Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-06-23
STATE COLLEGE.
BaccalaUreate Sermon by Rev. Cyrus
Stone, -. ID.

The Baccalaureate Sermon before the stu
dents of the Maine State College was deliv-
cred at Orono, last evening, by Rev. Cyrus
Stone, ID. d., and below we give an abstract :
Text-.John 81, 2l.22. Peter seeing him saith to
Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do! Jesus
saith unto him, If will that he tarry till come,
what is that to thee? follow thou me.
The members of the graduating class, he
said had reached an epoch in their history.
With brave hearts and high hopes you are
about to go forth to meet your future. 4
question Of supreme importance to you there
fore at this hour is the question hat shall be
your foremost all-controllng aim and effort
in the vocation that you may each select. BY
many the acquiring Of property is looked on
as the important business of human life. To
make living and lay by something for pos
sible contingencies is held up as the principal
thing to be sought. Fathers encourage their
sons to go through college that they may by
education fit themselves to get better posi-
tons and better pay, and thus win their bread
more easily.
1t must be conceded that we are in a world
where the getting of living does require
thought. 1t is right that man should exert
himself to procure food and ramcnt and
shelter. No Eden untitled gently drops her
golden fruit Of life upon our tables And we
further contend that the creation of wealth is
a public good Let men build ships and rail
roads and factories. Let them turn the I'M
productive wilderness into fertile garden.
1t is the special office of the State College to
aid in making the immense resources that the
God of nature has placed within our reach
contribute more readily to supply the varied
wants of an advancing civilization. The
State never made better investment than
when she established this college. In all her
I'll, -. ,st,n hall
as long as her sons continue to gather here
for instruction and her rivers flow to the sea
But this should not be the foremost aim. The
putting of ones chief thought on the acquisi-
ton of wealth tends to narrow and debase a
man. 1t leads to avarice. 1t leads to selfish
disregard of the rights and feelings of others.
When man says, "mOney will have" he
is very apt to become INSCRIPTIONS about the
way he gets it. Then the more he gets the
more he wants, and is never satisfied. The
Bible encourages industry, frugality and
economy. 1t declares that if n man will not
work, he must not have the privilege of eat
ing. But it also points out the danger of ex-
cessve devotion to making money. We are
forced to the conclusion, that while the work
ing for money is right and commendablc, yet
the selection of this as the supreme aim of
life is not the part of wisdom. Self culture
is noble aim. 1t should be one great aim
to make the most of ourselves; we will cult
vate our mental powers we will have books,
the choicest of society whatever may refine
and elevate. Our money shall be used to
obtain the means of self Improvement. With
this purpose in view youth enter upon a
course of study not simply to fit themselves
for business, but that they may become per-
sons of superior intelligence more refined
taste, broader culturc-ornamcnts i'm any
sphere. On this principle it is the object OF
education to send out not a mere man of bus
mess, but perfect man-Onc who will be a
man not only in business but everywhere.
But in one respect self culture should not
be the chief object of our lives. There is
danger lest the dear self be too much ex-
allied, and that in the supreme effort to cult
vate self we grow Indifferent to some other
things that ought also to have our attention.
The world has claims upon us. The church
of the living God has claims upon us. Now
if we devote ourselves with one main allah.
sorbing purpose to our own mental culture,
however desirable that culture may be, we
may overlook AMI neglect some Of these 9th.
| er claims. Exclusive devotion to self cul-
ture has a tendency to turn out polished hea
thens after the old Greek and Roman pat
| tern. The present age calls for large hearted
souls of the self denying Christian type.
Others say the building up of right char
acter should be the chief aim. Science, lit.
erature, art, music, are things of less con-
sequence; the great aim of my life will be
to be honest, pure, truthful. aspire &c
goodness. This is grand purpose. If evei
there was need Of men of integrity, this age
needs men Of integrity. If ever the church
needed men of character, the church of this
| age needs men whose record shows no blot
Such character grows grander with years
Its base is the base of a great mountain; it,