his "Decline
and Fall of the Roman Empire" at
Sc. Dickens and Walter Scott reach
ed their highest fame before 80. at
the age of 10 Buckle conceived the
idea OF his history of civilization
Macauley completed his essay on
John Milton at %. DemostheneS WAS
a great orator at 81 and Cicero deliv-
cred his immortal orations against
Catalina at AZ. William Pitt was
elected to the House of Commons
when too young to take his seat. Bar
row had. written all his excellent
memoirs and was in his grave at IS.
John Wesley was the founder of
Methodisn at 36. Whitefeld preach
ed to audiences of 200 at 26. Cyrus
had made all his cOnquests before 80
Hannibal crossed the Alps and made
Rome tremble before 80, The East
ern world bowed to Alexander when
he was only 33.
Robert Cline gave England the
Empire of India at %; Napoleon
was disposing of the Crowns of Flu.
rope, as toys to children, at the age
of 30; Kepler gave to the world his
laws governing the motions of the
planets, at 80 Sir Isaac Newton
discovered the universal law of gray
itation, and published his "Princi-
pia," before 45; Watts invented the
steam engine at SO Stevenson the
railroad at 30; Morse the telegraph
at Al ; Edison the monograph and
microphone before 30. Jesus Christ
performed all his miracles, aud died
for the redemption of the world, be-
fore 81.
1t is not difficult to see the indebt-
edness of the world to young men.
Take away the contributions of
young men to the worlds progress,
and we are savages.
Youth will climb mountains, while
hoary age is content to sit at the
foot.
Youth is the time of hopefulness.
It is Gods best gift. Cherish these
high born thoughts, though the
world criticise.
The conclusion was a most earnest
and eloquent appeal to the class, to
dare everywhere to hew out new
path in science and literature, while ir
the vigor of youth. Let no one scare
you by telling you that you VIII die
young, better be great in heaven al
SO, than an old hypocrite on earth al
60.
This was a most mastery effort
and the last living illustration OF the
truths uttered, is President Thomp
SON.