The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-07-15

phylnx lts ueDtS, anu IL cannot go into
bankruptcy and grow rich thereby.
With warm hearts and strong hands
its friends must rally round it.
Rich and poor must help it according
to their ability. Twenty years ago a
subscription of S103, 900 was completed
by the devoted efforts of our faithful
and revered friend aud trustee, DR..
Wickham. Has Vermont grown poor
er or less appreciative of the value of
learning during these twelve years that
another effort made with equal zeal
should be less successful?
have reserved to the last the grand
all-controlling interest, the religious
teaching and direction of the college.
As look into its history | am pro-
foundly impressed with its earnest and
sustained religious character and its
enlarged generous catholic spirit.
In 1868, President Labaree made the
following statement: The college has
been in existence sixty-eight years and
has educated about eleven hundred
yuung men. Ofthese, not quite half
have been or are ministers of the Cos
pei connected with churches represent
ing at least nine different denomina-
tions. In several of these they have
attained prominent rank as preachers
and scholars. AS pastors they have
occupied positions of influence In all
parts of the country. Portland, Low
ell, Charlestown, Boston, Northamp-
ton, Springfield, Worcester, Provi-
dence, Hartford, Norwich, New York,
Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Baltimore.
Washington, Alexandria, Richmond,
Charleston, Mobile, New Orleans, St.
Louis, st. Paul, Detroit, Chicago,
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Marietta, Buffa-
10, Rochester, Auburn, Binghamton,
Utica, Albany, Troy, leaving out Ver-
mont and New Hampshire.
"More than thirty of the number have
become foreign missionaries. They
have preached the gospel in Africa, In
dia, China, Japan, Persia, Turkey, Pal
estine, the Sandwich Islands, and
among many tribes of our western for
ests," and one of our graduates is now
leading an assault upon Africa of the
highest promise. Surely, this is are.
markable record. l might exhibit
most honorable roll of physicians, law
yers, statesmen, diplomats, COVER
nors, but that | am speaking solely of
its religious history.
In view of it ask if this Vermont
college has existed for Vermont alone?
Has it not sent out an influence far and
wide over this and over far distant
lands? While the views of its founders
were large and generous, while they
designed an institution of learning
that should prepare young men for ali
professions, they had chief regard TO
the ministry of the Gospel, and not in
one denomination alone. tl'."
The college was founded in faith in
the verify of the Divine Word, and on
this foundation we have received it in
trust. AS faithful stewards we must
administer 1t in full sympathy with
its founders and supporters, emulating
their zeal to make the college distin-
guished for its services to all the high
interests of humanity in the church and
in the state.
Every college will be a religious col
lege of somc Kind. II IL NOT in the DOW
er of man to prevent it. The age when
youth is passing into manhood is the
precise time when character becomes
fixed, or so far shapes its course that
there is not much deviation to be look
ed for. There may be very great pro-
gress, great development of latent
powers, and the kindling mp of some
transcendent enthusiasm. But general
iy the progress will be along the line of
direction taken in the formative period.
Youth with all its intense and Joyous
emotions, with all its love of sentient
life, finds itself impelled by the imper-
ious wants and forces of its own nature
to adopt some form of religion. Leave
a college without ahy religious teaching
and it will make q religion of Its own.
1t will have theology of its own. 1t
may be the religion of agnosticism. II
may have the theology of Herbert Spen-
Ger and John s. Mill, or Robert Inper-
soil, or some more decent polished sys-
TEN Of pantheism. Whatever form II
may take, it will for the most part be
fixed for life.
In one great institution in sister state,
where the experiment of no religion
has been attempted, the numbers have
fallen from 700 to 400, because so many
bad chosen some faith adverse to the
faith of their fathers. A materialistic
philosophy has many ensnaring charms
at this age. 1t throws of unpleasant
restraints. A boastfnl and egotistic
science, theological to intensity in it's
own spirit, using hypothesis as estab-
lished truths, and scorning all who do
not submissively follow it, has
marvellous power over certain minds.
They become exalted. They look down
upon the universe with condescension,
and If of very advanced thought, they
glory In the hope Of a speedy non-ex-
istence. This is religion. This is an
attempt TO satisfy the soul with regard
to Its environment i'm the universe. II
Is an attempt to put itself right with
the present and the future, and to justi-
fy itself In the course ii pursues.
To this possible degradation of the
youthful nature there is but one remedy.
1t 10 the gospel of Him who said, sI, If
be lifted up, will draw all men unto
me-" Loyalty to Jesus of Nazareth is
the young mans hope and power. 1t
Is his victory over himself and over the
world. 1t saves him, exalts him, puri-
fies him, ennobles him. 1t lifts him out
of selfishness into benevolence, out of
passion and pleasure into conservation
to a Master who shall be TO him hence
forth the Way, the Truth, and the Life
No Christian institution can neglect
Its Christian teaching without disloyalty
to God and man, without betraying the
highest interests which have been
entrusted TO it. ~ alffIa
We have In our course of study But
ler's Immortal Analogy, and the Logic
OF Christisn Evidences, and the Greek
Testament. These are excellent studies
to enlarge the minds apprehension of
the sphere of religious thought, and TO
strengthen ones confidenca I'm tha