The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-07-08
BOWDOIN COLLEGE.

Opening of Commencement Week
Baccalanreate Sermon by Prof. Packard
BRUNSWICK, July 7.-Commencement week
at Bowdoin College opened to-day with the
baccalaureate sernon by Prof Packard. He
took his text from Proverbs xvi; O. "The
passage said the preacher, authorizes the
conclusion that the true way to purify the
heart and life from inquity, is not by repres.
sion merely, but by the cultivation of the
opposite virtues; aud that the only true source
of genuine reform is 10 the fear of the Lord-a
statement, in the manner of the Scriptures, Of
the principle implied in the law of your moral
being, as enunciated by DR.. Chalmers of Scot
land, which he termed the expulsive power
of new affection. Implant religious
affections, and needed reforms in private OF
public life, and manners will, by the constitu-
ton of our nature, follow as direct result.
And this was a fitting introduction to the last
formal discourse addressed to those who are to
take their place among the alumni of the
college, and to assume the responsibility of
citizens of the Republic.
The circumstances which gave peculiar in
terest to the special service, and the days
which terminated their college life, were refer
red to, and the Incentives the young graduate
has to renewed diligence and effort, if he would
maintain the position to which his education
entities him. He was congratulated on en-
tering active life in an era of remarkable
movement, when, by inventions, distant lands
are brought within speech and hearing almost
so that new discovery, new doctrine, new
contribution to the treasures of learning and
literature, any advance 10 human prooress
a2Vprga claimant in
becomes at once the common gain or loss of
the civilized world. The changes, recent or in
progress, abroad or at home, which were speci.
fed, make this an era in which it is worth
ones while to live and act
The aspect of things in our own country. as
affording ground for deep solicituda regarding
responsibilities to rest on those who assume
the dntes of citizenship, was alluded to. Con-
hicts OF opinion in politics and morals in.
volving vital issue of public and social order
partisanship in politics; the labor question; the
communistic spirit; deterioration of principle
in high places and low, the young graduate
must at once meet face to face and participate
in them. A question was then raised as to
the governing principle of life, opinion and
conduct, which be should determine at the
start, for his guidance. that he may be girded
for duty with truth and sense of grave
responsibilities. A saying was com nented on.
ascribed to Robert Owen of Neulamark that
he could make over the world, and set all to
three truths in place of as many prevailing
errors. His several attempts at reform, on his
theory lacked an essential of success, as God
has ordered things-the religious element. 1t
was then insisted that the disorders of the
times may be "set to right" and any nation he
put in they way of truth, honor and prosperity,
if single maxim of life be the guiGe in private.
social and public life. and that's LOYALTY to
principle, which was pressed upon the earnest
attention OF every young graduate. The true
nj lfVr ~
elimination made between that and what is
called allegiance; the former embracing a
moral element, a sentiment, relating more to
a principle than to person or party, as such
Partisanship may cherish resoute allegiance
with little of true loyalty The late war
awakened the people to sense of obligation
as citizens, not of the State, merely, but more
as citizens of Republic of States. And the
word loyal had significance for us it had well
nigh lost The nature and origin of govern
ment were stated, and how much is implied in
assn ming the duties of a free man and citizen.
and the inference drawn that there is a sacred
ness in the relation, raising it above mere
human appointment and contrivauce, and
claiming, in this land, especially, rarest and
truest loyalty.
This sentiment of loyalty is not confined to
our relations with State 1t embraces oil tho
activities of man. When truths. yen a. bic
for their antiquity and origin, the basis of COM
mon morality, as we'll as public faith, honor
situations, are outraged; when marriage ia
degraded to the level of brute instinct; when.
as 1T has been said, with great force, woman's
club has opened its doors to an association
formed for the express purpose of extirpating
from the constitution, laws and usages ri
State and nation, the few rootlets of RELIGIONS
faith that remain in them undisturbed, and
even women consent to such plots, if thew
would open their eyes to see the direct issue
against q their own purity and hoaor, it is time
Ter those entering on the stage of action to be
pursuaded in their own minds of what they
owe, not to political relations, merely, but to
social life and order. Let noisy harapguers
declaim as they may, moral order is main
tanned by Hin who hath established it, and
aath implanted In US that which pronounces
Eor 1t, and which reckless audacity cannot
effectually disturb, and which every good
citizen should stand by.
Berger, in the early part of this century an
advocate and politician of France,
= said to have, wavered whether to
religion and legitimism. His worldly success.
ne thought, depended on being settled one wav |
u the other He took coin from his pocket.
and tossed it up, exclaiming: "Heads, king; |
,alls, republic!' 1t turned heads, and he be.
rhe result may have been sort of allegiance.
'at fell far short of the dignityand elevation
If loyalty. ''oA
We need that law of life which Bacon wrote
u as the "wooing of truth" and a hearty
oyalty to 1t. Victor Emanuel, late King Of
taly, wasireferred to as affordipg distinguish.
ID example of such loyalty to a principle in
'atriolc life and action, in his inf1exible pur-
,oses to effect the Qualification of Italy against
ne persistent wiles and energy of the Papacy
nstlgated by Jesuit counselors.
The graduates of these DAYS goes ont into the
7orld when the grounds and even the reality of
mat we know as Christian faith are question:
d; and 1t was asserted that pure high-toned
rlnciple cannot be sustained in BIN who holds
suspended doubt the existence and attributes
supreme personal intelligence, and who
oes not recognize His providential govern
lent and administrations. Speculations are
roached which tend to unseLtle faith in the
nseen, unsearchable one in his agency, provi-
ence and grace.
The assumption that science has only to do
lth phenomena, was commented in SO far as
pretends to exclude from philisophic thought
he subjective, and SO the immortal within us,
ad the infinite, eternal spirit. as subjects not
De investigated or recognized. 1t was urged
lat 1t is law of thought that when we see
l Eacsno OF Plan we inevitably infer the
olnt was illustrated by the anecdote of Newton
nd the atheist, by the mathematical inyestiga-
ons OF La Place and Prof. Peirce, and BY de-
aratlons OF Cuvier and Agassz. Moreover
ie RESPONSIVENESS OF firm belief in the be-
lg of God and in His word was enforced nv
tterances of Daniel Webster and judge b r.
urtis. - -''
In conclusion the graduating class were
1dressed. Reference was made to the death
two who began their course with them and
he lesson fought by their own experience of
e uncertainty of all things earthly, Thew
ere reminded that there are still some things
lat never change, God, Christ and His gospel,
10 laws of life. The condition and promises
eternal life are as at the first They were
'ged to order their lives by the everlasting
nths which have been revealed in the divine
ord.
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