The Portland daily press., 1881-07-11
by TELEGRAPH.
BOWDOIN COLLEGE.
Beginning of Commencement
Week Exercises.
SERMONS BY PROF. HARRIS AND
PROF. LADD.

BRUNSWICK, July 10.-The First Parish
church was well filled this morning on occas.
ion of the sermon before the Bowdoin Praying
Circle by Prof. Harris. As it has been but a
few years since Old Bowdoin was favored by
the services of Prof. Harris as President, it was
very natural large audience should greet
him. The text was Isaiah chapter 49, part of
verse 26. she calleth them all by name, I"
The meaning of the prophet was explained
and especial force laid on the fact of Gods
particularizing in his care of individuals. This
particularizing forms the groundwork and
foundation of Christian life and work. 1t is
this fact which enables the disciples ofIGod to
obtain those highest blessings 1t gives energy
and force and life to Christian effort. The
fact that God has such wisdom as is displayed
In creation OF the universe even to the smallest
details is sufficient to show that He must have
that peculiar far-reaching DECENTRALIZATION
which includes not only men as class but
each individual. Men given to the study of
details are often unable to grasp the lofty COM
prehensive thoughts, but not so with God.
Daniel Webster thought God would hardly
spend much attention on individuals as He
was so evidently calculated for grand and SUI
perhuman efforts. But q mind capable of
such execution can particularize equally we'll.
In the afternoon the church was again filled
to listen to an eloquent address of Prot Ladd
who sewers his connection with the collie pc
this year to accept the chair of moral philoso-
ply at Yale. The subject of his discourse was
taken from Acts 2:22. The central clause was
Jesus OF Nazareth, man approved of God
among YOU" The first topic was the marvel
GUS wealth of resources which belonged to the
manhood OF Jesus Christ. A stable or impress
sive structive cannot be built except upon a
breadth of base corresponding. Ideas of quan.
tlty and quality both have great power over
the human mind. There must be cetain
size to manhood, not in sacrifice of symmetry,
but as furnishing force and charm of symme-
try In order that it may move and mold us.
We could scarcely look upon Jesus as we do,
scarcely adore and initiate him as we are
bound to except for his vast resources both
original and acquired. 1t is this generosity of
His human nature penetrated with divine in
which is laid the basis of His symmetry of
character. 1t is on this broad foundation His
manhood towers SO high. Under this head we
notice the wealth of His physical resources.
and wealth Of His moral resources His insight
into human nature and into analogies of truth,
Ills compre hensive grasp upon principle re-
ligious foresight into the development of indi-
vidual character and of the course of history
upon earth and His mental supremacy, also
the wealth of spiritual resources which give
breadth to His character. But symmetry as
well as breadth must be secured for that ideal
manhood which we seek. For symmetry also
we resort to the example of Christ. Under
tins head may be noticed, FIRST His perfect
freedom from those, excuses and deficiencies
which mark the temperaments and per-
sonal pecularities in other men; second, it is
evident through His power to hold and exer-
else seemingly contradictory qualities of char
acter imperfect blending Of their virtues.Aga
we notice the incompatible holiness which be-
longed to the manhood of Jesus Christ.
The address closed with an appeal to the
graduating class to lay foundation as nearly
as possible approaching the perfection which
the-exampie of Christ teaches
The exercises of the week continue with the
Junior exhibition Monday evening; class day
Tuesday; meeting of the alumni and boards
wednesday; commencement day Thursday
with the Presidents reception in the evening.